First stop, some concerns from the comment box included NCAA and UAAP chess coverage, someone offering ebooks (thanks a lot) from a certain John and I believe this John is the same nice guy who has sent us some nice messages etc. Also in our comment box thanking PCC for its existence. Anyways, thanks for your messages.
We have NM Bernardino's report:
PINOY FM VIRGILIO VUELBAN TOPS ROME, ITALY CHESS
Final Standings: 68 player's field/ 6 round Swiss-system
5.5 points---FM Virgilio Vuelban (PHILIPPINES)
5.0 points---GM Igors Rausis (Czech Republic), IM Milan Mrdja (Croatia)
4.5 points---GM Oleg Korneev (Russia), GM Igor Naumkin (Russia), IM Bogomil Andonov (Bulgaria), GM Milko Povchev (Bulgaria),
FILIPINO FIDE Master Virgilio Vuelban made the country proud anew after winning the International Chess Festival dubbed as 1° Festival Scacchi dei Castelli Romani e Prenestini in Rome, Italy last August 17 to Agosto 19.
Vuelban, who hails from Cagayan de Oro City finished undefeated in six games on account of five wins, a draw to raise total 5.5 points and accumulate TPR (Total Performance Rating) of 2720.
Among Vuelban's big wins, currently No.36 in RP-Fide rating list with 2332 against top seed GM Oleg Korneev (Elo rating 2565) of Russia and GM Milko Povchev of Bulgaria.
"Napakaganda ng performance ko dito sa International Open sa Rome, Italy, tinalo ko tatlong GM at isa dito ay si GM Korneev, tuloy-tuloy ang kampanya ko dito sa Europa para ma full-fill ko ang dream ko na International Master title at pinaka huli ang Grandmaster title. Bilib din ako sa performance nina Rolly (Martinez), Roland (Salvador) sa Bratto, Italy maging si Joseph (Sanchez) na lumalahok naman sa Paris, France." said Vuelban, a former Philippine Navy Chess team standout in a long distance interview late Saturday.
Last Saturday, IM Rolly Martinez settled fourth place with 6.5 points to receive fourth prize 600 euros plus earned his first GM norm/ results in the 27th International Chess Festival in Bratto, Italy. Another Filipino entry IM Roland Salvador finished with 5.5 points to join 16 other player in this FIDE 9 round Swiss-system tournament which featured some of the world best player which attracted 120 player's field.
Eventual champion GM Vladimir Burmakin of Russia, who beat IM Martinez in the ninth and final round took the championship's trophy plus top prize 1,500 euros after edging fellow GM Miso Cebalo of Croatia in the tie break points as the former(Burmakin) tallied 46.5 points against the latter's (Cebalo) 44.5 points. The duo finished with 7.0 points each in nine games of play. (MARLON BERNARDINO).
And here is The Weekender which contains GM Bobong Villamayor's blueprint for Philippine Chess Development that will bring us back into our rightful place, Asia's number one!
Rolly gets GM norm but fails to capture plum
MILAN-BASED Filipino IM Rolly Martinez lost his final-round game to a Russian grandmaster but kept intact his first GM result in the Bratto International GM Tournament in Italy.
In probably his finest performance yet since making Milan his foster home last year, Martinez led by himself in the homestretch of the tough GM event and had 6.5 points going into the ninth and final round.
Immediately behind him just by half a point were three grandmasters and a fellow IM.
Unfortunately, however, he had the disadvantageous black pieces against eventual champion GM Vladimir Burmakin in the ninth canto, and the Russian slowly ground down his Nimzo-Indian game with a Q-side pawn-roller.
Martinez, with his king under fire from Burmakin’s heavy artillery from the center and the flank, resigned on the 40th move to slide down to eighth place on tiebreak with five others having 6.5 points each for the third to eighth bracket.
He had earlier, however, beaten two GMs, Michelle Godena of Italy and Sergei Tiviakov of the Netherlands, among his six wins and had only one loss, to GM Vladimir Epishin in the fourth round.
According to columnist Bobby Ang, this was enough for Rolly to clinch his first GM norm regardless of the final outcome.
• R. Martinez (2428) – S. Tiviakov (2648)
Rd. 7, 27th Bratto International Open, Italy ’07
Sicilian Defense, Accelerated Dragon (B34)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Ng8 9.Bd4 f6 10.f4 Qa5 11.Qe2 fxe5 12.Bxe5 Better than 12.fxe5 Rb8 13.Qf2 Rxb2! Nf6 13.0–0–0 0–0 14.Bd4 e6 14...Rf7 15.a3 should equalize, says Fritz 15.a3 Nh5 15...d6 16.Qe1 should also equalize 16.g3 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 d5 18.Bh3 Ng7 19.Qe5 Rf7 20.Qd6 Qc7 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Rd2 Rb8 23.Re1 c5 24.Nd1 Rb6 25.Nf2 a5 26.Ng4 Ne8 27.Nf2 Kf7 28.Rde2 c4! Restoring the balance 29.c3 Re7 30.Ng4 Nd6 31.Ne5+ Kg7 32.Nf3 Nb7 33.Rd1 Rc7 34.Rdd2 Nc5 35.Kb1 Bd7 36.Bg2 Missing 36.Ne5!, keeping the balance Ne4! 37.Rc2 Ba4 38.Rc1 Nc5 Not 38...Bd1 39.Rxe4 Bxf3 40.Rxe6 Rxe6 41.Bxf3! 39.Nd4 Rcb7 40.Ka2 g5 41.f5 Fritz suggests 41.fxg5! Nd3 42.Rb1, with equal chances e5 42.Ne6+ Nxe6 43.fxe6 e4 44.Bh3 h5 45.Bf5 g4 46.h3 Kf6 Missing 46...gxh3! 47.Rf1 Restoring the equilibrium Kg5 48.Kb1 Rb8 49.Kc1 Rf8 50.h4+ Kh6 51.Rf4 Re8 52.Rd2 Rb5 53.Rdf2 Re7 54.Re2 Reb7 55.Rd2? 55.Rf1 was the refutation e3! 56.Re2 Rxb2! 57.Rxe3 Rg2 58.Rf1 Rb3?? Weakening the position 59.e7! Be8?? The fatal error. 59...Rxa3 was best 60.Bc2! Rxa3 61.Rf8 Ba4?? Mistakes come in pairs 62.Re6+! Kg7 63.Rg6+ Kh7 64.Rf7+ Kh8 65.Rh6+ Kg8 66.Rf8+ Kg7 67.Rh7#! 1–0
Pathetic, the grandmaster’s monarch being mated in his own territory!
—Marlon Bernardino
DEL MUNDO VERSUS PARAGUA MATCH? Paolo trips Macmac
LOCAL fans will certainly be delighted if the Philippines’ latest sensation in America, Anton Paolo del Mundo, and the Philippines’ No. 3 GM, Mark Paragua, hold an exhibition match in Manila. Both are currently based n the United States.
Speculation among the fans of the two friends and former schoolmates was triggered by Bobby Ang’s column in BusinessWorld last Monday quoting Del Mundo as saying that if he were to play in a match, he preferred to face his friend, Mark Paragua.
Paolo made the remark shortly after he defeated Macmac in the fifth and final round of the Atlantic Open in Washington, DC, last week.
Paragua, who has been touring the US East Coast, is said to have expressed his desire to extend his stay in America.
This was also broadly hinted in the report by Michael Atkins on the results of the Atlantic Open.
“Philippine GM Mark Paragua, who will probably compete more in the area now as he is a new member of the UBMC Chess Team, was the only Grandmaster this weekend,” Atkins wrote.
• P. Del Mundo – M. Paragua
Rd. 5, English Opening (A12)
1.g3 d5 2.Bg2 c6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.c4 e6 5.0–0 Nd7 6.b3 Ngf6 7.Bb2 Bd6 8.d3 0–0 9.Nc3 Re8 10.Rc1 Qe7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 h6 Not 12...Bxf3 13.Bxf3 d4 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4! 13.e4 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Nh4 Qe6 leads to equality dxe4 14.dxe4 e5 15.Nh4 Bg6 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Rcd1 Rad8 18.h4 Nc5 19.Bh3 Ne6 20.Ne2 Nc5 Fritz suggests 20...b6 21.b4 Ncd7 22.c5 Bc7 23.Nc1 Nh7 24.Rd2 Ndf6 25.Rfd1 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 g5 27.Ne2 Qf7 Finally equalizing 28.Qb3 Qxb3 29.axb3 gxh4 30.gxh4 Nf8 31.f3 Ng6 32.h5 Nxh5 33.Bd7 Re7 34.Bc8 b6 35.Bd7 bxc5 36.bxc5 Ba5 37.Bc3 Bxc3 38.Nxc3 Kh7 39.Bf5 Rb7? 40.Rd6+- Nhf4 41.Rxc6 Rxb3 42.Nd5 Rb1+ 43.Kf2 Rb2+ 44.Ke1 Ng2+ 45.Kd1 N2h4 46.Rxg6! A clearance sacrifice for the bishop.Nxg6 47.Ne7 Rb5 48.Bxg6+? Fritz suggests 48.c6!, e.g., 48...h5 49.Nxg6 Rc5 50.Nxe5+ Kg8 Kh8 49.c6 Rc5 50.Bf7 Better was 50.Be8 h5 51.Bxh5! a5?? The final mistake. Better but not enough to save the game was 50...g5, e.g., 51.Bd5 Kh7 51.Ng6+ Kh7 52.Nf8+ Kh8 53.Bd5! 1–0
‘BIGGEST EVENT IN REGION’
Cebu to host Asian Championship
CEBU CITY is sprucing up for one of the biggest events in the Asia-Pacific region—the Asian Individual Championship—to be held at its International Convention Center from September 18 to 30.
At stake in the two-week competition is a total prize fund of US$40,000.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Pichay announced this on its official website last weekend, saying that more than 150 top players from all over the continent and Pacific islands, including Australia and New Zealand down south.
“This will surely be one of the biggest and most prestigious chess competitions in the whole region this year,” Pichay, a former Surigao del Sur congressman, said, adding: “The whole country, especially Cebu, is truly honored to be chosen by Fide and the Asian Chess Federation as host of the Asian Championship.”
China is said to have “signified its intention” to send at least 10 players, six of whom are super GMs, namely, Wang Yue (2696), Bu Xiangzhi (2685), Ni Hua (2681), Zhang Pengxiang (Elo 2649), Ye Jiangchuan (2632) and Wang Hao (2626).
Indonesia is sending GMs Utut Adianto (2583) and Megaranto Susanto (2554).
Among the other early entries are GMs Ehsan Ghaem Maghami and Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran, and GMs Krishnan Sasikiran, P. Harikrishna and Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India.
All five Filipino GMs—Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Mark Paragua, Nelson Mariano II and Bong Villamayor—are expect to take part .
Pichay is deputy president of the Asian Chess Federation.
PINOY GEMS WITH A HISTORY
Bong’s starring role in Philchess
I’D LIKE to invite the reader to go to page 11 and read the first part of GM Buenaventura Villamayor’s proposed Chess Development Program for the country, which is being serialized in this newsletter. It’s a comprehensive development program that ought to be implemented as soon as possible by the powers that be.
Unfortunately, however, the Villamayor proposal has gathered dust since 2002 when he submitted it to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
The author himself is now working in another country, Singapore, where he is training youngsters to become future champions.
Bong, as he is popularly known, has also done his part training future Filipino champions, having been a coach and trainer for the pasts 20 years.
The names of those whom he has helped develop into first-class players are among the most illustrious in the country today. Just to mention a few, here is a short list:
GM Nelson Mariano II, former national junior champion who achieved the highest result yet of a Filipino in the World Juniors, the bronze medal; WIM Arianne Caoili, an Olympiad player now living in Australia; IM Ronald Dableo, former zonal champion and world champion candidate; IM Roland Salvador, now campaigning in Italy for the GM title; WIM Christine Rose Mariano; IM Darwin Laylo, a former national open champion a number of times, and NM OIliver Barbosa, former Asean champion.
Born on May 4, 1967 in Mauban, Quezon, Bong learned chess at the age of four from his mother, finished second in his first-ever tournament at the age of 11, and since then has been a bright star on the local chess firmament, having been a national champion and a successful campaigner on the international circuit.
A singular distinction of his career has been his earning all his three GM norms within only 40 days in 1988!
A pity that a player of his caliber has chosen to devote more time to teaching than focusing on his career as a player and win honors for his country as well as fame and glory.
One of his significant victories was capturing the Shell National Open Rapid four years ago, which served as qualifier for the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam.
In the 2002 Bled Olympiad, GM Villamayor also played a starring role and produced a gem in which he stunned his opponent with a clever offer of his queen that led to certain victory.
• B. Villamayor (2503) - Ali Gattea
35th Olympiad, Bled, Slovenia 2002
Tarrasch Defense {D34)
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.0–0 e6 6.c4 Be7 7.Nc3 0–0 8.cxd5 exd5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Na4 Be7 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rc1 Bg4 13.Nc5 Bxc5 14.Bxc5 Qd7 15.Re1 Rac8 16.Be3 h6 17.Qb3 b6 18.Qa3 Bh3 19.Bh1 Ng4 20.Bf4 Re4 21.Qd6 Qe8 22.Qxd5 Rxe2 23.Qd2!
12…Rxd2 24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Bxd2 Not 25.Nxd2?? Nd4 26.Bf3 Ne2+ 27.Bxe2 Rxe2! Nge5 26.Nxe5 Nxe5 27.Re1 Rd8 28.Bc3 Better than 28.Rxe5 Rxd2 29.Re1 Rxb2, Nd3 29.Rd1 Rd7? If 29...Bf5 30.h3, with equal chances 30.f4 Best was 30.Bc6 Rd6 31.Be4 Nxf2 32.Rxd6 Nxe4 33.Rd8+ Kh7 34.Ra8! Bg4 Restoring the equilibrium 31.Rd2 Be6 31...Nc1 should do the trick 32.Bc6² Rc7?? 32...Rd6 is safer: 33.Be4 Bc4! 33.Be4 Bxa2 34.Rxd3 Rc8 34...Kf8 won’t work: 35.Bb4+ Ke8 36.Re3! 35.Rd7 Re8 36.Bd3 a5 37.Rb7 Rd8 38.Bc2! 1-0
• R. Khouseinov (2331) – B. Villamayor (2503)
35th Olympiad, Bled, Slovenia 2002
French Defense (C00)
1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.e5 Ng8 5.Nf3 Nh6 6.Nc3 c5 7.Nd1 Nc6 8.g3 Nf5 9.c3 Be7 10.Bh3 Rb8 11.d3 b5 12.0–0 h5 13.Ne3 g6 14.Bg2 a5 15.Rd1 Qb6 16.Qf2 c4 17.d4 b4 18.h3 a4 19.g4 hxg4 20.hxg4 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 a3 22.b3 Ba6 23.bxc4 Bxc4 24.Bd2 b3 25.axb3 Qxb3 26.Be1 Qa4 27.Nd2 Na5 28.Bf1 Bxf1 29.Kxf1 Kd7 30.Qf3 Nc4 31.Kg1 Rb2 32.Qd3 Rhb8 33.Kf1 Qc2 34.Ke2 Qa4? 35.Kf1 Rh8? 36.Kg1 a2 37.g5? Rhb8 38.Kf1 Na3 39.c4 Nxc4 40.Rdc1 Nxd2+ 41.Bxd2 R8b3 42.Rc3 Rxc3!
If 43.Bxc3 Qb3! Fritz suggests 42...Rb1+ as more decisive. 1-0
G.M. VILLAMAYOR’S DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL TO N.C.F.P
Laying down foundations of Philchess
WITH this issue, The Weekender starts serializing the Chess Development Program proposed by GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in 2002, when he was still a member of its Board of Directors. Since then, the NCFP has apparently been sitting on it. With this publication, we hope the NCFP Board will now exert serious and earnest efforts to “make the right move.”
THE chess development program of the Philippines has been mainly focused on organizing chess tournaments over the past three decades.
This has always been the vehicle for promoting the game and reaching out to the many players and enthusiasts all over the country.
Inasmuch as we want to develop our fellow players, we must seek new methods in improving their level of play through professional instruction and the use of modern chess technology.
Professional instruction by way of conducting seminars or chess clinics will enable players of all ages to gain continuity in their quest for self-improvement.
This can also be done before or after a major tournament so as to maximize the presence of professional players and technical experts in the regions and provinces.
Furthermore, in the same vein we can conduct seminars for arbiters and tournament organizers who wish to raise standards of organizing and officiating at such events.
This can be implemented with the empowerment of the Federation’s regional and provincial coordinators in cooperation with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Actually this could be an initial step towards bringing chess to schools, with the ultimate aim of tying up with the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS) in popularizing the game in which Filipinos excel.
Another step further in centralizing this aim is the establishment of a Chess Academy. This institution will be the developmental tool for our discoveries in the initial step of the outreach seminars. The Chess Academy can become the center for training and for the advancement of chess talent.
The training and preparation of our Philippine Teams to the SEA Games, ASIAN Games, Chess Olympiads and various individual competitions can be monitored and assessed.
On the aspect of the federation’s information dissemination, a website must be created to ensure proper communication in local and international transactions.
A newsletter or a chess magazine for publishing calendars, tournament results, activities, players’ ratings, etc.; to add up annotated games and factual columns can be created for the interest of the chess public.
Actually many things can still be added to these proposals. But initially we must first lay down strong foundations for an effective management scheme.
I hope that with these ideas a new dawn of Philippine chess development awaits us. The proper set of programs and its strict implementations will lead to the reemerging of the Philippines to its rightful place in Asia and the Pacific.
Prepared by:
Buenaventura “Bong” M. Villamayor
Chess Grandmaster
April 2002
To be continued next week
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (1)
Paolo del Mundo (2)
DESPITE his long years in the United States and the possibility of coming back is remote, Paolo has remained a Philippine FIDE-rated player. One incident contributed to this. It was in Foxwoods Open in 2002, when the elimination for the US closed championships was being conducted. Paolo applied as a foreign college student, which made him qualified to join the elimination.
There are six open tournaments in the US which also serve as qualifying event for the US Championship. It is not enough though to join the tournament. If your intention is to try and qualify for the national championship you have to pay a special fee. It goes without saying that if they accept the fee then if you attain the number of points required you qualify.
Previously, Paolo almost made it in the US Open 2001 except for a sorry last round loss. Since they allowed him to play at that time, he joined the next one at Foxwoods. This time again, he was on the verge of qualifying. He already had started his game against a grandmaster for the last round, when a USCF official abruptly interfered and told him even if he qualified by winning, he would not be accepted since he had a Philippine FIDE. This was interesting in the sense that Russian affiliated players were already eliminated in the earlier rounds. And when Paolo just needed this last game, suddenly he was declared unqualified. Either the officials did not know what they were doing or there could be some political machinations behind the scenes.
I remember that the dad, Herky, was very upset because they had to tell him while the game was actually being played.
Herky requested that they be reimbursed the special registration fee and expressed his incredulity that they've been accepting his registration for already two years. Ever since, Paolo didn't feel compelled switching his FIDE affiliation, and that might be well and good.
Paolo feels that he can be a GM in five years. But he doesn't feel compelled to. He adds, so what if you get the GM title? The more important thing he said is you know that you are an excellent player, and that is enough for him. He still loves chess despite his busy schedule.
Know your hero:
Question: What is your favorite color?
Answer: Blue.
Q: What is your favorite kind of food?
A: Japanese.
Q: What is your favorite drink?
A: Coke.
Q: Who is your favorite writer?
A: Orson Scott Card
Q: What is the best or most interesting chess book you ever read?
A: My Great Predecessors by Garry Kasparov
Q: What is the best or most interesting book you ever read (non-chess)?
A: Ender's Game.
Q: What is your all-time favorite movie?
A: Children of Men.
Q: Who is your favorite actress?
A: Jessica Alba.
Q: What music do you prefer to listen to?
A: Linkin Park
Q: What was the best chess game you ever played?
A: I played a game a while back against Malik Gumama. I still think that was my best game so far. A lot of tactics!
Q: Who is your favorite chess player of all time?
A: Not entirely favorite but I like Tal, Kasparov, Fischer, Petrosian, Karpov.
Q: What is it that you appreciate most in a person?
A: Integrity.
Q: Who or what would have liked to be if you hadn't been yourself?
A: Brad Pitt.
Q: Which three people would you like to invite to dinner?
A: Garry Kasparov, Bobby Fischer, and Jessica Alba.
Q: What is your best character trait?
A: Eh, perhaps modesty?
Q: What is your worst character trait?
A: I am so disorganized! I lose things easily.
Q: Is there something you'd love to learn?
A: How to cook
Q: What is your greatest fear?
A: Boredom
Q: What would you save from your house if it were on fire?
A: The people living in the house, of course!
Q: What is your preferred time-control?
A: Two hours, 40 moves, one hour to finish.
Q: Is there a rule in chess that you'd like to change?
A: Around 10 years ago I played a match against Albert Chow. The game had slipped into an endgame which “seemed” drawish, but was actually much more complicated than meets the eye. Albert had declared to the arbiter that it was a drawn position. The arbiter declared it a draw. I complained to the arbiter but he was unwilling to bend. It's not fair to have an arbiter declare draw on a position he gave a cursory glance—he doesn't really understand what is going on!
Q: Against which player would you like to play a match?
A: My friend, GM Mark Paragua.
Q: Who is the most beautiful female chess player of the moment?
A: I don't know personally but I've heard that Arianne Caoili is a knock-out!
Here is his game with Malik Gumama.
Del Mundo,Paolo - Gumama,Malik [B87]
UAAP 60th Season, 1998
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 10.0–0–0 0–0 11.e5! Ne8
[11...dxe5? 12.Nxe6!]
12.f4 Qc7 13.f5 dxe5 14.fxe6 f5!
Malik displays his great defensive skills. If 14...exd4 15.exf7+ Rxf7 16.Bxf7+ Kxf7 17.Qh5+ Kf8 (Of course not 17...g6 18.Qxh7+) 18.Rhf1+ Nf6 19.Bxd4 Nbd7 (19...Kg8? 20.Bxf6! gxf6 (20...Bxf6 21.Qe8#) 21.Rd4 wins) 20.Qxh7 with a raging attack.
15.Ndxb5?! axb5 16.Nxb5 Qc8 17.Rd7 Nc6 18.Bc5!?
After 18.Bc5
The point. If 18...Bxc5 then 19.e7+
18...Na5?!
Black falls for the mirage. After 18...Bxc5 19.e7+ Kh8 (19...Rf7?? 20.Qc4 the end) 20.exf8Q+ Bxf8 21.Qc4 Nf6! saves the game.
19.Bxe7 Nxb3+ 20.Kb1
[20.axb3?? Ra1+ 21.Kd2 Rxh1]
20...Bc6 21.Bxf8 Bxb5
Everything loses: 21...Bxd7 22.exd7 Qxd7 23.axb3 Kxf8 24.Qxe5.
22.Qxb5 Nd4 23.Qc5 Qa6 24.Qxe5?! Qxa2+ 25.Kc1 Kxf8?
Both players are tired already. A better defense is afforded by 25...Nxe6.
26.Qxd4 Qxe6 27.b3 Qa6 28.Qd5 Qa3+ 29.Kd1 Qa1+ 30.Kd2 Qf6 31.Qxa8 A thriller! 1–0
Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.
This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Monday, August 27, 2007.
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (2)
No Opening Problems
BACK in the ’70s, during the Fischer chess boom, the RHM Publishing House was set up, and they came up with a lot of quality chess books. The most famous of these was The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal, an autobiographical book which has become a classic.
Another one which for me has not been given enough recognition is "How to Open a Chess Game". Several grandmasters were approached during the 1972 San Antonio international chess tournament and asked to write a chapter each on their idea on the best way to open a chess game. The authors were great (Evans, Gligoric, Keres, Portisch, Larsen, Hort, Petrosian) and the advice they gave priceless.
Larsen advanced the notion that after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 the move 3.d4 was a positional mistake! To quote him: “I like my center pawns, and I like a QP better than a QBP ... I know that 3.d4 can be combined with purely strategical ideas, but I find it easier to discuss strategy when I have an extra center pawn!”
An eye-opener. The advice which made the most impact on me however was this one: “If you are not afraid of unclear pawn sacrifices you should have no opening problems.”
When I saw this phrase it was as if a new door of opportunity opened up before me, and I started playing chess a different way. Instead of trying to win a pawn or two in the opening and holding on to it through thick and thin, my philosophy was now to give up a pawn or two for the initiative and try to drive it home before the opponent has the chance to develop all of his pieces. I am certain that against IMs this approach would fail, but in the lower levels I have earned many successes, and besides chess is a lot more fun nowadays.
Today I present to you a game between two players who you probably have never heard of. Both are recent graduates of the junior ranks. But the idea shown here has much in common with the idea expressed above. Even in the most solid of openings, the closed Ruy Lopez, if you are not afraid of unclear pawn sacrifices, you will have no problems in the opening. Enjoy this slugfest.
Kuznetsov,Viktor (2448) - Gajewski,Grzegorz (2556) [C96]
Czech Open GMA Pardubice CZE (3), 22.07.2007
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2
What's wrong with this position? Haven't we seen it thousands of times? And in those thousand of times hasn't Black always played 10...c5 here?
10...d5!?
Black plays a Marshall Attack with one of his knights out of action on the a-file! Hasn't he ever heard of the saying "a knight on the rim is dim"?
11.exd5 e4!
Gives up another pawn! What on earth is Black's idea?
12.Ng5!
Best. In case of 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bb7 followed by ...Bxd5 and ...Bd6 Black remains a pawn down but his pieces are pointed menacingly at the White King. It is White who has to be careful.
12...Nxd5 13.Nxe4
I am sure that White thought for a long time about 13.Nxh7 Kxh7 14.Bxe4+ Kg8 15.Bxd5 Qxd5 16.Rxe7 but now Black has the nice counter 16...Bxh3! 17.Qf3 (17.gxh3? Qg5+) 17...Qg5! (17...Qxf3 18.gxf3 c5 is also ok for Black) 18.Re1 (If White gets greedy then 18.Rxc7 Rae8 and Black is winning) 18...Rfe8 19.Rf1 Bg4 20.Qg3 Qh5 21.d4 Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn.
13...f5 14.Ng3 f4 15.Ne4 f3 16.d4 fxg2
IM Notkin in "Chess Today" suggests the maneuver 16...Rb8 with the idea of ...Rb6-g6.
17.Ng3
It is important to prevent Black from ...Bf5. With the b1–h7 diagonal in his control White is actually thinking of a kingside attack.
17...Qd6 18.Be4 Bb7?
A mistake. Black should keep his bishop on c8 to keep watch on f5. Better is 18...c6.
19.Nf5 Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Rf8
The tactics are still there - once White retreats his bishop then ...Bh4 is awkward to meet.
21.Re6
As IM Notkin points out, chaos results from 21.Be6+ Kh8 22.Qg4 Rxf2! 23.Bh6! (23.Kxf2? Qh2 Black wins) 23...Rf1+ 24.Rxf1 gxf1Q+ 25.Kxf1 g5! (blocking the bishop's diagonal and threatening ...Ne3+) 26.Bxd5 (26.Bxg5? Bxg5 27.Qxg5 Qxe6) 26...Bxd5 27.Bxg5 Bxg5 28.Qxg5 Nc4 29.Na3 Qh2 and it will be a draw by perpetual.
In such positions you cannot be expected to calculate everything -- intuition will be your greatest weapon. For players like Shirov or Ivanchuk with a highly developed attacking instinct they would plunge into these complexities without a second thought. But most players prefer to keep control over their fate, and the text is an attempt to play solidly.
After 21.Re6
21...Rxf5!?
22.Rxd6 Bxd6 23.a4?!
Unbelievable! Black refuses to allow White to play solidly and suddenly sacrifices his queen.
Well, I understand this move. White opens up the a-file so that his rook can get into play, but he underestimates the weakness he creates on b3. Maybe 23.Qe2 is better.
23...Bg3! 24.f3
If 24.fxg3 Rf1+ 25.Qxf1 gxf1Q+ 26.Kxf1 Nb3 Black wins a piece.
24...Bf4 25.axb5!
White is probably wondering where all the threats are coming from. The obvious 25.Kxg2 cannot be played because of 25...Bxc1 26.Qxc1 Nb3.
25...Bxc1 26.Rxa5?
A mistake. He should have played 26.Qxc1 Rxf3 (26...Nb3? 27.Qc2; 26...Nf4 27.Qxf4! Rxf4 28.bxa6) 27.bxa6 Ba8 28.Rxa5! Ne3 29.Qxe3 Rf1+ 30.Kh2 Rh1+ 31.Kg3 g1Q+ 32.Qxg1 Rxg1+ 33.Kf4 Rxb1 Black is a piece up but White's pawns are looking very dangerous.
26...Nf4! 27.Qe1?
Another mistake. White obviously had to stop the deadly ...Be3+, but the way to do it was with 27.Nd2! Here IM Notkin points out some quite fantastic variations: 27...Bxd2 28.Qxd2 Bxf3 ok, take a deep breath, for here goes .... 29.Kh2 Nxh3! 30.Ra1 Rh5 31.Kg3 (if 31.bxa6 Ng5+ 32.Kg3 Ne4+ 33.Kxf3 and here Black wins with the unbelievable 33...g1Q! 34.Rxg1 Nxd2+ 35.Ke3 Nb3! followed by ...Ra5 winning the dangerous passer) 31...Ng5! 32.Qe3 Rh3+ 33.Kf4 h6 Black's attack is strong but there doesn't appear to be a forced win.
27...Bxf3
Black is now winning. I am speechless.
28.bxa6 Nxh3+ 29.Kh2 Bf4+ 30.Kxh3 g1N+!? 31.Qxg1
[31.Kh4 g5# mate]
31...Rxa5
Black threatens to mate on h5 and White has to give up the queen to prevent it. Gajewski deserves a medal for this game. 0–1
Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.
This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Friday, August 31, 2007.
FROM MY SWIVEL CHAIR
Wanted: criteria for NM title awards
WHAT exactly are the criteria for awarding the National Master title to a player in this country? That is the question that we hope the National Chess Federation of the Philippines will answer.
I raise this question because of the petitions filed by two Filipino expatriates who feel they were unjustly left out despite their impressive tournament records years ago. I’m pretty sure there are a number of other players who feel the same way.
The chief reason for any suspicion of favoritism on the part of national federation officials, be it the old Philippine Chess Federation or its successor, the NCFP, has been and still is the lack of transparency in such awards.
I repeat: what exactly are the criteria for awarding the NM title? Has the method of selection ever been revealed? Which tournaments are considered to be the basis for such selection? Is there a fixed and rigid standard?
The two expatriates who left the country in the seventies and nineties are Jose “Dodong” Romero Jr. and Hugo Villanueva, both of them outstanding players here before moving on.
Both now live in California, where they gained a reputation of being strong players and have been a big help to visiting Pinoys.
Romero is a nuclear engineer while Villanueva is still active in organizing chess activities for top Filipino players like GM Joey Antonio visiting America.
In fact, Villanueva has been awarded the title of senior master by the US Chess Federation.
Unfortunately neither one of them received the NM title despite their exceptionally strong showing in national tournaments here two or three decades ago.
Romero qualified for the 1970 National Championship finals, passing muster in the preliminaries where he was unbeaten and the semi-finals by downing such stalwarts as Carlos Benitez, Ruben Reyes and Florencio Campomanes and drawing with Roberto Kaimo and Juan Soria.
Among the 10 finalists he was the only non-master and unseeded player. He scored 9.0 points against strong masters of the likes of Eugene Torre, Ruben Rodriguez, Julian Lobigas, Edgar de Castro, Samuel Estimo, Glicerio Badilles, Susano Aguilar, Benitez and Soria.
Villanueva had an impressive performance in the 1979 National Junior and 1978 National Students championships, winning the YMCA national junior crown and along the way beating “the likes of Mario Meneses, Petrer Tidoy and Chito Garma”--but just the same was not awarded the NM title.
Hugo said he “achieved an Elo rating of 2380 and the rank of Fide master in 1994 and was one of the top-rated players in the Philippines … (but) was never given an NM title!”
The question is: can the NCFP act on their petitions this late? I hope NCFP president Butch Pichay or any other responsible federation official or spokesman will enlighten us on this matter.
A title is a title is a title.
Check out the NCFP Forum once in awhile for you to get the feel of what our fellow formers ask about chess, Philippine chess and International chess.
TIll then!
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