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RP loses match with Spain in Chess Olympiad

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 11/20/2008 10:11 PM

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The RP chess team dropped a 1-3 decision to Spain in the sixth round of the 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany despite grandmaster Wesley So’s draw against super GM Alexei Shirov, an online news report said.

According to SportsNews.ph, the result left the Filipinos with only seven points based on three wins, one draw and two losses.

International master (IM) John Paul Gomez also split the point against GM Miguel Cordoba Illescas, but GMs Jayson Gonzales and Darwin Laylo lost to GMs Francisco Vallejo and Pablo San Segundo, respectively.

“Sayang. Wesley did well against Shirov on top board but we missed winning opportunities in the other three boards,” said non-playing team captain GM Eugene Torre after an assessment of the team’s sixth round performances.

However, Torre said there is still hope for the Filipino chessers.

“There's still five rounds left. We have to play consistently to win starting in our seven-round match against Belgium,” he said.

The 15-year-old So and his Spanish opponent agreed to a draw after only 31 moves of the Sicilian Rossolimo.

This is the RP team’s second loss since it faces power house China in the opening round.