Chessers stumble

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines stumbled to 22nd seed Israel, 1-3, in the ninth round Friday night that dealt a massive blow to its top 10 bid in the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Master Ruelle Canino drew with WIM Noga Orian and IM Masha Klinova on boards two and three, respectively, while Mhage Sebastian and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda-Grafil both lost to IM Marsel Efroimski and WGM Viktoria Chernyak on boards one and four.

Sebastian had a chance to make it a shock 2-2 draw when she seized the early positional edge with a strong attack on the queenside.

But Sebastian’s passive knight maneuverings and errant central and kingside pawn exchanges saw that advantage dissipate and allow Efroimski to escape the upset axe and even extract the full point.

That heartbreaking result sent the Filipinas, free falling from a spot in the top 20 to a 17-country jam at 39th with 11 match points.