After the 5 day break of the school sector here in the Philippines due to typhoon "egay", we are now back and our PCC is up again after some difficulty I've had logging in the past few days.
Got a lot of news articles from NM Marlon Bernardino. He even sent me two blog links about Billiards and Chess. I haven't seen it yet so I'll probably share you the link after I've seen it. Anyways, here's one of the articles:
APOCALYPSE MANILA, PHILIPPINES WOODPUSHERS TOPS MERDEKA RAPID CHESS TITLE
APOCALYPSE MANILA, PHILIPPINES which is composed of IM Ronald Bancod, NM Rolando Nolte, NM Emmanuel Seandor, Christopher Castellano and Albert Rivera combined a total of 28 points and 16 match points to emerge over-all champion in the just concluded 27th Astro Merdeka Rapid Team Chess Championships late Sunday at the Cititel Midvalley Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
"Maganda ang performance natin dito sa Merdeka Team Championships, na sweeps ng Team Philippines ang 1-2-3 spots," said Apocalypse Manila, Philippines team skipper IM Ronald Bancod in a text message late Sunday. Ronald who is fresh from winning the 2007 Asian Indoor Games selection tournament in Tagaytay recently, a younger brother of Tempo sports editor Rey Bancod notch 4-3-2-win-loss-draw record in nine outings.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president former rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. lauded the performance of Team Philippines who settled a 1-2-3 finish in the
27th Astro Merdeka Rapid Team Chess Championships late Sunday.
" It show's na malaki talaga ang pag-asa natin sa larong chess. Sana makakuha ng norms/ results (FM/IM/GM) y'ung mga player natin na kalahok sa Open section." said Pichay.
Laguna-Evertel, Philippines headed by IM candidate Nouri Hamed, IM Richard Bitoon, NM Rhobel Legaspi, NM Jerry Nodado and head coach Dr. Alfredo Paez tallying a total of 26.5 points and 15 match points took the runner-up place in this 50 team competition. According to Dr. Paez, his team is supported by Laguna Governor Teresita "Ningning" Lazaro and Evertel Enterprises manager Belen Urbina
Quezon City, Philippines, meanwhile spearheaded by IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, IM Barlo Nadera, Allan Cantonjos and Roel Abelgas notch a total of 26.5 points and 14 match points complete the Filipino 1-2-3 finish after settling third place.
Rounding the top five finishers were No.4 BHAYANGKARA B – Indonesia (24 points/ 12 match points), and No.5 United Nations (23.5 points/ 12 match points).
In the Open section yesterday, IM Ronald Bancod playing the black pieces against Eugene Schon, IM Julio Catalino Sadorra holding similar black pieces against Chor Yuen Chong, IM Richard Bitoon employing white pieces against WFM Helen Milligan, IM Oliver Dimakiling, black pieces against Hilton Bennett and IM candidate Nouri Hamed playing white against Ramnath Bhuvanesh. The Open event drew 87 player's field and the top five seeded were GM Zhang Zhong of China, GM Utut Adianto of Indonesia, GM Murray Chandler of England, GM Dao Thien Hai and GM Nguyen Anh Dung of Vietnam. Chinese Li Chao is No.6 while Bangladesh top player GM Ziaur Rahman is No.7 pick.
And of course, The Weekender edition for this week:
DOWN WITH CHICKEN POX
Wesley ill, to skip KL Open, eyes World Jr.
UNDER-16 World Olympiad gold medalist Wesley So is down with chicken pox and has been advised not to go to Malaysia for the Dato Arthur Tan Open, his mother, Eleanor, has told The Weekender in an email interview.
The 13-year-old international master and his dad, William, had been set to fly today to Kuala Lumpur courtesy of Hector Tagaysay of Filway Marketing, when Wesley came down with chicken pox. He must have picked up the bug in Singapore, where his team won the bronze
Like measles, chicken pox (bulutong tubig in Tagalog) is a highly contagious but not life-threatening viral disease usually spread among children by physical contact and by air.
The cash-rich annual event in Kuala Lumpour is scheduled to kick off tomorrow, Monday.
“Sayang talaga (a pity, really),” said Leny So.
She revealed that Tagaysay had advised Wesley to stay in bed. The boy had been insistent on competing in the Malaysia Open where he might have a chance to earn his second GM norm.
“He was told by Mr. Tagaysay to stay put and concentrate on his preparations for the Asian Individual Championships and for the World Junior Championship,” Mrs. So said.
According to Wesley, the World Junior Championship will be held from October 2 to 17 in Yerevan, Armenia. His 14th birthday falls on October 9.
If he wins, he will become a grandmaster. He has one GM norm and needs two more.
Wesley is also eying the World Youth (Age Group) Festival to be held later this year in Butomi, Georgia.
The Malaysian Open offers US$800 as first prize, $500 second prize, $300 third, $200 fourth and $100 fifth.
A number of leading Filipino players like IM Oliver Dimakiling, who was the top contender last year for the top prize but weakened on the homestretch, are expected to show up in Kuala Lumpur.
Dato Arthur Tan Malaysian Open and the AmBank Chess Challenge will take place from tomorrow until Sunday, August 20.
The first team event, the Astro Merdeka Rapid, started yesterday and ends today, while the second one, Astro Merdeka Standard, will be held from August 30 to September 2, Friday to Sunday.
THE GAME OF KINGS IN THE GRASSROOTS
Entrepreneurs down lawyers/professionals
DON’T ever think that because they are businessmen busy trying to make profits, they are pushovers in this challenging game of kings.
Neither should you think that lawyers and other professionals would excel in this king of games simply because they are “highly educated.”
In a clash Saturday between these distinctive groups of players, Enterpreneurs won over Lawyers/Professionals in a match held at the Pantalan ng Maynila Restaurant near the Quirino Grandstand.
The Enterpreneurs team was made up of Noel Garcia, Loren Tabilog, Jun Montaño, Erven Perlas, Jake Carlos, Dr. Jenny Mayor, Lorenzo Ropeta, Reinhard Orth, Ray Marras, Tyrone Guya, Dr. Juan Rodriguez, NM Efren Bagamasbad, Jess Sanchez, Einstein Padua, Edwin Rivera, Ricky Navalta, Cecil Padua and Rolando Roselada.
No less than senatorial candidate Koko Pimentel, a former Ateneo/UP varsity star, led the Lawyers/Professionals.
With him were former Bicol champion Rommel Tacorda, Jerome Tacorda, Jose Aspiras, NM Sammy Estimo, Quirino Sagario, Leo T. Ausan, Roy Hirang, Romulo Neri, NM Marlon Bernardino, Jak Carlos, Cris, Dr. Gilbert Perez, Boy Ablis, Lito Dormitorio and John Pascual.
Among the guests was GM Eugene Torre.—M. Bernardino
2007 UNDER-16 WORLD OLYMPIAD
Wesley walked tall in Singapore
BACOOR wonder boy Wesley So walked very tall in Singapore at the end of the 10-round Under-16 World Olympiad hosted and organized by the prosperous island-city state from August 4 to 12.
The 13-year-old international master who already has a grandmaster’s norm under his belt impressed his local fans not only with his winning the individual gold but, more significantly, with the quality of his games.
From the very first round, Wesley who will turn 14 on October 9 played no-nonsense chess, and deliberately steered each game away from unexplored territory and unnecessary risks to a less lively but more favorable ending—a sign of maturity indeed as a player!
Taking the cue from him, his three teammates—Karl Victor Ochoa, Haridas Pascua and Franz Grafil—played vigorously, enabling the Philippines to score a 3-1 win over Switzerland in the opener.
Only Grafil, the least experienced among the four, failed to overcome his opening day jitters and lost to his Swiss rival. Ochoa blundered in his last move but luckily his Swiss rival resigned.
• M. Lehmann – W. So
Rd 1, Sicilian Defense (B30)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3² Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.Qe2 Qc7 7.0–0 Ng6 8.e5 Be7 9.Na3 f6 10.Nc4 Ba6 11.Re1 0–0 12.Rb1 Bxc4 13.dxc4 fxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qxe5 Bd6 16.Qh5 Rf5 17.Qh3 Qa5 18.c3 Qxa2 19.Qd3 Bf8 20.Bd2 Rf7 21.b4 Qa6 Not 21...d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Ra1! 22.Be3 cxb4 23.cxb4 d5 24.b5 dxc4 25.Qe4 Qc8 26.b6 axb6 27.Rxb6 Ra6 28.Qxc4 Not 28.Rxa6 Qxa6 29.Qxe6 Qb5! Rxb6 29.Bxb6 Qb7 30.Bc5 Qb5 31.Qxb5 cxb5 32.Bxf8 Kxf8 33.Re5 Rb7 34.Rxe6 Re7!
Forcing the exchange of rooks.
35.Rxe7 Kxe7 36.Kf1 Kd6 37.Ke2 Kc5 38.Kd3 Kb4 39.Kc2 Kc4 40.h4?? 40.f3 was best but still White would lose h5 41.f3 Kd4 42.Kb3 Ke3 43.Kb4 Kf2 44.g4 hxg4 45.fxg4 Kg3! 0–1
• K.V. Ochoa – K. Nuri
Rd. 1, Sicilian Defense (B30)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d3 a6 4.g3 b5 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 e6 7.Nbd2 Nf6 8.c3 If 8.a4 d5, says Fritz d5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Re1 d4 10...Be7 11.d4 should equalize 11.c4 Nb4 Best was 11...Be7 12.Nb3, with equality 12.Qb3 a5 13.Nf1 bxc4 14.dxc4 a4 15.Qd1 Nb6 16.b3 axb3 17.Qxb3 Bc6 18.Ng5 18.Bg5 Qc7 19.Rec1! was playable Ba4 19.Qf3 Ra7 20.Rb1 Nxc4 21.Qh5 Qd7 22.Be4 22.Nxh7 Rxh7 23.Qxh7 leads to equality g6 23.Qh4 h6?? Missing a winning shot, 23...Qd8! 24.a3 Nc6? 25.Bd3?? Missing the winning 25.Nxf7!, e.g., 25…Kxf7 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Qxg6+ Bg7 28.Bxc6, and White is way ahead Qd5 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Qf4
Black resigns although Fritz considers the text a blunder and suggests 27.Nf6+ instead. 1–0
• J. Rosenthal,J - Pascua,H [E98]
Rd. 1, King’s Indian, Classical Main Line (E98)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.Nf3 e5 Missing the equalizing 6...c5 7.0–0 Not 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8! Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5! 11.Bd2 f4 11...c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.f3 leads to equality 12.Bg4 Nf6 13.Bxc8 Nxc8 14.f3 Prophylaxis h5 15.Qb3 b6 16.a4 a5 17.Qc2 g5 18.b4 axb4 19.Nb5 Qd7 20.Bxb4 Na7 21.Ba3 Stronger was 21.Be1 g4! 22.Nb4 Nc8 23.Nc6 Ne7 24.Nxe7+ Qxe7 25.Bb4 h4 26.Be1 26.fxg4 Nxg4 27.Qe2 Ne3 gives White the edge h3 27.Bh4 Qd7 28.Bxf6 Rxf6 29.fxg4 Qxg4 30.Ra3 Not 30.Nxc7 Rc8 31.Ne6 Rxc4! Rg6 31.Rf2 31.g3 should be tried to restore the balance Bf6 32.Qd3 32.Nxc7? won’t work: 32...Bh4 33.Raf3 Bxf2+ 34.Rxf2 Rc8! Bh4 Better than 32...hxg2 33.h3 Qh4 34.Qe2, with equal chances 33.Rd2? Missing his best shot, 33.Re2! Be1! 34.Rc2 If 34.Rb2 Bb4! 35.Raa2 Bc5+! Bb4 35.Raa2 Bc5+ 36.Kf1 36.Kh1 was safer but Black would still be way ahead Rxa4!!
37.Rxa4 hxg2+! 38.Rxg2 Qxg2+ 39.Ke1 Qf2+ 40.Kd1 Rg1+ It’s mate next: 41.Qf1 Rxf1#! 0–1
Before the start of the tournament, prospects for the Philippines’ winning a medal appeared quite dim.
Firstly, the national team had only four players, which meant they all had to play every round and would have no rest throughout.
Secondly, only Wesley had a Fide rating. Albeit the top seed with 2516, Wesley could only contribute 25 per cent of what the four-man team needed.
This is why the Philippines was seeded only 22nd out of the more than 30 teams taking part in the global youth team competition—that is, on the lower half of the table.
Even though the Filipinos won their first two assignments—3-1 against Switzerland in the opener and 2.5-1.5 against England in the second round—they were not regarded as a top contender for a team medal.
Then came the third round and they shut out Sri Lanka, 4-0. From that time on, the Philippines became the team to watch..
• R. Rajapaksha – W. So
Queen’s Indian Defense (E12)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Nd7 9.e4 c5 10.Bd3 Qc7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 cxd4 13.cxd4 Qxc2 14.Bxc2 Rc8 15.Ba4 15.Bd3 would give Black a chance to equalize Bd6 15...a6 may lead to lines favoring White, says Fritz, e.g., 16.Kd2 g5 17.Bg3 Bxe4 18.Rhc1 Rxc1 19.Bxd7+ Kxd7 20.Ne5+ Kd8 21.Rxc1! 16.0–0 Bxe4 17.Rac1 Rb8 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 g5 20.Rc7 b5!
21.Bxb5 Rxb5 22.Rc8+ Ke7 23.Rxh8 gxh4 24.f4 Rb2 25.Rf2 Rb3 26.Rxh6 Rxa3 27.Rxh4 Ra1+ 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 a5 30.Ke2 a4 31.Rh3 Not 31.g4 Bf3+ 32.Kd2 a3! Bxg2! 32.Rc3 Bd5 32...f6 was playable: 33.Rc7 Kd8 34.Rc4, and Black has great advantage 33.h4 Kf8 34.Kd2 Not 34.Rg3 f6 35.h5 fxe5 36.fxe5 Ba2! Nb6 35.Kc1 Kg7 36.Kb2 Bb3 37.Rg3+ Kh7 38.Rd3 Nd5 39.Rd4 39.Rf3 Kg6 40.Rf1 Kh5 favors Black Kg6 40.Ka3 Kh5 41.Kb2 Kxh4 42.f5+ Kg5 43.fxe6 fxe6 44.Rd2 Kf5 45.Re2 Nf4 46.Re3 Ng6 47.Kc3 Nxe5 48.Kd4 Ng4 49.Rf3+ Kg5 50.Rf8 a3 Clinching the point, e.g., 51.Ra8 a2!, but Fritz says 50...e5+ was more precise. 0–1
• K.V. Ochoa – N.R. de Silva
Scotch Four Knights (C47)
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 4.Bc4 leads to drawing lines, according to Fritz, e.g., 4…Nxe4 5.0–0 Nxc3 6.dxc3 h6 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Be6 7.0–0 Be7 8.d4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 e4 10.Nd2 f5 11.Nb3 0–0 12.f3 exf3 13.Qxf3 Bf6 13...Bc4 may do the trick: 14.Rf2 Qd7! 14.Nc5 Bc8 15.Rb1 Rb8 15...Na5 was best 16.Qd5+! Kh8 17.Qxd8 Nxd8 18.Na6! Ra8 Of course not 18...bxa6 19.Rxb8! 19.Nxc7 Rb8 20.Bf4 Bd7 21.Bd6 Rf7 22.Bd5 Be7 If Nxf7 24.Bf4! 23.Nb5 23.Bf4 may be quicker Bxd6 24.Nxd6 Rf6 25.Nxb7 Nxb7 26.Rxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxb7 Rb6 28.Bd5 g6 29.Re1 Bc6 30.Bxc6 Missing the clincher, 30.c4!, e.g., 30...Bxd5 31.cxd5 Kg7!, and wins Rxc6 31.d5 Rd6 32.c4 Kg8 33.Re7 a6 34.Kf2 h6 35.Ke3 Kf8 36.Rb7 g5
Mere momentum. Black resigns without waiting for White’s next move. 1–0
• H. Hapuarachchi - H. Pascua
Sicilian Pelikan and Sveshnikov (B33)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.a4 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 favors Black a6 Equalizing 8.Na3 Be6 9.Bc4 Be7 9...Nxe4 favors White: 10.Nxe4 d5 11.Ng5 Bxa3 12.Nxe6 Bb4+ 13.c3 fxe6 14.Ba2! 10.0–0 0–0 11.Kh1 Missing the equalizing 11.Bg5! Nxe4 12.Nxe4 d5 13.Bb3 dxe4 14.Bxe6 fxe6
A bold decision to create three isolated pawns standing in a row like erring soldiers waiting to be executed by firing squad. The purpose? To open up lines of attack for his heavy weapons to assault the enemy king’s stronghold!
15.Be3 Nd4 16.c3 Nf5 17.Qb3 If 17.Nc2 Qd3! Qd5 18.Qb6 Rad8 19.Nc2 Rd6 20.Qc5? Better but still inadequate was 20.Nb4 Rc6 21.Qa7 Qb3 22.g4? If 22.Nb4 Bxb4 23.cxb4 Qxb4!, with overwhelming advantage Nh4 Fritz suggests 22...Nxe3: 23.fxe3 Rcc8 24.Nb4 Rxf1+, with Black way ahead 23.Nb4 Bxb4 24.Qxb7 Good moves for White are now hard to find Qc4 25.Qxb4 Qe2 26.Qxe4 Rc4 27.Qb7 e4! 1–0
• F. Grafil – S. Sahan
Rd. 3, Closed Sicilian (B26)
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.Be3 e6 7.Qd2 Nge7 8.Bh6 0–0 9.h4 Nd4 9...Bxh6 10.Qxh6 f6 should equalize 10.Rc1 10.Bxg7!? Kxg7 11.h5 would have given White a clear edge Nec6 10...Bxh6! is still good: 11.Qxh6 f6! 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Nge2 Qf6 13.f4 h5 14.0–0 Rb8 15.Nd1 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Bd7 17.c3 b5 18.Ne3 b4 19.f5 Fritz suggests 19.e5!?, e.g., 19…Qe7 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Nc4 dxe5 22.fxe5, and White is clearly ahead bxc3 20.bxc3 Better than 20.Rxc3 Na5 1–0
Unfortunately for the courageous Filipinos, they met their first and only setback quite early—in the fourth round with a 1.5-2.5 loss to the top-seeded Hungarians, which had a full complement of five players and ended up second in the team competition.
It is a tribute to the boys and to the managerial skills of delegation head Red Dumuk that they quickly recovered from that loss and then won their next three assignments against leading teams—2.5-1.5 against Iran in the fifth, 2.5-1.5 against Uzbekistan, and 3-1 against India, which eventually took the team gold.
Fatigue began to take its toll, however, in the eighth against the four when they were held to a 2-2 tie by Singapore’s first team.
India was paired against the second Singapore team and scored a 2.5-1.5 win, thereby widening its lead.
So and Ochoa proved stronger than their Singaporean rivals, but Pascua and Grafil lost.
In the penultimate ninth, So for the first time showed signz of weakening: he could not make any headway against board one player Ly Moulthon of the first Australian team while Ochoa lost to his Aussie counterpart. In the end So settled for a draw.
This time it was Pascua who came to the team’s rescue by winning against his Aussie rival and Grafil followed it up with a draw, enabling the Philippines to hold the players from Down Under to a 2-2 tie.
Fortunately, however, So recovered quickly and in the last round trounced his counterpart from Turkey., while Haridas won against his Turkish rival and Grafil managed a draw. Only Ochoa lost in the final round.
Clearly, had the Philippines sent a full complement to Singapore, it could have easily won against the kind of competition the four able youngsters met there.
What I like most among Wesley’s games was his seventh-round win with White against India’s top board player.
• W. So – B. Adhiban
King’s Gambit Declined (C30)
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.f4 d6 6.Nf3 Bg4 If 6...Ng4 7.Qe2! 7.Na4 0–0 8.Nxc5 dxc5 9.0–0 Better than 9.fxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nxc4 11.dxc4 Nxe4 12.Qxd8 Raxd8 13.Bxc7 Rd7! Nh5 10.Be3 exf4 11.Bxc5 Re8 12.h3 Bxf3 12...Bd7 13.Bf2 Qf6 14.Bd5 favors White 13.Qxf3 g6 14.Bd5 Ne5 15.Qf2 c6 16.Bb3 b6 17.Bd4 Ng3. 18.Rfe1 g5 19.Bc3 Qd7 20.Rad1 Rad8 21.a4 c5 22.a5 c4 23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Bxc4 Rxa5 25.d4 b5 26.Bb3 Ra6 27.d5 Rh6 28.e5 Qf5 28...Nf5 29.e6 Qd6 30.Qxa7 gives White the edge 29.Qf3 Fritz suggests 29.Rd3 Ne4 30.Qd4 Ng3, and White surges ahead Rh4? 29...a5 30.c4 a4 31.Ba2 could reduce White’s advantage 30.Rd4 30.d6 was playable: 30…g4 31.hxg4, with a big lead a5 31.e6 fxe6?? Black crumbles under pressure 32.dxe6!
The dangling rook at e4 cannot be taken: 32…Rxd4? 33.e7+! and no power on earth can stop the birth of a second white queen.
32…Re8 33.e7+ Kg7 34.Qc3 Qf6 35.Rd8 Qxc3 36.bxc3! 1–0
• W. Lin Zhigen - H. Pascua [B22]
Sicilian Defense (B22)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.d4 Nf6 6.Be3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Qb3 b6 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 0–0 12.Be2 Ba6 13.Qb4 Qf5 14.c4 Rc8 15.Qa4 Bb7? If 15...Ne4 16.Bd3 Bb7 17.Ne5 16.0–0 Best was 16.Nh4 Qe4 17.Bf3 Qxh4 18.Bxb7, with White far ahead Nc6 17.Rac1 Na5 18.Ne5 Nc6 19.g4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Of course not 20.gxf5?? because of 20...Nxe2#! Qe4 21.Bf3 Qxd4 22.Bxb7 Qxe5 23.h3 Better than 23.Bxa8 Nxg4 24.f4 Qd4+ 25.Kh1 Rxa8! h5 24.c5 bxc5 Not 24...Rxc5 a8 25.Bxa8! 25.Bxa8 Rxa8 26.Qc6 Rd8 27.Rxc5 Nd5 28.Qa4 hxg4 29.Qxg4 g6 30.Rfc1 Kg7 31.Qg3 Qf6 32.Rc8?? Self-destruction? 32.R1c4! was the saving resource Nf4! 33.Qg4 Rd3 34.R8c2 Nxh3+ 35.Kf1 Rf3 36.Qg2 Qf4 36...Qf5 seems even better, says Fritz 37.Rd1 e5 38.Rb1 e4 39.Ke1 e3 40.fxe3 Qxe3+ 41.Re2 Nf4 41...Qxa3 clinches the point: 42.Rd2 Qe3+ 43.Re2 Qd3 44.Qxf3 Qxf3 42.Rxe3 Nxg2+ 43.Ke2 Nxe3 43...Rxe3+ is more accurate: 44.Kf2 Rxa3 45.Kxg2 f5! 44.Rh1?? 44.Kxf3 was best Rf6
If 45.Kxe3 Ra6!, but 44...Rg3 was the surest way to seize the point, say Fritz. 0–1
PINOY GEMS WITH A HISTORY
IM Martinez on the roll
ONE Filipino international master who is doing very well abroad is Rolly Martinez. Rolly has excelled in speed chess in Italy. His blitz Elo rating? An incredible 2796!
It has been a year now since Martinez left the Philippines with IM Yves Rañola and Roland Salvador to find their place in Caissa’s realm.
Since then Rañola has come back and left for Singapore where he works as a chess teacher/trainer of that tiny island republic’s youth, along with a number of other leading Filipino players employed by two rival academies there.
Martinez and Salvador decided to stay behind in Italy and are now based in Milan, one of the Alpine cities up north that played a leading role in sparking off the 14th-century Renaissance, which ended the Dark Ages that had engulfed Europe in the wake of a series of invasions and internecine strife for four centuries.
There is no doubt that both Filipino adventurers are doing well abroad. Martinez has excelled in blitz, making a living literally on his wits and speed, while Salvador has earned his IM title and two GM norms.
Rolly admits he is making good money in Milan, more than he could probably find back home in Bulacan, but has to cope with loneliness living far away from his loved ones.
One highlight of their adventure in Italy has been their victorious finish at the Genoa International Open last year with 7.0 points each, half a point ahead of their closest rivals. And the duo did it despite the presence of grandmasters!
Martinez who took the second slot on tiebreak left his mark on that event with a fascinating 16-move minigem and several longer but well-played games.
• R. Martinez (2399) – L. Bertaglia (2031)
Rd. 6, Sicilian Defense (B22)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d6 7.Bd3 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.0–0 Be7 11.Nc3 Bf6 12.Be3 Nxc3 If 12...Qb6 13.Qe2 13.bxc3 0–0 14.Qf3 Bd7 15.Bf4 Qa5 16.Rfb1 c5 17.Rb7 Ba4?? A gross error. Better but inadequate was 17...Qa4, e.g., 18.Be4 Rac8 18.Bc7!
Black’s queen is lost e.g., 18…Qxc3 19 Bxh7+!; if 18…Bc6 19.Qh3!, threatening 19.Qxh7#! 1–0
• F. Rodella (2072) – R. Martinez (2399)
Rd. 1, English Opening vs King’s Indian (A26)
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 Be6 7.Nge2 Qd7 8.Nd5 Nce7 9.Bg5 c6 10.Nxe7 Nxe7 11.Qd2 h6 12.Be3 f5 13.Rc1 d5 14.Qc2 Better was 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.exf5 Nxf5 16.Bc5, with equal chances fxe4 15.Bc5 15.dxe4 may be tried, e.g., 15...d4 16.Rd1! exd3 16.Qxd3 d4 17.Bxe7 Bf5 18.Be4 Kxe7 If 18...Qxe7 19.0–0! 19.f4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qf5 21.Qxf5 gxf5 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Kd2 c5 24.Rhf1 Raf8 25.Kd3 Rf6 26.Nf4 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 Rhf8 28.Rcf1 a6 29.b4 b6 30.a3 Kd6 31.g4 31.R1f2 is worth looking at, says Fritz Ke5!
A brave monarch, indeed!
32.gxf5 Rxf5 33.Re4+ Kd6 34.Rxf5 Rxf5 35.Rh4 h5 36.Rh3 Ke5 37.Rg3 37.bxc5 was more precise: 37…bxc5 38.Rh4 a5! Kf6 37...h4 offered the only chance, e.g., 38.Rh3 Rf4 38.Ke4 Re5+! 39.Kd3 h4 40.Rf3+ Kg5 41.bxc5 bxc5 42.Kd2 Rf5 43.Ke2 Rxf3 44.Kxf3 Kf5 0–1
• P. Bontempi (2318) – R. Martinez (2399)
Rd. 8, Sicilian Defense (B22)
1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.Bd3 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e5 c4 6.Bc2 Ng4 7.Ba4 Qc7 8.d4 cxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 Missing 9...g6! 10.Qd4! h5 11.h3 Nh6 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.0–0 Bd7 14.Qf4 f6 15.Re1 0–0–0 15...fxe5! was best 16.Bxc6! bxc6 17.Nbd2 Not 17.h4 fxe5 18.Qxe5 Rf6, with equal chances g5 18.Qg3 g4 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Qxg4 Bc5 21.b4 Rdh8 22.g3 Bb6 23.Qf4?? 23.c4 offered a good chance to save the game fxe5 24.Qxe5 Qxe5 25.Nxe5
Setting the stage for a fierce assault by Black.
25…Rh1+ 26.Kg2 R8h2+ 27.Kf3 Rxf2+ 28.Kg4 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Rxd2 30.Rh1 Re2! 0–1
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (1)
Fire on Keyboard
ONE publication that has become indispensable in the local chess scene is The Weekender by veteran journalist Manny Benitez. It is a weekly electronic newsletter, usually around 20 pages long, reporting on the chess events both local and international of the week.
It is a very good magazine. There are on the spot tournament reports, annotated chess games, historical articles on players and tournaments and, for me the highlight, an editorial entitled “From my Swivel Chair” where Manny gives his views on topical events in chess.
Sometimes the articles get controversial. Last week I was shocked to read about how Barcenilla should have become a grandmaster in 2000 if politics had not intervened. This “Barcenilla affair” came up during my term as Executive Director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), and it appears that the issue has never been properly explained. Probably my fault, so let us try to clear it up now. The discussions are too long for one column, so let me just put up the popular perception as given in The Weekender in this, the first installment, and the correct version (take note I said “correct” version, not “my” version) will be given on Friday.
“THERE are many who believe that IM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla (2505) should have become a grandmaster in 2000 but for his having been embroiled in the power struggle that led to the demise of the old national federation and the emergence of a new one that even now is also being torn apart by petty squabbling.
“Banjo won his third and final GM norm in June 2000 in New York City. He won it fair and square in the Jack Collins International Tournament held at the famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City. Who would have thought that that norm would be rejected by the World Chess Federation?
“It seems that somebody within Fide had raised the issue during the 33rd World Olympiad held in Istanbul in October that year— after Banjo had shown up as head of the team formed by the then Philippine Chess Federation headed by the late Arturo Borjal.
“As is commonly known today, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines had been recognized by Fide as the legitimate representative of the country at the 2000 Olympiad, resulting in the old PCF and its team led by Barcenilla being booted out.
“One offshoot of this was the ruling by the pertinent Fide committee that the Collins tournament did not meet the requirements for awarding a GM norm. Why? Well, the ruling said this was because the four grandmasters in that event, one of whom was the late Alex Wojtkiewicz who flew to New York from Warsaw just for that event, played only four games each instead of the nine played by the rest.
“It was indeed a strange ruling, considering that the requirement must have been intended, as it were, for GM candidates, not the GMs themselves. A grandmaster is a grandmaster is a grandmaster.
“Since then, Barcenilla has been regarded as a pariah by the NCFP, which even ignored his expressed desire a couple of years ago to be allowed to come back and play for the Philippines again. Unfortunately for Banjo, he had also gotten married to Lilibeth Lee, daughter of the late Antonio Lee, a Chinese-Filipino promoter of chess in Iligan who was also identified with Borjal and the PCF.
“Never mind if Barcenilla was an excellent player, one who had brought honors to the country in international tournaments, including the Olympiads. Never mind if, up to now, he still ranks No. 5 in the country despite his having been inactive for the past two or three years and has never even played here since the late nineties.
“If this is so, why does the NCFP still carry his name and those of others who had left the country for greener pastures? Why? The answer is obvious: just to pad its list of “100 active players” and increase the country’s average Elo rating.”
Here is Banjo’s best game from the John Collins tournament.
First, a word about the player of the White pieces. He is IM Greg Shahade, once among the brightest young prospects in America. 1993 National USA Junior High Co-Champion, 1996 National High School Co-Champion, Greg won the 1999 Samford Fellowship, which basically gives him US $25,000 for training expenses in chess. Greg showed that he was worthy of the
cash award by making his first GM norm in Bermuda in January 2001.
However, after living on the fellowship and then teaching for a couple years, he tired of trying to eke out a living as a professional chess player and turned to playing online poker. That was basically the end of his chess career.
Shahade is known as a tactician with good fighting spirit and is deadly in speed chess. However, he is also known for his lazy openings and being somewhat impatient. The following game was played during his peak years, but even then he was no match for Banjo.
Shahade,Gregory P (2461) - Barcenilla,Rogelio (2495) [C55]
Jack Collins Int Gp B New York USA (5), 17.06.2000
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4
Greg is one of the few players who counts the Guioco Piano among his main weapons.
3...Nf6 4.d3 Be7
Black can develop with 4 . . . Bc5, but Barcenilla likes to defend against the Ruy Lopez with the Chigorin system, and he sets up a similar formation now.
5.Bb3 0–0 6.0–0 d6 7.c3 Na5 8.Bc2 c5 9.a3 a6 10.b4 Nc6 11.Nbd2 b5 12.d4
Seems a bit premature. Perhaps 12.Bb2 or 12.h3 might be better.
12...c4
Black shouldn't close the queenside. Maybe 12...cxb4 13.cxb4 exd4 14.Bb2 Bg4! keeps the game lively. This is the same idea as in the Ruy Lopez 9.d4 Bg4 line which is very popular nowadays.
13.d5
Now White is definitely better - he can operate on either flank while Black can only wait.
13...Nb8 14.a4 Bb7 15.Re1 Nbd7 16.Nf1 Re8 17.h3 g6 18.Ng3 Bf8 19.Be3 Bg7 20.Qd2 Rf8 21.Reb1?!
I don't know what got into Shahade - this move is completely out of character for him. A better plan would be 21.Nh2 followed by f2-f4.
21...Ne8 22.Ra2 Nc7 23.Rba1 Qe7 24.axb5?
Taking the tension out of the position. Nh2 followed by f2-f4 is still the indicated course of action.
24...axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Rxa8+ Bxa8 27.Bb1 Qd8 28.Qa2 Qc8 29.Qa5 Bf6 30.Bb6?
This cannot be right, exchanging off his strong bishop. White's initiative is at an end and Black slowly but surely takes over.
30...Nxb6 31.Qxb6 Qd7 32.Bc2 Ne8 33.Nd2 Qb7 34.Qxb7 Bxb7 35.Kf1 Bg5 36.Ke2 Ng7 37.Kd1 Bh4 38.Ndf1 Bc8 39.Ke2 f5!
Opening up the position for his two bishops.
40.f3 Kf7 41.Bb1 h5 42.Nh1 f4 43.Bc2 Ke7?!
Banjo initiatives action on the queenside, perhaps looking for the correct timing to sacrifice on d5.
44.Bd1 Kd8 45.Nf2 Kc7 46.Nh1 Kb7 47.Nh2 Bd8 48.Nf1 Bb6 49.Nf2 Ne8 50.Ke1 Bd7 51.Be2 Kc8!
Now he hits on the correct plan - a kingside pawn breakthrough with ...g6-g5-g4. For this purpose the king has to go to h4. Shahade cannot prevent this plan because he does not have a dark-squared bishop.
52.Bd1 Kd8 53.Be2 Ke7 54.Bd1 Kf7 55.Be2 Kg7 56.Bd1 Kh6 57.Be2 Kg5 58.Bd1 Kh4
OK, the king is in position. Now swing over the knight and we are ready for the pawn breakthrough.
59.Be2 Nf6 60.Bd1 g5 61.Be2 g4 62.hxg4 hxg4
Black's threat is ...g4-g3 followed by ...Bh3!
63.Nd1
The only move.
63...Be8
Now that his knight is not on f2, if Black should continue 63...g3 then White has time for 64.Nd2 and now 64...Bh3 does not win because of 65.Bf1.
64.Nf2 Bh5 65.Nd1 Bg6 66.Nf2 g3 67.Nd1
67...Nxe4! 68.fxe4 Bxe4 69.Nd2 Bxg2 70.Nf3+ Kh3 0-1
After 70...Kh3 Black is threatening a general pawn advance starting ...e5-e5, so White is forced to go into 71.Ng5+ Kh2 72.Nf3+ Kh1 but now black's pawns are unstoppable.
We will continue this story on Friday and so, come August 17, beg borrow or steal, but make sure you get a copy of BusinessWorld!
Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.
This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Monday, August 13, 2007.
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (2)
Fire on Keyboard
This is a continuation from last Monday's column. Should IM Rogelio Barcenilla have become a grandmaster in 2000 if politics had not intervened?
FOR some reason no one seems to remember that the Philippine Chess Society represented by this author, together with Hon. Florencio Campomanes, Atty. Sammy Estimo, GM Eugene Torre and GM Bong Villamayor, were the principal founders of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. This happened right in the middle of the year 2000, and this author was appointed the first Executive Director of the new Federation.
When we captained the 2000 Istanbul Olympiad squad the issue of Barcenilla-for-GM fell right into our lap. We had to be very careful, as the NCFP was fighting a battle with the old PCF for accreditation as the official representative of the Philippines in the FIDE General Assembly and any mistake might be made into a big issue.
At the airport two teams showed up representing the Philippines: the NCFP team (myself as team captain with players GM Eugene Torre, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., GM Bong Villamayor, IM Barlo Nadera, IM Idelfonso Datu, IM Ronald Bancod) and PCF Edgar de Castro team captain with players Richard Bitoon, Rolly Martinez, Petronio Roca, Enrique Paciencia, and Jayson Gonzales; IM Rogelio Barcenilla was listed as the board one player but he was not there with his team). A short crisis occurred as both teams were barred from going up the shuttle bus and frantic calls were made to the organizing committee to choose which delegation to recognize. After more or less a half hour wait the head of security came up and asked for GM Eugene Torre -"the Torre team may board".
I am sure GM Eugene must have been tickled - we are now officially the "Torre Team"!
That's the background of the "Barcenilla question" we are about to answer.
Agony: Banjo won his third and final GM norm in June 2000 in New York City. He won it fair and square in the Jack Collins International Tournament held at the famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City. Who would have thought that that norm would be rejected by the World Chess Federation? It seems that somebody within Fide had raised the issue during the 33rd World Olympiad held in Istanbul in October that year— after Banjo had shown up as head of the team formed by the then Philippine Chess Federation headed by the late Arturo Borjal.
Clarification: This was not a local issue. Three players got GM norms from that so-called "tournament" - aside from the Philippines' Rogelio Barcenilla (or "Banjo"), there is also Igor Zugic of Canada and Jan Gustaffson of Germany. And the issue was not whether Barcenilla should get the norm or not, it was whether the format of the tournament where he got the norm was acceptable for title purposes. In short, this was a "rules" issue.
Another thing - the issue was not raised when Banjo showed up as head of Borjal's team. In fact, Banjo never showed up! He was listed as top board but he never left the States, where he was residing.
One last thing - it is true the issue was raised during the 2000 Istanbul Olympiad, but that was the most natural thing to do, since all title applications had to be taken up in the Titles/Ratings Committee meeting during the FIDE General Assembly held alongside the Istanbul Olympiad.
Agony: As is commonly known today, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines had been recognized by Fide as the legitimate representative of the country at the 2000 Olympiad, resulting in the old PCF and its team led by Barcenilla being booted out.
Clarification: Of course the FIDE should recognize NCFP - it is, after all, the federation which the Philippine government through the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) recognizes.
Agony: One offshoot of this was the ruling by the pertinent Fide committee that the Collins tournament did not meet the requirements for awarding a GM norm. Why? Well, the ruling said this was because the four grandmasters in that event, one of whom was the late Alex Wojtkiewicz who flew to New York from Warsaw just for that event, played only four games each instead of the nine played by the rest.
Clarification: There is no logic in the argument above. FIDE recognized NCFP, and therefore the Collins tournament did not meet the requirements for awarding a GM norm? I don't get the connection.
From what I recall of the ruling the Title Committee had problems with the fact that there were unequal conditions for the players, and they did not have the same opponents.
The Jack Collins Memorial had two tournaments of five rounds each. Then the top two of each tournament were put together into a four-man team (Barcenilla, Gusfaffson, Boris Zugic and Jan Gustaffson) which played a team of five GMs (Serper, Wojtkiewicz, Fedorowicz, Stripunsky and Sher). Each of the four GM-norm hopefuls played four out of the five GMs - the time and place of the games to be agreed upon between the players.
May I ask the readers - does this look like a real tournament? Or does it look like something contrived to give maximum chances for a GM norm?
Agony: Since then, Barcenilla has been regarded as a pariah by the NCFP, which even ignored his expressed desire a couple of years ago to be allowed to come back and play for the Philippines again. Unfortunately for Banjo, he had also gotten married to Lilibeth Lee, daughter of the late Antonio Lee, a Chinese-Filipino promoter of chess in Iligan who was also identified with Borjal and the PCF.
Clarification: Banjo and Lilibeth left the Philippines due to some business reverses. Nothing to do with chess.
Agony: Why does the NCFP still carry his name and those of others who had left the country for greener pastures? Why? The answer is obvious: just to pad its list of “100 active players” and increase the country’s average Elo rating.
Clarification: NO! This is the complete opposite of the truth. I wanted to remove the US-based players (including Banjo, Sevillano, Angelo Young and a few more) from the "PHI" list. Not only are they not coming back to the Philippines anymore, but the NCFP would have to pay their rating fees. The reason they were not removed was because I felt sorry for them. Why? Remember the rules for title tournaments? That there must be players from three different Federations other than yours for it to qualify for international titles? Being in the States, the "PHI" listing would make them attractive to chess organizers (no airplane tickets to pay for!) who would invite them to closed tournaments they would otherwise have no access to.
That is the true story, and people who know me can attest that I do not lie about such things.
OK, enough about politics! One day while GM Torre and myself were going over some games, we came across a Barcenilla brilliancy. Eugene shared with me his insight that everybody thinks that Banjo’s strength is in the attack.
In fact, his real strength is his persistence, determination and great endgame skills. Barcenilla is really great at nursing a small advantage and grinding it home in 80-move marathons.
Well, seeing the following game, it is quite easy to understand why the public perception of him is that of an attacker.
Barcenilla,Rogelio (2465) - Barua,Dibyendu (2555) [C43]
Cebu (3), 1992
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Qe2
A prepared line. The usual continuation is 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0–0 Qh4 etc
6...Nxe5 7.Bxe4 dxe4 8.Qxe4 Be6 9.Qxe5
White is a pawn up but Black has compensation.
9...Qd7 10.Be3 0–0–0?
Caught by surprise GM Barua errs. In a later game he finds the correct continuation: 10...Bb4+! 11.c3 Bd6 12.Qh5 0–0–0 13.0–0 f5 the two bishops give Black comepnsation. Shankar,R (2400)-Barua,D (2520)/ Muzaffapur 1998 0–1 (51).
11.Qa5!
After Czech/German GM Vlastimil Hort annihilated Nigel Short in the Bundesliga in 1986, no one had wanted to play this line for Black. Until now.
11...a6
[11...Qc6 12.Nc3 b6 13.Qa6+ Kb8 14.Nb5 Bc4 15.a4 Bb4+ 16.c3 Bd6 17.Qxa7+ Kc8 18.0–0–0 Hort,V (2545)-Short,N (2615)/ GER-chT 1986 1–0 (55)]
12.Nc3! f5 13.d5! Bf7 14.0–0–0 Bd6 15.b4 Qe7 16.a3 Rhe8 17.Bd4 Be5 18.Kb1 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qe5 20.Rhd1 Rd6 21.f4 Qe3 22.Rc4 Re7 23.Kb2 Kd8 24.Rd3 Qg1 25.Nb5! Rb6
[25...axb5 26.Qa8+ Kd7 27.Rxc7+ Kxc7 28.Rc3+ and wins]
26.d6 Re1 27.dxc7+ Ke7 28.Rd7+! 1–0
Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.
This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Friday, August 15, 2007.
FROM MY SWIVEL CHAIR
Setting record straight on Barcenilla
THE reader is invited to take a close look at the two BusinessWorld columns of Bobby Ang on pages 12-13 and 14-15 of this newsletter. They both dwell, one a sequel to the other, on the question of whether or not Rogelio Barcenilla should have been awarded the grandmaster’s title in 2000.
The first column actually kicks off from last week’s “Pinoy Gems with a History,” which deplored the apparent injustice inflicted on the Filipino IM when the World Chess Federation rejected his application for a GM title based on his having achieved his third GM result in the Jack Collins International Tournament at the Marshall Chess Club in New York City.
My contention in that article was that the rift within the Filipino chess community had something to do with the Fide action. I still hold on to that belief, although I must admit that Fide’s rejection of Barcenilla’s application was anchored on the fact that the format of the Collins contest did not hew to what was prescribed by its rules.
There are two fundamental questions in this case: If there had been no rift between two powerful Filipino chess leaders, would anybody have squawked over the Collins’ tournament results? Was Barcenilla of grandmaster strength at the time?
The answer to the first is clearly No and to the second is as clearly Yes. His rating speaks for itself.
I read somewhere that the non-Filipinos in the higher echelons of Fide were surprised that a compatriot of Barcenilla voted against his GM title award. The commentator even praised that Filipino for voting in accordance with what he believed in and not in a strictly partisan or nationalistic fashion.
I agree with Bobby that the Fide committee’s decision affected non-Filipinos and that this was not just a Philippine issue. But the fact remains, the Fide ruling robbed an outstanding Filipino IM of what he had earned. Why punish a candidate for a mistake committed by the organizers, if indeed it was a mistake?
Besides, the ruling seemed to imply a collusion between the GMs and the candidates, thereby questioning their integrity as well as that of the American organizers and arbiters.
No wonder, then, that the US delegate voted in favor of the PCF!
Truth to tell, the Collins tournament/match format was weighted in favor of the GMs, who did not have to play with the other participants, while the candidates had to go through a qualifier before facing four of the five heavyweights, one after the other.
In fact, from where I sit, I can see that the Collins course for the GM candidates was tougher than some GM tournaments we know.
Truth is like a diamond with many facets, each as sparkling as the others. I would prefer to look at the entire gem, and not just one of its facets.
That is what journalism is about: the constant search for the whole truth.
—0—
READER John Manahan writes that according to his calculations based on Fide’s rating system, IM Wesley So (2516) has earned 14 Elo points from his ultra-brilliant performance at the Youth Olympiad in Singapore. He thinks that Haridas Pascua will likely be among the top 30 rated Filipino players once he gets a Fide rating. John expressed surprise why Karl Victor Ochoa, who has been doing well in local and foreign tournaments, is still unrated. Attention, NCFP secretariat!
And on the local news...The line up for Imus Chess Team which weill be participating in the upcoming Cavite Inter-Town Chess Team Tournament:
- Lourecel P. Hernandez
- Conrado Diaz
- Coleen Nhilo D. Ibasco
- Bobby Barranda
I was informed though about the board assignments for the team still undecided and that Mr. Barranda is subject for approval from the board of organizers for some technical reasons which my source would not want to tell me.
For the UAAP Seniors Chess, DLSU is on top and followed closely by FEU. For NCAA Seniors, It's the Cardinals who's lording it over the rest.
I still have to confirm with the standings for the juniors of both tournaments.
With the issue on computer game addictions of the youth, most specially our young, IM's and GM candidates, some of which I have had the honor to spend a dinner interview with... I was told that these young, fine gentlemen view the games, specifically DOTA, as interesting and time devoting activity. They are in fact running a private joke about it among themselves...
"Nakakasira sa Dota ang chess..." or in english, "chess ruins our skills in the game of dota". Hahahahah!
Whatever happened to the coaching staff of a junior chess team in the NCAA? I heard it was replaced by the coaching staff of one of the pinoeers in providing chess lessons in the country. What was the reason for this?
And what is the status of our suspended (unproven?) Pinoy IM's? I wish we could see them play again in international and local tournaments. As a coutnry, we have wated much of our resources, lets hope not to waste these talents of ours because of political and self interests.
So what's next for chess?
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