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:

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:

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.

Battle of the Grandmasters 2016

The Battle of the Grandmasters — the 2016 (Philippines) National Chess Championship Grand Finals is underway and off to its last round (Round 13) today.

6 Filipino grandmasters joined the Open Division.

Standings of the Open Division at the end of Round 12 follow: