By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippines has earned a shot at improving its showing the last time with the staging of the Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities scheduled on Oct. 19 to 26 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The development would mean giving the Filipino woodpushers a strong chance to equal or eclipse their impressive bronze-medal finish in the inaugural edition held two years ago in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Olympiad features top chess players with visual, hearing, and physical impairments, highlighting the sport’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
In the inaugural edition, 27 teams were selected by rating and four were nominated by the President of FIDE, the sports’ world governing body.
The country sent 2020 International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Online Chess Rapid champion and FIDE Master Sander Severino, ASEAN and Asian Para Games champion Henry Lopez, Darry Bernardo, Cheyzer Mendoza and playing team captain James Infiesto.
Poland ruled the inaugural edition while IPCA took home the silver.
This year’s edition will gather 34 teams including two nations that have yet to be nominated by the FIDE President.
Six other Asian countries qualified in the event that include India, Iran, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and a FIDE squad, while European teams include defending champion Poland, Hungary, Israel, Ukraine, Germany, Croatia, Czech Republic, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Americas has six teams from Cuba, Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia, United States and Chile, while African teams come from Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Uganda.
Also participating are three teams from the FIDE affiliated organizations and two teams from the host.
