PCC: New Look

Hey there!

We have a new look for our blog for the second time this year...The great reorganization is taking place in chapters. Trying to delete links and images I feel no longer needed.

Anyways, I've asked our at teacher a favor and requested to create a logo for Philippine Chess Chronicles blog... I wonder how it would look like with the specs I gave him.

Since tomorrow is a holiday (thanks to Ramadan!), I really feel it's a Friday night now and am logging out asap to watch a film with my wife, forget about playing at FICS for now. By the way, my handle there is philchesschrons. I've abandoned Chess.com some months ago reasons? It's hard to follow correspondence games and the prem account's just too much for me. Chess Tactics Server has always served it's purpose and I guess it's something that should be modelled upon, imitated for everyone's benefit.

Till then!

Chess Olympiad: Dresden 2008

Here's one record breaking event for chess... 152 Chess Federations are participating and this one is the largest Olympiad of all times!

For the opening ceremony, "Dresden mayor presents extensive Opening Ceremony of the Chess Olympiad - Evening of 12 November 2008 filled with attractions and stars" as what the Official Website tells us. I guess the chess world has learned a lot from the NBA when it comes to marketing, advertising and what-have-yous when it comes to trumpeting their events! Successful promotion of an event like paving the way for an even successful project!

November 12-25, 2008! Watch out for the world's best!

In light of this, le' me direct you to the October 2008 FIDE Rating list:

1. Federations World Ranking

Philippines on 34th out of 138. Russia on top with an average rating of 2720, followed by Ukraine with 2684 average rating. On third is Asian powerhouse China with an average rating of 2642, on 4th spot is US of America with an average rating of 2637. Rounding up the world's top 5 is Israel with 2637 average rating.

Our Asian neighbors aside from China and Russian sounding country name: India is on the 9th spot with an average rating of 2620, Vietnam on 38th with an average rating of 2493, Iran on 50th and Singapore on 61st.

2. Philippines Top 10

GM Wesley So is our country's top 1 with a 2610 rating, followed by GM Eugene Torre with 2560 rating. On 3rd spot with 2526 rating and former board 1 Olympiad player for the Philippines, GM Mark Paragua. On 4th spot we have IM John Paul Gomez with 2519. On 5th is GM Joey Antonio with a rating of 2515.

The next top five players for our country are as follows:

GM Darwin Laylo, untitled Rolando Nolte, IM Joseph Sanchez, GM Jayson Gonzales and GM Bong Villamayor from 6th to 10th.

Our Olympiad-bound players are all in the top ten and hopefully we end up on a higher place after final team standings of the Olympiad is published. Go go go Team Philippines!

John Healy...Who?

Hey there!

Someone left a note on our comments section and asking me if I've seen the site The Grass Arena which featured a person named John Healy.

Here's something which caught my attention:

Why is it the British Public are totally unaware of a man who has over come every obstacle and achieved so much? Why are the British public ignorant to a man with such undoubted talent? Who completely self-educates himself to become a top class chess champion and prize winning author? Is it because of his background; his class? Or because he has lived a savage existence?

Well, anything British is conservative they say!

"J Healy V T Donohue, London - 1976, The game is hardly out of the opening, but white (to move) already has a promising attack. How did he force a quick and brilliant win?"
Solution:1 B-R7 ch. K-B1: 2 KtxP! KxKt: 3 Q-Kt6 ch. K-B1: 1 QxKP. Kt-B3: 5 B-K+6. Resigns

Stories like this shows us that humans as we are, prone to risky moves and weak self-control (as in alcohol dependency?) we can rise above the mess and take our rightful place in society and well, history.

So who is John Healy?

g4 Chess Club 7th Anniversary Tournament

ANNOUNCEMENT !!!!

g4 Chess Club of Olongapo City will hold it's
7th. Anniversary BLITZ Chess Tournament slated on October. 04, 2008 ( Side Event )

THE TOURNAMENT IS OPEN TO ALL !!!

This tournament will offer the following prizes:

Champion – P700 + Hi-tec Shoes
2nd - P500 + Hi-tec Shoes
3rd - P300 + Hi-tec Shoes
4th - P200
5th - P100
Top Kiddies - ( 12-15 yrs old ) - P200+ Hi-tec Shoes

REGISTRATION FEE is 100 peso and 50peso for Kiddies.

Time Control : 5mins each. Play to finished.

Tournament Format: 13 rounds Swiss System & One day tourney. ( Number of rounds defend on how many players joining )

Tournament Date : October. 04, 2008 / Starting Time : 1:00pm

Venue: g4 Chess Club at 28 A 14th. St. East Tapinac, ( At the back of Old Aura College & Olongapo City National High School )
Olongapo City / Tel. # 47-222-8267

For more details please contact the following mobile no. 09176113514 / 09062355960 / 09287425429 / 09216480004 and 09194899443 Email address: gapochessclub@yahoo.com

MGIS Aqua Tigers

Hello everyone!

Last September 20, 2008 our Aqua Tigers, coached and trained by Mr. Renan Ignacio accompanied by former PE Teacher Mr. Richard Sales joined the 25th Brent Invitational Swim Meet at Brent Mamplasan, Laguna.

Team Standings:

1st Brent International School Mla

2nd De La Salle Zobel

3rd Elizabeth Seton School

4th ISM Sailfish Swim Team

5th Manila Japanese School

6th European International School

7th Southridge School

8th MGIS Aqua Tigers

9th International Montessori School

10th Beacon School

11th St. Scholastica's College

- Don Bosco College Calamba
- University of Perpetual Help
- Saint Benilde International School

Congratulations to everyone! Pictures to follow soon.

MGIS Aqua Tigers

Hello everyone!

Last September 20, 2008 our Aqua Tigers, coached and trained by Mr. Renan Ignacio accompanied by former PE Teacher Mr. Richard Sales joined the 25th Brent Invitational Swim Meet at Brent Mamplasan, Laguna.

Team Standings:

1st Brent International School Mla

2nd De La Salle Zobel

3rd Elizabeth Seton School

4th ISM Sailfish Swim Team

5th Manila Japanese School

6th European International School

7th Southridge School

8th MGIS Aqua Tigers

9th International Montessori School

10th Beacon School

11th St. Scholastica's College

- Don Bosco College Calamba
- University of Perpetual Help
- Saint Benilde International School

Congratulations to everyone! Pictures to follow soon.

Chess: Better grades?

Hi there!

I was checking the blog of one of the world's strongest player ever and was surprised to have read the statement "Study after study shows that children who are better at chess get better grades."

As a special needs teacher myself, I kind'a moved back and asked myself aloud (while my Irish twin sons Ydam and Miguel playing in the background this late!)"Better grades or better prepared for life?"

Common perception of the Filipinos have of the chess community and the players in it is either they're nuts or they're nuts without a college degree to feed them or their families.

A sad reality of perceptions!

I was guilty of this belief too five years ago... Who wouldn't be?

The late Bobby Fischer, who captured the Filipinos imagination when he won the world title in 1972 (full of eccentricities) and established close ties with President Ferdinand Marcos, GM Eugene Torre and a lot of people in the chess community, stayed for a long time here too. He was seen as nuts too, someone who could convincingly win over great opponents but could not plan well for his own good in his personal matters. I grew having the belief that chess players are... well, ill-equiped for the real world.

But all these changed, at least on my part and am slowly helping in my own little way change other people's beliefs about chess and the players of the game.

Because of this blog, I met players, coaches, trainers, arbiters, fans like me, onlookers, children starting out, children who are candidate masters and other stakeholders of the game.

Slowly, these chance meetings (well, other meetings were calendared!) showed me who these people are during the games, before the games, after the games and yes, even when they're not playing the game.

Just like in any other sports or arena, people are people. They have different personas, different likes and dislikes, some love shoes while others love booze. I love books and most of them too. Others love to debate while others love debating even more (the hell!). Younger players are almost always shy but don't mistaken this for being snub but a lot of times they're deep in thoughts trying to figure out which move to make (specially when losing!).

I've seen someone, an IM, walk to and fro while waiting for his opponent to make a move and and I was surprised (and scared!) to see him laugh quietly while his face was grinning very much like one of my patients in the National Center for Mental Health during my occupational therapy internship. Man I said to myself, I guess I would have to make sure I just enjoy the games.

I've seen players shed tears during the games and hear an adult say "These are the players that I would love to have on my team, those who cry because they didnt win..."

Yes, everything changed since 2003, I met successful individuals who used to play chess competitively... they're the ones who made sure they've applied the subtle teachings of the game.

Chess they say teaches you skills you need in life, decision making skills, determination, logical thinking and other so-good-to-hear values. But why do we have those park masters who need to win 5 peso blitz games just to have their first meal of the day?

I say, it's the breaks of the game, same in life. Sometimes, no matter how good or bad one is, if the breaks go against you, you end up reeling in the bottom.

I say too that chess helps people become better equipped for life not just get good grades.

Chess not drama, good grades maybe. Better prepared for life, should be!

Torre Moves, which one?

Nothing much to do tomorrow, Friday, I thought I'd post another one here at PCC. The diagram is from F. Gamae, chess correspondent 1941. I took out my Chess Problems book by Burt Hochberg and tried dishing it to HIARCS 9. Obviously, it takes a little less than 2 seconds to find the key move.

If I'd tell you the number of moves to give mate, it would be a no-brains games... so find out for yourself and enjoy!

Till then!

More Free Downloads

Hi there!

From my previous post, I asked someone to download the ebook I wanted to share and all seems right because our reader was able to get a copy of the book... Since I haven't got the time, the inspiration and the news, might as well serve the community by sharing some files I have for everyone's liking.

We have the Susan Polgar Chess Curriculum, given to me two yeas ago by then math teacher and chess club moderator of Xavier School, Mr. John Sy. Next is the Ultimate Collection of Mr. Edmund Beronio and lastly, the almost-available everywhere in the net, the English Chess Problems.

More to come, hopefully!

Chess For Dummies ebook

Hi there!

I found this on the net: Chess for Dummies 2nd edition.

I've always wanted to have a copy of this book because I know the Dummies Book Series have always provided it's readers the layman approach, thru it's use of terminologies and language.

Enjoy!

Everything You Need For Trade Shows

I've always wondered where and how people behind successful and beautiful exhibit and trade shows get their equipments like banner stands, panel shows, tabletops, panel systems, pop-ups, pipe and drapes etc. until I came across Camelback Displays.

What do they have others don't? Let's do a rundown:

For table show booths, from customized to standardized show booths, they've got what you need at a reasonable yet high quality products. Full color or backlight ads to structured or no-structured paneling your choice, sky is the limit.

We all know that table skirts or table covers make up at least 75% of what we see on table based displays like chess books on sale, hard to find copies of Bobby Fischer's unpublished games or the oldest ever chess piece found along the shores of coastl seas of unheard civilizations. At camelback displays, they've got what you need too. Your choice of printed or blank covers will suit your taste or distaste, depending on your perceived (and hopefully combacking) clients, they've got it.

And of course, an exhibit is not an exhibit without banner stands to greet your incoming and outgoing onlookers and would-be buyers. Retractable banner stands, regular non-retractable banner stands, telescoping banner stands are just a few of the available standsfrom the leading manufacturer of dependable makers of display stands. Motorized scrolling stands have always satisfied my curiousity and camelback has them too!

Lastly, pipe and drapes will suit your elegance to show what you want to sell or part with. Very nice to have a set like this when you wish to give that "comfort feel" among your clients.

So what are you waiting for, buy now and watch your sales go up and reach the skies! Oopps! Before I forget, camelback display helps with all the details to finish off that presentation of yours!

UAAP Chess

Hi guys!

Our mole sent us results of the UAAP Chess for this year:

Adamson University took home the championship trophy for juniors, University of the Easy on 2nd place and Ateneo de Manila University on 3rd place.

Far Eastern University bagged the 1st place award in the seniors category while in the Women's division, De La Salle University conquered their division.

Congratulations!

Torre To The Olympiad

GM Eugene Torre to the Olympiad after all!

When I learned two weeks ago that he won the recently held PGMA Cup in Fiesta Mall, Duty Free Paranaque, I thought "Man, when he wants to make a point, he wins a strong international tournament!"

Here's GMA News.TV article.

NCAA Jrs Chess: No Goliaths in the Final 4

In the juniors section, we saw how the top two finishers after of the double eliminations demolished their opponents, 4-0. San Sebastian College-Recoletos (SSC-R) and Colegio San Juan de Letran(CSJL) convincingly won over University of Perpetual Help Dalta System (UPHDS)and College of St. Benilde - La Salle Greenhills (CSB-LSGH) respectively. The championship match between SSC-R and CSJL will be on Sunday, September 21 at the Jose Rizal University gymnasium, Mandaluyong City. CSB-LSGH finishes the season on 3rd spot while UPHDS on 4th, the best finish for the Las Pinas team in years.

Before the match, I used the biblical story of David and Goliath to "prep-up" our boys, unfortunately for us, there were'nt any Goliaths in the juniors team. As we saw the fall of the would've been Davids lose their games one by one, I felt glad anyways as I will have the time to rest and recharge on weekends instead of attending the games. And plus the fact that in some way, I've helped out finish on
4th spot the UPHDS juniors.

"Baste" and Letran deserve to fight it out for the championship! Good luck!

Results of the matches:

SSC-R vs UPHDS

Turqueza - Miso : 1-0
Cristobal - Manero : 1-0
Jongko - Dado : 1-0
Fopalan - Dandan : 1-0

CSB-LSGH vs CSJL

Galan - Laceste : 0-1
Songcuya - Fonda : 0-1
Lahoz - Biag : 0-1
Ramos A - Mejia : 0-1


Dado, Miso, Dandan and Manero before the games



Take two for the boys from Las Pinas. Missing in action is team captain Servidad.


Perps and Baste boys


Team Letran with coach NM Perez


Songcuya of LSGH


Olympiad-bound Fronda of Letran


Board 1 player of LSGH, Galan

And in the seniors section,the Davids' upset the top two finishers to set up a rubbermatch today. The results from Saturday's games:

Mapua vs Letran 3-1

San Sebastian vs Benilde .5 - 3.5


IA Lao


De Ramos Julius, board one for Mapua


Reyes of CSB, playing on board 1



CSB coach, FM Fernie Donguines

I don't know yet the results of today's matches for the seniors... we'll try to find out.

Till then!

Some Shots From My Break

Facilitators of the 3-day workshop, Mr. Voltaire Formilleza and Me


After the mudcrawl, grade 10 students with me and Voltaire.


The G10 before the eco tour adventure


Stone art deco, Mother and Child greets you!


Where we had the workshop

It was a good place, not as great as I expected though. And now, back to reality!

Vintage Torre

Hey there!

Asia's first ever chess grandmaster finished the recently concluded 3rd GMA Cup tied on the first place with GM Li Chao of China and GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore.

El Eugenio's 5 straight wins, a draw in the 6th AND 9th, a point the 7th and a loss in the 8th proved that he's still at it if he wants to. I think he prepared well for this tourney and it shows right?

Congratulations!

And in the challenger event, we have Alisangco Nicomedes leading the tourney, congratulations!

Blog Shut Down

Starting tonight (yeah after this post) our beloved Philippine Chess Chronicles blog will take a break until Saturday, September 13. I'll be one of the two facilitators for the MGIS Personal Project: Self-Enhancement Workshop 2008 at the Forest Club, Laguna.

I won't miss much of my daily motorbike drive from Imus to Paranaque but definitely I'll miss the internet connection and of course my loving wife and kids. I'll take the opp to enjoy the place which I heard is one of the hot spots for corporate and academic workshops and team building events.

I think I'll be able to relax and recharge after a month full of job related stresses. Till then!

84th NCAA Chess: After 14 Rounds

After 14 rounds, we now have the final standings for both Junior and Senior divisions:

Juniors

1 San Sebastian College-Recoletos 41 points/22 Match points

2 Colegio San Juan de Letran 40.5 points/22 Match points

3 CSB-La Salle Greenhills 31 points/16 Match points

4 University of Perpetual Help 16 points/ 9 Match points


5 San Beda College 14.5 points/7 Match points

6 Mapua Institute of Technology 13 points/ 3 Match points

7 Jose Rizal University 12 points/ 5 Match points


San Sebastian , Letran and CSB-La Salle Greenhills dominated the tourney convincingly and so are placed on the top three posts. Making the final four for the first time in years is the team from Las Pinas, UPHSD.

In the senior division:

1 Colegio San Juan de Letran 37 points/ 20 Match points

2 San Sebastian College 33 points/ 18 Match points

3 College of St. Benilde 32.5 points/ 17 Match points

4 Mapua Institute of Technology 30.5 points/ 16 Match points


5 San Beda College 15 points/ 5 Match points
6 University of Perpetual Help 12.5 points/ 5 Match points
7 Jose Rizal University 3 points/ 3

In the seniors section, the fight for the final four was as close as what the scores show us. Comparing the match points for each team, it was indeed a tough tourney.

And our gold medal performers:

--------------Juniors-------------------------Seniors

Board 1 ----- MJ Turqueza (SSC-R) -------Julius Joseph de Ramos (MIT)

Board 2 -----Jan Jodilyn Fronda (CSJL)----Luke Farre (SSC-R)

Board 3 -----Arvie Jongko (SSC_-R)------- Ryan Mendoza (CSJL)

Board 4 -----Robby Derick Fopalan (SSC-R) -----Reni Malupa (CSB)

Board 5 ----- ---------- Bon Mark Garcia (CSJL)

Board 6 -----Nigel Kervin Valenzuela (SSC-R) -----Hector Calma (UPHDS)

Final 4 begins on September 13 and board colors would be decided by a toss coin... tops 1 and 2 enjoy a twice to beat advantage. In case of a draw? Tiebreaks would be discussed prior to the games.

Interesting!

UAAP Chess: After 7 Rounds

Men's Team Standings:

1 Adamson University 18

2-3 Far Eastern University 16.5
University of Santo Tomas 16.5

4 University of the East 15

5 De La Salle University 14.5

6 University of the Philippines 12.5

7 National University 12

8 Ateneo De Manila University 7


Juniors:

1 Ateneo de Manila University 18

2 Adamson University 17.5

3 University of the East 16.5

4 National University 16.5

5 Far Eastern University 12.5

6 University of Santo Tomas 3.5

7 De La Salle Zobel 2

Women's team standings unavailable for now.

NCAA Chess: After 11 Rounds

After 11 rounds,we have the over all standings and team points for Juniors:

San Sebastian College 32.5 points
Letran 30 points
La Salle GH 23.5 points

San Beda College 12.5
Mapua 12
JRU 11
Perpetual 10.5

Games for the last two rounds this coming weekend:

Saturday, Sept. 6

Perpetual vs JRU
Mapua vs La Salle GH
San Sebastian vs Letran
San Beda BYE

Sunday, Sept 7

JRU vs San Sebastian
Letran vs Mapua
La Salle GH vs San Beda
Perpetual BYE

The last two rounds would tell us who will occupy the fourth spot. The first three have long been taken by the top three schools.

g4 Chess Tourney

The tournament is open to all master, non-master and unrated players with a local rating of 2000 and below based on NCFP January 2008 Rapid rating.


This annual tournament will offer the following prizes:

Champion P4000 + Hi-tec Shoes
2nd P2000 + Hi-tec Shoes
3rd P1000 + Hi-tec Shoes
4th P500
5th P300
6th to 10th P200 each

Category Winners:
Top Local player - P1500 + Hi-tec Shoes
Top Junior (15-18 yrs old) - P800
Top Kiddies ( 12-14 yrs old )- P800
Top Senior (50yrs old above)- P800
Best Women - P800


REGISTRATION FEE:
300 pesos for Non-Olongapo players
200 pesos for Olongapo players

SPECIAL RATE :

250 pesos to the first 30 non-Olongapo players tournament registrant !!!
NOTE: Maximum of 60 players only on a first come, first serve basis.

Time Control :
30 mins each. Play to finished.

Tournament Format:
7 rounds Swiss System & One day tournament.
Tournament Date : October 25, 2008
Starting Time : 1:00 pm

Venue:
g4 Chess Club at 28 A 14th. St. East Tapinac,
( At the back of Old Aura College & Olongapo City National High School )
Olongapo City / Tel. # 47-222-8267

For more details please contact the following mobile no. 09176113514 / 09062355960 / 09287425429 / 09216480004 and 09194899443
Email address: gapochessclub@yahoo.com

Cute Ones'

Hello there!

This will be my 2nd post from a weeklong blog break which felt like an eternity.

First stop, I'd like to share to you guys how the first day of our Chess After-School-Activity went...

We started at 2:35 this afternoon and expected to have my room (SPED room) to be full of excited newbies except of course for some pioneer members in the names of Benedict Edano and Shawn Christensen.

I had a total of 15 students which I expect will dwindle to 8 if I'm lucky but could still go down to two.

My youngest member is a preschooler, Trixcy who is 4 years old and Siddhart who is 5 years old. When I asked the two to set up their chessboards into starting position, I made sure they would have a model prepared in advance. And then...

Trixcy: "Why would he play with me? He doesn't know?"

Mr. Francis: "We are here to have fun and have friends while learning chess..."

Siddhart: "Mr.Francis... ahm, ah,..."

Mr. Francis: "Yes Sid? How are you? Your ok with Trixcy?"

Siddhart: "Ahm... Mr. ..."

Mr. Francis: "The three of us will play, no worries ok?"

Siddhart: (whispering) "Is this snakes and ladders?"

Mr. Francis: "Sid, this is what we call chess and the boards you play on are called chessboards!"

Hahahaha! It will be a lot of work for sure!


And from the middle years program students:

Student 1: "Ei' mr.Francis finally after two Mondays of no school, I'll be playing!"

Mr. Francis: "GO ahead enjoy!"

Student 2: "Let's play then!" (talking to student 1)

Student 1: "Ok, tell me how to !!!"

Oopps! Now that's the attitude with capital A!

Great start!