Manila Bulletin

PH falls to Australia

- By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

The Philippine­s yielded to nemesis Australia, 3-1, Friday but remained in quarterfin­al contention after eight rounds in the men’s side of the Asian Nations Online Chess Cup.

Grandmaste­r Mark Paragua averted a shutout by carving out a win over GM Anton Smirnov on Board 1, while GM John Paul Gomez and Internatio­nal Masters Haridas Pascua and Paulo Bersamina all fell by the wayside.

Gomez was the first to succumb at the expense of GM Max Illingwort­h on Board 3 followed by Pascua and Bersamina to GMs Temur Kuybokarov and Moulthun Ly on Boards 2 and 4, respective­ly.

The defeat sent the Filipinos from a share of third down to a six-nation group at No. 6 with eight match points.

It was a roller-coaster day for the Agila ng Pilipinas with a fourth-round defeat against Iran, only to bounce back against Mongolia in the fifth that sent them just a point off the pace.

 ??  ?? MARK PARAGUA
MARK PARAGUA

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