THE Philippines blanked Egypt, 4-0, in the fourth round on Monday night to stay in the medal hunt in the 3rd FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities (PWD) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Henry Lopez, Jasper Rom, Darry Bernardo and Cheyzer Mendoza won all their matches from boards one to four that catapulted the Filipinos from a share of seventh to a share of third with six match points on three wins and a loss.

That loss came on Sunday when the Nationals succumbed to the second-seeded Cubans, 2.5-1.5, in the third round.

In this seven-round tournament, a win accounts for two points, a draw for one and a loss for none.

The Filipinos, seeded seventh, were battling the No. 5 seed Croatians, in the fifth round at press time in a critical duel that would make or break their medal bid.

The Philippines is eyeing to surpass, if not replicate, its bronze medal finish in the inaugural edition in Belgrade, Serbia three years ago.

The Filipinos actually ended up tied for third in the second edition in Astana, Kazakhstan last year but lost on tiebreaks and wound up fifth.

It will also be the first time that the squad will be without its former leader, former world champion in FIDE Master Sander Severino, who passed away early this year after battling muscle dystrophy or degeneration since childhood.

“This is for Sander,” said Mr. Lopez. — Joey Villar

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