THE Torre and Frayna show reaches its climax Tuesday, the last round of the 42nd Baku Chess Olympiad.
One appears headed to the sunset after glorious years of service to the Philippines and the other looks forward to a career full of promise in women’s chess.
Eugene Torre led the Philippines’ 4-0 rout of Scotland as he continued to defy skeptics with his eighth win in 10 games.
The 64-year-old Torre, playing in what could be his last Olympiad, is unbeaten and is contending for an individual medal for Board 3. His main opponent is Wesley So, the Cavite-born star, who is now playing for the US.
Janelle Mae Frayna and rookie Shania Mae Mendoza powered the Philippines’ womens team 2.5-1.5 win over Italy. Frayna, who team officials say have clinched the final norm to become the country’s first woman grandmaster, also qualified for a men’s International Master title.
There is no word on what title Frayna, 19, will embrace but chess-results.com reported that the psychology senior from FEU is now an International Master.
The men’s team has soared to 39th place with 12 match points from five wins, two draws and three losses. They are playing Australia as of presstime to surpass its 46th place finish two years ago in Tromso, Norway.
“The men’s team is playing well. If we were using the old system (of team scores), we should be in the Top 10 by now,” said Lilibeth Lee-Barcenilla, a two-time Olympiad member, in her Facebook page.
The women’s team jumped to 23rd place with 13 match points from six wins, one draw and three losses.
Torre ripped apart Iain Gourlay’s defense with a beautiful temporary knight sacrifice on the 28th move. The end came after the 32nd move of a Queen’s Pawn opening where Torre’s mating attack was in full swing.
Frayna, black against Olga Zimina’s Reti Opening, was about to force promotion to a queen when her opponent gave up. That win gave her the final norm for the IM title.
Frayna’s choice of which title to choose will be formally known in the awarding ceremonies late Tuesday.