CHENNAI, INDIA — The Philippine women’s chess team fared better than their male compatriots as it drubbed listless Bolivia in the seventh round of the ongoing 44th World Chess Olympiad at the Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort and Convention Center here.

The Filipinas scored an impressive 3.5 to 0.5 win over the Bolivians behind impressive performances of WGM Janelle Mae Frayna (ELO 2325), and WIMs Marie Antoinette San Diego (ELO 2101) and Kylen Joy Mordido (ELO 2023) on boards one, two and four, and a draw by WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 2181) on board two.

On the other hand, the men’s team only split the points with fifth seed Poland although it maintained its giant-killing ways at the expense of another world-rated grandmaster to put the Philippines in a tie with 17 other countries with 10-points apiece in 14th place in the world’s most prestigious chess tournament.

Pinoy grandmaster (GM) Mark Paragua (ELO 2430) delivered what could be considered one of his biggest victories to date after he brought down reigning World Cup titlist and World No. 18 Jan-Krzysztof Duda (ELO 2740) on top board to salvage a draw with the Poles.

On the second board, GM Banjo Barcenilla (ELO 2463) drew with super-GM Kacper Piorun (ELO 2636) thus helping the Philippine team to secure the gutsy draw with the eastern European chess powerhouse.

The Pinoy woodpushers actually trailed, 0.5 to 1.5, after GM John Paul Gomez (ELO 2451) drew with GM Wojciech Moranda (ELO 2636) on board three and GM Darwin Laylo (ELO 2432) unfortunately blundered away his drawing chances and lost due to deep time pressure to GM Mateusz Bartel (ELO 2597) on board four.

Paragua’s victory saved the day for the Philippines, pulling off the draw against a Polish team that is flashing an impressive average rating of 2654 against the PH team’s 2451 norm.

It was the third time the Pinoys caught a big fish with the first two coming at the expense of Sweden, 2.5-1.5, in the fifth round Tuesday and Israel, 2-2, in the next round.

Now they hope to add another one to their growing list of victims as they were tackling the fancied Greeks in the eighth round as of press time.

SOURCED FROM FIDE REPORTS