So wins but RP drops vs China in Chess Olympiad
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/15/2008 8:24 PM
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GM Wesley So scored a win against China's super GM Ni Hua but this was not enough to lift Team Philippines over the Chinese as it fell, 1.5-2.5, at the start of the 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, an online news report said.
According to Sportnews.ph, the match Thursday night (Friday morning, Manila time), saw Philippine pride So exploiting Ni's fault in the opening as they played on board two.
The teenager, who is the Philippines' highest ELO-rated player at 2610, won in 42 moves of the Ruy Lopez.
Ni, who is China's No. 2 player with ELO 2710, attempted to surprise So by deviating from his original openign plan.
The Filipino, however, defended his position as he led Ni to the end.
“Maganda yung naging laro ko. Magaling din talaga siya talaga pero nagkamali sa simula (I played an excellent game. He's really good but he made a mistake right in the opening),” said So.
The Dresden battle was only the second meeting between the two after their clash ended in a draw in the 2007 Pichay Cup in Parañaque City.
Meanwhile, another Team RP member, IM John Paul Gomez, bested GM Li Chao of China in 56 moves of the Sicilian Rossolimo.
Gomez, who is seeing action in the Olympiad for the first time, defeated the higher-rated Li (ELO 2622).
Other Pinoy hopefuls, meanwhile, were not as successful.
GMs Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor and Jayson Gonzales were scoreless under the match point scoring system that is being used for the first time in the Olympiad.
The match point scoring system gives two points to the winning team, a point for a draw and zero for a loss.
Villamayor erred as he caved in to time pressure and eventually resigned after 42 moves of the Slav.
Team Philippines will next face Algeria, which won 4-0 against Liechtenstein.
Filipinas, meanwhile, started hot in the women's division of the Olympiad.
The 51st-seeded team of Shercila Cua and Cheradee Chardine Camacho drew the higher-rated Lithuania to 2-2.
Cua beat WFM Simona Limontaite in 57 moves of the Catalan System while Camacho trounced Jovita Ziogaite in 53 moves of the Siiclian.
Catherine Perena, however, lost to WIM Deimante Daulyte in 37 moves of the Ptroff. Daisy Rivera dropped against WIM Zivile Sarakauskiene in 28 moves of the Sicilian Najdorf.
The Philippines will meet Greece, which also drew with Mongolia, 2-2, in the second round.
