BUDAPEST, Hungary — Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino Sadorra will try to carry the Philippines on his shoulders anew as they face off with dangerous Croatia in the seventh round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall here.
The 38-year-old University of Texas in Dallas coach is expected to man the top board for the Filipinos, who will be fielding Daniel Quizon, Paulo Bersamina and John Paul Gomez, against the Croatians, an all-GM side that was formerly part of chess power Yugoslavia.
The Filipinos, whose participation was being financed by the PSC through Chair Richard Bachmann and Commissioner Ed Hayco and backed by NCFP chief Butch Pichay, will try to barge back into the top 10 after sputtering to a share of 21st following a stinging 2.5-1.5 setback to the rock-solid Armenians, a former champion here.
Mr. Sadorra came into the round brandishing an impressive record of 3.5 points in four games, which included shocking wins over super GMs Vladimir Fedoseev in a mammoth 2.5-1.5 win over the Slovenians in the fifth round Sunday and Armenian Haik Martirosyan the next day.
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