Tough Matches for Philippines in Round 2 of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad

After winning all their 8 games in Round 1 for both Open and Women Section, the Philippine team are up against much tougher opponents in Round 2.[replay]

The Open Section team will be up against the 39th seed, Paraguay. The match up follows:

Philippines vs. Paraguay - Round 2 Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open

Bo.53Philippines (PHI)Rtg39Paraguay (PAR)Rtg
35/1GMSadorra, Julio Catalino (w)2560GMDelgado Ramirez, Neuris (b)2618
35/2GMGomez, John Paul (b)2492GMBachmann, Axel (w)2641
35/3GMTorre, Eugenio (w)2447GMCubas, Jose Fernando (b)2470
35/4GMBarcenilla, Rogelio (b)2455GMFranco Ocampos, Zenon (w)2496

Meanwhile, the Women team will be facing the 4th seed, Georgia:

Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Round 1 Pairings

[section_title title=”Introduction”]

Round 1 is scheduled to start today.

As is the usual case with the Swiss system, in Round 1 the top seed gets to face the middle seeded player/team. Thus, the higher half of the tournament participants in terms of their seed number are usually pitted against the much lower rated/seeded player/team in the first round.

We expect not much tension yet in Round 1.

The Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad playing hall. Photo courtesy of Chess Daily News.

The Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad playing hall. Photo courtesy of Chess Daily News.

As such, let’s check out the team pairings in the pages that follow.

GM Joey Antonio is out of Philippines’ roster for Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open

Philstar reported last Monday:

Grandmaster Joey Antonio, the reigning national champion, will not be joining the Philippine team bound for the 42nd World Chess Olympiad set Sept. 1-14 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The explanation offered by the NCFP: that GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Jr. will be playing in the 2016 World Seniors Championship in November.

Ed Andaya writes in Journal Online:

Conspicuously absent is Battle of GMs national champion Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who reportedly begged off from taking his place in the national team to Baku.

Infiesto said Antonio decided to represent the country in the 2016 World Seniors Championsips in the Czech Republic in November, along with Torre.

If you don’t smell something fishy about these developments, let me point out to you what Antonio posted on his Facebook account just last month:

Are you ready for Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad?

[section_title title=”Introduction”]

The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess event in which teams from all over the world compete. The 42nd edition of the event is going to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 1 to 14 September 2016.

In the Tromso 2014 Olympiad, China and Russia won the gold medals in the Open and Women’s division, respectively.

Here’s the promotional video of the Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad, Game of Thrones-style:

Check out the list of participating teams and their average ratings in the pages that follow.

Say Chess — Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Promotional Video

Here’s the promotional video of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad: “Say Chess”:

The Baku Chess Olympiad starts next week from 1 to 14 to September 2016. We’re going in for a treat for two weeks of chess action.

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad (Open)

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad

More details can be found here.

UPDATE:

The line up has been updated, as follows:

Philippines Team in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open

TitleNameRating
GMJulio Catalino Sadorra2538
GMJohn Paul Gomez2492
GMEugenio Torre2447
GMRogelio Barcenilla2455
IMPaulo Bersamina2402

Read: GM Joey Antonio is out of Philippines’ roster for Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open.