PH chess team still unbeaten in 26th SEAG

THE PHILIPPINES mixed pair chess team kept its unbeaten record intact after beating Indonesia, 1.5-.5, late Sunday in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia.

The win gave the Philippines 3.5 points after two rounds, tying heavyweight Vietnam at the top of the leaderboard. Vietnam subdued Myanmar, 1.5-.5.

Newly minted GM Oliver Barbosa (2571) defeated GM Susanto Megaranto (2537) while WIM Catherine Perena (2083) drew with WGM Irine Kharisma Sukandar (2350).

In Saturday’s first round, the Filipinos blanked Myanmar, 2-0, with Barbosa beating FM Zaw Oo (2274) and Perena crushing May Hsu Lwin (2112).

The Philippine Team will next face Vietnam led by GM Dao Thien Hai (2505) and WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An (2300).

In the blindfold chess event, GM John Paul Gomez scored back-to-back draws against IM Mok Tze-Meng of Malaysia and GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam while compatriot GM Darwin Laylo lost to IM Lioe Dede of Indonesia in the third then subdued GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam in the fourth round.

Gomez has 3.0 points, the same output of co-leader IM Tirta Chandra Purnama of Indonesia.  Correspondent MARLON BERNARDINO