Zone 3.3 Round 2 report

The 10-player RP contingent in the ongoing Zone 3.3 FIDE World Chess Championships in Vietnam exhibited a very solid +6-0=4 performance in Round 2, reminding the world that indeed the Philippines is the No.1 chess nation in the ASEAN region.


Round 2 wins:
GM Wesley So (Men)
IM Richard Bitoon (Men)
GM Darwin Laylo (Men)
GM Mark Paragua (Men)
WFM Sherily Cua (Women)
Daisy Rivera (Women)

Round 2 draws:
GM Eugene Torre (Men)
IM Rolando Nolte (Men)
WFM Shercila Cua (Women)
WFM Catherine Pereña (Women)

After two rounds of battle, three Filipino campaigners remained unscathed to post 2/2 performance. They are GM Paragua, GM Laylo, and IM Bitoon.



But unlike the not-so-rough struggles being hurdled by the RP Men’s group so far, the country’s women campaigners seemed to have tougher challenges as they are faced against much higher rated opponents especially in Round 3.

WFM Pereña (2092) has been having the “luck” of being paired with strong opponents. She faced No.2 seed WGMNguyen Thi Thanh An (2330) of Vietnam in Round 1 and, as if the hardship was not enough, has to face a sure tough challenge from No.1 seed WGMMunguntuul Batkhuyag of Mongolia in Round 3. Whew!!

Another Filipina campaigner Daisy Rivera (2087) battled No.4 seed WGMSukandar Irine Kharisma (2311) of Indonesia in Round 1 and will face another WGM in the name of No.2 seed WGMNguyen Thi Thanh An (2330) of Vietnam in Round 3.

Just imagine competing with two WGMs in three rounds! That’s the kind of hurdles our heroic Filipinas need to overcome – for the country and flag.

It’s only fitting that we give them the full support that they need.