Paragua heads Olympiad team

MANILA, Philippines — United States-based Grandmasters Mark Paragua and Banjo Barcenilla will reinforce the Philippine team seeking glory when the 44th World Chess Olympiad returns to face-to-face action from July 28 to Aug. 10 in Chennai, India.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) announced that the team would also be composed of GMs Darwin Laylo and John Paul Gomez and International Master Paulo Bersamina.

The women’s squad will be bannered by Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Shania Mae Mendoza and WGM-candidate Kylen Joy Mordido.

GM Eugene Torre will coach the men’s team while NCFP chief executive officer GM Jayson Gonzales will handle the women’s side.

The Philippines came close to forming an all-GM squad for the first time in the Olympiad had other Filipino GMs like Oliver Barbosa and Julio Catalino Sadorra were made available after the NCFP passed up on other qualification tournaments due to lack of time.

IM Daniel Quizon, a silver medalist in the Hanoi SEA Games last May, was not included in the team.