PH chess beats Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia; bows to Germany

Team Philippines started hot before being doused cold water by top seed Germany in Division 2 of the FIDE Online Olympiad 2020 on Friday, August 14.

The Philippines routed Kyrgyzstan, 6-0, and bested Southeast Asian rival Indonesia, 3.5-2.5, before bowing to Germany, 1-5, in the third round of Pool A action.

With their two wins and one loss, the Filipinos garnered 4 points and a game points total of 10.5 in the 10-team field.

Against Kyrgyzstan, team captain GM Eugene Torre fielded Grandmasters Mark Paragua and Rogelio Antonio, Woman International Masters Catherine Secopito and Bernadette Galas, and Michael Concio and Jerlyn Mae San Diego, who swept their rivals from board 1 to 6.

Against the Indonesians, who are rated higher than the Filipinos, Torre opted to field in regulars Paragua, GM Rogelio Barcenilla, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, IM Daniel Quizon and WIM Kylen Joy Mordido.

Barcenilla beat IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher on board 2 while Quizon trounced IM Gilbert Elroy Tarigan to power the Philippines to victory.

Paragua split the point with Indonesian No. 1 GM Susanto Megaranto and so did Frayna against IM Irine Kharisma Sukandar and Mordido against WIM Ummi Fisabilillah.

Fronda yielded to IM Medina Warda Aulia.

The Germans proved to be too strong with GM Dennis Wagher downing Paragua, GM Daniel Fridman tripping Barcenilla, FIDE Master Lara Schulze taming Frayna, WGM Filiz Osmanadja dumping Fronda and WIM Annmarie Muetch whipping Mordido.

Quizon averted a shutout by stunning highly rated IM Roven Vogel (2506).

Germany also beat Bangladesh, 4.5-1.5, and Turkmenistan, 3.5-2.5, to share the lead with Bulgaria, conqueror of Belarus (3.5-2.5), Belgium (4.5-2.5) and Australia (4-2). Both have a perfect 6 points.

The Philippines faces Belarus in round 4, Belgium in round 5, and Australia in round 6 on Saturday. – Rappler.com