RP LOSES TO CZECH REPUBLIC BUT GOMEZ EARNED A 20-GAME GM NORM=GM TITLE

THE bad news is the 38^th ranked Philippine Team suffered a heart-breaking loss to 18^th ranked Czech Republic, 1.5-2.5, but the good news is reigning national champion IM John Paul Gomez has earned a 20-game GM norm going to the last two round of the 38^th World Chess Olympiad being held yesterday at the International Congress Center in Dresden, Germany.

The result left the Filipinos backed up by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., and the Philippine Sports Commission headed by Butch Ramirez with only nine (9) match point after nine outings, and share 63^rd to 80th placer in the company of tenth round opponent and 88^th ranked Tunisia, who bowed to 32^nd ranked Denmark, 1-3.

Three-time national junior champion Gomez (2519) drew his match with GM Victor Laznicka (2591) on board 3 to raise his individual record to 4-1-4, win-loss-draw after nine games of play.

Team mates GMs Wesley So (2610) and Darwin Laylo also halved the point with GMs

Zbynek Hracek (2613) and Jiri Stocek (2578), board 2 and 4, respectively. Come-backing GM Bong Villamayor (2478) was yielded to GM David Navara (2633) in their top board encounter.

According to the Fide Handbook rules “9 games or more in Olympiad with a 2600+ performance rating = 20 game GM norm”. “One needs a 20-game norm + one 9-game norm or three 9-game norms to become a GM.” added Fide handbook rules.

Gomez performance rating after nine games is 2606 as reflected in the computations of Chess Results website. It shall be recalled that Gomez earned his first GM norm after topping the national finals qualifies him for the coveted GM title.

However, an on-line Philippine website said the possible scenario about Gomez GM title, “The challenge right now is for the Philippine team coaching staff. Will they risk the norm of Gomez and field him in the last two games? Two draws or worst, a loss, would most likely put his achievements in the last nine games to waste and they come home empty handed. I suggest they rest him in the last two games. Protect his results. This may opportunity may never come again.”

International Arbiter and National Master Erwin Carag also commented “Nakuha nga ni (John Paul) Gomez ang GM norm sa Olympiad,”

Eugene Torre, a non-playing team captain here in Dresden, acclaimed as Asia’s first Grandmaster after earning his GM title in 1974 during the World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France.

Veteran chess journalist Ignacio Dee added ” Nandun nga tayo nakuha ni (John Paul) Gomez ang GM norm as of nine round, pero gagawin ba nila na sa last two round na hindi paglaruin si (John Paul) Gomez, paano na ang team,”

Eight ranked Israel shocked ninth ranked and men’s defending champion Armenia, 2.5-1.5, to grab the over-all leadership board with 16 match point.

The Filipinas, meanwhile edged Brazil, 2.5-1.5, for 10 match point. Interestingly, the women team will battle host country Germany 1 in table 2.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO.