Here's a game I had this morning before going to one of Morocco's ancient city of Fes:
My 18. Nh4 was a bait to open up my opponent's King side which black took with 18...Qxh4. From there I knew I could penetrate into his castled King. I had a couple of sacrifices which turned out to be fine. My 19. f4 move started my "boa constrictor". Hehehe! I thought I could be a copycat of the original boa constrictor world champ.
Some of the positions that made me use much of my 30 minutes:
After 22. Nc6
After 30. Qh4+
After 40... Ke8
A series of sacrifice that gave me space advantage and lots of tactical motiffs which allowed me to seize the attack. I like this won game of mine!
Chess tournaments organized for ratings of 1000 and Under, 1200 U, 1400 U, 1600 U, 1800 U, 2000 U and Open division in the Philippines anyone?
Most of the tournaments I find listed at Hector Santos Jr' Pinoychess Portal are either Kiddies, Junior and 1950 and below. Aside from the major tournaments, there are no chances for those I-want-to-experience-playing-in-a-chess-tournament people.
Although the USCF is really shaky and looks like on the verge of a meltdown due to internal fighting and financial politicking, I still believe they had or have one of the best marketing plan to promote the game and improve their federation's self-sustaining financial growth.
By providing categorized tournaments based on their ratings or lack of it, you allow the chess playing and paying population to spend some of their money and help in the development of the game in the country. Financial income help support and promote any sports and in the Philippines it has always been about funding issues.
Aside from the Executives Tournaments, where master strength players rule the circuit, I don't find any events suited for the the I-W-T-E-P-I-A-C-T people.
Would there be any master strength player trying to register in 1800 U tournaments and be a clear winner of the PhP 5,000 cash prize for the champion?
Definitely, these organizers would know who and what rating these players have. Unrated division would definitely be a surprise hit among us and this would be an avenue to increase the population of the chess community.
Serve all and earn more, any takers?
Professionalize NCFP slowly but surely, one brilliant move will swing the position towards a winning game!
Here is another chess blog full of giveaways like chess ebooks, instructional videos, funny photos and a lot of cut and paste articles. This one is a haven for those who loves pressing the download load button for free.
The owner of the blog wisely organized the downloads for everyone's content! Visit the site at Chessblog for chessfuns.
Not much FICS activities for me as my account was suspended for a week due to unplayed tournament games. Anytime now my suspension will be lifted, until that time I'd have to content myself with other tactical training servers and do some uploading of the photos I took over the past week.
I've been chess blogging for the past four years and thanks to chess and blogging for it brought me to a place where I can blah blah my thoughts here to suit my heart's content. I met people from all walks of life who have a lot to say about the game. For some, chess is their life while for some, they hate the game with a big H. There are kinks and there are stinks in any field of endeavor and fortunately, the chess kingdom was and is continually blessed to have most of the nuts and skunks around the royal squared circus.
From my standpoint (which I could not even call a vantage point), I have quietly classified but not stereotyped residents of the kingdom into two:
1. The Players. These are the the major residents of the kingdom. They make life easier for everyone and they sustain the addiction for everyone to enjoy. They produce a lifetime of specimen for everyone to look into and positively or negatively criticize. Hence the word analyze should be replaced with ass-ess (pun intended). But still, I can still differentiate the types of players we have. The Professionals, the school varsity, the amateur, the rising stars, the hopefuls and the hopeless. All of these tags are based on the question"So why are you playing chess?"
The modern chess player have gizmos and gadgets to rely upon. They use numerous datebase and store them on reliable laptops and notebooks. It's important to know where to buy them and for the players with loaded schedule, there is only one place to go and it's at GearZap.Com.
I can't imagine anyone among these players who have not in anyways used a computer once and checked for a variation in their choice of opening, or analyzed and endgame database. A chessbase analysis I found on YouTube:
Most of them own either a notebook or a laptop and for sure they have Laptop accessories, from headphones to screen protectors (man the hours of staring at the glare) to external drives where they store millions of chess games not including their own games.
2. The Kibitzers. Some lightyears ago, kibitzers were simply defined as those who gives comments on a game still being played. But now we have a lot of kibitzers, from bloggers to anonymous blog commentators. There are types of kibitzers and they fall on three categories: The informed, the misinformed and those who thinks they are the information themselves. Where do I fall? The misinformed!
Just like the players, these bloggers have the need for laptops and notebooks. My own 3 year old laptop is on it's way to "hand-me-down" lane and I have been contemplating which brand I'll be getting when I come home in July. One important factor I'm really looking into is the laptop weight and the accessories that goes with it.
I am using the Acer Aspire 4310 and I guess I'll be getting a new one but am not switching brands. Acer Aspire One Accessories seem to be a good choice.
Although I have decided on getting another Acer notebook, this did not prevent me from looking into the Asus products specially the Asus EEE Accessories. Lots of choices, good choices at that with reasonable prices and customer friendly assistance.
The best thing with this is that one can buy these stuffs online!
One thing I regret the most is that I never bought the external drive and extra battery for my laptop before going overseas. I knew there would be lots of games to store and my need to plug on the electric power is very evident now as I write this post.
These are the gears for the serious chessplayer and bloggers. We all kow the capability of each resident of the kingdom, we just have to appreciate what they can do to further the revolution, chess revolution.
If there is one thing stuck in my head about these people which I'll be bringing with me in my head for the rest of my life is this comment I got from an elderly who have lived here in Morocco for the past three decades:
"Lower your expectations... or do not expect anything at all from them. That way you won't have to suffer for the rest of the time you are staying here in Morocco!"
Ignis of the SoundColor blog and Abuscadoser of YouTube maybe one and the same person responsible for the beautiful and creative work of art. Congratulations to you and may we see more of your works!
Still on the topic.
Unidentified Sound Object Blog featured Deep Green: Sound Design for Iphone App and creating sounds for the pop culture's consumers' gotta to be one of the best in the world.
Let me have my hat tipped to all the creative creatures of chess before I go to sleep!
I played a 30/G at FICS and it resulted in a draw this time with the black pieces. Below is the position after 47. Bf4 and it felt drawish but then I wanted to push it to the limit. Since I was down by two pawns and from the previous 46 moves we played, I felt too that I can take on my opponent further.
I was again at the crossroads between 47...BxB4 and 47... Bxa3. I took the pawn and 5 moves later I was hanging on for my dear life.
I knew I had to keep my knight for a possible fork that would save this game which I had to survive from the opening until the end. I was confident by the way during the middle game while the white pieces were breaking down the barriers to my king. I knew he would overreach and again, I felt his moves were not as fatal.
The position after white's 69. Kd2 which I gladly replied with 69...Nc4+:
Oh I wish I could show you the entire game but this game took 99 moves for white before we agreed to a draw. We ended the game with me having 7 minutes and 3 sec to spare while my opponent had 30 sec.
Right after the 47th move, I had to keep in mind the three features of an endgame which were discussed in the Just The Facts: An Endgame Book post namely 1) Zugzwang 2) Active/Aggressive King and 3) Importance of passed pawns.
This game I played against berrard of FICS. Thirty minute games are long enough to have an endgame to ponder on!
From our last post, we received one helpful reminder from on of our readers and this led me to check out for the first time the web definition of the term "book draw". Wikipedia has one good page meant for inquiries like this.
We all know what a book draw is but it helps if we know what are the elements contained in it. And here I did not find any web entries for such queries.
For almost 5 months now I have never looked up and gazed at the stars on a night sky until tonight. I played football with my ward awhile ago and enjoyed the night with him trying to catch a falling star.
Of course he "saw" almost every shooting star there is which I expected anyway. How lucky he was for seeing these stars and unlucky I was for missing it by a split second. I love the night sky and I love the sentimentality it brings.
Tonight I was again brought back to my place in Imus. Most of the nights after dinner, I would sit on our white monoblock chair located just outside the service door of our house. With the cool winds suburban sky brings and the dim lights on the streets of our village, I get to chit-chat with my wife and update each other on how our day went by. There are good and there are bad nights but one thing I remember most is how I crave for each moment I spend in that little sanctuary of mine. There were nights I'd consume 2 bottles of my favorite light beer while wrapped in the embrace of the chilly nights of our veranda and just pass time 'till I feel like sleeping.
All these I reminisced and long for awhile. I looked up and realized I was missing "home" like hell. In less than 4 weeks I'll be home and get back to my usual life and I bet I'll go thru the adjustment period but I'm ready for it.
In German they say "Shon Heimat Shon" while in English it's home sweet home. In Filipino? "Wala pa ring tatalo sa Alaska!" Harharhar! Kidding aside, in Filipino we say "Iba pa din ang nasa sariling bayan!"
Yesterday I spent my day in Casablanca and Rabat with my ward. In Casablanca, he attended his weekly Yoga-3C sessions and in the afternoon he did a two hour ice skating in Megamall, Rabat. Don't be misled, Megamall they call it but our minimall in the Philippines is even mega than theirs.
So what has the book got to do with it?
I brought my newly printed Just The Facts! Winning Endgame Knowledge In One Volume by GM's Lev Alburt and Nikolay Krogius. This is the seventh and final volume of Comprehensive Chess Course, one of the all time bestseller.
There are three distinguishing characteristics of an endgame according to them:
Endgames favor an aggressive King;
The Importance of passed pawn is greatly increased in the endgame;
Zugzwang- the "compulsion to move" when doing so forces a player into a worsened or even losing position - is often a factor in the endgame while almost unheard of in the other games.
I read up and finished the first chapter and early morning today, I played white with a 10 minute time control at FICS and reached this position below:
It was my 35th move and I did a Kg2 hoping to go up the rank and protect my f4 pawn then trap his N on f5. The game continued: 35...f6 36.Kf3 fxe5 37.fxe5 Ke6 38. g4 Nf6 39. exf6 gxf6 40. h4 c5 41.Ke3 f5.
I was at the crossroads between trapping his Knight and positioning my Bishop on c5 square but I chose to overpower the enemy and did the former.
After black's 41...f5
I was way up on time here, my clock was just hitting the 5 minute mark while my opponent has less than 3 minutes to use. It took me about a minute to decide whether I'll take the pawn on f5 or push my g pawn to 5th rank.
I also had to consider with fear the dominating center control of black's pawn with his King on e6. Whew!
The game continued with 42. gxf5+ gxf5 43. h5 passed pawn right? I wanted to push as much as I can to distract the black King 43...Kf6 44.Bc7 at least activate my sleeping Bishop 44...Kg5 threat on my passed pawn but I can't do anything to protect it so I tried to inch closer with another threat 45.Bd6 d4+ 46. Kf3 I did'nt want to allow his f pawn to march further on 46. Ke2 Kxh5 47.a4 Kg4 48. Bc5 a6 I thought he would move d3+ before he pushes his a pawn on the 6th rank but he did not 49. Bxd4 Kf4 Now I can breath better when I saw my Bishop controlling the a7-g1 dark diagonal. It's time to wait for the zugzwang and I think Bishops are a good piece for this.
The game continued with 51. a5 I wanted to make sure that my Bishop will be placed protected on b6 square no matter what 51...Ke4 52. Bb6 f4 From here I knew I'll take the point here or I'll draw at least.
After 52...f4
Sixteen moves later my opponent resigned with the position below:
I had to be patient as I had to wait to win any King opposition he threw but with a Bishop on my side, it was easier. Both Kings had to sway to the rhythm zugzwang and opposition were playing in the end.
The game was perfectly amateurish with a lot of wasted opportunities but I learned a lot from this game. I hope I can play more long games on FICS and read further on the book.
Bye for now! I'll go out and feel the wind and the heat of the sun. I just might watch another French film at the downtown.
While half of the world is asleep including my household, I was helping my body degenerate more of my healthy cells by playing games at FICS in the middle of the night until the wee hours of the morning. I could not join any tournaments since I was included in the suspended for not playing last night in the tournament I joined in.
Heck! They should know better than this, haven't they heard that I multi-task on my computer? Since I mix my post session documentation (Yes, it's a self-imposed safeguard for my teaching job) with my online chess playing, I had to do meet my deadline before moving those pieces!
Another 3/G time control with multiple tactical traps set by black which white fell into. Lucky me!
Have not posted for the past few days but I have been playing at FICS almost every night and have been training with tactics at Chess.com and Chess Tactics Server. I placed second again this time in a 5 minute tourney at FICS, reached my highest 2000+ performance rating at chess.com but saw my 1400+ rating on chess tactics server go down to 1200+ rating.
Just like the stock exchange, things can be so rumbly and twisty when the world is shaky!
About our post for today, I found a good thread at PinoyChess Informe about chess coaches. Names were posted and promoted. Good reviews and good exchanges. So far so good but while reading the thread I thought of one simple question about chess in the Philippines.
Chess is in the schools now, chess is on the streets, chess is found online, chess is everywhere! This is good news for all of us! NCFP and DepEd working together for chess development on a nationwide scale is awesome.
How do we professionalize chess?
Paid tournaments? Paid expenses for the players whenever they join tourneys? For sure teachers who would teach the subject will have their bank accounts loaded with chess related deposits.
Has anyone thought of going to Professional Regulation Commission and ask for a certification or licensure for chess coaches and teachers? I know, I know this is way too advanced an issue for the current stage of the chess development in our country. Forward thinking anyone?
My fear is that professionals or those whom we call as licensed practitioners of their chosen field, would simply look into the chess world as uncertified/unlicensed field of experts. Undocumented facilitators bordering on blind leading the blind.
Or maybe TESDA? Technical Education and Skills Development Authority provides certification for citizens who are inclined and in the field of skilled work.
It's like when one applies for a chess coaching job and the would-be employer looks for a proof that one can coach or teach chess what do we say?
Of course we have seasoned Filipino trainers and coaches in the field and I would love to see them given the piece of paper that says certified chess coach, signed and duly authorized by NAME OF CERTIFYING AGENCY.
It's been awhile since I played with my Picasa 3 and tonight, I pressed on the saturate button under the effects menu to my satisfaction. The results were just what I've wanted, pastelized!
My very willing subject, Sadik. His moustache, his eyeglasses minus his classic cigar puffing moment. No smoke this time Sadik!
I took this photo on our way back to Ifrane Centerville. This one fronts the National Park I always go to. Today I went there with Ate Wilma. This was a natural looking capture before pressing on the saturate mode three times pastelized!
This one I took from the veranda, opposite my room and right next to my ward's room. I missed the farm workers picking fruits from these trees.
My oh my! My unfixed, Oh no, my fix it now things!
What did I tell you? He is more than a willing subject for me. But you know what? Each time he shows up for work and drive all of us in his red checkered longsleeves, I am reminded of the early days of Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam. They were never seen in concerts and MTV's without that reddish checkered longsleeves which most Filipino bands copied to the hilt. Anyways, I pressed the black and white button once, then saturate, lastly black and white button again. I loved the effect here!
Here, Ate Wilma took the shot. I did a combination of glow, feather and sharpen effects here.
This last one, I wanted to create a nostalgic feel of the place and at the same time capture the surroundings as wide and as clear as I can. Sadly though, my camera is a point and shoot which means it cannot do a wide angle shot. If I try to do a panoramic shot, my subjects would be far and small and if I zoom in on my subjects, I won't get the background.
Anyways, Nikon D 40 would have to wait for awhile or if I win in a lottery, I'd buy a high end Nikon SLR camera. Thing is I don't bet on any lottery.
Rewind: Philippine Sports Institute or PSI was launched last year December 10, 2008 to be exact with optimistic views from Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez "that the first fruits of this endeavor might manifest itself during the 2012 London Olympics."
Among the catchy and hopeful words we heard and read, this seems to be logical at a time when we are learning the ropes as a nation to "scientify" our efforts to bag that first ever Olympic Gold:
"The institute will provide training and education to coaches and other individuals who will be developed into well-rounded trainors and teachers whose new skills will also be distributed to far-flung corners of the country where professional coaching expertise is lacking."
As a sports loving nation, we have achieved those little glories and big time feats on the global arena but it's a pain and shame to know that we have not brought home one gold from the Olympics.
Fast forward: NCFP and DepEd worked hand in hand and signed the most important memo ever circulated in the RP's Public School System's offices and that is the inclusion of chess in schools. With the right "insiders" for both agencies we got it right at the first month of 2009. Brother Rollie Dizon, former president of the De La Salle University and member of the NCFP Board of Directors and NCFP President Prospero Pichay Jr, it was a done deal right from the start.
Presently the training and workshop is going along and right on track the targeted october month for the initial offering of the subeject for our students.
Now where is Philippine Sports Institute in this? I would love to see private school educators enroll themselves at PSI for chess in the school program. when will PSI start to operate and offer courses for everyone?
For the past two weeks I have not had a good run here in Morocco for reasons I can't really post here. But today is different and it started with a good call from Alice, informing me her flight details and some side info's.
In the afternoon around 430, I played football with my ward around 30 minutes and damn it was tiring for someone who has chosen the path of the pear-shaped body. While resting and gasping for air, I saw someone made use of a Mercedes Benz C 270 as the football goal and practiced his goal kicks several times. of course I could not laugh out loud with this but I was really, really having fun quietly on my sit. To add to that, the guy just enjoys his moment while the driver of the car was so grumpy (who wouldn't be?) but just could not do anything about it.
Comic relief it was.
I guess the word for today is KARMA. I have witnessed twice today the revenge of KARMA. I can tell you the last one but the first I choose to shut up.
The crazy guy who made use of the Benz as his football goal was later brought to the clinic to fix his bruises on his left hand. He stepped on the ball while trying to hit that imaginary Euro Cup kick of his and came down on the floor.
Oh well!
My WANA subscription expired today so I'm using my boss' Internet connection.
Am going now have a good night! Laughter really is a medicine for all times!
NOTE: My blog just won't show the PGN games properly anymore. I don't know why! Anyways I'm trying the PGN Game Converter of ChessVideos.tv.
A classic basic Queen movement hoping for my opponent's blunder while his time is running out. This was a 3 0 time control and the game ended with him having 27 seconds while I had 36.
I don't know why he moved Rg2 on his 28th move when he could have chosen the KxNg3. From there I knew I had a chance because I felt he was more conscious of possible time lose than his winning pieces and position.
Oh well!
Final position:
I thought these things happen only in fairy tales.
Well for the scans I did this morning, I included two pages from Chess Echecs Magazine I bought for 62 MADS last last week. It helped a lot that I don't understand written French language which forced me to rely on the diagrams and tried to solve them based on what my eyes can see.
Sunday morning it is here and as I was preparing to post a 2 page tactical exercises for everyone, I received an anonymous comment/letter which deserves to be published in full here:
"I have this thought lingering long long ago - - How can chess be propagated in the grassroots
In my sojourn in my and my wife’s hometown, I have at least distributed 10 chess sets free, to my relatives, friends and acquaintances. These people have the interest in this sport, but lack the capability to purchase a decent chess set…which is not a priority expense in their list.
The more chess is propagated, the more well have of Wesley like revelations. Now, with the DepEd’s involvement, this set shortage will become acute,.
Imagine a 50 student class, discussing chess with only 1 miniscule chess set! and in the provinces, if they are blessed to have one.
Learning will be impeded, and interest may wane.
NOW, HOW ABOUT THIS:
What if the Grade 6 students, in their Vocational subject (we have this eons ago), have a project to fabricate the “Chess Pieces” abstractly – from locally available materials;
The pieces can easily be cut from round tree branches around 25mm in diameter. From this, the knights can be curved, pawns can be a simple cylindrical shape, Bishops pointed, etc.
A nationwide contest can be held for the design so that the pieces fabricated anywhere in the Phils should be standard in shape and size and migrating later to the Staunton standard will have a smooth sailing.
Chess board can be assigned to the girls, which can easily be fabricated from cut cartoons and squared colored papers pasted
Whats your say on this?"
I felt I had to and I need to reply.
Come October, chess will be taught in most public schools in the Philippines. I say most because as hopeful and wishful we can be, implementation of a nationwide project will definitely be tough. For sure the preparation for October has been done as early as February 2009. Dissemination of memorandum from Aparri to Jolo would have made the publicity much easier with all the chess blogs and websites on Philippine chess helping the cause.
Summer of 2009 GM Bong Villamayor, NCFP and DEPED trained "higher decks" teachers.
Expectedly, the agencies involved in this project started at the top level, administrators and coordinators of public schools and districts. One topic that should have been discussed during the teacher training and workshop is Chess 101 for the clueless.
No I don't intend to poke fun at these stressed and abused public servants called teachers for not knowing the how's of chess and the technicalities that goes with it. I can imagine how confusing it was for them learning the different rules of the game: touch and move, Triple repetition, 50 move rule, Time controls and the Swiss System are just some of these.
Positive still about all of these, there are teacher who are effective in what they do and there are students who are interested in what is served on the table. There will be teachers who would opt to take the road less travelled and there would be teachers who would definitely shy away from teaching this course.
Students will either walk the path other succesful chess people took and there would be students who would rather take up violin classes or Taekwondo sessions. I have experienced this myself with my own children and they'd rather do something different than what they're seeing from their parents.
Am I out of the line now? Well going back.
Asking students to create chessboards out of cartons and other materials is just one of the many possible and plausible projects teachers can give their bored students.
Before I left for Morocco, I taught one Summer Chess class in Mahatma Gandhi International School. Basic topics like the names of the squares, piece movements and board visualization activities we did. And these kids were Koreans who didn't know English and chess at the same time.
I remember I had them draw a chess board and had them post in our room. There were some who worked tirelessly and with gusto but there were some who'd rather be somewhere else.
When I was in college taking my BS in Occupational Therapy, we were asked to create our own "Hemphil Kit" which we will use in our 3 month internship in National Center for Mental Health-Mandaluyong. For one term I burned the midnight oil and slashed my parents purse for the following: glue, scissors, crayons, illustration boards, plastic caps and paints and all gadgets we needed thinking we were able to save on costs if we make our own kit instead of buying them overseas.
By the way, this Hemphil Kit is used to assess psychiatric patients of their daily internal balance.
You know what? I found out later that the money I used to complete the kit is just the same if I bought the Kit.
My point is, we tend to skimp on things we ought to have and need and we overspend for the things we do not really need.
A Eureka Chess set is around 450 Pesos. A phone load from Globe or Smart can range from 25 to 300 Pesos consumable.
It's a good idea to create or make your own chess set if it would help the student remember the squares and pieces accordingly. But for teaching resources? I don't think so.
I have taught for a year in a public school in Imus Cavite and there are alternatives to the excuse "No Budget." Politicians and well meaning people will always help out once they are told of the need and it's goodness for the community.
Don't get me wrong about you lingering idea. It will definitely part of the Filipino chess student's to-do list come October. Distributing chess boards maybe one of the tactics to be used by election candidates this coming 2010. Right?
My thughts on the chess in the schools program?
This is not an assurance that everyone will get into chess and become the next Eugene Torre or Wesley So. This is not your all-in-all-pass nationwide chess project that will bring glory back to our country.
Every color and every hue is represented by me and you, take a slide in the slope.
The past two weeks I've been reading much about computer chess, it's history most specially. With the global chess industry amounting to millions of dollars, computer chess is in the frontline selling like hotcakes and giving the so-called geek millionaires enough reason to continue to spend their lifetime and "nerdity" in developing the best chess software in the world.
I was surprised to find an article on Man Versus Machine as a hoax, which brought me back to the times when the Loch Ness Monster was finally revealed as staged by one of it's perpetrators on his deathbed. My fantasies crumbled and my beliefs challenged until the time I believed no more and lived life outside of the fairy tale land.
Could it be true that the matches between deep Blue and Garry Kasparov in 1997 were all staged?
I completely forgot about the Fischer Auction that happened the other day, June 10. Thanks to all those chess blogs for their posts. How I love the music that goes with the video, so calming and yet hopeful.
Since we're here now, I'd like you all to watch and look back at how the world's grandmasters viewed Bobby Fischer after his death at Chess.FM Blog post called Fischer Remembered.
Fischer's life has been sold but his contributions to the game will live forever. Something I got from the Fischer Remembered video:
"He has given more to us than what chess has given him..."
Something I wish FIDE take on is Chess 960 and mandate that it becomes the standard chess. It will definitely kill rote memorization of opening theories which has given the game that too scholarly air.
Here is another YouTube video about Fischer:
Don't you just love these sentimentalism over Bobby Fischer?
As I celebrate my birthday here in Morocco, far from my family and my Eureka chessboard, I was lucky enough to have passed by a magazine stand and saw two familiar non-English word printed as a title for a magazine : Europe Echecs!
I knew it would'nt be in English but still it's about chess. The fact that I've been frustrated for the past five months in searching for a cafe' that is teeming with chess playing crowd nor any bystander seating in one corner and outsmarting each other with the game.
This is June issue of Europe chess which has a front cover that translates to "The International Grandmasters of France, Children of Philidor"
Just in case you missed your History of Chess 101 class, Francois-Andre Philidor was born in France and always considered music as his life and not chess.
I'd like to link you to two sites I read after catching fire looking at the diagrams and photos from the magazine.
I asked to be dropped off at Marjane Meknes and hailed a cab going to Hameria where my bank is located. I'm preparing for my July 18 flight and one of my major concern is my dough here in Maroc.
Expectedly, they asked me to come back tomorow!
Anyways, around 300PM me and ate Wilma attended our Darija lessons which gave me the feeling that I was giving an English Language lesson. Hmmm!
After an hour, ate and I went to the Meknes Pizzeria where I always go to when I'm in Hameria. I treated ate Wilma and it was good to know that she knew the reason for the treat.
More than my supposed special day, I think the thought of July 18 fills my thoughts ad existence here in Morocco.
I bought Europe Chess Magazine worth 62 MADS which equals to around 300 Pesos. I'll write a story about it in my Chess blog at http://philippinechesschronicles.blogspot.com, the first chess blog by a Filipino for the Filipinos.
In my craziest and wildest imagination, I wished to receive a call and greetings from His Excellency, King Mohammed VI of Morocco.
Congratulations to the new Chinese Chess Champion, Ding Liren! He won convincingly in a spectacular manner, with the help of FIDE Zero Tolerance on Time Default!
Left Meknes farm yesterday around 830 PM and was picked up at the farm gate by Alice and Val on a taxi cab. Yes guys we rode the cab from Meknes to Rabat and it took us 3 hours using the old national road. We paid 350 DH for this and had so much fun on the road.
Went straight to Hay Riad where several Filipinos were waiting for us. Met ate Chat for the first time and lucky I was to have a taste of her latest kitchen creation, SIOPAO.
Then around 12 AM we all went out and headed to AMNESIA, discohouse in Rabat that attracts the young but not so cool ones... at least for my taste.
430 AM we headed back at kuya S place and slept till 945. Alice prepare breakfast for all of us, Pinoy breakfast at last.
I need to catch the train by 145 and get back to work with my ward. Until then my dear readers.
Just got back here in Meknes from Casablanca. Today me and my ward attended a 2 hour Relaxation Workshop for Education which basically was aimed at the following learner's skills: Concentration, Focusing and Sensitivity.
As a diploma holder of bachelor's science in occupational therapy and a master's candidate in special education, I found the workshop and the speaker (French speaker) effective.
Sensory Integration as promoted and researched upon by Dr. Jean Ayres was the basis of the activity and it was so relaxing to go through the session as a participant and not as the facilitator.
To end this post, I learned upon my boss that she has enrolled me under the facilitator's guidance for the Relaxation Education on an apprentice mode.
Today we arrived in Ifrane around 745 in the morning and this is early by compared to the usual 820-825 last minute-arrival-before-the-school-bells-rings. I was surprised to find El Hajeb with a sunny sky and was surprisingly glad to see Ifrane covered with dark clouds. Ifrane residents on an early morning walk were all wearing the usual Ifrane-ish attire, winter jackets!
I thought I'd give myself the Friday walk but then changed my mind and went in our base camp and did all the things I could to make time worthwhile.
I saw the movie Into the West on MBC Max and man oh man, tears fell from my eyes in one scene when the self-abandoned father had visions of his wife and three children and he said:
"For two seasons, the mountains took my company and now it's taking my mind... As I look into the eyes of my children and see the hope that they would someday see their father's eyes I know I have to find them and I'd live for the day when I see them and be with them again."
Go find out what happened in the movie but I'm telling you, the scene was just the beginning of th man's heartaches.
Well, it's Friday and the next two weeks are test weeks for my ward.
Some posts ago, I mentioned about giving an email interview with a GM that I believe is the only one qualified and certified Filipino to head the DEPED-NCFP Chess in the Schools Program. With those two precious GM initials he bears on his name, his experience and knowledge of the teaching-learning process/environment (C'mon my dear readers, there's more than meets the eye in the world of education as you know it) and his firm but approachable demeanor makes him D' Mayor of Philippine Scholastic chess scene.
You can call him the Dean but he's not mean so why the Dean? You can call him the Guru but is he here to give us Mantras? You and I can call him any names but don't forget the fact that I call him D' Mayor.
So let's start the fun with The Mayor, GM Bong Villamayor.
In the beginning...
Tell us about your demographics please.
I was born on the 4th of May 1967 in Mauban, QUEZON. I have three kids and married. I am a believer of the Roman Catholic Faith. I had my basic education (elementary and high school) at the Aquinas School of San Juan and had my college education at the University of Santo Tomas (1983-1986) and Far Eastern University (1987-1990).
Much has been written about your professional chess career. You are one of the first few grandmasters in the Philippines, the fourth to be exact but may I ask you who introduced you into the game? Who taught you how to play chess?
I was taught by my mother. Her name was Elena.
Oh I see! Can you elaborate more on this? What was the story behind this? Lots of reasons for an adult to teach a child the game of chess, some are motivated because they just want to see their soon-to-be-chess-student suffer more at their hands while others are moved to teach the game because they saw something brilliant in the child.
She taught me when I was four years old. The story goes as something like this: I accidentally opened a closet and a small chess set fell, scattering the pieces on the floor; I looked at the pieces in wonder and then fell in love with the shapes and sizes. I asked my mom what was it and she told me it was a game. And from there she asked me if I wanted to learn and play it.
"My brother bought me my first two books, Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals & Botnivik's 100 Selected games"
So at four years old you learned how to play chess. You learned it at a very young age then. Do you remember the first tournament you played in?
After I learned the game, it was difficult for me to find opponents to play with since my mom was busy and my brother was studying medicine and had no time to bring me anywhere. I was always alone playing by myself at home. My family was more career oriented, they did not have time for games or sports. My only consolation was whenever there were family reunions during Christmas or New Year; I was able to play with some of my cousins or uncles the whole day until evening. From there my interest shot up and wanted to learn more.
After that, my brother bought me my first two books (Capablanca's Chess Fundamentals & Botnivik's 100 Selected games); I was nine years old then.
At ten years old, I was old enough to go around the neighborhood going to barber shops, markets and friends to play chess and have been beating them. So eventually my brother accompanied me to my first event in 1978 and I was eleven years old then. The Philippine National Chess Club (PNCC) in Cubao Quezon City organized a Kiddies event where I placed solo second behind a certain Rudolfo Tan. It was my first official Open Kiddies event (U-12).
Then shortly was the Metrobank National Kiddies Championships (U-12). The following month (summertime) I again tied for 2nd and if remember it right, Enrico Sevillano was 1st. A lot of my contemporaries were there: Rogelio Barnecilla was there too. It was organized by Jess Torre, the brother of GM Eugene Torre.
The Path of the Masters...
"since high school, my dream was to become a GM. Of course it was difficult since there very little opportunities to play in events and my family were not favorable to this so called time wasting board game"
Logic would tell all of us, if applied at all, that you represented the school you went to during this time. Were you a school varsity or chess player?
In elementary (Grade 6) and High School (1STto 4THyear), I played in a small league called PAYA, Philippine Athletic Youth Association Team Chess. College was in UST until 1986 and was able to contribute 3 UAAP chess titles and 2 National Inter-Collegiate Meets championships.
Also, I studied in FEU until 1990, helping in 1 UAAP chess title, 2 National Collegiate Meets. In all team events I played on board one.
There are a few Filipino chess professionals, did you intend to become one?
Yes! During that time since high school, my dream was to become a GM. Of course it was difficult since there very little opportunities to play in events and my family were not favorable to this so called time wasting board game.
So this leads us now into your achievements and feats that led you to the path of professional chess career, your grandmaster title. Tell us about this please.
I became a national master (NM) during the 1988 National Championship. I finished 6th out of more than 400 players. GM Eugene Torre was 1st and it was a 13 Round Swiss System. During this time, Philippine Chess Federation confers NM titles if you are in the Top 6 of the Nationals.
I got my IM title in the 1998 Elista Olympiad. It was a 1 shot title because I played 13 rounds and got the required number of points, performance and games.
Then in 2000, I got my 3rd and final GM norm in The Equitable Card GM Classic Invitational organized by Philippine Chess Society, Bobby Ang's Group.
The GM in 42 days story, can you elaborate more on this?
I was supported by the Philippine Chess Society. Starting 2000 I temporarily stopped teaching chess and trained myself for four months from January to April. By May I left the country and played in the strong Indonesian Bali Open. 24 grandmasters playing and I placed equal 1st with three grandmasters.
Next was playing in the Vietnam Asian Zonal, finishing equal first and qualifying for the World Championships but no GM result.
Right after the Zonals, they (Philippine Chess Society) gave me a chance to participate in two Vietnamese GM circuits and I was able to win both of them. Tied for 1st on my first try and solo 1st in the second event. I gained the two GM norms here then I came back to Manila and placed 3rd in the Equitable Card GM Classic Invitational. That was the 3rd and final GM result, 40 days 3 results.
I remember very well the "Blueprint for Philippine Chess Development" you wrote which I published in complete version here through The Weekender by Mr. Manny Benitez. What is the status of the program now?
This program during 2002 was not seriously considered and sad to say there were too much politics between groups during that time. But now, I think many of the suggestions are now being implemented. I hope that the major programs can come true soon. This is very possible under the NCFP leadership of Prospero Pichay Jr.
Spinning heads in Singapore, coaching and being a Filipino...
When it comes to chess teaching in Singapore, Filipinos are famous there and I believe you are the best RP has ever given Singapore in their chess development. How was work there?
It was very demanding, hectic and you are always “spinning around”. Singapore is the tops when you wish to work. It may be good pay but they will really get the best out of you and more.
How was your life there?
Well, let say no time for other things except when you are on the “lower decks”. You have to prepare and plan everything before you sleep for the next day.
The pay would have to be good for you to have stayed a number of years there?
Yes, true! Before it was not too difficult to apply since they are still ‘building up’. But now certain criteria are needed in order to be approved in one’s application.
What was it like coaching/training these Singaporeans?
Singaporeans want to be the best in their chosen field or activities but the problem is not easy to find time when you need them to do other things such as homework, training games etc.
It also depends on what level you are teaching. A trainer/coach must be creative and inventive in their approaches in training sessions (a big audience, class setting or small groups, etc.) especially if you want to make shortcuts towards their improvement and rapid development.
Whether it is a 5 year old child, a teenager to a national team member, a trainer must know what they need and should be flexible enough to adjust to the demands of the student or class. As a rule, you cannot impose your usual training formula since the cultural setting is different here: Multi-racial. And you have to be clear cut in imparting your words, diction, etc. Some chess terminologies needed to be expanded.
It is an advantage that our second language is English, Filipinos are in demand. Furthermore, our dedication and being ‘very approachable’ especially to the parents of the kids.
Onwards to a bright, new Philippine Chess...
Why did you come back in the Philippines and give up the “nice monthly” from your Singapore job?
I came back last year April 2008. Let’s say I missed playing and the tournaments are quite big and many. Also I suppose it is time to help out in the development of the youth and in schools.
Does it have something to do with the DEPED-NCFP Chess in the Schools Program?
No, this only came early this year 2009. There was nothing concrete when I first arrived.
Or a comeback in the professional chess scene?
This was one of my plans, to slowly play again and be able to qualify for the Olympiad in Dresden (GM Bong qualified for the Olympiad).
Optimism is in the air for the coming school year because of the Chess in the Schools in the Philippines, do you really believe it will provide chess the necessary development in the grassroots?
Yes because once chess is implemented in schools, awareness will grow and more kids especially in the provinces will be able to learn and play. And with the tie-up of the DEPED-NCFP, activities for the interested will increase. Respective local groups can be more motivated in doing and helping out.
Going back to your previous answer, you played mostly on your own when you were young. This is solitary chess right? Do you believe it helped in your chess development?
Yes it is.More or less it helped me explore various situations and positions, playing and anticipating the possible outcome. But of course this is somewhat child’s play.
What were the skills you gained in this exercises? Would you recommend it to your students as part of their training regimen?
Not exactly! Let’s say aside from fun, enjoying it and playing over games from newspapers. I was very young then.
Which school/university are you working for now?
No school at the moment.
A national inter-school championship is a dream of mine and I guess NCFP has for sometime been contemplating on such event. Who would you be rooting for if NCAA and UAAP Final Four Teams meet?
During my time we have the National Inter-Collegiate Championships aside from the UAAP. Maybe I’ll be rooting for UST.
In Singapore, it appears that chess development is well established and funded. Do you think we can also have the right system for a successful Philippine Chess Development Program?
Yes we can! All chess development programs of the various countries have different approaches. It all depends on the construction of the general program (short and long term) action plans, cultural setting and of course funding.
What are the pitfalls you can see ahead?
Well let’s say, if we don’t define each other’s role and they become overlapping, conflict of interest will emerge and this is not good for the whole program.
"if we don’t define each other’s role and they become overlapping, conflict of interest will emerge and this is not good for the whole program."
I checked again the plan and in there you said something about financially self-sustaining activities for the NCFP that would contribute to the donations and dole-outs given to the federation. Like producing DVD’s and other publications are sure income generating projects. On this note, I bought the I bought the CD-Video of your ChesScholastics Volume 1 and in it you and Rannie Raymundo explained the basics of chess. How come this was not commercially successful?
I am not sure. When this was finished in 2004, I immediately left for abroad and I was not updated on how it will be marketed. No news afterwards. But I can still see some copies being sold.
This email interview will surely be in my record books for it took almost 1 and a half months to finish. With my personal timetable and your busy schedule, it is indeed an honor for Philippine Chess Chronicles to have you here with us. Anything you’d like to say to all your fans out there?
Kiko, first of all my gratitude for giving me this opportunity to be part of your column.
To all the readers of PCC, fans and friends may we all contribute to the development of chess not only for our country, but as a whole; whether big or small, however insignificant it is, surely we will be happy to remember that in this discipline we were able to learn something and that we can share it in our lifetime.
May you live long and prosper!
What can I say? Thank you Bong for your time spent with us here and for the future of scholastic chess in the Philippines. It is indeed an honor for me and the rest of the PCC readers to have you joined us here.
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Footnotes:
GM Bong Villamayor was busy with his participation in the Asian Continental Championship Cup and Subic International Open Chess Championshipand has recently given a 7-day National Chess Academy-DEPEd seminar of public school teachers in Tanauan, Batangas (May 6-12), two batches of 50’s. The "Mayor" picks his best game GM Peng Xiaomin during the Asian Team Championship in Shenyang, China 1999. Now he needs to gear up for another gruelling tournament as NCFP appointed him to assist the Nat'l Age group representatives to the ASEAN Age Group Ch in Huey, Vietnam on June 6-15. There would be 24+ kids (boys and girls).
After 22. Nc6
After 30. Qh4+
After 40... Ke8 
