Thursday, July 10, 2008

GM WESLEY SO REMAINS COUNTRY'S HIGHEST RATED PLAYER---FIDE

July 1, 2008 RP-Fide rating list

1 GM Wesley So (2577)
2-3 GM Eugene Torre (2524), GM Jayson Gonzales (2524)
4 GM Mark Paragua (2523)
5 IM Rolando Nolte (2522)
6 GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (2518)
7 GM Darwin Laylo (2504)
8 IM Joseph Sanchez (2486)
9 IM Oliver Dimakiling (2479)
10 IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (2466)

GRANDMASTER Wesley So, 14, remains the Philippines' highest rated player on the July 1, 2008 ratings list issued by the World Chess Federation yesterday.

So, the Bacoor, Cavite kid campaigner, currently the world youngest GM, has an Elo rating of 2577 from 2540 in the April 1, 2008 RP Fide rating list.

Eugene Torre, Asia's First GM, and Jayson Gonzales move into a tie for second and third with identical 2524 ratings.

Torre, the RP's long-time pillars is No.4 in the April 1, 2008 list with 2519 while Gonzales, was at No.8, but gained a 56 Elo rating because of his superb performance in local and international tournament.

Former No.2 Mark Paragua, who is fresh from winning the tough Marshall Chess Club Open (will be include in the October 1, 2008 list) dropped at solo No.4 with 2523 after losing 15 Elo rating points from his before 2538 points.

IM Rolando Nolte, gained a 102 Elo rating points in just one tournament---3rd Kolkata Open last March after finishing in a tie for fourth to climbed at solo No.5 with 2522. The Quezon City based Nolte, No.14 in the April 1, 2008 list with 2420.

Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., many-time national champion at No.6 with 2518 followed by No.7 Darwin Laylo with 2504.

Completing the top 10 were No. 8 IM Joseph Sanchez (2486), No.9 IM Oliver Dimakiling (2479), and No.10 IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (2466). WNM Catherine Perena is still the women's top rated player with 2212.

Meanwhile, Super GM Viswanathan Anand is world's top player with 2798 while Super GM Judith Polgar of Hungrary is women's world No.1 with 2711. Super GM Magnus Carlsen of Norway is top boy's 20 and under player with 2775 while WGM Yifan Hou of China is top girl's 20 and under player with 2557.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

TWO FILIPINOS DOMINATING SAN FRANCISCO AND BAY AREA CHESS TOURNAMENTS

FILIPINO International Master Ricardo de Guzman (2433) scored 4.5 points from 5 rounds to capture the 8th William Addison Open at the Mechanics Institute, San Francisco, California on June 21, 2008.

While Rey C. Urbiztondo, the NCFP Region X director and a bank manager back home in Ozamiz who is a tourist, scored 4 points out of 5 rounds to join two others to capture second place from among 60 paricipants. He shared with US Masters Michael Aigneer (2275) and Greg Young( 2225). Urbiztondo also captured the Top 2200 special prize and was automatically rated 2107 in USA.

In the Arthur Stamer Memorial Open Tourney at Mechanics Institute, San Francisco, last June 14-15, 2008, IM Ricardo de Guzman scored 5 points out of 6 rounds to land 2nd place. Urbiztondo was 4.5 points for 3rd place along with Woman International Master Batchimeg Tusvshintugs (2290) of Mongolia. Champion was Michael Pearson, a US master at 2284 USCF rating. Urbiztondo also got the Top under 2200 prize.De Guzman and Urbiztondo earned $ 300 and $250 respectively on this club tournament of the Mechanics Institute with 57 participants. The chess club is the oldest chess club in the USA. It was organized in 1854 when San Francisco was a frontier community especially during the gold rush period. Former world champions visited and played in the chess club like: Emmanuel Lasker (1902 &1926);Raul Capablanca (1916); Alexander Alekhine (1924 & 1929), Max Euwe (1947); Robert Fischer (1964);Vassily Smyslov (1976); Tigran Petrosian (1978); Boris Spassky (1999) and Anatoly Karpov (1999).

The annual memorial club tournament was in honor of Mr. Arthur B. Stamer, a local champion, who later became the club director of Mechanics Institute in 1951 to 1963.

Among the present regular players to watch in the club tournaments in Mechanics Institute are :Tanuj Vasudeva, 6 years old, who got a perfect 7 points out of 7 rounds in capturing the Bert Lerner National Elementary Championship in Pittsburgh. His parents are from India working in San Francisco. Also, Yian Liou, who at 8 years old is already rated 1956 by USCF. And Kevin Zhu, at 6 years old with 1545 USCF rating.

IM Ricky De Guzman was many times a member of the Philippine team in various chess Olympiads in the 1980's.

Urbiztondo is the 2008 Sinulog active chess champion, runner-up to IM Enrico Sevillano in the 1983 Cebu All Students Chess Championship and gold medalist for Board one in the 1984 Cebu Inter-collegiate chess team tourney. He stopped playing chess tournaments for more than 20 years because of busy schedules as a bank manager but is the prime organizer of chess tournaments wherein he is the regional coordinator of NCFP for region 10.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

TORRE VERSUS ANTONIO REMATCH THIS MONTH IN QC

THE rematch between Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. will take place in Quezon City this month.

Dubbed as QC Chess Road Show, the event is hosted by the city government through fourth district councilor and majority floor leader Ariel Inton in close cooperation with QC mayor Feliciano "Sonnny" Belmonte Jr., Bataan construction magnate Jerry Acuzar and former National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and QC 3rd district representative Matias Defensor.

The highly anticipated duel between the country's chess legends will makes the first moves on July 21 at the Quezon City hall then proceed to Tomas Morato (July 23), La Loma district (July 25), Tandang Sora shrine (July 28), Pugad Lawin shrine (August 1) and Gateway Araneta Center (August 4).

"We take pride that both Eugene and Joey are longtime residents of Quezon City," said Inton.

They're no ordinary residents. Both are recipient of the city's Most Outstanding Citizen award.

Inton believes the rematch will be followed not only by chess enthusiasts in the Philippines but throughout the world.

"They (Torre and Antonio) have international following," Inton noted. "This will jumpstart our program of lifting the city through sports tourism."

The sports tourism program is a brainchild of Inton himself and aims to promote Quezon City as the country's sports capital.

New San Jose Builders, Inc. president Jerry Acuzar, the sponsor of the first Torre-Antonio match 10 years ago, also vowed to support the rematch.

"Mayor (Sonny) Belmonte, QC Cong. (Mat) Defensor and Jerry (Acuzar) already vowed to support this event," related Inton.

Last year, Inton and Quezon City hosted the one-on-one match between money game experts Dennis Orcollo and Yang Ching-shun.

Inton's sports tourism program has a busy schedule this year. He already stages the QC inter-barangay chess events, Deaf-Mute Cagefest, Inter-Restaurant Basketball and Dart Tournament among others.

Meanwhile, the sports tourism program being pushed by Quezon City Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton gained momentum after Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., gave his go signal to coordinate with national sports leaders and association for initial exploratory talks.

"Mayor Sonny Belmonte permitted me to start exploratory talks with Philippine Sports Commission for my pet(project) Philippine sports tourism," said Inton, a well known sports advocate.

He said that the sports tourism program has a bright prospect in the country considering that we are basically lovers of sports.

"We have a lot potentials in sports as shown by world champions in almost all the sports that we are participating. Out of this we could invite tourists to visit the country to witness sports activities performed by world renowned Filipino athletes and sportsmen" added Inton.

In fact, the QC athletes who are schedule to compete in this year's POC-Philippine Olympic Festival where given a financial assistance the other day of the office Coun. Inton.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

GM MARK PARAGUA TOPS MARSHALL CHESS CLUB; WINS $4,000

GRANDMASTER Mark Callano Paragua kept the Philippine flag flying high in the international stage by winning the 1st Annual Marshall Chess Club New York International Chess Championships last June 25 at the World-Famous Marshall Chess Club in New York City, USA.

The 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most be-medalled athlete with three golds defeated fellow GM Alejandro Ramirez of Costa Rica in the Armageddon Blitz play off to pocket the top purse of $4,000 in this event which lured by 8 GMs, 12 IMs, and 4 FMs.

Ramirez, on the other hand received a runner-up purse of $3,750. Actually, Paragua and Ramirez with identical 6.5 points after nine games of play, forced a tie breaker for the championships' trophy using the Armageddon Blitz play off.

Paragua, whose stint here is being supported by US based immigration lawyer Geronimo "Gerry" Albano, split the point with Liu Elliot of the United States in the last round while Ramirez trounced GM Sergey Erenburg of Israel. Elliot earned IM norm after finishing with 6.0 points, the same output of GMs Jaan Ehlvest and Julio Becerra of the United States and IM Eli Vovsha of Israel. Elliot, Ehlvest, Becerra and Vovsha receive $625 each. If Elliot beat Paragua he can achieve a GM norm according to the report of official website yesterday.

Mackenzie Molner of the US with 5.0 points likewise got his IM norm. Meanwhile, another Filipino entry IM Renato Naranja is joint 29th place with 3.5 points.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

OCHOA, AQUINO WINS GOLD IN RAPID PLAY IN ASEAN AGE GROUP CHESS

DANANG, VIETNAM---Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa and Prince Mark Aquino finally rose to the challenge in the 9th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2008 here, as they pocketed a gold each in the rapid event to cap the Filipinos' impressive showing here at the Danang Hotel.

Ochoa, a native of Calumpit, Bulacan, first time in an international competition, emerged tied with Pham Ba and Tran Minh Thang of Vietnam and compatriot Haince Patrick de Leon of Marikina with 5.5 points for the gold in the boys' Under-8 category. However, only the top three (Ochoa, Pham and Tran) superior tie break was awarded the gold medal resulting De Leon out in the medal awardees.

"Suwerte lamang po nanalo tayo sa tie break," said the 11-year-old Ochoa, whom NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. predicted to break the record of Wesley So, who at 14, is currently the youngest grandmaster in the world.

"Si Kyle (Ochoa), ito ang nakikita ko na at age 12 ay magiging youngest GM natin," said Pichay.

Actually, Ochoa bagged the silver medal in the Standard play and was looking for another medal in the Blitz competition.

Ochoa spearheaded another Silver medal for the country in the Team play along with De Leon and John Lemi of Vigan, Ilocos Sur who combined with 14.5 points.

Aquino, a resident of San Nicolas, Pangasinan, finished in a two-way tie for first with 5.5 points to also clinch the gold medal in the Under-14 division and led two other Filipinos—Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila and Jan Nigel Galan of Valenzuela—to the team silver who combined 13.5 points. Garcia, top player of Ateneo De Manila University also bagged a bronze in the individual play with 5.0 points.

Ochoa and Aquino's feats brought the Filipinos' gold haul to 10 after four days of competition, where the 40-member RP Team, whose trip here was made possible by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by its president, Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr..

" Kagaya ng una ko ng nasabi, dito sa mga bata na ito ang susunod sa yapak ni Wesley So, kaya full support tayo sa kanila," said Pichay, who also announced that he will send another RP representative in the 2008 World Youth Chess Championships on October 19 to 30 in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

"Yes, definitely magpapadala tayo ng representative sa World Youth Chess Championships sa Vung Tau, Vietnam sa October," Pichay said when he visit the player on Sunday along with Fide delegate Casto "Toti" Abundo.

National Master Edmundo Legaspi of Olongapo City also won gold in the Senior division as well Chardine Cheradee Camacho of Caba, La Union and Cherry Ann Mejia of Pasig also won a gold in the Girls' 14 and under and secured a Silver medal in the Team play along with Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila who combined 15.5 points.

Samantha Glo Revita from Rosales, Pangasinan also bagged the gold in the Girls' 10 and under. Revita along with Marie Antoninette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Cyamir Jill Villanueva of Manila also won silver in the Team play with 11.5 points.

The girls' Under-12 squad of Maria Ysabelle Joyce Semillano of Muntinlupa, Jean Karen Enriquez of Marikina and Rowelyn Acedo of Davao City won a silver medal each in the team event.

The Filipinos also won silver medals in the team event of girls' Under-8 composed of Danica Alexis Abalang of Ilocos, Alexis Anne Osena of Cagayan de Oro and Alexis Charlotte Suede of Makati City; girls' 16 and under of Christy Lamiel Bernales of Quezon City, Akiko Chairmaine Suede of Makati City, Jedara Docena of Bohol and girls' 18 and under of Ronna Reigner Senora of General Santos City, Kimberly Jane Cunanan of Angeles, Pampanga and Lovelyn Medina of Bacoor, Cavite.

Silver medals also went to the team event to Standard Gold Medalist John Ray Batucan of Davao City, Vince Angelo Medina of Bacoor, Cavite and Christian Nanola of Calamba, Laguna in the Boys' 12 and under; Daryl Unix Samantila of Malabon, Elijam Aliam of Dasmarinas, Cavite and Paolo Bersamina of Pasay in the Boys' 10 and under while the trio of John Alcon Datu of Quezon City, Narquingden Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal and Loren Brigham Laceste of Sto. Tomas, La Union took the bronze.

As expected, the last minute entry GM Le Quang Liem took the gold in the individual play in the Boys' 18 and under with 6.5 points out of seven games of play.

Standard gold medallist Richielieu Salcedo of Cagayan de Oro City settled for silver along with Nguyen Viet Chung and Tran Manh Tien of Vietnam.

Salcedo, Karl Victor Ochoa of Calumpit, Bulacan and Leo Daylo Jr. of Quezon City who combined 12.5 points clinched Silver medal in the Team event.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

NAVA SECOND IN ASEAN MASTERS CHESS

ASEAN CHESS MASTERS

Final Standings:

6.5 points---GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam)
6.0 points---FM Roderick Nava (Philippines)
6.0 points---Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)
5.0 points---David Elorta (Philippines)
5.0 points---Nguyen Thien Viet (Vietnam)
5.0 points---FM Hoang Canh Huan (Vietnam)
4.5 points---GM Zaw Win Lay (Myanmar)
3.5 points—IM Wynn Zaw Htun (Myanmar)
2.0 points---Nguyen Hoang Nam (Vietnam)
1.5 points---FM Bao Quang (Vietnam)

DANANG, VIETNAM---A day after getting his first International Master norm, Filipino Roderick Nava defeated fellow Fide Master Hoang Canh Huan of Vietnam in the ninth and final round to settle for second to third place in the just concluded Asean Masters Chess Circuit here at the Danang Hotel on Tuesday.

The 22-year-old pride of Carmona, Cavite prevailed with the white pieces after 44 moves of Modern Defense.

"Sobrang blessing na po ang naganap dito sa akin sa Asean Masters Chess Circuit, bukod sa nakuha ko ang aking 1st IM norm kahit papano ay nag tie for 2nd at 3rd place ako at may mauuwing konting pera sa pamilya ko," said Nava, who finished 6.0 points, on account of four wins, four draws and a loss to eventual champion GM Dao Thien Hai of Vietnam.

" Muli, nagpapasalamat po ako sa walang humpay na suporta sa aking local at international tournament kina NCFP president Cong (Butch) Pichay at Carmona, Cavite mayor (Roy) Loyola," added Nava, who thank NCFP president Cong (Butch) Pichay and Carmona, Cavite mayor (Roy) Loyola for their undying support.

GM Dao, the third seed player here with 2530 in this 10-man players field event toppled 2nd seed IM Wynn Zaw Htun (2542) after 32 moves of an Old Indian Defense.

Actually, Nguyen Van Huy, the reigning Vietnam National Champion who also got his IM norm here matched the score of Nava with 6.0 points after a draw with top seed GM Zaw Win Lay (2574) of Myanmar in the last round in just 9 moves of a Sicilian Defense.

GM Dao pocketed the top purse US$1,250 while Nava and Van Huy each received US$625 after split the combined prize of US$ 1,250 for the 2nd and 3rd placers.

Another Filipino entry David Elorta, who is schedule to celebrate his 26th birthday on June 20 failed to earn his 2nd IM norm after falling short by half a point with his total of 5.0 points.

Elorta, who got his 1st IM norm in the 2007 Pichay Cup International Open needed to win his last round match to Candidate Master Nguyen Hoang Nam of Vietnam but forced a marathon 85 moves draw in their London System Opening.

"Hindi po talaga ukol sa akin na makuha ang 2nd IM norm ko dito sa Danang IM Tournament. Pero marami akong natutunan dito at alam kong makukuha ko din po 'yan in the future," said The San Andres, Bukid Manila resident Elorta, a habitué of Guadalupe Chess Club headed by Roberto Bayno.

Nava and Elorta, both aiming to become the country's newest IM, will play in the semi-final round for the qualifying round of RP team bound for World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany late this year.

In the Asean Age-Group Chess Championships, Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila blanked Dag Hoang Son of Vietnam, 3-0, in the finals to clinch country's only gold medal in the individual Blitz event.

Garcia, the incoming second year high school student of Ateneo de Manila University also led the RP youth team to bag another gold medal in the Team Blitz event along with the support of Mark Prince Aquino of San Nicolas, Pangasinan and Jan Nigel Galan of Valenzuela City. At the conclusion of the Blitz event on Tuesday, the Philippine Youth Team hauled 2-8-8, gold-silver and bronze medals. National Master Edmundo Legaspi of Olongapo City failed to complete a possible grand slam losing his final match to Yap Chow Tun of Brunei, thus settling for the bronze medal.

In the Senior division, Legaspi, a member of the NCFP board of director and also the RP delegation head took the gold medal in the Standard and Rapid individual play.

Over-all, the 40-players RP Age-Group team sent and backed by NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., finished with a total of 10 gold and settled for second place over-all. Vietnam, with the most number of entries with 203 players remained the over-all champion.

Former Olympian IM Idelfonso Datu is the RP head coach, assisted by NM Rudy Ibanez.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison

NAVA EARNS IM NORM IN ASEAN MASTERS CHESS

DANANG, VIETNAM---FINALLY, Filipino Roderick Nava earned his first IM norm after beating FM Bao Quang of Vietnam in 42 moves of an English Opening going to the final round of Asean Masters Chess Circuit here in Danang, Hotel.

The 22-year-old Nava, who hails from Carmona, Cavite compiled 5.0 points, enough to clinch his first IM norm.

"Nagbunga din ang suporta sa akin ni NCFP president Cong. (Butch) Pichay at Carmona mayor (Roy) Loyola," added Nava, half point short to obtain his first IM norm, both in the 2006 Singapore International Open and 2008 Subic International Open,

" Talagang sinigurado ko na, patay ko patay ang laban, mahirap kasi pag last round ay nagpupumilit kang manalo tapos natabla pa," Nava referring his last round draw to FM Nguyen Minh Huy of Vietnam in the 2006 Singapore International Open and another last round draw to FM Wahono Awang of Indonesia in the and 2008 Subic International Open. Three norms are needed to earn an IM title.

Nava's last round assignment is FM Hoang Canh Huan of Vietnam, who beat compatriot unrated Filipino David Elorta in the penultimate round.

The San Andres Bukid ace Elorta, who is celebrating his 26 th birthday on June 20 needed to win his final match against Candidate Master Nguyen Hoang Nam of Vietnam of Vietnam to claim his second IM norm.

Elorta, who got his 1st IM norm in the 2007 Pichay International Open Chess Championships now has 4.5 points.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison