With 2 rounds to play both PNG teams were looking for a big finish. Ishmael Amnol had already secured enough points for a conditional FM title, but still need to play one more game to make it official. In the Women's team both Liberty Joku (Bd 1) and Natasha Mimino (Bd 3) both needed a win for the WCM title.
The women's team was paired with Curacao, and manged to score a 2.5-1.5 win against their higher seeded opponent. Natasha Mimino scored the win to earn PNG's first WCM title, as Chrstine Wosley also won. Tiana Kukula drew on board 4 to deliver the match win, but sadly Liberty Joku lost, dashing the hopes of a 2nd WCM title for PNG.
The Open team scored a decisive win over Pacific neighbors Kiribati (hilariously, throughout the FIDE congress the various chairs pronounced it with the hard T). PNG won 3.5-0.5, with Ishamel Amnol increasing his score to 7/9. Kavaea Evara helped boost the score, recovering from a losing position to save an additional half point. The match win was the 3rd of the tournament against other Oceania federations, helping boost the teams standing in out unofficial championship.
With 2 titles achieved in the same round, it was an historic day for PNG chess. Also of interest that St Joseph's Boroko has now produced 3 titled players (2 FM's and a WCM), with Ishmael Amnol and Natasha Mimino attending the school in recent years, while I was a student there in 1975 and 1976!
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