RP DRAWS ARMENIA, YIELDS TO INDIA IN U-16 CHESS OLYMPIAD

Inquirer.net
Aug 22 2008
Philippines

Sixth round standing:

17.5 points–Russia; 16–Philippines, India; 15.5– Georgia, England,
Armenia; 15–Azerbaijan, Slovakia; 13.5–Turkey-A; 12.5–Turkey-Mersin;
12–Switzerland-A, Sri Lanka; 11.5– Greece, Syria, Turkey Girls-A,
Turkey-C; 11–South Africa-A; 10.5–Switzerland-B, Turkey-B

MERSIN, TURKEY–The Philippines held its ground against tough
opposition and kept its bid alive in the World Under-16 Chess Olympiad
at the Mersin Great Municipality Sport Hotel Thursday.

Powered by Grandmaster Wesley So, the Philippines drew with seventh
seed Armenia, 2-2, in the fifth round and then yielded to defending
champion India, 1.5-2.5, in the sixth to share second to third places
with its tormentor in the 10-round tournament.

The Filipinos boosted their drive by dumping Turkey-A, 3.5-0.5,
on Wednesday.

So settled for a draw against FIDE Master Samvel Ter-hakyan of Armenia
but crushed International Master B. Adhiban of India to remain as
the Filipinos’ leading scorer with 5.5 points out of a possible six.

But So’s teammates struggled against strong opposition.

National Master Haridas Pascua drew with Vahe Baghdasaryan of Armenia
but bowed to IM S.P. Sethuraman of India the next round.

Jan Emmanuel Garcia provided the Filipinos’ lone victory over Armenia
when he trounced IM Haiz Tamazyan in the fifth round. The Ateneo
standout also split the point with FM Rao Prasanna.

The biggest casualty for the four-man RP team was third board player
Alcon John Datu, who lost to IM Haik Vardanian of Armenia and IM
Sundar Shiyam of India.

Overall, the Philippines is now tied with India with 16 points with
four rounds left in the event which lured 26 teams from 18 countries.

The Filipinos and the Indians trail the top-seeded Russians by
1.5 points.

The Russians dumped No. 8 seed Slovakia, 3-1, in the fifth round
and blanked Armenia, 4-0, in the sixth round to raise their total to
17.5 points

England humbled Switzerland-B, 3.5-.5, and blanked Turkey-C, 4-0; while
No. 6 Georgia drew with Azerbaijan, 2-2, and walloped Switzerland-A,
3.5-.5, to rise to 5.5 points.