Philippines, 15 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Spain Falls to PH Women's Team in 43rd Batumi Chess Olympiad; Men's Team Bounces Back


PhilBoxing.com


WOMAN Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza (Elo 2113) pulled off a stunning win over Fide Master Marta Garcia Martin (2329) while Woman International Master Marie Bernadette Galas (2080) sustained her impressive form by beating Woman Grandmaster Monica Calzetta Ruiz (2235) as the 43rd seed Philippines women's team upset 15th seed Spain, 3-1, to barge into the Top 20 after Round 6 in the ongoing 43rd Chess Olympiad being held at the Sports Place sa Batumi, Georgia on Sunday.

Mendoza, one of the top players of multi-titled Far Eastern University chess team, defended well throughout the game then outplayed Garcia Martin in their rook and pawn endgame to claim the victory after a marathon 85 moves of the Slav defense on board two.

The Santa Rosa, Laguna native Mendoza is also now the Filipinas? leading scorer with 4.5 points on account of four wins, one draw and one loss after six games of play.

Galas, on the other hand, the pride of Makati City, also continued her remarkable showing as she outplayed Calzetta Ruiz in 56 moves of Trompovsky Opening on board four.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna (2287) back after a one-day break, settled for a draw with International Master Sabrina Vega Gutierrez (2404) in 43 moves of King's Indian defense on board one as well Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego (2102) whose trip here backed up by Dasmarinas mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga Jr., split the point with International Master Ana Matnadze (2362) in another marathon 73 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening on board three.

Overall, the Filipinas have nine points, only two points behind the United States, host Georgia team 1 and Armenia under the matchpoint style scoring system being used in the 151 nation team tournament, 11 Round Swiss-system format.

Also with nine points were Georgia 2, Kazakhstan, Peru, Lithuania, Serbia, Hungary and Argentina.

?We?re doing well (Philippines women's team) considering the strong opposition here. I like our position right now,? said National Chess Federation of the Philippines director Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe who is also the president of the Philippine Executive Chess Association who watched the game live thru ChessBomb.com.

The country's female squad, whose team captain is Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, faces 14th seed Georgia 2 in the seventh round.
Georgia 2, meantime succumbed to their sister team Georgia 1, 1.5-2.5.

In the men's play, the 54th seed Philippines bounced back with a 4-0 rout of 151th seed Jersey to make it double-celebration for the PH bets, playing under the banner of NCFP Chairman/ President Deputy Speaker Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. , Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Ng Tolentino Jr. and team manager Atty. Ruel Canobas.

Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra (2553), Grandmaster John Paul Gomez (2464), International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia (2439) and International Master Haridas Pascua (2435) hurdled their respective matches to clinch the Filipinos? third win.

Sadorra defeated Candidate Master Krzysztof Belzo (2057) in 43 moves of London System Opening, Gomez dealt Candidate Master Paul Wojciechowski (1904) in 38 moves of King's Indian defense, Garcia toppled John Ponomarenko (1631) in 40 moves of another King's Indian defense and Pascua trounced David Wilson (1651) in 39 moves of King's Indian Attack.

The Filipinos whose team captain is Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre now have six points on three wins and three losses.
They also defeated San Marino, 4-0, and Slovakia, 2.5-1.5, but bowed to Croatia, 1-3, Estonia, 1.5-2.5, and Lebanon, 1.5-2.5, respectively.

They will battle 60th seed Albania in the next round, who yielded to 25th seed Greece, 1-3.

Fourth-seed Azerbaijan, headed by Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2820) and Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov (2751) and Poland, bannered by Grandmaster Jan-Krzysztof Duda (2739) and Grandmaster Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2727) lead the way in the mens?s division with a perfect score of 12 points.

Top seed and defending champion United States at the helm are World Championships challenger Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana (2827) and Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So (2776) is third with eleven points. (Marlon Bernardino)


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Nicaraguan Boxing Commission hold Annual Awards to 2025 winners
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • BARBOZA JR. VS. SIMS JR. FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Skye Nicolson Headlines Huge Matchroom Boxing Homecoming in Melbourne as New Kayo Sports TV Era Begins on April 29
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Five Boxers Advance on Day Five of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Canoy to fight Balidio on March 14 in Matanao
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Lopez vs. Gallegos’ at Osceola Heritage Park in Kissimmee, Florida, Tomorrow Night at 8 pm EDT
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Jonny Mansour Takes on William King as One Half of a Double Main Event at Frontwave Arena’s SD Fight Night: Family Business on Saturday, April 18, 2026
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Rising Contender Jalen “Skywalker” Walker Signs with Wise Owl Boxing
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Unsung Heroes and the Value of Service
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Ronald, eldest son of boxing legend Tommy Hearns, will be his guardian and conservator
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Remembering Gilberto Mendoza in the 10th Anniversary of His Passing
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026
  • Air Force, Elite teams in Best of the Best Karate tourney
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 12 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.