by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA---It was Playing Coach National Master James Infiesto's turn to play savior as the sixth-ranked Philippines forged a 2-2 draw with second-ranked Israel in the fifth and penultimate round of the FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities Friday at the Belgrade's Crown Plaza Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Davao City NM Infiesto halving the point with International Master Andrei Gurbanov in 74 moves of Vienna Opening on board three to keep the Filipinos in the ambitious runner up-place hunt.

" Ako kasi huling natapos na laro buti naka draw ako at nanalo si Darry (Bernardo) para sa 2-2 stand off sa Israel." said NM Infiesto.

The important draw and National Master Darry Bernardo's 28-move win with Woman Fide Master Aleksandra Aleksandrova of an Stonewall duel on fourth board helped the Filipinos secure the upset standoff and a place in an four way tie for third place with 7 match points.

It also overhauled an early 1.5-0.5 deficit following a loss by National Master Henry Roger Lopez to Fide Master Alexey Streltsov in 37 moves of London System on board two and a draw by Fide Master Sander Severino with Grandmaster Yehuda Gruenfeld in 70 moves of English Opening on board one.
Overall, the Filipinos backed up by the Philippine Sports Commission compiled at 7.0 match points on account of three wins, one win and one loss, the same output of Israel, India, Hungary.

Top ranked Poland slammed 10th ranked India, 3-1, to remain on top with perfect 10 match points, two points ahead with solo second place seventh ranked IPCA (8.0 match points), who brought down fifth ranked Cuba, 3.5-0.5.
In other results; Hungary nipped Uzbekistan, 2.5-1.5, Croatia toppled Turkey, 3.5-0.5, Serbia 1 outplayed Romania, 3.5-0.5, FIDE crushed Bangladesh, 3-1,  Czech Republic defeated Serbia 2, 3-1, Kazakhstan drew with ICCD, 2-2, and so did as Germany against   Kyrgyzstan, 2-2.
The Filipinos will tackle India’s team of Kumar Pradhan Soundarya, IM Kutwal Shashikant, Gangolli Kishan and Kumar A. Naveen in the sixth and final round of this six-round tournament that gathered the top 26 teams in the globe via their average rating.-Marlon Bernardino-