Battle of Grandmasters III: Grand Slam victory for So

As expected, there's not much of a challenge. Top seed Wesley So just won the third edition of Battle of Grandmasters for third straight year. So tallied a final score of 8.5/11 and posted 7 wins, 3 draws and 1 no contest. So has performance rating of 2713, gaining 8.5 points in the process. GM John Paul Gomez took solo second spot with 7.5 points.

Let us wait for the mainstream media's final report to come out later in the day.

Important links:

Round by round results

Final standings after 11 rounds

Battle of Grandmasters III R6: So wins by default against Antonio!

There's something fishy going on here. This is exactly what we're talking about regarding our previous post about the Angpin Chess Cup. GM Antonio, after winning the Angpin Cup in Pasig City (more or less two hours drive to Tagaytay where the Battle of GMs is taking place) just forfeited his game against Wesley So and losses by default in round 6.

Antonio, according to a report by Roy Luarca for Inquirer.net, apparently asked his game against So to be postponed because on what Antonio claim that he is feeling tired after winning the Angpin Cup.

Though Antonio appeared at the venue, he requested that his game with So be postponed as he wasn’t feeling well after ruling the two-day Philippine Sports Commission Chair Harry Angping Cup that ended Sunday.

Tournament director Willie Abalos, however, did not accede to Antonio’s request and declared him loser by forfeiture, citing a ruling that a player must appear on the board at the time of the match.

With the forfeiture, the second-seeded Antonio got stuck at 4.0 points and must score on each of the remaining five rounds to stay on track of repeating his runner-up finish to So in last year’s edition held in Dapitan City.

We understand GM Antonio's reasoning that he's tired but everyone is tired as well. Again, we're questioning the insertion of the Angpin Cup that coincides with the schedule of the Battle of GMs III. We're not against this tournament in honor of honorable PSC Chairman Harry Angpin but why interrupt the Battle of GMs just to sneak in the Angpin Cup? Can't they just do this right after the Battle of GMs instead? Now we see the complication it's creating.

Important links:

Round 6 and round 7 results

Standings after 7 rounds

Battle of Grandmasters III R3: So, Gomez shares lead

Never mind that the Battle of GMs III is not as star studded as the previous editions without the participation of other Filipino veteran GMs like GM Bong Villamayor who returned to Singapore, GM Mark Paragua is currently campaigning in the US and GM Eugene Torre who appears to be already semi retire from playing serious chess and has engaged with other commitments outside chess. Wesley So is competing and as long as he is winning, local chess fans is still on it.

So after three rounds, it's three for tree for So and is currently sharing the top spot with GM John Paul Gomez. In the first round, So defeated the come backing IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, FM Haridas Pascua in the second round and FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia in the third. GM John Paul Gomez defeated IM Oliver Dimakiling in the first round and downed GM elect Ronald Dableo in the second.

By the way there's also a Women's section at the Battle of GMs. But the moment we got enough information from our friends, we will update them here. Mikee Suede is currently leading the section.

Important links:

Round 3 results

Rankings after 3 rounds

Battle of Grandmasters, cancelled

Over a week ago, a friend of ChessHeroes blog hinted to us that the Battle of Grandmaster which is scheduled to begin this day, March 23 is in serious position of getting cancelled due to some "unclear" problems. I say, to those who are following CH for sometime, this will explain why we didn't give an update or any news regarding the Battle of Grandmasters a week and days before the supposed actual date of the tournament. We opted to do so, not until we received final confirmation from any reliable source that the cancellation was really true. As everybody may know by now, the Battle of GMs was consequently canceled due to nonavailability of the venue, the City State Tower Hotel in Mabini, Ermita, Manila. It will be re-schedule sometime in May and let us cross our fingers that the event, the "Linares" of Philippine chess will take place just around the Metro Manila area.

BATTLE OF THE GRANDMASTERS CANCELLED---ABALOS

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

THE Battle of the Grandmasters which is supposed to be held today, Tuesday, March 23 at the City State Tower Hotel in Mabini, Ermita, Manila has been cancelled.

“Battle of GMs still no available venue,” NCFP events manager/ executive director Wilfredo “Willie” Abalos told this writer yesterday.

“Chairman (Butch) Pichay postponed this event and wait for the announcement for the exact final date. Maybe in May after Asian Continental in Subic,” added Abalos.

Super Grandmaster Wesley Barbasa So is the reigning two-time Battle of the Grandmasters champion.

Dapitan City to host Battle of GMs for the second time

The third edition of the Battle of Grandmaster will take place again next year at Dapitan City following the announcement of the winners at Dapitan City offical website

"The Battle of GMs and the Regional Elimination for the Asian Indoor Games of Region IX, which championship will be held later this year in Vietnam, are sponsored by Phoenix Petroleum and the City of Dapitan...

The city will still host next year’s Battle of GMs to be held at Dakak Park and Beach Resort in Tagilon village."

There would be an ample of time to prepare and established its own official website. Hoping also to see an official logo for the tournament.

When a fierce civil war erupts

Below is the replay of game between the controversial match of Antonio and So. Antonio is playing the white pieces, while So had the black pieces.

As predicted, (and clamor to embarrass NCFP) by many Filipino chess kibitzer around, the game ended, well, in a draw. And many are delighted, even celebrated with the result. Filipinos cursed soccer simply because many games ended in boring 0-0 score. A draw. To be honest with everyone, I was totally against the idea of replaying the game between Antonio and So. I knew from the very start that it would create a huge rift between NCFP, players and fans. But sometimes I couldn't help but wonder, do really people who are lambasting the game to be replay really benefited by this results? On the other side of the argument, do anyone of them who are in favor of replaying the game feel cheated by the results the same way as the chiefs of the NCFP who ordered the game to be replay? NCFP acted only on what they believe is good for chess in the country the same way Antonio and So acted on what they believed is good for themselves. I mean just the two of them. Antonio, So, NCFP, and Filipino fans, we are all carried by our emotions, setting aside reasons and we consequently cheated and hurt one another. This is one of the biggest, fiercest civil war in chess I've ever witness. It's a pity. I feel bad for Wesley, for goodness sake, he's just fifteen years old, a mere boy and now look at him, he may one day build an incurable ego prone to most celebrities with huge followers. This is really bad for Wesley, somebody must explain to him that what happen was but an accident, that it was the rule and not to hurt or challenge his status as the premier chess player in the country. Now that Wesley So, Antonio and Pinoy kibitzers get their wish for a drawn game, I greatly fear that critics of Philippine chess from every corner of the planet would hit at us hard and branded Filipino chess fans as the biggest defender of quick draws on the planet and the most fanatical as well. At the moment we are, but I believe that there are always time for maturity to be develop. In fact chess in the Philippines is just being re-born. In the meantime I want everyone to take sometime to read this:

"...The duty of its citizens, then, appears to me too plain to admit of doubt. All should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of the war and to restore the blessing of peace. They should remain, if possible, in the country; promote harmony and good feeling, qualify themselves to vote and elect to the State and general legislatures wise and patriotic men, who will devote their abilities to the interests of the country and the healing of all dissensions. I have invariably recommended this course since the cessation of hostilities, and have endeavoured to practise it myself...."

Robert E. Lee, letter to Governor Letcher
"Recollections And Letters Of General Robert E. Lee",

Wesley So wins Battle of GMs with one round to spare

GM Wesley So may have lost his fighting form in the latter rounds of the tourney by allowing four draws in five games, after five consecutive wins, the result of the tournament will be the same. So is the back to back winner of the most colorful chess event in the Philippines with one more round to play. Wesley will be pitted against one of his best buddies in the circuit, GM Darwin Laylo in the final round. I don't expect a battle tomorrow between this two, perhaps they would be just more than content of crossing the 30 moves rule (Sofia style) of course, before anyone can be allowed to offer a draw to his opponent.

Round 10 on 2009/03/30 at 1500
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	12	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	½ - ½	GM	PARAGUA Mark	11
2	1	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	½ - ½	IM	DABLEO Ronald	10
3	2	IM	BITOON Richard	½ - ½	GM	SO Wesley	9
4	3	GM	LAYLO Darwin	1 - 0	GM	GONZALES Jayson	8
5	4	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	½ - ½	IM	NOLTE Rolando	7
6	5	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	0 - 1	GM	TORRE Eugenio	6

Rank after Round 10

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2627	7,5	0,0	2,5	32,25
2	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	PHI	2519	6,0	0,0	2,5	27,25
3	GM	TORRE Eugenio	PHI	2560	6,0	0,0	2,0	25,25
4	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2539	5,5	1,5	1,5	22,25
5	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	5,5	1,0	2,0	24,75
6	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2445	5,5	0,5	1,5	23,75
7	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2473	5,0	1,0	3,0	27,00
8	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2537	5,0	0,0	2,5	22,75
9	IM	NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2488	4,0	0,0	1,5	17,00
10	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2468	3,5	0,0	0,5	16,25
11	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2471	3,0	0,0	0,5	12,25
12	IM	DABLEO Ronald	PHI	2432	2,5	0,0	2,0	13,25

Chesspatzer blog and Philippine Chess Chronicles

I've introduced here lately some of Philippine chess blog for you to consider. Namely Malibay Chess Club, ChessPhi, Chessph (I wish Chessph had opted for different name), and Philippine Chess Chronicle. Another chess blog of interest is Chesspatzer blog. It is being run by a Canadian based Filipino somewhere in Montreal. One particular interest is his great passion for ICC and is always up to date about the latest games and results of Filipino masters hanging out on ICC. He's also blogging about North American chess. I also noticed that Philippine Chess Chronicles is making a sort of come back after 3 months of lay off. With the absence of official Philippine chess website, these are the backbones of Philippine chess on the web. These are the hungry artists.

In the meantime, back to battle of GMs. Though there are still two more rounds to play, it is not very hard to conclude that Wesley will win this thing for the second straight year. And how dominant this kid thus far. He was held to draw by determined IM Julio Catalino Sadorra yesterday though I personally feel that Wesley shows some inaccuracy. We will try to get the PGN of the Torre-Villamayor match up as soon as we can. Two seasoned veteran going up against each other always held of great interest to me.

Round 9 on 2009/03/29 at 1630
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	5	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	0 - 1	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	12
2	6	GM	TORRE Eugenio	1 - 0	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	4
3	7	IM	NOLTE Rolando	½ - ½	GM	LAYLO Darwin	3
4	8	GM	GONZALES Jayson	1 - 0	IM	BITOON Richard	2
5	9	GM	SO Wesley	½ - ½	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	1
6	10	IM	DABLEO Ronald	0 - 1	GM	PARAGUA Mark	11

Rank after Round 9

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2627	7,0	0,0	1,0	26,75
2	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	PHI	2519	5,5	1,0	1,0	22,75
3	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2539	5,5	0,0	0,0	19,50
4	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2445	5,0	0,5	1,0	20,50
5	GM	TORRE Eugenio	PHI	2560	5,0	0,5	0,0	17,25
6	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2473	4,5	1,5	1,0	20,75
7	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	4,5	1,0	0,5	18,75
8	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2537	4,5	0,5	1,0	17,25
9	IM	NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2488	3,5	0,5	0,5	13,50
10	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2468	3,5	0,5	0,0	14,25
11	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2471	2,5	0,0	0,0	8,75
12	IM	DABLEO Ronald	PHI	2432	2,0	0,0	1,0	9,50

"Battle of GMs" round 5 and 6. So still in the lead

As everybody may very well know by now, seasoned veteran GM Rogelio Antonio was the first player to stop the onslaught of GM Wesley So after scoring five straight victories in the well publicized Battle of GMs in Dapitan City. Anyway below is the highly entertaining game between GM Jayson Gonzales and GM Wesley So during their encounter in round 5 which Wesley won. White is Gonzales and black is So. White lost on time but black still has the edge when white's flag fell. I still have not fully acquainted myself yet with this new chess diagram viewer which is first brought to our attention by chesspatzer blog. chesspublisher's site is down so I have to look for other option to replay the games. Heck, I look like a complete idiot in every inch trying to tweak this one out. But this is much better than put up with java because of the space constraint. Enjoy!

Round 5 on 2009/03/27 at 0900
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	3	GM	LAYLO Darwin	½ - ½	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	12
2	4	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	1 - 0	IM	BITOON Richard	2
3	5	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	½ - ½	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	1
4	6	GM	TORRE Eugenio	½ - ½	GM	PARAGUA Mark	11
5	7	IM	NOLTE Rolando	1 - 0	IM	DABLEO Ronald	10
6	8	GM	GONZALES Jayson	0 - 1	GM	SO Wesley	9
Round 6 on 2009/03/27 at 1630
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	12	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	½ - ½	GM	SO Wesley	9
2	10	IM	DABLEO Ronald	½ - ½	GM	GONZALES Jayson	8
3	11	GM	PARAGUA Mark	½ - ½	IM	NOLTE Rolando	7
4	1	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	½ - ½	GM	TORRE Eugenio	6
5	2	IM	BITOON Richard	½ - ½	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	5
6	3	GM	LAYLO Darwin	½ - ½	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	4

Rank after Round 6

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2627	5,5	0,0	0,0	15,50
2	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	PHI	2519	4,0	0,0	0,5	11,50
3	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	3,5	0,0	0,0	9,25
4	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2539	3,5	0,0	0,0	6,75
5	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2473	3,0	1,0	0,0	9,75
6	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2537	3,0	1,0	0,0	9,00
7	IM	NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2488	3,0	1,0	0,0	6,75
8	GM	TORRE Eugenio	PHI	2560	3,0	1,0	0,0	6,00
9	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2445	2,5	1,0	0,0	7,25
10	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2471	2,5	0,0	0,0	5,75
11	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2468	1,5	0,0	0,0	3,50
12	IM	DABLEO Ronald	PHI	2432	1,0	0,0	0,0	2,50

Battle of Grandmasters round 4: four for four for So!

Four had tried, but none prevails. You heard it right, it's four for four for So. And many had foresaw it. Though I'm betting my candy that Wesley could finish the tournament undefeated, there is one alarming fact that I noticed. The Philippines has only Wesley So and no one else. I hope I could be proven wrong but it really turning out to be. Anyways, Norway has only Magnus Carlsen, right ;)

Round 4 on 2009/03/26 at 1500
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	12	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	1 - 0	GM	GONZALES Jayson	8
2	9	GM	SO Wesley	1 - 0	IM	NOLTE Rolando	7
3	10	IM	DABLEO Ronald	0 - 1	GM	TORRE Eugenio	6
4	11	GM	PARAGUA Mark	½ - ½	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	5
5	1	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	1 - 0	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	4
6	2	IM	BITOON Richard	½ - ½	GM	LAYLO Darwin	3

Rank after Round 4

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2627	4,0	0,0	0,0	7,00
2	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	PHI	2519	3,0	0,0	0,0	4,50
3	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2473	2,5	0,5	0,0	5,50
4	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	2,5	0,5	0,0	4,00
5	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2539	2,5	0,0	0,0	2,50
6	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2537	2,0	0,0	0,0	3,50
7	GM	TORRE Eugenio	PHI	2560	2,0	0,0	0,0	1,75
8	IM	NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2488	1,5	0,0	0,0	3,00
9	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2445	1,5	0,0	0,0	2,25
10	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2468	1,0	0,0	0,0	1,75
11	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2471	1,0	0,0	0,0	0,50
12	IM	DABLEO Ronald	PHI	2432	0,5	0,0	0,0	1,25

"Battle of GMs" round 2 and 3. Dapitan, a Waterloo for Torre

Eugene Torre, Asia's first grandmaster and one of the most successful player ever to come out of Asia, may had somehow finally came to terms with the fact that in round 3 in Dapitan at the "Battle of GMs", he lost to a fifteen year old kid that virtually sealed off his name for good among the immortal of Philippine. We all know Napoleon Bonaparte. He conquered most of Europe. He fought many great battles but ironically, he was best remember by one, humiliating defeat at the battle of Waterloo, his last chance for glory, against a young and upstart military commander, the Duke of Wellington. Yet this defeat assured Napoleon the everlasting fame. Eugene Torre, the great that he is, will be somehow be assured of greatness, despite the defeat, because of a young super talent that may someday would challenge for a world championship. Cheers for GM Eugene Torre everyone, cheers!

Round 2 on 2009/03/25 at 0900
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	12	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	½ - ½	IM	NOLTE Rolando	7
2	8	GM	GONZALES Jayson	½ - ½	GM	TORRE Eugenio	6
3	9	GM	SO Wesley	1 - 0	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	5
4	10	IM	DABLEO Ronald	0 - 1	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	4
5	11	GM	PARAGUA Mark	½ - ½	GM	LAYLO Darwin	3
6	1	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	½ - ½	IM	BITOON Richard	2
Round 3 on 2009/03/25 at 1630
Bo.	No.		Name	Result		Name	No.
1	2	IM	BITOON Richard	½ - ½	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	12
2	3	GM	LAYLO Darwin	1 - 0	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	1
3	4	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	0 - 1	GM	PARAGUA Mark	11
4	5	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	1 - 0	IM	DABLEO Ronald	10
5	6	GM	TORRE Eugenio	0 - 1	GM	SO Wesley	9
6	7	IM	NOLTE Rolando	½ - ½	GM	GONZALES Jayson	8

Rank after Round 3

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3
1	GM	SO Wesley	PHI	2627	3,0	0,0	0,0	4,00
2	IM	BITOON Richard	PHI	2473	2,0	0,5	0,0	2,75
3	GM	ANTONIO Rogelio Jr	PHI	2519	2,0	0,5	0,0	2,25
4	GM	GOMEZ John Paul	PHI	2539	2,0	0,0	0,0	1,50
5	GM	LAYLO Darwin	PHI	2504	2,0	0,0	0,0	1,50
6	GM	PARAGUA Mark	PHI	2537	1,5	0,0	0,0	2,00
7	IM	NOLTE Rolando	PHI	2488	1,5	0,0	0,0	2,00
8	GM	TORRE Eugenio	PHI	2560	1,0	0,5	0,0	1,25
	GM	GONZALES Jayson	PHI	2468	1,0	0,5	0,0	1,25
10	GM	VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura	PHI	2471	1,0	0,0	0,0	0,50
11	IM	SADORRA Julio Catalino	PHI	2445	0,5	0,0	0,0	1,00
	IM	DABLEO Ronald	PHI	2432	0,5	0,0	0,0	1,00

Philippines "Battle of GMs" day 1 results. Villamayor, no more the mentor

Round 1 only saw 2008 Singapore Open chessfest winner IM Richard Bitoon upsets GM Mark Paragua. If my memory serves me correctly, GM Bong Villamayor has never won a single game against Wesley in their four previous encounter, loosing three straight in the process. Not being very nice to his many time coach and mentor in international competitions :)

1. W. So vs. B. Villamayor 1-0
2. E. Torre vs. R. Nolte 1/2 - 1/2
3. J.P. Gomez vs. J. Gonzales 1- 0
4. M. Paragua vs. R. Bitoon 0-1
5. R. Antonio vs. J.C. Sadorra 1-0
6. D. Laylo vs. R. Dableo 1/2 - 1/2

Scores as of Round 1

IM BITOON 2.0
GM GOMEZ 2.0
GM SO 2.0
GM ANTONIO 2.0
GM LAYLO 1.0
GM TORRE 1. 0
IM NOLTE 1.0
IM DABLEO 1.0
IM SADORRA 1.0
GM VILLAMAYOR 0
GM GONZALES 0
GM PARAGUA 0

2009 Philippines "Battle of Grandmasters" begins today.

All roads lead to Dapitan for the 2009 Philippine "Battle of GMs". And so the country's own version of Linares tournament will begin today. Two Filipino GMs however beg off from participating in the competition. Former Asian Junior champion, GM Nelson Mariano II who are now based in Singapore and Philippines newly installed GM, Joseph Sanchez, now based in France. Because the tournament will be held in the far away south, in Zamboanga del Norte in Mindanao, the information we will post here will be based mostly from the chess journalist who were there to cover the event but of course the usual personal comments from this blog will be provided as well. We wish Mr. Andaya and the rest of Filipino chess journalist all the best and Pinoy chess enthusiast are clamouring for something new and creative in chess journalism in the country.

The "Battle of GMs" is being sponsored by Phoenix-Petroleum.

Round 1 Pairings (men)

1. W. So vs. B. Villamayor
2. E. Torre vs. R. Nolte
3. J.P. Gomez vs. J. Gonzales
4. M. Paragua vs. R. Bitoon
5. R. Antonio vs. J.C. Sadorra
6. D. Laylo vs. R. Dableo