Phl chessers rip Costa Rica

The Philippines stayed on pace at improving its 24th-place finish after it smashed Costa Rica, 3-1, in the 10th and penultimate round of the 46th Women’s Chess Olympiad Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Saturday.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda-Grafil and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza turned back their respective foes on boards one, three and four that helped seal the deal.

WIM Ruelle Canino suffered the Philippines’ lone defeat — a 49-move setback to WIM Sofia Mayorga Araya of a Pirc Defense — on board two.

With that, the Filipinas, who are being financed by the Philippine Sports Commission, have jumped to an 11-nation logjam at 21st spot with identical 13 match points with a round to go.

They were battling the 20th-seeded Britons in the final round at press time with an eye at nothing less than a victory that would seal them a top 20 finish and a chance at claiming the category B gold for the second straight editions.

The Nationals wound up 24th overall and pocketed the gold in their bracket in Budapest, Hungary two years ago.

A bonus of P500,000 awaits the Filipinas if they end up finishing in the top 20, courtesy of delegation head and Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr.

The Filipinos, for their part, overpowered the Dominican Republic, 4-0, to climb up to a big group at top 20 with 12 match points apiece.

IMs Michael Concio Jr., Pau Bersamina and Jem Garcia and GM Darwin Laylo delivered the points for the Filipinos, who were playing the Panamanians at press time.