Tambasen, Labay to compete in US chess circuit

by Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, Philippines---Mary Grace Tambasen of Bago City, Negros Occidental and Rainier Labay of Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro are vying for the tough 18th Annual Mid-America Open Chess Championship will be held from March 14-16, 2014, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis, Missouri in United States.

This will be the first time that Tambasen and Labay will be competing in the prestigious annual tournament which is organized by the Continental Chess Association.

Tambasen, a part of the coaching team of University of Negros Occidental –Recoletos, is fresh from overall third place finish in the Under 1950 below category Gainsfield Grand Prix 2014 Open was held last month at the Milano Restaurant, Pro Club Soi 29 Samakee Road Nonthaburi, Thailand.

"We hope to do well in this event," said Tambasen, whose local and international tournament are supported by Bago City mayor Ramon D. Torres , Sports Coordinator Ignacio Denila, National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Vice President Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares and University of Negros Occidental –Recoletos.

Labay, a former chess coach of La Salle Greenhills and La Salle Taft, won a local tournament in Batangas City last year.

" We train hard for this event," said Labay.

Tambasen and Labay also will be seeing in action in the 8th Annual Philadelphia Open will be held from April 16-20, 2014, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1201 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

CALVELO WINS MALAYSIA CHESS TOURNAMENT

by Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, Philippines--- Jelvis Arandela Calvelo reinforced his position as one of the Philippines’ top non-master players when he ruled the Air Tawar Rapid Chess Championship dubbed as Melaka Chess Open last January 25 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Calvelo, a native of Dasmarinas City, Cavite  defeated Indon Sukarman Lukman and Malaysian Erowan Masrin in the last two rounds to topped the six round Swiss-system event.

Calvelo tallied perfect six points. He earlier beat Aman Mohd Airffin, Zulkiple Abdul Muhaimin, Mat Noor Zainal Abidin and Mohd Jamil Mohd Rosdi of Malaysia, respectively.

It was third Malaysian chess title for Calvelo. He also finished a tie for first in the Karnival Catur Sepang 2013-Sepang Rapid Chess Open and KL Open chess last December.

Calvelos' chess campaign in Malaysia is supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee and the City Government of Dasmarinas, Cavite.