RP, Argentina chessers draw in Chess Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine men's chess team settled for a 2-2 standoff against Argentina in the 10th round of the 39th World Chess Olympiad at the Complex "Arena Ugra" of Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia Friday night.

Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So (ELO 2668) defeated GM Diego Flores (ELO 2615) after 49 moves of Old Benoni defense on board one.

GM John Paul Gomez split the point with GM Ruben Felgaer (ELO 2597) after 57 moves of French defense on board two.

International Master (IM) Richard Bitoon (ELO 2447) drew with GM Pablo Lafuente (ELO 2565) after 64 moves of Reti Opening on board four.
Asia's first GM Eugene Torre (2489), playing white, bowed to GM Fernando Peralta after 40 moves of London System Opening on board three.

The loss led to a 2-2 deadlock between the 37th seed Philippines and the 26th seed Argentina.
The Filipinos will next face 48th ranked Estonia, who lost to 25th-seed Greece, 1.5-2.5.

Against Estonia, So will meet GM Kaido Kulaots (ELO 2592); Gomez will slug it out with GM Meelis Kanep (ELO 2532); GM Darwin Laylo (ELO 2522) will test IM Olav Sepp (ELO 2485); and, Bitoon will go up against IM Aleksandr Volodin (2433).

In the distaff side, the 52nd-seed Philippine women's team suffered a heart-breaking loss to 50th-seed Indonesia, 1.5-2.5.

Baiq Vina Lestari (ELO 2177) toppled Woman Fide Master (WFM) Catherine Perena (ELO 2103) after 43 moves of French defense on board two to score a full point for the Indonesian squad.
WFM Chardine Cheradee Camacho (ELO 2186), Rulp Ylem Jose (ELO 2039), and Jedara Docena (ELO 2033) settled for a truce with WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar (ELO 2372), WFMs AA Citra Dewi (ELO 1987) and Chelsie Monica Sihite (ELO 2014).

They will next meet 61st-seed Brazil. -- By Marlon Bernardino