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Mangosteen island

AMID continued peace and security concerns in Sulu, the province celebrated on Sept. 25 the first Sulu Mangosteen Festival, highlighting the fruit that is abundant on the island and the many processed products that are ready for expanded marketing. Sulu Governor Abdusakur A. Tan II, in his speech, appealed to regional and national government agencies to help the province promote and bring the mangosteen goods to consumers. Provincial Agriculture Officer Mercian Aspi said the development and tapping into the health benefits and other uses of mangosteen will be a good livelihood source for local farmers.

Migration season: Glan to hold 1st Raptor Watch Festival

THE FIRST Autumn Migration Raptor Watch Festival will be held on Oct. 5 in the town of Glan, Sarangani, one of the stopover sites of birds making the journey from Taiwan and Japan towards Indonesia. The migratory birds have been observed in the last couple of years to take a layover in Rio del Pilar, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region 12 (DENR-12). Last year, the Sarangani provincial government, through the Environmental Conservation and Protection Center, recorded 132,945 birds composed of Chinese Sparrowhawk (96%), Grey-faced Buzzard (3%), Peregrine Falcon and Western Osprey (1%). The monitoring and study continues this year, said DENR-12, “to generate scientific data that will help authorities understand certain aspects of raptor biology, migration behaviors and to help identify critical sites for conservation.” This year’s monitoring season includes a reforestation initiative of one of the roosting sites, Mt. Taltak, in partnership with Raptorwatch Network Philippines and the Japanese Society for the Preservation of Birds. The Raptor Watch Festival aims to highlight the importance of maintaining the environmental health of the area to keep the raptors coming

Nation at a Glance — (09/27/18)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Peso drops ahead of BSP

THE PESO slipped ahead of the policy meetings of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the US Federal Reserve. — BW FILE PHOTO

THE PESO weakened by a tad to a fresh 12-year low on Wednesday as the market awaits the policy decisions of the local and US central banks.
The local unit ended Wednesday’s session at P54.325 versus the greenback, a shade weaker than the P54.31-per-dollar finish the previous day.
This was the peso’s weakest in nearly 13 years since it closed at P54.425 versus the greenback on Nov. 22, 2005.
The peso opened the session stronger at P54.29, climbing to as high as P54.22. However, its intraday low stood at the closing rate of P54.325 against the US currency.
Dollars traded declined to $623.4 million from the $668.35 million that switched hands on Tuesday.
A foreign exchange trader said the peso consolidated during Wednesday’s trading even as the bias was on the high.
“It traded to as [high] as P54.22 as we saw the dollar in general traded a bit lower versus the major currencies,” the trader said in a phone interview. “However, it traded weaker towards the close.”
The trader added that the movement was contained as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) traded at the P54.35 level.
“For Thursday, let’s see what the will BSP do. We also have to see their rhetoric if it’s still going to be hawkish,” the trader added.
The central bank is widely expect to raise its benchmark rates by another 50 basis points (bp) to rein in inflation, which quickened to its fastest pace in nearly a decade at 6.4% in August.
Meanwhile, another trader said the peso closed again to a record low ahead of the Federal Reserve meeting, where it’s expected to raise key rates by 25 bps.
For Thursday, the first trader expect the peso to move between P54.20 and P54.35, while the other gave a P54.10-P54.30 range.
“The local currency might gain strength as market players will likely to take profits from the hawkish Fed rate decision and in anticipation to [hawkish] monetary policy decision from the BSP at the close of the trading day,” the second trader noted. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Shares decline ahead of Fed, BSP rate decisions

By Arra B. Francia, Reporter
STOCKS FELL anew on Wednesday as investors remained cautious ahead of the back-to-back meetings of the United States Federal Reserve and the country’s own central bank.
The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped 0.87% or 63.96 points to close at 7,268.21 yesterday, extending Tuesday’s decline. The broader all-shares index likewise slipped 0.76% or 34.43 points to finish at 4,460.47.
“The market movement today is, I think, a risk-off sentiment ahead of FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) rate decision and of course BSP (Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas) Monetary Board meeting,” IB Gimenez Securities, Inc. Research Head Joylin F. Telagen said via text on Wednesday.
The FOMC will have its two-day policy meeting from Sept. 26-27, with consensus pointing to a rate hike of 25 basis points (bps).
Meanwhile, the BSP’s Monetary Board will also meet on Thursday for its own review, with most projections citing as much as a 50 bps increase in benchmark interest rates. This move is expected to temper inflation in the months ahead, after it shot up to 6.4% last August, the highest in around nine years.
“With regards to the expected 50 bps rate hike [on Thursday] to curve inflation, I still believe inflation is still yet to peak in the 3rd or 4th quarter this year and might taper back to 4-5% levels early 2019, therefore the government’s GDP target of 7-8% remains under threat,” Unicapital Securities, Inc. Certified Securities Representative Cristopher Adrian T. San Pedro said in a separate message.
On a technical note, Mr. San Pedro said the market might test the next support level at 7,200 and 7,134 after encountering the 7,433 resistance.
“I believe the market still lacks macroeconomic catalysts in the short term and this is why the investors are still cautious and on the sidelines,” he said.
Property was the lone sector that managed to log gains, climbing 1.67% or 60.41 points to 3,660.22. The rest declined, led by financials, which plunged 3.6% or 59.41 points to 1,590.40. Industrials lost 1.66% or 183.78 points to 10,844.93; services shed 1.54% or 23.21 points to 1,480.87; mining and oil dipped 1.29% or 118.76 points to 9,043.50; and holding firms slumped 0.28% or 20.40 points to 7,135.03.
Some 1.05 billion issues switched hands, resulting in a turnover of P4.94 billion, higher than the previous session’s P3.50 billion. Decliners trumped advancers, 121 to 66, while 54 issues closed flat.
Net foreign outflows widened to P520.35 million versus the P160.45 million recorded on Tuesday. This marked the 20th straight day that foreign investors logged a net foreign selling position.
Meanwhile, most Asian markets rose on Wednesday as most investors also waited for the third interest rate hike by the US Fed for this year.

NLEX halts Blackwater in coach Guiao’s return

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE NLEX Road Warriors welcomed back head coach Yeng Guiao in a grand way, beating erstwhile undefeated Blackwater Elite, 124-106, in Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup action on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Back after more than a month away to coach the national team, Mr. Guiao saw his team play inspired and consistent ball on both ends throughout the contest to get back on the winning track and improve to 4-2 for the tournament.
The two teams slugged it out to start the contest, fighting to a 9-8 count, with NLEX ahead, at the 6:07 mark of first quarter.
Blackwater would then make its move with Nards Pinto leading to tie the score at 14-all after two minutes before taking a three-point lead, 17-14, with 3:28 left.
But the Road Warriors had the last laugh as they finished the quarter strong to hold a 24-19 lead at the end of the first frame.
It was a back-and-forth affair once again to begin the second canto.
The Elite came within two points, 33-31, in the first five minutes.
Import Aaron Fuller though stabilized things for NLEX after, helping to create added distance from Blackwater, 39-33, with 5:57 left.
The Elite continued to charge back for the remainder of the quarter but the Road Warriors found ways to hold them off as NLEX stayed on top, 55-45, at the half.
In the third period NLEX was firing from all cylinders, towed by Larry Fonacier and Kenneth Ighalo, outscoring its opponent, 26-13, to pull away for an 81-58 advantage by the 5:09 mark.
Mr. Walker and Paul Zamar tried to lead Blackwater back the rest of the way, finding some success in narrowing their deficit to just 15 points, 90-75, entering the fourth period.
The Elite began the payoff quarter aggressively only to find the Road Warriors up to the challenge.
NLEX held a 99-89 lead with six minutes remaining, extending it to 15 points, 107-92, at the 4:24 mark.
From there the Road Warriors just matched whatever the Elite threw at them on their way to the victory.
Mr. Fonacier led NLEX with 24 points, going 6-of-9 from beyond the arc. It was his highest output in a Road Warriors uniform.
Mr. Fuller also had 24 points to go along with 20 rebounds while Mr. Ighalo had 18 points.
For Blackwater (4-1), which lost for the first time after four straight victories to open its Governors’ Cup bid, it was Roi Sumang who led the way with 24 points.
Messrs. Walker and Zamar had 16 points apiece and Mr. Pinto 15.
“We really came prepared for this game seeing how Blackwater is for real. The players were excited to play again after a long break and I, too, coaching, having the feel of the PBA again,” said Mr. Guiao after the win.

Blue Eagles soar past Red Warriors, 89-62

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE flight of defending champions Ateneo Blue Eagles in Season 81 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines got further wind on Wednesday after they beat out the University of the East Red Warriors, 89-62, at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Used a strong effort in the middle quarters, the Eagles were unrelenting on the Warriors as they ran away with the victory, their third straight after starting their season campaign with a loss.
Ateneo had it dominant to start the contest, pounding on UE late in the opening quarter to take a 24-10 lead at the end of the first 10 minutes.
The Warriors tried to make up some ground in the second period only to find a not-too-willing party in the Eagles who continued to pile on the pressure on UE.
On the strength of a balanced attack, the Eagles would move on to hold sway, 43-31, at the break.
The Eagles came out firing to start the third canto behind Thirdy Ravena, Will Navarro, and Matt Nieto.
They outscored the Warriors, 15-5, to extend their lead to 58-36 at the midway point of the frame.
UE though would rack up eight straight points after, led by guard JC Cullar, to narrow their deficit to just 14 points, 58-44, at the 3:16 mark.
Anton Asistio and Isaac Go would help Ateneo restore order as the team finished strong to hold a 68-44 advantage heading into the final canto.
Veteran Alvin Pasaol tried to rally the Warriors back only to see the Eagles stand their ground in command and deflect any comeback.
The count stood at 79-52 with five minutes remaining on the clock, and Ateneo comfortably ahead, and it was all Eagles the rest of the way.
Raffy Verano led the Eagles (3-1) with 12 points before limping out late in the game after apparently spraining his ankle.
Navarro finished with 11 while Asistio and Jolo Mendoza had nine points apiece.
Angelo Kouame and Ravena each scored eight points for the Eagles.
Pasaol, meanwhile, paced UE (0-4) with 17 points and eight boards followed by Wilson Bartolome with 12 markers.
“We knew entering the game that UE does not quit no matter the score so we wanted to match it up until the end,” said Ateneo assistant coach Sandy Arespacochaga in the postgame press conference, referring to the mindset they had in the contest.
Ateneo next plays the University of Santo Tomas (1-2) on Sept. 29 while UE takes on Far Eastern University (2-1) on Sept. 30.

Workers in Qatar’s $45 billion World Cup final city went unpaid for months: Amnesty

LONDON — Dozens of migrants working on Qatar’s $45 billion World Cup final city of Lusail have gone unpaid for months, Amnesty International said Wednesday, the latest rights accusation against the 2022 tournament host.
Mercury MENA “failed to pay its workers thousands of dollars in wages and work benefits, leaving them stranded and penniless” in the country, according to the London-based rights group.
However in response, football’s governing body FIFA accused Amnesty of being “misleading” and said the non-payments were not connected to the 2022 tournament.
Amnesty alleges that at least 78 employees from Nepal, India, and the Philippines had not been paid since February 2016 and were owed an average of $2,000 (€1,700) — for some the equivalent of several months’ wages.
In some cases this had “ruined lives,” said Amnesty, which urged the Doha government to pay the workers, some of whom took out huge loans to secure a job in the super-wealthy Gulf state.
One worker, Ernesto, a piping foreman from the Philippines, told Amnesty he was in greater debt after working in Qatar for two years than before he arrived in the country.
Other labourers from Nepal said they had to take their children out of school or sell land to cover debts incurred by working in Qatar.
“By ensuring they get the wages which they are owed, Qatar can help these migrant workers to rebuild their lives,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty’s director of global issues.
It claimed Mercury MENA “took advantage” of Qatar’s “kafala” system, which prevents workers from changing jobs or leaving the country without the permission of bosses.
Unpaid workers eventually allowed to leave Qatar only did so at their own cost, said Amnesty.
As well as helping build Lusail city, which is also the venue for the 2022 football tournament’s opening match, Mercury MENA helped build a showcase stadium that was an integral part of Qatar’s winning presentation to FIFA in December 2010.
In November, Amnesty spoke to the company’s chief executive, who acknowledged “cashflow problems.” There has been no further response.
However, FIFA rejected the Amnesty claims.
“We have no reason to believe the reported violations of workers’ rights are in fact linked to FIFA and the 2022 World Cup,” a spokesman told AFP.
“We regret Amnesty chose to frame its statement in such a misleading manner.”
The findings come at a time when the World Cup host is under intense scrutiny over labor rights.
Earlier this month, Doha said it would abolish exit permits — a cornerstone of the kafala system likened to modern-day slavery — but has not given a date for when this will come into force.
In April, the International Labour Organization opened an office in Doha, part of an agreement under which the United Nations agency will oversee wholesale labour reform in the emirate.
There are some two million foreign workers in Qatar, many employed directly or indirectly on vast World Cup infrastructure projects. — AFP

Good old execution pays off for Danny Kingad

ASIDE from Joshua Pacio who added his name to the list of ONE Championship champions when he seized the world strawweight title last weekend in Indonesia, another Filipino big winner was Danny “The King” Kingad.
Flyweight Kingad (11-1), a teammate of Mr. Pacio at Team Lakay, recorded another impressive victory at “ONE: Conquest of Heroes” in Jakarta on Sept. 22 to extend his winning streak to three fights as he moves to get back in the mix of contenders in his division.
In victory, the Baguio native turned to old reliable execution, adjusting to what was presented to him and delivering accordingly, to get the better of his opponent Yuya “The Little Piranha” Wakamatsu of Japan by way of unanimous decision.
Japanese Wakamatsu started the fight strong, showcasing his much-talked-about power as he rattled the Filipino with a hard low kick and then followed that up moments later with a right straight that dropped Mr. Kingad.
“That punch caught me off-guard. I really felt his power in that punch. That’s when I knew I had to switch things up,” Mr. Kingad shared.
Looking to survive the onslaught, Mr. Kingad relied on his wrestling to grab hold of his opponent and take the Japanese striker down to the mat where he got to impose his will and took over the contest.
“When I got hit hard, I decided that I need to shoot for his legs. When I was able to get him down with relative ease, I saw that I probably won’t be having any trouble trying to take him down, and I stuck with that game plan for the rest of the match,” the Filipino flyweight said as he described how things went for him.
Mr. Kingad went on to say that credit should also go to his team, particularly coach Mark Sangiao, for creating a game plan that suited the situation and his spruced-up skills set to fashion out the desired result.
“Coach Mark Sangiao drew up a game plan, and that was to throw strikes to set up a takedown, because we knew that wrestling would be my advantage,” Mr. Kingad added.
Now back on the upswing, Mr. Kingad said he is all the more determined to picking it up and winning as many fights as he can to reassert his status as a contender at the 61.2-kilogram division.
“I’m really happy with this win. It was a tough one, but God is good and He helped me get this win,” he said.
Adding, “I’m ready for anyone. Whoever ONE Championship wants to put in front of me, that’s who I’ll prepare for.” — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Halep knocked out of Wuhan Open

WUHAN, CHINA — World number one Simona Halep was the biggest casualty on a day of upsets at the Wuhan Open in China on Tuesday, with the Romanian toppled in straight sets by Dominika Cibulkova.
The sparse crowd watching the late-night clash was stunned as the decidedly off-colour Halep failed to win a single game against the hard-hitting Slovakian in the first set.
The French Open champion suffered a back injury during a practice session on Sunday, and failed to fully recover for her opening match in Wuhan against the 31st-ranked Cibulkova, despite two days bed rest.
Despite the injury and needing treatment several times during the match, she put up a strong fight in the second set, breaking Cibulkova’s serve three times before eventually succumbing 7-5.
She was the biggest casualty on a day of upsets at the 2018 Wuhan Open, a $2.7-million tournament which features nine of the WTA top 10.
Earlier, local favorite Wang Qiang ousted the 7th-ranked Karolina Pliskova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in another thriller while 6th-ranked Elina Svitolina also failed to impress, going down 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 to Aryna Sabalenka.
It was a much happier day for Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber and Australian Open holder Caroline Wozniacki, both proceeding comfortably to the next round.
Wozniacki, who received a first-round bye, was barely troubled by the 61st-ranked Swede Rebecca Peterson, winning 6-4, 6-1 to set up a third-round clash with Olympic champion Monica Puig. — AFP

Lahm-led Germany against Turkey in race to host Euro 2024

NYON, SWITZERLAND — Having lifted the World Cup in 2014, Philipp Lahm now hopes to bring Euro 2024 finals to Germany on Thursday when UEFA announce the hosts for the European Championships.
After retiring last year, ex-national team captain Lahm, 34, is head of Germany’s bid to host Euro 2024 against rivals Turkey, the only other nation seeking to host the event in six years time.
The announcement is expected to be made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, around 1300 GMT on Thursday.
“We are a football nation and our fans always want to show their passion for football,” declared Lahm.
Germany want to stage their first Euro as a unified country, West Germany having hosted the event in 1988.
Turkey are hoping to be awarded their first major football tournament after missing out to France by one vote for the right to host Euro 2016.
GERMAN ADVANTAGES
Nevertheless, Germany has a clear advantage in terms of stadiums and transport.
Their official bid sees 10 existing stadia ready to host the 2024 finals, while Turkey will need to rebuild and renovate two of their proposed stadiums.
While 2.29 million fans could watch the Euro 2024 games in Turkey, based on maximum capacities, the German bid can offer seats for 2.78 million supporters.
That means more revenue from ticket sales and the Germans also steal a march in terms of transport.
Germany offers a reliable road, rail and air network ready to whisk visiting fans between host cities.
However, as the UEFA reports notes, in Turkey, “travel relies on air transport and the scale of works to be undertaken in the given time frame constitutes a risk.”
Human rights issues present the widest chasm between the rivals.
UEFA is unequivocal in bluntly stating Turkey’s “lack of an action plan in human rights is a matter for concern” under their President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
There are no such concerns in Angela Merkel’s Germany, but accusations of “racism and disrespect” by Mesut Ozil in July harmed the DFB’s (German Football Association) image of harmonious integration.
Arsenal star Ozil, born in Germany to Turkish parents, specifically took aim at DFB president Reinhard Grindel when he retired from international duty after Germany’s disastrous World Cup performance.” — AFP

The 2018 Chess Olympiad starts

43rd Chess Olympiad
Batumi, Georgia
Sept. 23 — Oct. 6, 2018

Current Standings:
(Round 2 of 11) In tie-break order:
1-41 Brazil, Slovenia, France, Poland, Bangladesh, Netherlands, Peru, Turkey, Israel, Sweden, Greece, Spain, Romania, Argentina, Germany, Iran, Croatia, Russia, Portugal, India, Czech Repoublic, Algeria, Philippines, China, Serbia, Vietnam, Iceland, Azerbaijan, Bosnia & Herzegovina, USA, England, Moldava, Switzerland, Egypt, Georgia 2, Ukraine, Armenia, Chile, Belarus, Canada, Lithuania, 4/4
42-47 Mongolia, Norway, Albania, Cuba, Georgia 1, Hungary, 3/4
Total Participants: 184 teams
The 43rd Chess Olympiad kicked off last Sunday, Sept. 23, in a lavish opening ceremony held at the Black Sea Arena in Shekvetili. Round 1 started the next day at the newly built Batumi Sport Palace. This event is a great feather in the cap of GM Zurab Azmaiparashvili, a former European Chess Champion and now the Director of the Organizing Committee for the event.
We are currently in Round 2 out of the total of 11 rounds — the swiss pairing system that they are using here starts by matching the strongest teams against the ones from the lower half and usually it is only by the third round that the strong teams face each other.
Our Philippine team whitewashed San Marino 4-0 in the first round and had a good win vs Slovakia (2.5-1.5) in the second round. Here is Mari Joseph Turqueza’s nice attack in the first round.

Turqueza, Mari Joseph (2360) — Volpinari, Danilo (1985) [D31]
43rd Olympiad 2018 Batumi GEO (1.4), 24.09.2018

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4
This is the Noteboom Variation, named after IM Daniel Noteboom of the Netherlands — he was the sensation of the 1930 Chess Olympiad at Hamburg. Only 20 years old, he scored 11.5/15, including a win against the “invincible” Salo Flohr, a world championship candidate at that time. He scored a victory over Volsin in this Olympiad using this opening. Two years later he went to play in the Hastings tournament, caught pneumonia and died.
5.a4 Bb4 6.e3 b5 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.bxc4
The famous coach GM Dorian Rogozenko has been trying to promote 11.d5!? Nf6 12.bxc4 b4 13.Bxf6! Qxf6 14.Qa4+ Nd7 15.Nd4 as advantageous for White.
11…b4 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Bd3 0–0
The usual move order is 13…Nbd7 14.Qc2 0–0 15.0–0 but what does it matter? Doesn’t this result in a mere transposition of moves? Actually, no.
14.Qc2 Nbd7 15.h4!?
An aggressive player like MJ Turqueza is always on the lookout for attacking thrusts like this.
15…h5?!
This appears to be an over-reaction. 15…h6 is better although White still gets an attack with 16.e4 followed by 0–0, Qe2, e4–e5, etc.
16.Ng5 Qe7
[16…Bxg2 17.Rg1 is suicide, opening up the g-file against his own king]
17.Be2 g6 18.f4 Rfc8 19.e4 Nf8 20.0–0 Ne8 21.Qd3
[21.f5 is strong, but Turqueza wanted to eliminate the possibility of 21…exf5 22.exf5 Qe3+]
21…Nd6 22.c5 Ne8 23.Qg3 f6 24.Nf3 Bxe4 25.Nd2 Bf5 26.Bxh5 Qg7 27.Bd1 Qh6 28.Nc4 Rd8 29.Nxa5 Be4 30.Nc4 Rxa1 31.Bxa1 Qh7 32.Re1 Qb7 33.h5! Bf5 34.Ne3 Be4 35.hxg6 Qg7 36.f5! Bd5 37.Nxd5 Rxd5 38.Bb3 Rxf5 39.Rxe6! 1–0 <D>
FINAL POSITION
Ino Sadorra has so far won both of his games. Here is a nice one against his Slovakian foe.

Sadorra, Julio Catalino (2553) — Repka, Christopher (2523) [E04]
43rd Olympiad 2018 Batumi GEO (2.1), 25.09.2018

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 b5 7.Ne5 Nd5 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Bb7 [9…Be7] 10.Qh5 g6 11.Nxg6 fxg6 12.Qe5 Nd7 13.Qxh8 Qe7 14.h4 Qf7 15.h5 gxh5 16.Bg5 Qg6 17.f4 Kf7 18.Bf3 Bb4? [18…Bg7] 19.cxb4 Rxh8 20.Bxh5 h6 21.0–0–0 a5 22.a3 axb4 23.axb4 c3 24.Rh2 Qxh5 25.Rxh5 Ra8 26.Rxh6 c5 27.d5 exd5 28.Rh7+ Kg6 29.Rxd7 cxb4 30.Kc2 Ra2+ 31.Kd3 c2 32.Rc1 b3 33.Rxb7 dxe4+ 34.Kxe4 b2 35.Rh1 Ra4+ 36.Ke5 b1N 37.Rh6# 1–0

Garcia, Jan Emmanuel (2439) — Berardi, Gian Carlo (1766) [B38]
43rd Olympiad 2018 Batumi GEO (1.2), 24.09.2018

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Bg7 5.e4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Be2 d6 9.0–0 a6 10.f3 Nd7 11.Nd5 e6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nc3 Qe7 14.Qd2 Rd8 15.Rad1 Nf8 16.Bc5! dxc5?
[16…Qb7 is best, as White cannot take the pawn anyway: 17.Bxd6? Rxd6 18.Qxd6 Qxb2 and one of the white pieces will fall]
17.Qxd8 Bd4+
This was what Black was counting on. It has a huge hole though.
18.Rxd4 Qb7 19.Rd2 Bd7 20.Qe7 Re8 21.Qxc5 e5 22.Na4 Be6 23.Rfd1 Nd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Qb6 Qc8 26.Nc5 Be6 27.Qb7 Qxb7 28.Nxb7 Rb8 29.Rd8+ Rxd8 30.Nxd8 Bd7 31.c5 a5 32.Bc4 Be8 33.a4 Kf8 34.Nb7 f5 35.Nxa5 fxe4 36.fxe4 Ke7 37.b4 Kd8 38.b5 cxb5 39.axb5 Kc7 40.b6+ Kb8 41.c6 h5 42.Ba6 1–0
GM John Paul Gomez came through for the Philippines against Slovakia.

Petrik, Tomas (2481) — Gomez, John Paul (2464) [C79]
43rd Olympiad 2018 Batumi GEO (2.2), 25.09.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.0–0 a6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.d4 exd4 8.Nxd4 c5 9.Nc6 Qd7 10.Na5 Be7 11.Nc3 0–0 12.Bf4 Rb8 13.b3 Re8 14.h3 Bf8 15.Re1 Re6 16.e5 Ne8 17.Qf3 Rg6 18.Bg3 Qf5 19.Qxf5 Bxf5 20.Rac1 Re6 21.Nd5 dxe5 22.Rxe5 Rxe5 23.Bxe5 Rd8 24.c4 f6 25.Bf4 Be4 26.Nc3 Ba8 27.Na4 g5 28.Be3
White has been pushing very hard and it now looks like he is winning a pawn. GM John Paul squeezes all he can from his position.
28…Ng7! 29.Bxc5 Ne6 30.Bxf8 Kxf8 31.c5? [31.Rc2] 31…Nf4!
Threatened check on e2, not to say anything about the attack on g2.
32.Rc4 Bd5 33.Rb4 Nxg2 34.Rd4 Nh4 35.Rd1 Nf3+ 36.Kg2 Ne5+ 37.Kg3 Ke7 38.Nc3 Be6 39.Rxd8 Kxd8
White has defended well and Black is just on the better side of equality. The final phase is played extremely well by GM John Paul.
40.b4 f5 41.a3 f4+ 42.Kh2 h6 43.Ne2 Nf3+ 44.Kg2 Ne1+ 45.Kh2 Nf3+ 46.Kg2 Ne1+ 47.Kh2 Nc2 48.Nc6+ Kd7 49.Ned4 Nxa3 50.Ne5+ Ke7 51.h4 Kf6 52.Nec6 Bd7 53.hxg5+ hxg5 54.Nb8 Bc8 55.Nbc6 Nc4 56.Na7 Bd7 57.c6 Be6 58.Nb3 Nd6 59.Nc5 Bc4 60.Nb7 Ne4 61.Kg1 g4 62.Na5 Be2 63.Nb3 g3 64.f3 Bxf3 65.Nd4 Ng5 Endgame artistry. 0–1
There are many sites from which you can view the games for free. You can go to the Chessbase website, for example:

https://en.chessbase.com/

There will be a link on that page to see the games.
My experience though is that the most user-friendly site is on chess24:

https://chess24.com/en/dashboard

Look for the link to the live games of the Olympiad on that page. All rounds begin at 3 p.m. (Batumi time) or 7 p.m. Manila time. That is, with the exception of the last round which shall begin at 3 p.m. Manila time.
The standings will be on a match points system (two points for a match win, one point for a draw and 0 for a loss). Now, usually in case of ties they use the game points (you know, results of the individual games) as tie-break system but here in Batumi (as was the case in 2016 Baku) they will use the Olympiad Sonneborn-Berger system. This means that the match points of the teams against which you had played during the Olympiad are multiplied with the number of team points you scored in the match against that team, followed by dropping the result against the lowest-ranked team.
Sound complicated? Yes it is. For instance in the 2016 Baku Olympiad the USA and Ukraine tied for first with 20 match points and it took some hours to figure out who the champion was because they had to wait for all the teams that they had played with to finish their matches. At the end the following game decided who will get the gold.

Bluebaum, Matthias (2626) — Seeman, Tarvo (2407) [E90]
Baku ol (Men) 42nd (11.3), 13.09.2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0–0 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Na6 8.Nf3 Bd7 9.g4 c6 10.Nd2 cxd5 11.cxd5 Qb8 12.a3 Rc8 13.Be2 Nc5 14.a4 Rc7 15.Kf1 Qd8 16.Kg2 Ne8 17.Nb5 Rcc8 18.b4 Bxb5 19.axb5 Nd7 20.Ra3 Bf6 21.Nf3 Be7 22.Bd3 Ng7 23.Qe2 h5 24.g5 h4 25.Rha1 Nh5 26.Rxa7 Rab8 27.Qd2 Nf4+ 28.Bxf4 exf4 29.Qxf4 Ne5 30.Nxe5 dxe5 31.Qxe5 Bxg5 32.R1a2 Bf6 33.Qf4 Qe7 34.Rc2 Be5 35.Rxc8+ Rxc8 36.Rxb7 Qxb7 37.Qxe5 Qb6 38.Qb2 Qd6 39.Qd4 Qf4 40.b6 Qg5+ 41.Kf3 Qh5+ 42.Kg2 Qg5+ 43.Kf3 Qh5+ 44.Ke3 Qg5+ 45.Ke2 Qh5+ 46.f3 Qg5 47.b7 Rb8 48.Qa7 Qg2+ 49.Ke1 Qg3+ 50.Kd2 Qf4+ 51.Ke2 Qc7 52.Ba6 Qc2+ 53.Ke3 Qc1+ 54.Kf2 Qc2+ 55.Kg1 Qc1+ 56.Kg2 Qd2+ 57.Kf1 Qc1+ 58.Ke2 Qc2+ 59.Ke3 Qc1+ 60.Kd3 Qd1+ 61.Kc4 Qf1+ 62.Kb3 Qd1+ 63.Kb2 Qd2+ 64.Ka3 Qc3+ 65.Ka4 Qc7 66.Qc5 Qh2 67.Ka5 Kg7 68.Kb6 Qxh3 69.Qc7 Rxb7+ 70.Bxb7 Qxf3 71.d6 h3 72.e5 Qf4 1–0
This was a thrilling game and Bluebaum wound up with bishop and three pawns vs Seeman’s rook. The German GM fought very hard and managed to win on the 72nd move, a victory which sealed gold medals for the Americans. If he were only able to draw then Ukraine would have Olympiad champions.
How could this game have an effect on the medal standings? Let me try to explain: Ukraine had defeated Germany 2.5-1.5 and Jordan 4.0-0.0 during the Olympiad. Since Jordan was its lowest-ranked opponent the 4-0 score was dropped from the tally. Now, if Bluebaum had not won his game with Seeman then the match Germany vs Estonia would be a draw and Germany’s final standing fall below Jordan. The consequence of that is that Ukraine’s 2.5-1.5 victory over Germany is the one which will be dropped and the 4-0 whitewash over Jordan added to their totals.
No tie-break system can be considered fool-proof, but until someone suggests a simpler and more logical way to determine the final rankings I think we should go back to game points as the tie-break.
 
Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.
bobby@cpamd.net

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