Filipina woodpushers bounce back against Argentina, places 22nd in tourney

The Philippines delivered another mixed bag of results in the seventh round of the 45th FIDE in Budapest, Hungary.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and defending woman national champion Ruelle Canino snared a ticket back to the medal race after pacing the Filipina team for a 2.5-1.5 upset over the fancied 26th-seeded Argentina. 

Frayna outlasted Woman International Master Maria Jose Campos with Catalan’s Defense English opening in 62 moves, while Canino defeated WGM Claudia Amura in 39 moves of a King’s English Variation of the English Opening.

WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda finished an 80-move draw with Anapaola Borda Rodas, while Woman Fide Master committed an error in a 46-move match against WGM Candela Francisco.

The Filipina woodpushers ascended back to 22nd spot of the 183-nation event.

Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra, meanwhile, forced a draw with super Grandmaster Ante Brkic in 31 moves of Ruy López: Morphy Defense.

Sadorra’s draw prevented the men’s team from being swept by the 27th seed Croatia after International Master Paulo Bersamin and Grandmasters Daniel Quizon and John Paul Gomez bowing out to their Croatian rivals. 

Newly minted GM Quizon fell to GM Sasa Martinovic in 46 moves, while Gomez faltered to Hrvoje Stevic and Bersamina was shut in 60 moves.

The Filipino team slipped to 49th place among 197 teams going into the last four rounds of the competition.