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

SPICE Cup 10th and final round: Wesley So's last stand in Texas

GM Wesley So, the second seeded player here in 2009 SPICE Cup group A, is still looking for that elusive first win in this category 16 tournament. Going into the final round, So posted eight draws with one defeat. The loss came in the second round when he bowed to young Norwegian, Jon Ludvig Hammer. So is currently placed last in the group of 6 GMs. Wesley will make his last stand from Lubbock, Texas against the co-leader of the tournament, Dmitry Andreikin. So hopes that he wins his last game against Andreikin and Akobian beats Kusubov, and the Hammer-Mamedov ended in a draw to create a 6 way tie for first! Anyway, a win in the final round is just about fine. Regardless.

Standings after 9 rounds

1. Kusubov 5.0
2. Andreikin 5.0
3. Hammer 4.5
4. Mamedov 4.5
5. Akobian 4.0
6. So 4.0

Live coverage is happening here: http://www.depts.ttu.edu/spice/SPICE_CUP_2009_LIVE_COVERAGE.php

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,

October chessfest

We've got a long list of chess tournaments for the month of October. Let's focus on the open and non-master tourneys which is quite a big hit to chess masses these days. Except for MCC or Metropolitan Chess Club who employs a more decent and competitive standard time control (one hour and a half) for their monthly tournaments, most of the tournaments we have here are into rapid and blitz. Surely, many chess enthusiasts in the country would love very much to see more tournaments with longer time controls.

One Manila Non-Master at SM MANILA

THE One Manila Non-Master Chess Tournament dubbed as "Tulak Mo...Sulong Ko.." 7 round Swiss-system affair gets underway on Octtober 18, 2009, 10 am, Sunday at the SM Manila.

According to Christopher Rodriguez, member of the organizing group and the head coach of Adamson University, the champion will be receiving P10,000 plus trophy while 2nd to 5th placers will bring home P7,000, P5,000, P3,000, and P1,000 respectively. P500 each awaits for the 6th o 10th placers.



Category winner for the top lady, top kiddy (12 years old and below), top junior (18 years old and below) and top senior (50 years old and below) will also receiving P1,000 each.

Call o text at 0919 655 1973, 0921 274 0053 and 0915 390 6072 for complete details.



RMCHS 2-in-1 NON-MASTER RAPID CHESS


THE Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School Chess Club with the cooperation of the Chess Arbiters Association of the Phils. (CAAP) will hold a 2-in-1 Non-Master Rapid Chess Tournament on October 4, 2009 at Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School, Cubao, Quezon City. The tournament is divided into 2 event : the Rapid Chess with 20 minutes time control and the Chess 960 (Fischer Random Chess) with 10 minutes time control. The two events offer a total combined cash prize of P6,000 to the Champion; P4,000 for 2nd place; P2,500 for 3rd place; P1,500 for 4th place and P1,000 for 5th place. Category winners for Top Senior (50 & above), Top Junior (18 & below), Top Kiddy (14 & below), Top Lady and Top Unrated in the whole event will receive P400 each. Registration fee is P300 while for kiddies and ladies is P200.
For details, please contact the following: Rey Colitoy (0919-5291693) / Ferdie Reyes (0918-4873785) / Raul Cruz (0920-6211717) / Alfredo Chay (0919-4512384) / Gatz Luz (0929-6216890) / Milo Samaniego (713-6811).


GM PARAGUA LEADS THE CAST IN GOV. ESPINO OPEN CHESS

GRANDMASTER Mark Paragua leads the cast of participants in the first Gov. Amado T. Espino Jr. Cup Open Rapid Chess Championships on October 10 to 11 at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Paragua, is coming from a successful stint in the Asian Indoor qualifying events and currently competing in the 4th President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship at the Duty Free Fiestamall in Paranaque City.

Other woodpushers who signified their intentions to play in the two-day event with offers P10,000 plus trophy ot the champion that include GM-elect Ronald Dableo, IMs Rolando Nolte and Chito Garma, WIM Cristine Rose Mariano, NMs EDmundo Gatus, Reggie Olay, Haridas Pascua, Deniel Causo, Allan Macala, Dennis Gutierrez, Efren Bagamasbad, Ric Portagalera, Edgardo Garma, WFM Cherry-Ann Mejia, rising star Richard dela Cruz, Stephen Rome Pangilinan, Rainier Labay, Ritchie Evangelista, Rolando Andador and Samantha Glo Revita.

“All particpants will be given free aircon room accommodations for the early registrants and de luxe rooms for late registrants. Participants will also be given the opportunity to be one of the audience of the Chryropractic massage/healing Seminar to be imparted by its founder PTR. Rey Navalta for free from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Round 1 will be at 1:oo pm” said tournament event director Menardo Edwin A. Pulido, who topped the FIDE Arbiters' Seminar last September 22 to 25 at the Duty Free, Philippines in Paranaque City, venue of the 4th PGMA Chess Cup.

For inquiries, please call or text: 09194782209, 09193085708, 09176123056, 09157241220, 09106397428.


Report by MARLON BERNARDINO.

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.

Speed chess ruins the 'purity' of the game

The blitz games just played by two former world champion, the K-K, in their return exhibition match in Valencia have finally got the attention of the chess purist and perhaps deservedly, received its due criticism. I'm just actually waiting for any influential chess personalities to finally throw their bombs at the discipline the K-K return match is employing to get the much needed hype from the chess masses. At last, we found one. Richard Alleyne of Telegraph.com.uk quoted GM Malcolm Pein, the Daily Telegraph chess correspondent:

He (Pein) also believes that it could lead to a reduction in the “highest level of the game”...

“It is a little bit like one day cricket gaining pre-eminence over Test cricket,” said Mr Pein, himself a grandmaster.

“As a little bit of a traditionalist I am just a little concerned with losing the purity of the slow game where you get the highest level of chess.

“But of course one has to move with the times and in a sense Kasparov and Karpov would not want to play a long match of what they call classical chess because it is just too exhausting.”

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.

Chess and the internet: the Philippines is still among the most passionate about the game

Just recently, Susan Polgar posted in her blog regarding the top countries that are following her blog since the 2009 SPICE Cup started last Sunday in Lubbock, Texas where GM Wesley So is presently competing, his first major tournament in the US. According to her blog, the stats shows that the Philippines has overtaken the USA, the number two internet user in the world, in terms of number that is following the 2009 SPICE Cup. How about that for a nation that is nowhere to be found among the top 20 internet users in the world? This development surprised me a lot and we can argue this for days but fact remains that Filipinos still pretty much in love with their chess my dear.


Top 15 countries (of 127) following Susan Polgar's blog

24.32% Philippines

18.92% United States

12.16% Norway

9.46% Japan

5.41% Netherlands

5.41% Spain

4.05% Canada

4.05% United Kingdom

2.70% Italy

2.70% India

2.70% Israel

1.35% France

1.35% Malaysia

1.35% Australia

1.35% Korea, Republic Of

1.35% Sweden

1.35% Switzerland

The 4th Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup

The 4th edition of Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup unveils today, September 24 and will run til the 29th at Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City, Metro Manila, the Philippines.

Defending champion and Asia's first ever chess grandmaster, Eugenio Torre (2535), together with top seed Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2613) of Georgia, Zhang Zhong (2606) of Singapore and newly crowned 2009 Kolkata Open champion, Le Quang Liem of Vietnam will spearhead the strong cast that attracted nearly 100 participants from all over Asia and Europe. This week-long event is being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

GM Wesley So will miss this year's edition of the PGMA Cup as he is currently competing in 2009 SPICE Cup in Lubbock, Texas.

The champion will received the top prize of $6,000 out of the total prize fund of US$ 40,000.


Top seeded players

GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili (2613) Georgia
GM Zhang Zhong (2606) Singapore
GM Le Quang Liem (2602) Vietnam
GM Gopal Nayanan (2598) India
GM Anton Filippov (2595) Uzbekistan
GM Nguyen Ngoc Turong Son (2589) Vietnam
GM Abhijeet Gupta (2584) India
GM Ehsna Ghaemmaghami (2579) Iran
GM Merab Gagunashvili (2564) Georgia
GM Rogelio Antonio (2557) Philippines
GM Dao Thien Hai (2542) Vietnam
GM Darwin Laylo (2537) Philippines
GM Eugenio Torre (2535) Philippines
GM Li Shilong (2531) China
GM Anuar Ismagambetov (2528) Kazakhstan
GM John Paul Gomez (2521) Philippines
GM Oleg Romanishin (2515) Ukraine
GM Mark Paragua (2501) Philippines
GM Bong Villamayor (2426) Philippines

Rogelio Barcenilla and Angelo Young in US Chess League

Two veteran US based chess master are currently participating in the US Chess League. GM elect, Rogelio Barcenilla from Arizona and IM Angelo Young of Chicago. NM Marlon Bernardino reports, "Barcenilla, playing under the banner of Arizona Scorpions team yielded to
GM Hikaru Nakamura of Seattle Sluggers squad after 40 moves of an English Opening while Young powered Chicago Blaze after beating FM Todd Andrews of USCL Tennessee after 47 moves of Reti Opening."

Now to NCAA Chess Championship, also by Marlon Bernardino:

DO OR DIE TODAY: BASTE VERSUS LETRAN FOR NCAA CHESS LAST FINAL BERTH
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO
Another game, do or die (Thursday, 1pm)
(Senior division)
San Sebastian College-Recoletos versus Colegio San Juan de Letran

Finals: (Saturday, 1 pm)
(Junior division)
San Sebastian College-Recoletos versus Colegio San Juan de Letran

(Senior Division)
College of St. Benilde -De La Salle versus the winner over the play off matches between
San Sebastian College-Recoletos and Colegio San Juan de Letran

Cross Over Semi-Final round results: (Tuesday)
(Junior division)
San Sebastian College-Recoletos beat University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, 3-1
Colegio San Juan de Letran beat CSB-De La Salle Greenhills, 3.5-0.5
(Senior division)
College of St. Benilde -De La Salle beat Mapua Institute of Technology, 2.5-1.5
San Sebastian College-Recoletos beat Colegio San Juan de Letran, 3-1
@@@
Final Team Standings after elimination round: (Sunday)
(Junior division)
55.0 points— San Sebastian College-Recoletos (twice to beat advantage)
54.0 points— Colegio San Juan de Letran (twice to beat advantage)
52.0 points—CSB-De La Salle Greenhills
31.5 points— University of Perpetual Help Dalta System
29.0 points—San Beda College
26.0 points— Emilio Aguinaldo College
18.0 points— Mapua Institute of Technology
12.5 points— Jose Rizal University
4.0 points—Arellano University
(Senior division)
52.5 points— College of St. Benilde -De La Salle (twice to beat advantage)
45.0 points— Colegio San Juan de Letran (twice to beat advantage)
44.0 points— San Sebastian College-Recoletos
39.0 points— Mapua Institute of Technology
33.5 points— Emilio Aguinaldo College
29.5 points— San Beda College
28.0 points— University of Perpetual Help Dalta System
15.5 points— Jose Rizal University
0.0 points—Arellano University
ONE things crowding the minds of San Sebastian College-Recoletos head coach National Master (NM) Homer Cunanan and Colegio San Juan de Letran mentor NM Roland Joseph Perez.
Both coaches, eyeing their team for the last final berth when the Stags and Knights pawnpushers collides each other one more time, a do or die match at 1 pm when the 85th season National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Chess Team Championships Senior division resumes on Thursday (Today) at the ground floor Cyberzone area in SM City, Manila.
San Sebastian College-Recoletos turned back Colegio San Juan de Letran, 3-1, last Tuesday in their cross-over semi final round to force a play off match today after the latter’s (Letran) enjoying the “twice to beat advantage”.
“This is still far from over,” said NM Cunanan, who will relying again the service of dynamic duo of Louie Salvador and Jay-R Sumagang, who carried the fight for Stags on Tuesday by beating Letran’s Randolph Pascua and Nino Datu on Board 2 and 4, respectively.
SSC-R’s top gunner Jayson Mercado and board 4 player John Albert Bongon, on the other hand drew their match against Letran’s Chester Guerero and Benjamin Lising, in order.
“I’m proud of my boys, at least nakahirit pa kami ng isa pang game at nasa amin pa ang momentum,” added Cunanan, who honed the skills of former Stags 1-2 punch GM Darwin Laylo and GM-elect Ronald Dableo.
Defending NCAA Senior champion College of St. Benilde -De La Salle edged Mapua Institute of Technology, 2.5-1.5, to earn the first final berth.
“Malaking factor y’ung nakapag-pahinga kami, we hope mahawakan namin ang momentum,” said CSB head coach GM candidate Fernie Donguines, bronze medalist in the 1994 Moscow World Chess Olympiad.
College of St. Benilde -De La Salle (52.5 points) and Colegio San Juan de Letran (45.0 points) finished 1-2 in the grueling preliminary round last Sunday to enjoy the twice to beat advantage in the cross-over semi-final round of the Senior Division.
No.3 San Sebastian College-Recoletos (44.0 points) and No.4 Mapua Institute of Technology (39.0 points) filled up the top four in the preliminary round).
Other teams competing were No.5 Emilio Aguinaldo College (33.5), No.6 San Beda College (29.5 points), No.7 University of Perpetual Help Dalta System (28.0 points), No.8 Jose Rizal University (5.5 points) and No.9 Arellano University (0.0, zero). Arellano University team losing streak 64 games.
In the Junior Division, last year’s runner-up San Sebastian College-Recoletos beat University of Perpetual Help Dalta System, 3-1, while defending champion Colegio San Juan de Letran defeated CSB-De La Salle Greenhills, 3.5-0.5, during their cross-over semi-final round to arrange a titular showdown on Saturday for the coveted crown.

Aldous Roy Coronel, Arvie Jongko and Paulo Cristobal spearheaded the Staglets after thrashing Dalta’s Niko Miso, Tristan Dandan and Marc Manero, on board 1 to 3 in order. Darell Dado won his match to John Mark Dimaliwat on board 4 to prevent a possible shut-out loss for his team. MARLON BERNARDINO.

SPICE Cup round 4: So - Mamedov, who's lucky?

Both So and Mamedov can easily claims that it was not them who was lucky enough to escape with the draw. Psychologically speaking, I was thinking that Mamedov, who initiated the draw by repetition, may have simply lost his nerve in the ending. The attrition imposes to him by Wesley where he came close to losing his rook after Wesley's 37 Bb1, trapping black's rook on a1, which he luckily escapes may easily explain this. But on the one hand, following the commentators from chessdom, they waived So's 39th move, 39. exd5?And Wesley runs directly into the trap! It was necessary to take with the Knight 39. Nxd5 Nxd5 40. exd5, then 40...Qb5, attempting Qf1, breaks against simple 41. Rd3. .

For sure, it's Wesley who may feel bitter after this game. He's got enough resources to pull off a win. But Mamedov is experiencing the joy of contentment, as the result of the repetition which he initiated.

Meanwhile Hammer defeated the struggling Akobian in an excellent end game battle to get back into the leader board.

Round 4 results

Group A

So 1/2 Mamedov

Kuzubov 1/2 Andreikin

Hammer 1-0 Akobian


Group B


Finegold 1/2 Robson

Bhat 1/2 Papp

Ippolito 0-1 Antal

Perelshteyn 1-0 Diamant

Kuljasevic 1/2 Rensch



Standings after 4 rounds

A group

1-3. Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 2.5
4. Mamedov 2.0
5. So 1.5
6. Akobian 1.0

B group

1-3. Antal, Finegold, Perelshteyn 3.0
4-5. Bhat, Papp 2.5
6. Robson 2.0
7-8. Rensch, Kuljasevic 1.5
9. Diamant 1.0
10. Ippolito 0.0

starting at 00:22, standing outside the playing area is Wesley's father, William.

So - Mamedov commentaries by chessdom.com

Round 4 pictures

Replay of all games from SPICE CUP

LIVE games with commentaries of So-Mamedov and Kasparov-Karpov

The first Live games with commentaries that featured daily at chessdom.com will be the Kasparov - Karpov rapid game 1 which will start at around 12:00 midnight, Manila time. Commentaries for this game will be provided by Jason Juette. Next will be the round 4 game between Mamedov and So which will start at around 2:00 am in the morning and commentaries will be provided by Goran Urosevic and IM Perunovic.

All live games from SPICE CUP 2009 can be follow at Monroi.com.
Kasparov-Karpov 2009 Valencia official English website

By the way, did I get it right from the original Spanish caption of the video?

KARPOV VISITS THE CENTRAL MARKET
To prepare for his upcoming duel against Kasparov