PH stuns England in World Chess

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Torre, Barbosa score; Team PH 2nd
Manila Bulletin â€" Thu, Sep 6, 2012 7:25 PM PHT


Eugene Torre and Oliver Barbosa, two grandmasters separated by nearly three generations, delivered the killer blows in the Philippines' amazing 3-1 victory over powerhouse England Tuesday in the eighth round of the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Torre, the 60-year-old chess legend, defeated old rival GM Nigel Short (2698) with the black pieces at board three while Barbosa, 26, continued his winning run with white, this time at the expense of GM Jones Gawain (2653).

GMs Wesley So and Mark Paragua, playing on opposite ends of the four-board match, hacked out draws with GM Michael Adams (2722) and GM Nicholas Pert (2555), respectively.

The Filipinos came into the tournament, hoping to improve on their worst showing - 50th place - two years ago in Russia.

With three rounds left, the Filipinos can do the impossible - win this tournament - beginning with a much-anticipated showdown with China Wednesday.