PGN for sale anyone?

I think it was early this year, at the Battle of Grandmaster held in Dapitan when we first received an email, offering us a couple of recorded games from the event in exchange of a fee. Unfortunately, I had to respectfully decline. ChessHeroes blog, being a pure volunteerism on our part, couldn't do much to spend a couple of money for such an offer, much as we love to have them. In fact, as far as I know, PGN shouldn't be made for sale. Since the PGMA Cup started more than a week ago, our friends were asking where we could find, if we can't post anything here, the PGN or replays of games, causing some unnecessary stress to everyone. But like them, believe me, yours truly is also in the same plight as everyone else on where we could find one. Unfortunately, the NCFP site doesn't have an official media partner to do task of uploading PGNs, taking photos or conduct an interview with players. We have to cope with that.

The moment somebody notifies us where we can get the PGNs of the games, we will link it to this blog. For now, let us just enjoy whatever little resources available for us.

5th Pichay Cup standings after 3 rounds
Round 3 results
Round 4 pairings

GM Anton Filipov wins the 4th Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup (PGMA)

In a tournament that marred by some controversy and played in some of the most harsh of weather condition, the 4th edition of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup (PGMA) saw a photo finish after the ninth and final round with five players ended up tied for first place with identical 6.5 points. GM Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan, GM Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam, GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami of Iran and GM Narayan Gopal Geetha of India had to settle the issue via tiebreak points. But it is the third seed Filipov who scored with the most superior tiebreak points that gave him the rights to bag the championship cup. Filipov, however, had to share the top prize of $6,000 equally with the other top four finishers. Filipov finished the tournament undefeated with four wins and five draws.

The nine round Swiss-system tournament which offers a total prize fund of $40,000 is named in honor of the Philippines 14th and current president, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. The time control of 90 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1 was applied and draws are not allowed before the completion of Black’s 30th move unless by the repetition of position rule.The PGMA cup is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) for 4th straight year.

On the other side of the story. A strong typhoon hits Manila Saturday morning, creating a massive and devastating flash floods in most Metro Manila area and surrounding provinces, prompting the organizers to suspend the tournament for one day. The tournament resumes Monday but six local players, including GM elect Ronald Dableo and International Master Barlo Nadera failed to show up for round 4 and they were declared lost by default. The players lodged an appeal with the organizers but their appeal was turned down. Eventually, either by protest or due to heavy flooding itself, some of the players decided to withdraw from the tournament. Also defending champion and Asia's first ever grandmaster, Eugenio Torre saw his withdrawal from the tournament after seven rounds. After settling for five consecutive draws followed by two straight defeats in the hands of his lower rated opponents, many of them untitled, Torre thought he had enough and begged off from continuing.



Final Standings:


1 GM FILIPPOV Anton UZB 2595 6,5
2 GM NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son VIE 2589 6,5
3 GM GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan IRI 2579 6,5
4 GM GAGUNASHVILI Merab GEO 2564 6,5
5 GM GEETHA Narayan Gopal IND 2598 6,5
6 GM MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael GEO 2613 6,0
7 GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. PHI 2557 6,0
8 IM DIMAKILING Oliver PHI 2434 6,0
9 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura PHI 2426 5,5
10 GM WONG Meng Kong SIN 2403 5,5
11 GM KOTANJIAN Tigran ARM 2553 5,5
12 GM GOMEZ John Paul PHI 2521 5,5
13 IM BITOON Richard PHI 2490 5,5
14 GM ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar KAZ 2528 5,5
15 GM DAS Neelotpal IND 2471 5,5
16 SENADOR Emmanuel PHI 2367 5,5
17 GM GONZALES Jayson PHI 2457 5,5
18 IM DABLEO Ronald PHI 2417 5,0
19 GM LAYLO Darwin PHI 2537 5,0
20 GM KOSTENKO Pyotr KAZ 2491
21 GM DAO Thien Hai VIE 2542 5,0
22 GM LI Shilong CHN 2531 5,0
23 IM NOLTE Rolando PHI 2424 5,0
24 ANDADOR Rolando PHI 2260 4,5
25 OLAY Edgar Reggie PHI 2323 4,5
26 IM GARMA Chito PHI 2331 4,5
27 GM PARAGUA Mark PHI 2501 4,5
28 MACALA Allan PHI 2266 4,5
29 FM CARLOS Leonardo PHI 2334 4,5
30 MORAZO John Ranel PHI 2172 4,5
31 IM TIRTO INA 2407 4,5 2393
32 SEGARRA Randy PHI 2300 4,5
33 SEVILLANO Voltaire PHI 2358 4,5
34 CAUSO Deniel PHI 2334 4,5
35 FM PASCUA Haridas PHI 2310 4,5
36 WGM NADIG Krutika IND 2273 4,0
37 LUMANCAS Lyndon PHI 0 4,0
38 BAGAMASBAD Efren PHI 2311 4,0
39 DELA CRUZ Richard PHI 2155 4,0
40 ELORTA David PHI 2364 3,5
41 ABELGAS Roel PHI 2180 3,5
42 PORTUGALERA Ric PHI 2221 3,5
43 ALISANGCO Nicomedes PHI 0 3,5
44 GARMA Edgardo PHI 2345 3,5
45 LABAY Rainier PHI 2248 3,5
46 JORDA Danilo PHI 0 3,5
47 BRANZUELA Ali PHI 2288 3,0
48 RIVERA Albert PHI 2172 3,0
49 CORDERO Angel PHI 0 3,0
50 POLAO Ben PHI 0 3,0
51 GM TORRE Eugenio PHI 2535 2,5
52 IM NADERA Barlo PHI 2400 2,0
53 LEGASPI Edmundo PHI 2158 1,5
54 YULO Gerardo PHI 0 1,5
55 DIAZ Conrado PHI 2254 1,0
56 GEPIGA Glicel PHI 0 1,0

4th PGMA Cup: with 1 round to play, three foreign players shares top spot

I'm off to Duty Free Mall today for the final round and closing ceremony. Huge body of water still isolates us from the capital city but we have to brave it and get first hand information about the tournament. Perhaps we will force grab some score sheets piling up on the tables and finally have our much crave "PGN" in our hands.

In the meantime, after 8 rounds, we have three co-leaders. Anton Filipov of Ukraine, Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen of Vietnam and Merab Gagunashvili of Georgia- one of these foreign players could be crowned the next 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo chess cup champion. Again, erstwhile leader for the past three rounds, GM Truong Son was caught off guard by settling with two straight quiet draws as his closest rivals are making their moves in the latter rounds. We won't see any Filipinos defending the title this year as the huge pack of Filipinos with 5.0 points like Laylo, Antonio, Buenaventura, Dableo, Bitoon, Dimakiling, Gonzales, and Senador can only hope for tie for second or third place.

The final round will start at 11:00 am at Duty Free Mall in Paranaque and the closing ceremony will follow soon after the final round.

Round 8 results
Rankings after round 8
Round 9 board pairings

4th PGMA Cup round 7: GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son still leads, Eugene Torre withdraws from the tourney

4th seed and current leader of the tournament GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam settles to a quiet draw against the 2009 Dubai Open titlist, GM Tigran Kotanjian to remain on top of the standings with two more rounds to play. But there are one decisive game of the round though, among the top boards. The round saw 1st seed GM Mikhael Mchedlishvili of Georgia came out victorious over Pyotr Kostenko of Kazakhstan to inch closer with Truong Son, who is now just half point behind Son. The penultimate round of the tournament, the 8th round will start shortly at around 4:00 PM this afternoon. Both Truong Son and Mchedlishvili will eventually meet in round 8. Other important match up will be the game between GM Anton Filipov of Uzbekistan and Filipino IM, Richard Bitoon who is hoping to join IM Ronald Dableo among the newest Filipino to be elected with the grandmaster title. Also in round 7, Dableo defeated GM Li Shilong of China, the 2008 Pichay cup champion.

Defending champion GM Eugenio Torre, after settling for 5 straight draws and two consecutive defeats, GM Torre decided to withdraw from the tournament.

Unfortunately, at this time, the PGN are still not available. We will have them posted here the moment we got some.

For standings after 7 rounds, check them out HERE
For complete results from round 7, they are HERE
For round 8 pairings, check them HERE

More detailed reports from Marlon Bernardino

FILIPINO International Master Richard Bitoon (2490) notch his third straight draws against Iranian GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (2579) to remain in contention after seven rounds of the 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship yesterday at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranaque City.

The Medellin, Cebu native Bitoon, protégée of NM Matias “Bombi” Aznar raised his total 5.0 points, the same output of his eight round opponent, Uzbek GM Anton Filippov (2595), top seed Georgian Super GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (2613), Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian (2553), Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong (2403), Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili (2564) and Indian GM Getha Gopal Nayanan (2598).

“Ok lamang ang draw, hinahabol natin dito ang GM norm,”said Bitoon, who brought downed Michedlishvili in the fourth then halved the point with Wong Meng Kong in the fifth, Kotanjian in the sixth, and Maghami in the seventh.

“ Malakas ang tsansa na makuha ni Bitoon (Richard) ang kanyang 3rd at final GM norm dito sa PGMA chess,” said NM Edmundo Gatus earlier, one of the seven Filipino who passed the FIDE Arbiters Seminar examination last September 25 enroute to Fide arbiter title norm.

2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (2589) still on top after settling with a draw over Kotanjian to hiked his total 5.5 points.

Nguyen claimed the top post after crucial back to back victories over Kazakhs GM GM Anuar Ismagambetov (2528) in the fifth and Wong Meng Kong in the sixth.

Ghaem, Ismagambetov led the huge group of 4.5 pointers that includes Filipino GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., John Paul Gomez, Bong Villamayor, Darwin Laylo, GM-elect Ronald Dableo and IM Oliver Dimakiling.

The nine round Swiss-system tournament offers $6,000 to the champion in this $40,000 total pot event.

Eugene Torre, Asia’s First GM, suffered two consecutive lost against David Elorta and youthful Haridas Pascua forced him to withdraw from the tournament. Torre, last year’s PGMA Cup Chess Champion stuck at 2.5 points on account of his five straight draws in the first five rounds of play.

“ Nag-withdraw na si GM Torre (Eugene) kaya wala na siya sa pairing sa round 8,

Hello again, world! :)

Marikina City in just three hours turns into small, muddy lake

The photo that says it all!

As everyone may know by now, Manila and its surrounding provinces was hit by a tyhphoon, creating a massive flash flood never seen in recent memory and the city is still in a state of calamity until now. Only those people who experience it first hand can express into words and actions the devastation it brought to hundreds of thousands of people. Even yours truly, for three straight days and nights have to be content with no supply of water and power, was completely cut off from the outside world. But everything's going smoothly now, at least in our area, and we're back in chess blogging. Here's one from Marlon Bernardino for some updates at the ongoing 4th PGMA Cup.

4th Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Individual Standings after round 5: (56 players)

4.5 points--- GM Wong Meng Kong (Singapore)

4.0 points--- IM Richard Bitoon (Philippines), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GM Tigran Kotanjian (Armenia)

3.5 points--- GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), IM Ronald Dableo (Philippines), GM Anton Filippov (Uzbekistan), GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (Georgia), GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Philippines), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), GM Getha Gopal Nayanan (India), GM Dao Thien Hai (Vietnam)

3.0 points--- IM Oliver Dimakiling (Philippines), FM Leonardo Carlos (Philippines), FM Randy Segarra (Philippines), NM Edgar Reggie Olay (Philippines), NM Allan Macala (Philippines), GM Pyotr Kostenko (Kazakhstan), GM Annuar Ismagambetov (Kazakhstan),

2.5 points---GM Eugene Torre (Philippines), GM Mark Paragua (Philippines), GM Buenaventura Villamayor (Philippines), GM Jayson Gonzales (Philippines), IM Chito Garma (Philippines), IM Emmanuel Senador (Philippines), FM David Elorta (Philippines), NM Ric Portagalera (Philippines), NM Ali Branzuela (Philippines), John Ranel Morazo (Philippines), GM Li Shilong (China), GM Das Neelotpal (India), WGM Krutika Nadig (India)

FILIPINO International Master Richard Bitoon (2490) halved the point with Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong (2403) to fortify his GM title bid in the fifth round of 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship Sunday night at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranaque City.

The Medellin, Cebu native compiled 4.0 points on 3 wins and 2 draws to shared 2^nd to 4^th placers that includes Vietnamese GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son and Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian, winner over GMs Annuar Ismagambetov and Pyotr Kostenko, both from Kazakhstan, respectively.

“Ok lamang ang draw para maipreserba ko ang lakas ko sa mga susunod na round,” said the former Southwestern University top player Bitoon, who shocked tournament top seed Georgian Super GM Mikhael Mchedlishvili (2613) in the fourth round after 54 moves of Sicilian defense.

Bitoon, protégé of NM Matias “Bombi” Aznar, will face Kotanjian using the black pieces in sixth round late Monday. Bitoon needed his last GM norm here to complete his GM title status.

Wong Meng Kong, on the other hand remained on top with 4.5 points, including his default win against GM-elect Ronald Dableo in the fourth round.

It can be recalled that six players lost their fourth-round matches via defaults. The players—Dableo, IM Barlo Nadera, NMs Deniel Causo and Ali Branzuela, Albert Rivera, and Conrado Diaz—lodged an appeal with the organizers but their appeal was turned down in the nine round Swiss-system event which is offers $6,000 to the champion in the $40,000 total pot prize event.

Nadera, a resident of Malabon City suffered his second straight lost by default after failing to show up in the fifth round against his match to Davao City NM Allan Macala.

Dableo for his part, he held Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai into a draw to remain in contention.

Dableo raise his total 3.5 points, in the company of Dao, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. (Philippines), GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines), GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines), IM Ronald Dableo (Philippines), GM Anton Filippov (Uzbekistan), GM Mikhael Michedlishvili (Georgia), GM Ehsan Ghaem Maghami (Philippines), GM Merab Gagunashvili (Georgia), and GM Getha Gopal Nayanan (India).

In other matches, Antonio and Gomez ended their game in a draw, while Filipino GMs Mark Paragua, Bong Villamayor and Jayson Gonzales lost their respective matches against lone super GM entry Mchedlishvili, Gagunashvili and Maghami, in order.

Defending champion and Asia’s First GM Eugene Torre registered his fifth consecutive draw for 2.5 points, this time against FM Leonardo Carlos, head coach of University of the Philippines. MARLON BERNARDINO

4th PGMA Cup round 2-3: GM elect Ronald Dableo leads

Some of the top seeded players who earlier made into the list of participants days before the 4th PGMA Cup started didn't made it to the final cut of the final participants. Names such as GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore but originally from China, was replaced by his countryman, GM Wong Meng Kong (2403). GM Le Quang Liem also did not arrived in Manila along the small Vietnamese contingent here. Though their absence didn't reduce the competitiveness of the tournament, it definitely reduce the vogues of the event. Hey, without Wesley So and other top Chinese and Indian grandmasters, we need some stars here!

But anyway, going back to the tournament. It is GM elect Ronald Dableo who is making quite a noise. Well, the guy remains undefeated with three straight wins, and defeated two GMs in one day. Georgian GM Gagunashvili in the 2nd round and GM John Paul Gomez in the 3th to remain on top of the standings along with GM Wong Meng Kong of Singapore after 3 rounds. A GM wannabe, Dableo needs to raise his rating points to 2500 to be finally considered a full pledge grandmaster.

Your defending champion, GM Eugene Torre settled for his three straight draws against his much lower rated opponents. Torre fans should be worried.

Below are links from chess-results.com

For complete results after 3 rounds, they are HERE.
For standings after 3 rounds, they're HERE
And for round 4 pairings, check them out HERE.

Early results and reports from the 4th PGMA Cup

Chess journalist, NM Marlon Bernardino was there at the Duty Free Mall and we've just received some early results and reports for our Filipino players competing here at 4th PGMA Cup. Surprisingly, your defending 2008 PGMA Cup champion, GM Eugene Torre was held to a draw by NM Ali Branzuela. Meanwhile, 17 years old NM Haridas Pascua also did fair enough as he also held Vietnamese GM Dao Thien Hai (2542) to a draw.

Standings and complete results will be followed soon.

PARAGUA, DABLEO OFF TO GOOD START; RIVERA HALVED THE POINT WITH GM GONZALES

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

GM Mark Paragua and GM-elect Ronald Dableo waylaid their respective foes to jump-start their bids in the 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship Thursday at the Duty Free Fiestamall, Paranaque City.

Paragua, who is fresh from winning the Asian Indoor Games qualifying event two weeks ago blasted journeyman Rainier Labay after 29 moves of King's Indian Defense while Dableo, who clinched his third and final GM norm in the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, bested unheralded Angel Cordero after 44 moves of French Defense.

" Mali siguro 'yung Queen side castle ni Rainier (Labay) kaya nakalamang ako ng posisyon, saka malakas ang pagkaposte ng knight ko sa d4," said Paragua, the 2003 Vietnam Southeast Asian Games most bemedalled athlete.

" Pero magaling talaga si Rainer at beteranong player na iyan," added the amiable Paragua.

Labay, on his part, "Tama din si Mark (Paragua), puwede din naman akong hindi mag castle sa Queen side,"

Sharing the limelight is reigning RP artists Albert Rivera, who held GM Jayson Gonzales into a draw after 36 moves of London System Opening. "Mahirap pilitin baka matalo pa, s'yempre iba talaga pag grandmaster ang kalaban mo, at least maganda ang simula natin," said Rivera, a businessman in profession.

IM Chito Garma is the first Filipino casualty against their foreign counterpart. The Tondo, Manila born Garma bowed to Georgian GM Merab Gagunashvili after 46 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defense.

After Garma's setback, NM Efren Bagamasbad also yielded to Armenian GM Tigran Kotanjian after 34 moves of King's Indian Defense.
Singaporean GM Wong Meng Kong, meanwhile opened his bid in a bright note after beating Fil-Am Danilo Jorda in just 28 moves of Reti Opening.

International Masters Barlo Nadera and Emmanuel Senador also won their respective matches. The Mandaue, Cebu Nadera outpointed Lyndon Lumancas after 26 moves of Gruenfled Defense while the Iloilo native Senador nipped Ben Polao after 29 moves of Sicilian Defense.

Defending champion Eugene Torre, Asia's First GM, drew his first match to PNP player NM Ali Branzuela.

In other results, NM Haridas Pascua split the point with Viet GM Dao Thien Hai, as well Roel Abelgas halved the point with Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon.

4th PGMA Cup partial list of foreign and local players

List of confirmed foreign GMs participants who are vying for the 4th PGMA Cup. We have 4th Kolkata Open titlist, Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, current world Junior Champion Abhijeet Gupta (ELO 2584) of India, GMs Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2613) of Georgia, Zhang Zhong of Singapore(2606) GM Anton Fillipov (ELO 2595) of Uzbekistan (ELO 2595), GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son (ELO 2589) of Vietnam, GM Abhijeet Gupta (ELO 2584) of India, GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami (ELO 2579) of Iran, GM Merab Gagunashvili (ELO 2564) of Georgia, GM Dao Thien Hai (ELO 2542) of Vietnam, GM Li Shilong (ELO 2531) of China, GM Anuar Ismagambetov (ELO 2528) of Uzbekistan and GM Oleg Romanishin (ELO 2515) of Ukraine.

For our local bets, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr. GM Darwin Laylo, GM Mark Paragua, GM Eugene Torre, GM John Paul Gomez, GM Jayson Gonzales and GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, GM-elect Ronald Dableo and IM Rolando Nolte,IM Richard Bitoon, IM Oliver Dimakiling, IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, IM Emmanuel Senador, IM Chito Garma and IM Ronald Bancod.

GM Wesley So will miss this year's PGMA, Pichay cup due to his upcoming participation in the 2009 SPICE Cup this September and World Junior Championship in October.

This are but partial listings and expect more GMs to register in the coming days

We have this report from Ed Andaya of Journal.com.ph

2nd Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Chess Challenge

For those who are not fully updated about the 2nd PGMA chess challenge (not 2nd Subic International chess challenge), here's from NCFP website:


The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is staging a tournament to cater to players who have not attained the required rating to participate in the Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Open Chess Championships. This will be held from September 24 - 30, 2009 at the Duty Free Fiestamall, Paranaque City.

A total of P 143,000.00 in cash prizes will be awarded for the top 10 placers, with the champion taking home P 50,000.00 and a trophy while 2nd & 3rd placers receive P30,000 and P20,000 respectively to go along with their trophies.

For further information please contact NCFP Office tel 381-7224 or Excutive Director Wilfrdo Abalos Cel No. 09285513089 or 09292266210


PARTICIPATION:

Participation in the 2nd Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is open to all players with rating of 2100 and below (based on September 2009 FIDE Ratings).

REGISTRATION FEE

Registration is Php 2,000.


TOURNAMENT VENUE:

The tournament will be held at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall, Paranaque City.

TOURNAMENT SYSTEM

1. The Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Open Chess Challenge will be played in 9 rounds using the Swiss System.
2. The time control shall be 90 minutes for the whole game with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1.
3. The FIDE Laws of Chess shall apply. All mobile phones should be closed. The tournament will be FIDE rated.
4. The Swiss Manager program shall be used for pairings. There shall be no protest regarding pairings.



PRIZES:
The following cash prizes shall be awarded:

1st place Php 50,000
2nd place Php 30,000
3rd place Php 20,000
4th place Php 10,000
5th place Php 8,000
6th place Php 7,000
7th place Php 6,000
8th place Php 5,000
9th place Php 4,000
10th place Php 3,000

Cash prizes shall be shared equally among tied players. Ties shall be broken by median Buccholz. Players who win two prizes shall receive only the larger one.

Registration form and tournament rules