Sadorra, Gomez find winning lines

The Philippines rode on victories by Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra and John Paul Gomez as it flattened South Africa, 3-1, in the eighth round Thursday to keep its medal bid alive in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall here.

- JOEY VILLAR

Sadorra went on an attacking rampage early in overwhelming International Master Jan Karsten in 36 moves of a Queen's Pawn game at board one while Gomez dismantled FIDE Master Banele Mhango's Jaenisch Variation of the Ruy Lopez in 34 moves at board three.

IMs Pau Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia went for the win but ended up halving the point with FM Caleb Levi Levitan and IM Daniel Cawdery at boards two and four, respectively, as the Filipinos joined a big group in the Top 30 with 10 match points apiece.