International Masters Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia continued to spearheaded the Philippines as it decimated the United Arab Emirates, 4-0, Saturday and barged into the top 20 after four rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Bersamina and Garcia hurdled FIDE Master Al Taher Abdulraman Mohammad and Saeed Laily Mohamed on boards two and four, respectively, in powering the Filipinos to the one-sided win over an opponent coached by GM Vladimir Akopian.
Also hurdling their respective assignments were IM Michael Concio, Jr. and GM Daniel Quizon on boards one and three.
After four rounds, they are now in the 39-country group at 17th with sixth match points apiece and Bersamina and Garcia, who have been untouchable with 3.5 points, hope to keep leading the way as they were tackling Uzbekistan 2 in the fifth round at press time.
Also coming through were the Filipinas, who downed the Sri Lankans, 3-1, on wins by WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Ruelle Canino and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda in the last three boards to jump to the 39-nation jam at No. 13 also with six match points.
The lone casualty for the Philippines, which is being bankrolled by the Philippine Sports Commission and head of delegation Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr., was WNM Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, who missed out on her drawing chances and suffered a defeat to WIM Davindya Oshini Gunawardhana on top board.
Sebastian is expected to sit out the Nationals’ fifth-round duel with the 19th-seeded Spaniards at press time.- Marlon Bernardino-
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