Bersamina won in 43 moves of a Nimzo-Indian defense against IM Alexis Murillo Tsijli.
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Filipino grand master (GM) John Paul Gomez outclassed global master (IM) Sergio Minero, 1-0, in board 1 while GM Eugenio Torre split point with GM Bernal Gonzalez in board 2.
Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, who is playing board one for the second straight game after top player GM Julio Catalino Sadorra was rushed to the hospital complaining of constant headaches, followed suit by dismantling IM Sergio Minero Pineda’s French Defense in 44 moves.
South Africa, which also has six points with 10.5 match points, eked out a 3-1 upset win over 40th-seeded Austria in third round.
Mr. Torre’s escape act rubbed into Barcenilla, who hung tough enough and claw his way out of an inferior game by bringing down IM Leonardo Valdez Romero in 74 moves of a King’s Indian Attack.
“Eugene has been the team’s life saver”, said GM Jayson Gonzales, National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director and one of the team’s two captains.
The Phl though could play with the same Gomez-Torre-Barcenilla-Bersamina line up since Sadorra, who has only played a game in the second round that ended up in a draw, is still doubtful as of posting time.
With its third win against a loss, the Philippines, ranked 53rd among 180 teams, improved to 6.0 match points, good for a share of 14th to 48th places in the Open division being paced by defending champion China, Azerbaijan I, Netherlands, India, Belarus and Ukraine with flawless 8.0 points.
Meanwhile, the 46th-seeded Philippines women’s team drew with 40th-ranked Canada, 2-2, to earn a total of five points (with nine match points) to share the 32nd to 51st spot after the fourth round.
Jan Jodilyn Fronda couldn’t cash in on her material advantage and lost miserably to Woman International Master Yuan Yuanling. Interestingly this is his first Chess Olympiad.
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The female Filipino chessers will test their mettle opposite Algeria in the next round.
