Round 2: Upsets rock continues in PSC chess

UPSETS rock continues in the second round of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Cup International Chess Championships on Tuesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Fide Masters David Elorta (ELO 2343) and Randy Segarra (ELO 2311) pulled a giant king upset againts their higher rated opponents in the US$30,000 SMART-sponsored nine Round-Swiss tournament, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by it's Chairman Ricardo Garcia and organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr. , Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director Jayson Gonzales.

The San Andres Bukid, Manila resident Elorta toppled top seed Russian Super GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (ELO 2612) after 67 moves of London System Opening while the La Salle Taft head coach Segarra routed GM John Paul Gomez (ELO 2520) after 33 moves of English Opening.

" Queen less o mamamate s'ya sa pag tira ko ng Nh4 sa 67 moves. Kaya wala s'yang magagawa kung hindi mag resign," said Elorta, who also beat Chinese Grandmasters Zhang Zhong and Zhou Weiqi in his entire chess career.

"Nagkamali si John Paul sa middle game at na one piece ko s'ya," said Segarra.

Joining Elorta and Segarra in the leadership board with 2.0 points each are Mongolian GM elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (ELO 2522) who subdued IM Chito Garma (ELO 2326) after 27 moves of Catalan Opening; GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2519) who beat IM Ronald Bancod (ELO 2310) after 44 moves of Sicilian defense; FM Haridas Pascua (ELO 2386) who nipped Rhobel Legaspi (ELO 2257) after 37 moves of Catalan Opening and youthful Nelson' Elo' Mariano III (ELO 2251), winner over Noel dela Cruz (ELO 2371) after 59 moves of Center Counter Game.

The game between 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. (ELO 2541) against IM Emmanuel Senador (ELO 2329) and NM Roger Sarip (ELO 2284) opposite IM Rolando Nolte (ELO 2460) ended into a draw to join  GM Richard Bitoon (ELO 2411) in the group of 1.5 points. The Medellin, Cebu ace Bitoon dealt Stephen Reloj (unrated) after 37 moves of Nimzo-Indian defense.

Asia's First GM Eugene Torre (ELO 2485) and second seed GM Oliver Barbosa (ELO 2574), bounced back in contention after a sorry loses in the opening round on Monday in the US$6,000 top prize National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) tournament also supported by Puregold, Manila Pavilion Hotel and City State Tower Hotel.

Torre bested WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 2026) after 53 moves of London System Opening while Barbosa crushed Kevin Mirano (ELO 2037) after 59 moves of Catalan Opening.   - Marlon Bernardino-

Mark Paragua secures back-to-back win in PSC Chess

MARK PARAGUA scored back-to-back win after beating fellow Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo in Thursday's fifth round of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Cup International Chess Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

The Tondo, Manial born Paragua improved to a total of 5 points in five outings, to remained on top in the US$30,000 SMART-sponsored nine Round-Swiss tournament, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by it's Chairman Ricardo Garcia and organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr. , Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director Jayson Gonzales.

Earlier, Paragua defeated Mongolian FM Gombosuren Munkhgal in Wednesdsay's fourth round to grabs the solo leadership board in the FIDE event offers a top prize of US $6,000, supported by Puregold, Manila Pavilion Hotel, City State Tower Hotel and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco.

" Mahirap y'ung laro pero pinilit ko talagang manalo," added Paragua, a former World Rapid Under-14 champion.

FM Haridas Pascua, meantime nipped FM Randy Segarra to scored 4.5 points for solo second place.

" Isa't-isa lamang y'ung laro namin ni Randy at buti nanalo tayo," said Pascua, the pride of Pangasinan Chess Federation.

Top seed Russian Super GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (ELO 2612) subdued Edsel Montoya to create a four-way tie with three other chess players. Rakhmanov tallied 4.0 points, the same output of Mongolian GM elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa who beat NM Rustum Tolentino; IM Rolando Nolte winner over FM David Elorta and FM Hamed Nouri who shocked GM John Paul Gomez.

In Thursday's sixth round, Paragua opposite Pascua; Nolte goes up against Rakhmanov while Gundavaa will meet Nouri.

Tournament Director is NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.-Marlon Bernardino-

La Salle-Taft Chess Coach shocks IM Nadera in PSC Chess

La Salle-Taft Chess Coach Fide Master Randy Segarra (ELO 2311) turned back former olympian No.13 seed International Master Barlo Nadera (ELO 2392) in the third round of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Cup International Chess Championships at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

Thus, he has joined a five-way tie with four other chess players atop the tournament ranking on Tuesday in the US$30,000 SMART-sponsored nine Round-Swiss tournament, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by it's Chairman Ricardo Garcia and organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's Chairman / President Prospero A. Pichay Jr. , Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr. and Executive Director Jayson Gonzales.

The FIDE event offers a top prize of US $6,000, supported by Puregold, Manila Pavilion Hotel, City State Tower Hotel and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Peping Cojuangco.

Joining Segarra at the top with 3.0 points out of three rounds of play are No.6 GM Mark Paragua (ELO 2519), No.7 GM Darwin Laylo (ELO 2491), No.14 FM Haridas Pascua (ELO 2386) and No.15 FM Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia (ELO 2372).

The No. 24 Segarra, earlier brought down No.60 Silverio Abasolo and No.5 GM John Paul Gomez, had a total performance rating of 2771, gunning for his coveted International Master (IM) title.

" I hope magtuloy-tuloy ang panalo natin para makopo ang pinakamimithing IM title," he added.

In other matches saw, Paragua toppled NM Nelson Villanueva (ELO 2268); Laylo routed FM David Elorta (ELO 2343); Pascua subdued Nelson 'Elo' Mariano III (ELO 2251) and Munkhgal upset countryman GM-elect Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa (ELO 2522).

In the Wednesday's fourth round matches pit, Paragua opposite Munkhgal; Pascua will meet Laylo and Segarra goes up against 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. (ELO 2541).

The No. 3 Antonio, top player of multi-titled Philippine Army chess team, dismantled No.27 NM Roger Sarip (ELO 2284).

Antonio led the group of 2.5 pointers that includes No.17 NM Rustum Tolentino (ELO 2364); No.19 FM Julius Joseph de Ramos (ELO 2350) and No.20 NM Hamed Nouri (ELO 2350).

Tolentino crushed No. 48 Leodegario Ricana (ELO 2062); de Ramos dealt No. 41 Ryan Dungca (ELO 2132) and Hamed waylaid No. 66 Joseph Maestrado Jr. (unrated).

Top seed Russian Super GM Aleksandr Rakhmanov (ELO 2612), who lost to Elorta in the second round scored, bounced back in contention after edging No. 32 FM Mari Joseph Turqueza (ELO 2256).

Meanwhile, second seed and World Chess Cup bound GM Oliver Barbosa (ELO 2574) outplayed No.37 IM Joel Pimentel (ELO 2174) to scored 2.0 points and shared Rakhmanov for 11th to 28th placers in the 70 player's field event.  -Marlon Bernardino-

Casa, de luna leads National age-group chess in Cadiz City

In rounds 1 and 2 Cadiz and Cebu city’s startling performance get noticed, but this time around it was Iloilo city’s Gil Casa Jr. and Adrian de Luna’s turn to shine in the third round of action in the National age-group chess championship in Cadiz ciy, Negros Occidental yesterday.

Casa playing white used his favorite King-pawn opening to finished Anthony Procalla in just 20 moves while de Luna outplayed Kirk Jan Ogapong’s mishandling of the Ruy Lopez defense to share the lead with Casa, both have 3 points in the boys 10 and under.

Meanwhile, some early round winners fail to sustain their advantage and lost against much prepared opponents. Jasia Dorog was easily crushed by Chacy Aliena Telesforo in their Sicilian game while Alpheeca Gonzales resigned in just 34 moves to Methusellah Hoban in a tense Queen-pawn opening. 

Hoban tallied three points in the 4-day grueling chess competition in the girls 10 and 8 under in the event iniatiave by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Committee chairman on Grassroots development and promotions Neri Javier Colmenares in close cooperation with Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Mayor Patrick Escalante.

In other matches saw; Mary Antonette Tongal lost to Kristel Shayne Herrera; Gintle Khey defeated Lyster Franz Andador; Manilyn Cabungcag beat Divine Joyce Sarabia and John Christopher Whelan nipped Uzziel Hoban. The game between Fiona Geeweneth Guierhem vs. Cristy Cabungcag and Stevenson Garong vs. Spencer de Guzman ends in draw. 

Sponsored by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel and Organized by National Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) thru the initiative of Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Neri Javier Colmenares , each champion in six different categories will advance on the grand finals set in June. -Marlon Bernardino-

Oliver Barbosa top seeds PSC Cup International Chess Championship begins today

GM Oliver Barbosa, Jr., the lone Filipino qualifier to the World Chess Cup, will enter the  Philippine Sports Commission Cup International Chess Championship as top seed when the tournament begins today, Monday (Jan. 14 to 20, 2013) at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila. 

The Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa possessed an ELO rating of 2574. It shall be recalled that Barbosa finished fifth overall in the 11th Asian Continental Individual Chess Championships last May 2012 at the First Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a qualifying event to the prestigious World Chess Cup slated in Tromso, Norway later this year.

Barbosa, who earned a slot to the World Chess Cup, won via superior tiebreak over fellow six pointers that include sixth-placer GM Ding Liren, seventh-placer GM Ni Hua of China, eighth-placer GM Wesley So of the Philippines (who won the blitz side event), ninth-placer GM Wen Yang and 10th-placer GM Lu Shanglei of China. Also with 6.0 points is fourth-placer IM Liu Qingnan of China. GM Parimarjan Negi of India defeated fellow 7.0 pointer GM Yu Yangyi of China to bag the coveted title.

12-time national open champion GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio Jr. is seeded second with an ELO of 2541 while former Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete GM Mark Paragua is ranked third with an ELO of 2533.

Other notable players seeing action in Philippine Sports Commission Cup International Chess Championship are IM Bayarsaikhan Gundavaa of Mongolia, fourth with an ELO of 2522; GM John Paul Gomez, fifth with an ELO of 2520; IM Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam, sixth with an ELO of 2500; GM Cao Sang of Vietnam, seventh with an ELO of 2498; GM Tejas Bakre of India, eighth with an ELO of 2492; GM Darwin Laylo, ninth with an ELO of 2491; Asia's First GM Eugene Torre, tenth with an ELO of 2485; IM Nguyen Doc Hoa of Vietnam, eleventh with an ELO of 2481; IM Oliver Dimakiling, twelve with an ELO of 2453; IM Rolando Nolte, thirteen with an ELO of 2453; GM Tahir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan, fourteen with an ELO of 2452 and IM Richard Bitoon, fifteen with an ELO of 2437.

The tournament, which offers a guaranteed cash prize of US$30,000 with the champion getting the lion share of lion share US$6,000, will using a nine Round Swiss-system competition, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Prospero 'Butch' Pichay Jr., Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino Jr. in close cooperation with PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia and POC president Peping Cojuangco Jr.

No less than National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales, Committee chairman on Grassroots development and promotions and Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, PSC Chairman Ricardo Garcia and POC president Peping Cojuangco Jr. will led the opening rites today, at 1pm. -Marlon Bernardino-

Torre set to make history in Istanbul Olympiad

GRANDMASTER Eugene Torre’s strong finish in the 2012 National Open Chess Championships didn’t go unrewarded.

The 60-year-old brand new grandfather will make a record 21st appearance in the World Chess Olympiad as GM Julio Catalino Sadorra begged off to continue his studies at the Texas Tech University where he is taking B.S. Applied Mathematics.

This year’s Olympiad is slated on August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“This is unexpected. I never envisioned myself representing the country in the biggest stage of chess competition as a senior citizen,” said Torre, who will break a tie with Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch for the most number of stints in the Olympiad.

Portisch has played in 20 consecutive Olympiads while Torre has represented the country in 19 straight Olympiads and 20 overall – the first in Siegen, Germany in 1970 and the latest in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia in 2010.

He credited his longevity and durability to a healthy lifestyle that includes regular workout in a popular gym.

“It’s not just about talent anymore. My recent success is a testament of the importance of living a healthy life.”

His amazing fitness is in full display during the tournament dubbed as the “Battle of the Grandmasters.”

Instead of fading in a 15-match marathon, Torre won his last four matches to share third place with International Master Oliver Dimakiling although he missed the last outright seat to the Olympiad via tiebreak.

GM Mark Paragua won the tournament followed by Sadorra and Dimakiling.

Meanwhile, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. exercised its option to pick the last player in the team on GM Oliver Barbosa.

The country’s top player, GM Wesley So, is seeded in the team and will man the top board followed by Barbosa, Torre, Paragua and Dimakiling.

Woman International Master Catherine Perena will anchor the women’s team followed by Woman FIDE Master Rulp Ylem Jose and Woman National Masters Janelle Mae Frayna, Jedara Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.-Marlon Bernardino-

PINOY GM WESLEY SO WINS TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP; POCKETS $4,000

FILIPINO chess prodigy Wesley Barbasa So clinched another chess title by winning the Crown Section of the 2012 Toronto International Chess Championship. The 17-year-old grandmaster from Bacoor, Cavite formalized his claim to the title at the Annex Chess Club in 918 Bathurst St., Toronto, Canada held last July 15 to 20, 2012.

The tournament was played as a 7-round Swiss with 18 participants in the event organized by the Chess Institute of Canada. So finished with a total of six points on account of five wins and two draws, half point ahead of his closest rival IM Nikolay Noritsyn of Canada.With his latest victory, So top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Tagaytay City Mayor and Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. went home the top purse of $4,000.

"The Crown Section, hosted by Chess Institute of Canada is a  FIDE Rated 7-Rounds “Standard” Swiss Event, was participated by 18 rated players (3 GMs, 5 IMs & 2 FMs) from 4 countries (Canada, Lithuania, Israel and Philippines). " said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.

" Winning the prestigious 2012 Toronto International Chess Championship is another good news for Philippine Sports." added Pichay, a former representative of the first district of Surigao del Sur in the Southern Philippines.

According to Pichay, So continues the Canadian tour in the Quebec Open Chess Championship 2012 which gets underway from July 21 to 28 at the beautiful venue College Brebeuf in Montreal, Canada.

Then So will head to Webster University - SPICE for his full time study, with a brief two week interruption to represent the Philippines in the  2012 World Chess Olympiad on August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Final standings:
1 GM So Wesley PHI 2650 – 6
2 IM Noritsyn Nikolay CAN 2460 – 5.5
3 IM Samsonkin Artiom CAN 2390 – 4.5
4 IM Calugar Arthur CAN 2273 – 4.5
5 GM Rozentalis Eduardas LTU 2600 – 4.5
6 WCM Peng Jackie CAN 1968 – 4
7 IM Gerzhoy Leonid CAN 2459 – 4
8 GM Sambuev Bator CAN 2542 – 3.5
9 Birarov Vladimir ISR 2169 – 3.5
10 Song Michael CAN 2142 – 3.5
11 Martchenko Alexander CAN 2245 – 3.5
12 Preotu Razvan CAN 2058 – 3
13 Ivanov Mike CAN 2035 – 3
14 FM Plotkin Victor CAN 2249 – 2.5
15 FM Campbell Brett CAN 2181 – 2.5
16 IM Panjwani Raja CAN 2392 – 2
17 Southam David CAN 2112 – 2
18 Yee Lorne CAN 2222 – 2

Here’s GM Wesley So’s round-by-round results:

R1:  15Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs  Michael Song CAN (2142) : 1-0
R2:  15Jul :  IM Raja Panjwani CAN (2392) Vs  GM Wesley So PHI (2650) : 0-1
R3:  16Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs    IM Nikolay Noritsyn (2460) : 1-0
R4:  17Jul : IM Samsonkin Artiom CAN(2390) Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650) : ½-½
R5:  18Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs    Preotu Razvan CAN(2058) :  1-0
R6:  19Jul : GM Sambuev Bator CAN(2542) Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650):  0-1
R7:  20Jul :  IM Arthur Calugar CAN (2273)  Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650) : ½-½


By: Marlon Bernardino