By Kristel Satumbaga
The International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) team battled Scotland to a 3-3 draw despite the misfortune that struck Filipino Sander Severino in the first FIDE Online Olympiad 2020 Friday night.
Tapped to play on Board One for IPCA being the reigning world champion, the 34-year-old FIDE Master had a chance to lead the team to a match win but he lost what could have been a drawn game to International Master Andrew Greet after he forfeited the match due to a power failure back home in Silay, Negros Occidental.
“Equal yung position namin at pareho kaming may tig-five minutes, kaso nawalan samin ng kuryente. Nawalan ako ng internet,” Severino said.
“Kung naitabla ko yung, panalo sana kami. Sayang.”
The result pulled IPCA from the lead down to a share of second with the Scottish with five points apiece, a point behind unbeaten Portugal with six points in Pool B of Division 3.
Severino smashed IM Omar Noaman and FM Miguel Sergio in IPCA wins over United Arab Emirates and Angola in the first two rounds with 5-1 scores.
A win is equivalent two points while a draw is good for one point. The fourth and fifth rounds are scheduled Saturday night while the last three rounds on Sunday.
The top three here will advance to Division II where the Philippines, which will be spearheaded by Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Banjo Barcenilla, Darwin Laylo and Joey Antonio, are bracketed.
