Azerbaijan’s superior Elo ratings proved decisive as the Philippines absorbed a 3-1 setback in the second round of the Chess Olympiad, ending the Filipinos’ promising start after a dominant 4-0 sweep of Fiji in the opening round.
The Azerbaijani powerhouse claimed two victories and secured two draws to take the match, with Super Grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and GM Aydin Muradli delivering the crucial wins for their country.
Despite the loss, the Philippine team showed plenty of fighting spirit, particularly on the lower boards.
IM Paulo Bersamina and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia produced impressive defensive efforts, holding higher-rated GMs Aydin Suleymanli and Eltaj Safarli to hard-fought draws. Given the significant Elo disparity between the two teams, the results represented notable performances for the Filipinos.
However, IM Michael Concio Jr. and GM Daniel Quizon could not hold the fort on the top boards, eventually succumbing to Azerbaijan’s elite grandmasters.
The 3-1 defeat stalled Team Philippines’ impressive momentum after the squad opened its Olympiad campaign in emphatic fashion, blanking Fiji, 4-0, in the first round.
With the tournament still in its early stages, the Filipinos will look to regroup and regain their winning form in the succeeding rounds.