Filipinas scoop up gold in Chess Olympiad group

BUDAPEST, Hungary — At 49th place and grasping at straws with two rounds to go, the Philippines was praying for the stars to align.

It did.

Willing their way out of oblivion, the Filipinas bravely took out their last two foes, including the Brazilians in a 4-0 victory in the 11th and final round Sunday, and with everything falling into place, achieved so many milestones in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad that concluded at the BOK Sports Hall.

Shania Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, Jodilyn Fronda and Ruelle Canino all prevailed across all four boards to power the Filipnas to a share of 22nd with 14 others with 14 match points apiece and eventually 24th overall after tiebreaks were computed.

It proved enough to snare the country, seeded 47th entering the 11-round tournament — the gold medal in Group B, confined to the 35th to the 70th ranked countries based on rating in this 181-nation field, ahead of Montenegro and Latvia.

The gold was first for the Philippines, which also has Bernadette Galas at last board, since the team of Sheerie Joy Lomibao, Catherine Pereña, Sherily Cua and Beverly Mendoza took the gold in Group C in the 2006 Turin edition.

It was also its best finish since the brave troika of Girme Fontanilla, Mila Emperado and Ma. Cristina Santos Fidaer performed magnificently at 22nd place in 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece.

“It will be a legacy in Philippine chess that will be remembered for a long time,” said national women’s team coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, who thanked the Philippine Sports Commission, the NCFP chief Butch Pichay, delegation head Atty. Ruel Canobas, women’s manager Atty. Nikki de Vega, Far Eastern U chair Aurelio Montinola III for their support.

It all came to fore after the heavens smiled on the Filipinas.

Sixth only in the Category B race entering the final round, Iran, the erstwhile leader, defaulted its game against Israel due to political reasons, and the other countries ahead of the Philippines, either fell and drew itself out of the hunt.

Then, with just four countries left to contend with, the Filipinas outpointed each and every one in tiebreaks to hammer in the final nail in the coffin.

Interestingly, all five members earned