CHESS OLYMPIAD POSTPONEMENT FAVORS RP TEAM
Manila, Sept. 29, 1998 - Philippine chess enthusiasts cheered the announced 2-day postponement of the 33rd World Chess Olympiad in Elista, Kalmykia, which was originally scheduled to have started Sept. 27. The reason? The Filipino team could use the much-needed two-day rest he postponement now affords them.
The Philippine team arrived in Kalmykia early Sunday, Sept. 27 and would have otherwise gone straight to competition after a tiring a gruelling 36-hour journey from Manila, which took them from Manila Friday through Frankfurt, Moscow, Stavropol and an 8-hour bus ride to Elista, the site of the Olympiad.
Philippine Chess Federation secretary general Edgar de Castro said the team is composed of Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor, Ildefonso Datu, Ben Florse and Bitoon.
A record entry of 118 national federations will see action in the Olympiad, for which a Chess City was specially built.
Russia is still the favorite to win the men's crown with the team led by 21-year-old Peter Svidler.
Conspicuously absent are the big names -- Anatoly Karpov, Gary Kasparov and Vladimir Kramnik -- all of Russia.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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