Philippines Chess: Davao Region Female Chess Player Scores Gold!

From sunstar.com.ph

Davao places 7th in Palarong Pambansa
By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
Saturday, May 14, 2011

[Part of the 2011 Palarong Pambansa annual sports competition]
Davao [region] climbed one notch higher this year since it occupied the eighth spot last year.

Long distance running triple gold medalist Mae Barit from Kapatagan, Digos sparked the gold medal haul for the Davao Region that also won golds courtesy of Davao City's Rowelyn Joy Acedo in secondary girls chess individual event and arnisadors Bill Amper and Rofel Angelo Pendon.

"I'm thankful to the Lord for letting me win the gold," Acedo said. Ella Grace Moulic and Zsuzsa Grace Tabudlong clinched the silver in elementary girls chess team event. Moulic also got an individual bronze.

Acedo and Dhona Yngayo's tandem placed fourth in the team event while the secondary boys team of Austin Jacob Literatus and Kenneth Tabada came fifth.

Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on May 15, 2011.

Another Medal for Marie Antoinette San Diego

After gold medal win, Pinay bags silver in ASEAN Olympiad
abs-cbnNEWS.com
Posted at 11/09/2010 10:20 AM | Updated as of 11/09/2010 10:20 AM

MANILA, Philippines – RP whiz kid Marie Antoinette San Diego bagged the silver medal in the individual girls rapid competition of the ASEAN Primary School Sports Olympiad 2010 (APSSO) Chess Championships in Jakarta, Indonesia.

San Diego, who is playing under the banner of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by President/ Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., finished second behind eventual champion and gold medal winner Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam after the tie-break points were.

In the final round, San Diego was held to a draw against Nur Najiha Bt.Azman Hisham of Malaysia while Thanh Thuy Tien outclassed Angela Natasya R. of Indonesia 1.

Thanh Thuy Tien and San Diego both tallied 3.5 points each while Najiha Bt.Azman Hisham of Malaysia took the bronze with a superior quotient in the huge group of 3 pointers.

Last weekend, San Diego gave the Philippines its first gold medal in the individual girls standard competition after she bested fellow 4 pointer Thanh Thuy Tien in the tie-break points.

San Diego’s gold and silver medal finishes are big boosts for the RP Youth team after the boys team spearheaded by Daryl Unix Samantila, Stephen Rome Pangilinan and Raul “Rhal” Sol Cruz had a hard time winning a medal.

Philippines Chess: So and Gomez Rise to the Top

GM chess: Streaking So downs Dableo By Roy Luarca Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 00:08:00 03/29/2009 DAPITAN CITY – Wesley So’s winning run in the Battle of Grandmasters here hasn’t been broken after all. After So downed International Master Ronald Dableo in the seventh round yesterday, his sixth round draw with fellow GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio on Friday night was nullified by the organizing National Chess Federation of the Philippines. [Absolutely ridiculous! As if a rematch will result in a something other than a win for So? So they had a draw - So what? Har!] NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay ordered that the So-Antonio match, which ended in a truce after 21 moves of a Scandinavian encounter, be replayed. Pichay cited an earlier NCFP ruling seeking to avoid early draws between players, especially those played in less than 30 moves, to ensure quality competition. The 15-year-old So’s systematic 26-move victory over Dableo in a French encounter pushed his pacesetting total to 12 points, excluding the outcome of his game with Antonio set to be played anew on March 30. “He (Dableo) made some weak moves that immobilized his forces,” said So, who moved closer to the P200,000 men’s division champion’s purse of the 11-round tournament being held at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel. GM John Paul Gomez, beat fellow Asian Chess Cup campaigner GM Darwin Laylo in 58 moves of a Gruenfeld to stay in contention with 9.0 points. International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra trounced IM Rolando Nolte in 48 moves of an English Opening to climb to 7.0 points in the company of GM Eugene Torre and IM Richard Bitoon, who agreed to a truce after 55 moves of a Sicilian Defense. In a late completed match, GM Jayson Gonzales triumphed over GM Mark Paragua in 31 moves of another English. In women’s play, WFM Shercila Cua drew with WFM Catherine Perena to keep top spot with 10 points. Other matches saw WNM Daisy Rivera and WNM Cristy Lamiel Bernales gain ground by besting Rida Young and WNM Rulp Ylem Jose, respectively. Rivera, an employee of Bingo Bonanza, improved to 9.0 points in a tie with WFM Sherily Cua, who was held to a draw by WIM Beverly Mendoza.

2008 Chess Olympiad

Here is the Philippines Women's Team: Catherine Perena Shercila Cua Daisy Rivera Cheradee Chardine Camacho Christy Lamiel Bernale The 60th ranked 2006 Team finished in 23rd place (a very good showing), composed of the following players: Sherrie Joy Lomibao Sherily Cua Beverly Mendoza Catherine Perena Full article.

Fair Decision?

Friday, August 29, 2008 Pestaño: An unfair decision By Frank “Boy” Pestaño Chessmoso MY BARKADA and drinking buddy in college Rogelio “Tata” Morelos who, belongs to a family of chess players, just gave me a handwritten note criticizing the showdown between grandmasters Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio that was dubbed as the QC Chess Road Show. “Dear Chessmoso, Just recently, two top Filipino grandmasters had a showdown with a reported P200,000 as prize money offered by the sponsors. I was eagerly waiting for the result of the seven-game confrontation, which to my dismay ended in a draw. What left a bad taste to my gin and tonic-watered mouth was that the two, who tied on the sixth game, did not play the tiebreak seventh game, but instead, decided by themselves to divide the pot money. I find this to be beggarly and highly impolite for the GMs to do. It is like Pacquaio and De La Hoya stopping at the 10th round of a scheduled 12 rounds and deciding to call it a draw after being informed by the judges that both have the same scores. Are the actions of the two GMs allowed in chess tournaments? If so, the people who drafted the rules should be made to swallow the chess pieces of that tournament and add the board as dessert. The tournament was supposed to be a showdown on who is the master of whom.” I personally would like to know who the better player is, as I have been following their careers for a long time. Now, after much hype and publicity, there is no decision. I don’t know the inside story but isn’t it unfair to the chess-playing community?

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Interesting. I wonder what the reaction of the "chess world" would have been if Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih had decided amongst themselves to stop playing and split the prize money at the 2008 U.S. Women's Chess Championship - and declare themselves de facto "co-winners." Would that have generated as much screaming, hair-pulling and collective angst (mostly among male players, it seems) as the Armageddon play-off that actually place did?

Chess Legend to Play Rising Chess Star

What a great idea - kudos to the promoter who came up with this idea. It's a perfect way to promote chess in the Philippines and, indeed, garner international interest, since folks are interested in GM Wesley So's progress in the chess world. Story from Sports. Inquirer.Net Chess Legend vs Chess Wonder Boy P1 million showdown slated By Marlon Bernardino Cebu Daily News First Posted 09:43:00 08/09/2008 IT'S all system's go for the richest sports event in the country when the undisputed Chess Legend takes on the Chess Boy Wonder in a P1 Million showdown to be held in Quezon City, Davao, Iloilo and Cebu. Eugene Torre, Asia's first grandmaster, and Wesley So, presently the world's youngest grandmaster at 14, will face each other in a one-on-one duel consisting of ten games. Two games each will be played in Quezon City, Davao, Iloilo and Cebu and if the match remains unresolved, another two games will be played in Quezon City. A knockout game will ensue if the duel is tied at 5-5. This was announced yesterday by the event's project director lawyer Samuel Estimo after Quezon City representative Matias Defensor agreed to bankroll the match in a meeting last Monday. “Magandang proyekto ito kaya nagpapasalamat tayo kay Cong. (Mat) Defensor na sumuporta sa event na ito,” said Estimo, a former secretary-general of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP). NCFP region 11 coordinator James Infiesto is pleased when he learned that Davao City is one of the four venues of the event dubbed as “Dream Match.” “We are privileged and honored that our city is one of the four venues in the Torre and So one-on-one duel,” said Infiesto. “Maganda ito, legend versus future of Philippine chess.” “Tiyak aabangan ito hindi lamang sa Pilipinas kundi pati sa buong mundo,” said Reginald Tee, consultant and spokesman of Wesley So who is currently playing in Turkey for the World Junior Chess Championship. The match will be held at a date to be agreed upon by the two GMs preferably after So and Torre have fulfilled all their international tournaments. “Baka February 2009 after sa event ni Wesley (So) sa Corus,” said Tee. Torre will leave on August 8 for the United States where he will also visit his daughter, Nicolle, who is now based in Alaska. According to Estimo, the two chess luminaries had drawn their three previous games with Torre nearly winning their last encounter. The first to score 5 1/2 (5.5) points will win the match and the P600,000 winner's prize while the loser will earn P400,000. Another P100,000.00 will go to the winner of each leg while the loser will take home P50,000. It shall be recalled that Torre and arch rival GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., settled for a 3-3 draw in their recent “Quezon City Chess Road Show” one-on-one. Copyright 2008 Cebu Daily News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. According to my calculations, 1 million P equals $22,540.30 USD (1.00 PHP = 0.0225403 USD)

Philippines Chess News

This is the latest from one of my favorite chess columnists, from the Cebu Sun Star.com (Philippines): Friday, July 11, 2008 Pestaño: Controversies hound RP chess By Frank “Boy” Pestaño Chessmoso THE national chess scene is being rocked by controversies and it involves the major players of the land. Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio relinquished their participation in the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on Nov. 12 to 25 by not participating in the grand finals to select the members of the team. It is being held in the Kaban ng Hiyas Bldg. in Mandaluyong and started last July 1. GM Eugene Torre issued an official statement that he does not have anything against the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ (NCFP) regulation not to seed top players for the Olympiad. “It’s only fair, let’s give chance to others, especially the young. But if they still need my services, I would be very much willing to play for the country,” said Torre. “We want all the players, regardless of their titles (GMs, IMs or NMs) to participate in the qualifying tournament and earn their spots in the national team. We will not tolerate the old practice of seeding top players to the team,” said NCFP president Prospero Pichay in a short speech during the opening ceremony. GMs Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo returned to the country from the United States to be able to compete in the tournament. Also playing are Dubai Open champion GM Wesley So, GM-elect Jayson Gonzales, GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor and a host of IMs and NMs. Twelve players, led by top female player Catherine Perena and semifinal round winner Kimberly Jane Cunanan are seeing action in the women’s division. RATINGS. Fide recently released its July, 2008 ratings and the top Filipino player is 14-year-old Wesley So at 2577. Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales are tied for second and third with identical 2524. Paragua is rated 2523, Antonio has 2516 and Laylo is at 2504. It is very lamentable that Eugene is not playing. Eugene established a record when he made his 19th consecutive appearance in the 2006 Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy and moves just one short of tying the all-time record for most appearances held by the legendary Lajos Portisch of Hungary. Another controversy involving the top guns is the opinion issued by Honorary Fide president Florencio Campomanes Thursday questioning “the decision of the NCFP to enter into a contract with a Singapore-based group for the holding of at least four RP Opens in the next two years.” During the Asean Chess Confederation board meeting in Vietnam, the NCFP, through president Prospero Pichay, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Singapore-based Intchess Asia to manage all its international competitions in the next two years, including four RP Opens. “We cannot just give the right to organize such big, national events to a group with no proven expertise in such undertaking,” Campomanes said. . . . . CEPCA. Our monthly tournament will be held this July 13, at the Deep Blue Café in SM starting at 2 p.m. Format is five rounds Swiss and time control will be based on the classification of the member as A,B and C. New members are welcome. I am also requesting all those who will play to bring a 1x1 picture for our new ID. The venue for the Kiddies and Juniors will be on July 12 at the Opascor Bldg. In front of M. Lhuiller Main office at 1 p.m. Format is seven rounds Swiss.

Philippines Chess News

Monday, June 16, 2008 Chess champion draws praises JOHN Ray Batucan drew praises from sports officials and supporters in Davao City for his conquest in the 9th Asean Age-Group Chess Championships. "We are proud that a Dabawenyo has made a mark in youth chess. We are also happy that we are able to help him because we believe that he has something to prove not only to himself, to his family but also to his fellow young Dabawenyos," said Christopher "Bong" Go, city sports coordinator. "We congratulate him for bringing honor to our country and to Davao City," Go added. Engineer Enrico Vanta of the Chadric Builders Construction and Supply also admired the 11-year-old Batucan for his victory against top-rated opponents. "This calls for a celebration. He made Davao City proud and we are happy he got the gold," said Vanta, who helped Batucan and another Davao player, Rowelyn Joy Acedo, in the Vietnam campaign. Batucan won the gold in the boy's 12-under category after scoring 7.5 points in nine rounds. He also powered the country to the team gold with his sterling performance. Go also thanked National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero "Butch" Pichay for his support to the Davao players. "We are thankful to him (Pichay) for giving our young players the chance to represent our country to the Asean tournament," he said. City officials and other well meaning private individuals had donated cash to help Batucan, a student of Don Juan dela Cruz Elementary School.

Philippines Chess

Asean Masters Chess Circuit Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 01:34:00 01/15/2008 Standings after 5 rounds: WIM Section5 points -- I. Sadikin (INA); 4.0 -- E. Handoko (INA), 3.5 -- C. Bernales (RP), G. Chua (SIN); 3.0 -- E. Lindiawati (INA); 2.5 -- B.Mendoza (RP), T.M. Hung (VIE); 2 -- J. Tay (SIN), T. Handayani (INA); 1 -- N. Verdiana (INA), V. Chan (SIN); 0 -- D. Citra (INA) MANILA, Philippines -- Filipinos posted contrasting results in the delayed first-round games played late Sunday in the ongoing first Asean Masters Chess Circuit in Tarakan, Indonesia. Woman National Master Christy Lamiel Bernales suffered her first loss, bowing to Woman International Master Beverly Mendoza. Bernales, daughter of a former taxi driver from Nueva Ecija, dropped to third in the WIM section with 3.5 points. She is now two points shy of clinching the WFM* title, according to the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. Copyright 2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. *I believe this should be WGM, as a WFM title is below that of WIM.

Rematch Between GMs Torre and Antonio to Promote Chess

Philippines Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio are set for a 12-game rematch during the summer of 2008 to promote chess in the Philippines, leading up to the next chess Olympiad. Torre, Antonio ready for rematch Baguio, Mindoro eyed as host of GMs’ battle Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 03:49:00 12/30/2007 MANILA, Philippines -- Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. are ready for a rematch. The country’s top woodpushers will try to outwit each other in a 12-match marathon in the summer of 2008 for two reasons: Promote chess in the countryside and prepare themselves for the Chess Olympiad slated late next year. Antonio became the first local player to beat Torre with a one-game victory in their 1998 match. “Hindi na rin naman kami bumabata (We’re not getting any younger),” said Torre. “We need to develop more young chess talents. We’re hoping to get the interest of potential talents from the grassroots level by going to their places.” Organizers are planning to hold the matches in Baguio City and in Puerto Galera in Mindoro to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the World Chess Championships match between Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi, also held in Baguio City, in 1978. Torre is an adopted son of Baguio while Antonio hails from Oriental Mindoro. Torre and Antonio are expected to lead the country’s campaign in the Chess Olympiad set in Dresden, Germany on November 12 to 25. It will be the fifth time that Germany is hosting a chess Olympiad. “Hindi natin alam baka yun na ang aming (We don’t know if it will be our) last Olympiad next year,” said Antonio. “Anuman ang mangyari, maganda na ’yung preparado kami (Whatever happens, it’s better that we are prepared).” Quezon City majority floor leader and fourth district Councilor Ariel Inton is also open to his city’s hosting of the Torre and Antonio rematch. “Both players are based in Quezon City,” said Inton. “It would be great for our city and our people if they will play here. If it’s not possible for us to host all 12 matches, even just the first three and the last three.” Marlon Bernardino, contributor Copyright 2007 Philippine Daily Inquirer. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Lady, the Canadian and the Viking

By Frank “Boy” Pestaño Chessmoso (From the Cebu Sun-Star online - Philippines) A LADY member? So what’s the fuzz all about? A lady chess player is not something extraordinary. There are probably hundreds of professional women out there who play chess. However, in all my years of involvement in the game, I have observed that women are very shy and are afraid to compete against men. The Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) was established in June 1990 and there has never been a lady member. That is 17 long years! And to think that we had a peak of more than 130 members in the early 90s. True, we have women who sometimes play in our tournaments, but they only play as invited guests. Noteworthy among the lot was Therese Gonzales, who was able to win a monthly title, not with her charms, which she has plenty of, but with her true chess talent. This brave young lady is 29-year-old Marylou Pagarigan, who is presently connected with Cebu International School as a teacher in computer science and information technology. She learned to play the game when she was six years old and has been quite active in competing in big tournaments. She was the best female player in the Cagayan leg of the Shell Active Chess Championship in 1996 and competed in the Palarong Pambansa games in Cebu (1994), Pangasinan (1995, board 2 champion), Socsargen (1996), Naga (1997) and in Bacolod (1998). She also joined the Philippine National Women’s Championship in Iligan City in 1995, the National LGUlympics in Iloilo in 1998 and the Far East Bank’s regional tournaments from 1995-97 in Iligan City. She joined our monthly tournament last Sunday, when she won over another new member, Harry Doyle and drew with Surigao’s Manie Yuson, another potential new member, who played as a guest for the meantime. Yuson had expressed her intention to upgrade to full member soon. Doyle is a Canadian, who obviously enjoyed the exercise and who has a lively sense of humor. He wrote in the information sheet, “My name is Harry Doyle and I lived in the East Coast of Canada on the Atlantic Ocean. The big cities of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver produce our best players. In 2000, I suffered a stroke and was advised by my doctor from the Philippines to play an hour of chess everyday. Seven years later, all the symptoms of the stroke are gone. My chess, however, has not improved much, but I do have fun. I am happily married to a Filipina who gave me a beautiful son, Joseph, who is now seven.” Another new member is a Viking from Demark, Per Stentejerg-Hansen. Hansen is the strongest foreigner to ever become a member of Cepca. He has an Elo rating of 2240 and that should make him a National Master. Not surprisingly, he won the tournament, the first foreigner to do so. Hansen defeated the great Bent Larsen in 1996 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Larsen was obviously on the decline as he was one of the best players in the 1960’s and ’70s and was once called the strongest player never to become a world champion. To beat the great Larsen, who visited Cebu I think in 1973, is certainly a great achievement. Hansen is married to Crispina Limpot from Baclayon, Bohol since 1994 and they have two daughters aged nine and 11 years old. He is an accountant by profession. He wrote, “Chess helps me find new friends. It is a game about fight and strict analysis and it is nice to relax with.” Another new member is Randy Cabuncal, 27, who is connected with Fast Logistics Corporation. Cabuncal was a board one varsity player of the University of San Carlos Boys High School. Here are the results of last Sunday’s June tournament at five rounds; first placer, Hansen (4.5), second and third placers, Mandy Baria (4.0) and Joe Atillo (4.0), fourth and fifth placers, Ramon Pangilinan and Maggie Dionson (3.5). ********************************************************************************* Well, for goddess' sake, the least he could have done was give Marylou Pagarigan's score too!