Philippines repeats over India in semis, faces China for the gold

Team India (left) vs Team Philippines in the semi-final round. Even before the start of the games, the look in each face of the Filipino players exactly captured the ensuing results in individual board matches. Click photo for enlarged view. (Photo source: Asian Chess Federation)

SEMI-FINAL ROUND MATCH RESULTS: India vs Philippines

Bo.	3	India	Rtg	-	2	Philippines	Rtg	1½:2½
2.1	GM	Harikrishna P	2657	-	GM	So Wesley	2669	1 - 0
2.2	GM	Sasikiran Krishnan	2688	-	GM	Antonio Rogelio Jr	2573	0 - 1
2.3	GM	Ganguly Surya Shekhar	2644	-	GM	Gomez John Paul	2522	½ - ½
2.4	GM	Gopal G N	2609	-	GM	Torre Eugenio	2484	0 - 1

It's no longer a matter of belief or faith. It's a fact that will forever sparkle in the history books of Philippine chess: the Team Philippines is in the finals of the 2010 Asian Games - Team Standard Chess event.

Only on its second appearance in this regional, quadrennial event, the Philippine Chess Team was already assured of at least a silver medal - a feat that promises a lot about the realistic potential of Filipino athletes in this sport.

Again, it is just the second time that the Philippines sent a chess team in the Asian Games, yet the early harvest of a medal is at hand.

Thanks to the members of this world-class team: GM Wesley So, GM Rogelio Antonio, GM John Paul Gomez, GM Darwin Laylo, and GM Eugene Torre.

Remember the names. Roll out the red carpet. Blow the trumpet.

We have a truly world-class team in our midst, a team that can compete against the world's best - and emerge triumphant in the end.

Beating higher-ranked teams in breathtaking fashion, the team's journey to the finals was already more than a win by itself.

The Philippine Team beat No.3-seed Team Kazakhstan in Round 4, then followed it up by overpowering No.2-seed and world's No.7 Team India in Round 5, surely a one-two punch that brought their opponents down.

Then, our team demolished former FIDE champ GM Kasimdzhanov Rustam-led Uzbekistan Team in Round 6, with the lower board delivering the goods, a statement that the Philippine Chess Team is indeed a team!

And to show to the whole world that their stamp of class is genuine, they crashed to pieces the Indian Team - AGAIN - in the semis to earn the finals slot against No.1 seed Team China.

The beauty of the semis win over Team India was that the time-tested vanguards of Philippine chess extracted every remaining ounce of their strength in the name of national pride and patriotism.

The final push for the gold against the No.1 seed Team China, the only team that dented a loss to the underdog Team Philippines in the eliminations, will surely be a tall order.

Prepare for the final salvo. This could be another history in the making.

Let's all unite in prayer, and be part of yet another historic chapter of Philippine chess.