So, Torre win as Pinoys stun Indians
by Ed Andaya
Monday, 22 November 2010 20:19

Standings after five rounds:

10 points — China
8 — Philippines
7 — Kyrgyzstan
6 — India, Qatar, Uzbekistan
5 — Iran, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Iraq
4 — Bangladesh, Mongolia, Korea
3 — Maldives
2 — Yemen
1 — Jordan, Lebanon

GUANGZHOU, China — On another bleak day for the Philippines in nearly all fronts, GMs Wesley So and Eugene Torre put the smile back on the Filipinos’ faces in the 16th Asian Games here Monday.

So, undoubtedly the brightest Filipino chess player to emerge in recent years, outwitted GM Pentala Harikrishna in their keenly-watched board one showdown to lead the Filipinos to a morale-boosting 2.5-1.5 upset win over second seed India in the fifth round of the chess competitions at the Guangzhou Chess Institute.

Torre, the most recognizable figure in local chess since becoming Asia’s first-ever GM in 1974, capped the Filipinos’ big day when he defeated GM B. Adhiban on board four.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. also did his part by drawing with GM Krishnan Sasikiran in board two.

Only GM John Paul Gomez, the hero in the Philippines’ 2.5-1.5 triumph over Kazakhstan last Sunday, did not count as he lost to GM Surya Shekhar Ganguly in board three.

The smashing win propelled the sixth-seeded Filipinos to solo second place behind top seed China with eight points on four wins and one loss in the tough, nine-round competition which attracted 25 countries.

China trounced Iran, 3-1, behind the victories of GMs Bu Xiangzhi and Zhou Jianchao over GM Homayoon Toufighi and IM Ashgar Golizadeh in the lower boards

The Chinese, who are widely favored to sweep the gold medals in both the men’s and women’s divisions, have now beaten all their five opponents, including the Filipinos in the third round.

Full article here.

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