WOMAN Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza (Elo 2113) and Woman International Master Bernadette Galas (2080) are giving their rivals a world-class fight in the fifth round of the ongoing 43rd Chess Olympiad late Friday at the Sports Place in Batumi, Georgia.
Mendoza, a mainstay of the star-studded Far Eastern University chess team toppled Woman Fide Master Louise Head (2161) in 35 moves of Slav defense on board three while Galas, a former top player of UAAP champion De La Salle University chess team, smashed Woman International Master Sue Maroroa (2112) in 43 moves of English Opening on board four.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna (2287), playing black, bowed to International Master Jovanka Houska (2402) in 56 moves of King's Indian Attack on board one while Woman International Master Catherine Perena-Secopito (2157) was yielded to Fide Master Akshaya Kalaiyalahan (2253) in 68 moves of King's Indian defense on board two.
The loss led to a 2-2 deadlock between the 43rd seed Philippines and the 25th seed England.
The country's female squad, whose team captain is Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales has tallied seven match points on account of 13 game points, and climbed at 31st place.
The Filipinas playing under the guidance of NCFP Chairman/ President Deputy Speaker Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. and Secretary-General Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Ng Tolentino Jr. will next face 15th ranked Spain, who blanked 45th ranked Brazil, 4-0.
In the men's division, the Philippines suffered its third loss, a 1.5-2.5 defeat at the hands of No. 102 seed Lebanon, and dropped at 101st place.
Grandmaster John Paul Gomez (2464) was succumbed to Fide Master Amro El Jawich (2276) in 29 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening while Fide Master Mari Joseph Logizesthai Turqueza (2360) was loss to untitled Mahdi Al Kaoury (2106) in 33 moves of English Opening on board four.
Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra (2553) halved the point with International Master Fadi Eid (2328) in moves of 84 King's Indian defense on board one while International Master Haridas Pascua (2435) defeated Candidate Master Maroun Tomb (2177) in 57 moves of King's Indian defense on board three.
The men's team squad, whose team captain is Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre has four match points on account of 10.5 points, will next meet 151st seed Jersey, who blasted 178 seed Burundi, 4-0.
Meanwhile, top seed United States settled for a 2-2 standoff against 10th seed Israel.
World Championships challenger Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana (2827) delivered the crucial win for the United States after beating Grandmaster Boris Gelfand (2703) on board one.
Grandmaster Wesley So (2776) and Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura (2763) claiming draws on boards 2 and 3, respectively against Grandmaster Maxim Rodshtein (2674) and Grandmaster Tamir Nabaty (2692).
However, Grandmaster Samuel Shankland (2722) dropped his match to Grandmaster Emil Sutovsky (2633) on board four. (Marlon Bernardino).