1ST ROBERT " BOB " BULA TORIL INVITATIONAL CHESS CHALLENGE - " UMAYAN IN SOLO LEAD AFTER FOUR ROUNDS "

The 1st Robert " Bob " Bula Invitational Chess Challenge fired-off last October 16 and 18, 2009 at the Guevarra Law Office at De Guzman St., Toril, Davao City.




2008 Kadayawan Open champ Vincent Umayan racked-off four consecutive wins to grab the solo lead after 4 rounds of action. Umayan defeated Atty. Jong Guevarra Jr. and 2008 ASEAN double gold medallist John Ray Batucan during the 1st day of action and followed it up with victories against Nofre Reyes and Henry Fajardo in the 2nd day of competition.


( Solo leader Vincent Umayan vs. CAISSA'S FATHER )


Umayan is chased by a pack of three pointers headed by the veteran Nofre Reyes. Also with three points are Toril junior upstarts Anthony Mosqueda and Adrian Llanos.


( Engr. Oca Barriga vs. Nofre Reyes )


The 5th and sixth round will be played on October 23 starting at 5:30 p.m at the Guevarra Law Office. The 7th round will be played on the next day on the same time and venue. The tournament is sponsored by Robert" Bob " Bula and supported by the Guevara Law Office, Chess Excellence ltd. Co. and CAISSA'S FATHER chess blog. The chmpion will receive P 5,000.00 + trophy, 2nd placer P 3,000 + trophy, 3rd placer P 2,000.00 + trophy, and 4th placer P 1,000.00 + medal.


Standing after 4 rounds

4.0 points - Vincent Umayan
3.0 " - Nofre reyes, Anthony Mosqueda, Adrian Llanos
2.0 " - Lito Laput, Ali Jover ( both w/ 1 game to play), Atty. Jong
Guevarra Jr. Austin Jacob Literatus, John Ray Batucan
1.0 " - Engr. Jun Atmosfera, Engr. Oscar Barriga, Henry Fajardo
0 " - Nestor Ngo ( w/ 2 games to play ), Neptali Batucan Jr.




( " Think like a Grandmaster " - Engr. Atmosfera pondering his move against Adrian Llanos. Llanos suffered his only loss in this game ).

MORAZO, MEDINA RULE SHELL CHESS FINAL, LITERATUS BAGGED 3RD PLACE IN THE KIDDIES DIVISION

( Austin Jacob Literatus in action during last year's Shell grandfinals )

(The Philippine Star) Updated October 13, 2009 12:00 AM


MANILA, Philippines - John Ranel Morazo turned a big break into a winning moment, stunning the top two seeds to capture the juniors title while Vince Angelo Medina ran away with the kiddies crown in the 2009 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships at SM Megamall last Sunday.

A substitute for fellow Univ. of Baguio student Leonardo Abalos, Morazo surprised second seed and erstwhile unbeaten Jan Emmanuel Garcia in the sixth round then shocked top seed Bryll Arellano in the eighth before toppling Luffe Magdalaga in the final round to clinch the victory.

Abalos topped the Tuguegarao qualifier but was among those trapped by floods in Baguio and failed to make it to the national finals. Morazo took over Abalos spot as fourth placer in the Northern Luzon leg and made the most of his stint, finishing with seven points and bagging the top prize of P30,000 in the 20-and-under category.

The fifth seeded Medina, who scored 4.5 points in the first five rounds of the 14-and-under division Saturday, sustained his fine form and racked up 3.5 points in the last four rounds, including a crucial upset win over second seed John Tabada in the seventh, to post a two-point victory over No. 1 McDominique Lagula.

The FEU-FERN student wound up with eight points and took home P20,000 plus trophy during the awards rites graced by Pilipinas Shell communications manager Bobby Kanapi and GM Eugene Torre.

Other guests were Nat’l Chess Federation of the Phils. president Butch Pichay, Sankie Simbulan, business and corporate communications manager of Pilipinas Shell, and Mich Cruz, government and media relations manager of Pilipinas Shell.

Paulo Bersamina of Padre Zamora Elem. School in Pasig won the Art Borjal award.

It was an inspiring win indeed for Morazo, a grand finalist in the last four years of the annual event, including the kiddies division in 2005, but never figured in the championship until he missed the grand finals for the first time this year.

Garcia suffered back-to-back losses after sweeping his first five games and dropped out of the juniors division lead. But the top Ateneo bet trounced Giovanni Romero in the eighth round and drew with Joseph Turqueza to salvage second place with 6.5 points worth P20,000.

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Meanwhile, the pride of Toril, Davao City Austin Jacob Literatus won P10,000 cash for placing third in the kiddies event of the 17th Shell National Youth Active Chess Championships that ended at the SM Megamall Sunday.

Literatus finished with five points in the 9 rounds swiss system competition behind champion Vince Angelo Medina, who tallied eight points, and runner-up McDominique Lagula, who garnered 5.5 points in the 14 and under category.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GM WESLEY B. SO!!

picture originally posted at GM So's website


Today October 9, 2009 is the 16th birthday of the future of Philippine chess GM WESLEY B. SO. In his young chess career, Gm So had already brought numerous honors and awards for the Philippines. His uncompromising play and gentleman behavior on and off the chess board has earned him admirations from chess fans not only here in the Philippines but all over the world. Not since the time of GM Eugene Torre's 1982 Toluca, Mexico's triump and qualification to the Candidate's finals had the Pinoy chess fans given the luxury to dream and hope for a Pinoy chess player to once again challenge the world's elite. I myself was one of those greatly inspired by GM So's triumps thus once again awakening the chess bug in me. The inspiration to create this chessblog and the desire to help up and coming young chess players here in Davao, Philippines can be partially attributed to GM So's success in the chessworld.

In behalf of the Barangay Wesley So Chess Club at Chessgames.com, Chess Excellence Ltd. Co., Metro Toril Chess Association (MTCA) and my entire familly, A very very Happy 16th Birthday to GM WESLEY B. SO. Hope that this time around, you will win the World Juniors in Argentina. Good luck and God Bless!!!

RETANAL TOPS REP. UNGAB CHESSFEST

Here's another post of the result of the 2nd Cong. Ungab Cup Mixed-Masters.


Retanal tops Rep. Ungab chessfest
By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

(Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on October 6, 2009 ).


NATIONAL Master (NM) Elwin Retanal of Malita, Davao del Sur earned 6.5 points to clinch the 2nd Rep. Ungab Cup Mixed Masters Chess Tournament held at Don Juan Central Elementary School covered court in Toril, Davao City over the weekend.

Jayson Salubre, who was half-point behind Retanal, placed second while Asean Paralympic gold medalist Henry Roger Lopez and Reynaldo Quinones tied for third and fourth place with identical 5.5 points.

Retanal received a cash prize of P10,000 while Salubre got P6,000 and the two next placers went home with P4,000 and P2,000, respectively.

Retanal, whose stint was backed up by Malita Mayor Benjamin Bautista, former congressman Claude Bautista, Representative Franklin Bautista and Malita Chess Club president Jorge Alcoy, said he was elated with the victory.

"I'm very happy. I just got lucky. I just maintained my consistent performance in every round," Retanal said.

Retanal added that with the championship, he was able to fulfill his promise to Mayor Bautista.

"I told him that I would win the Toril tournament as a gift for his October 7 birthday that also falls on the same date of the Malita fiesta," Retanal said.

The chess tournament was presented by Davao City Rep. Isidro T. Ungab as a venue to help promote the sport to young and adults alike.

A handful of youth woodpushers saw action in the two-day tournament organized by the Metro Toril Chess Association headed by lawyer Jong Guevarra. (MLSA)

NM ELWIN RETANAL TOPS 2ND CONG. UNGAB CUP MIXED-MASTERS TOURNEY

( Cong. Ungab doing the ceremonial moves together with 2009 ASEAN age-group double gold medalist Austin Jacob Literatus. Caissa's father is the one wearing the BW T-shirt. )


( NM Elwin Retanal receiving his champion's prize fromCaissa's Father. Also in photo is NCFP Regional coordinator James Infiesto and chess patron Glen Paclar. )






( Candidate Master Jimmy Dano vs. Caissa's Father in 2nd round action. The game ended in a draw. )


( Players and kibitzers alike milling around the unfinished game of US Master Peter Tidoy and Gerald Cavan of Panabo City ).







NM Erwin Retanal of Malita, Davao del Sur racked-up 6 consecutive wins then halved the point with Reynaldo " Bembem " Quinonez in the last round to score 6.5 pts and emerged as the Champion after 7 rounds of slambang competition in the 2nd Cong. Ungab Cup " King of 64 squares Mixed-Masters Active Chess Tournament " held from October 3 and 4, 2009 at the Don Juan dela Cruz Central Elem. School, Toril, Davao City. NM Retanal received P 10,000 and the Cong. Ungab Cup.

Jayson Salubre on the other hand, beat Toril's pride and the reigning 2009 Shell Mindanao leg Kiddie champ Austin Jacob Literatus to score 6 pts. and grab 2nd place worth P 6,000.00 + trophy. Henry Lopez also won his 7th round game against Eric Fernandez to score 5.5 pts. together with Reynaldo Quinonez. The two divided the combined prize of P 6,000.00 ( P 3,000.00 each )but Henry was awarded the 3rd prize trophy due to better tie-break. Four players tied for 5th place scoring 5 pts. each namely Jerwel Andoy, NM Alex Lupian, Gerald Cavan and Zaldy Tabanao and divided the 5th place prize of P 1,000.00 among themselves. Zaldy Tabanao also emerged as the best performer for the Calinan and Toril players and was awarded a special prize of P 1,500.00 + magnetic trophy.

The tournament was a huge success with 50 topnotch chess players all over Southern Mindanao participating. Notable perfomance was also shown by 12 years old Austin Jacob Literatus who defeated seasoned veterans US Master Peter Tidoy and Candidate Masters Jimmy Dano and Ferdinand Leysa. Also note to mention was lone woman entry Mary Israel Palero of Calinan who scored 3 consecutive wins to grab the lead in the early rounds beating the likes of 2nd placer Bembem Quinonez, NM Cedric Magno and Lito Laput. The 16 years old lady is a former Shell Region XI KIddie champ and presently the board 2 player of the Holy Cross of Davao College women's varsity team.

The tournament was sponsored by Cong. Isidro Roy Ungab of the 3rd District of Davao City and ably supported by Chess Excellence Ltd. Co., Metro Toril Chess Association, Guevarra Law Office and Caissa's Father chess blog and chess supporters Glen Paclar, Engr. Oscar Barriga, Christopher Yap and Engr. Jun Amosfera. Chief Arbiter of the tourney was NM Prospero Cruz ably assisted by pairings expert Alfred Moulic.

Final Ranking:

Rank SNo. Name Rtg FED Pts BH.

1 2 NM RETANAL Elwin 2198 AUT 6½ 31½
2 7 SALUBRE Jayson 2099 AUT 6 28½
3 5 LOPEZ Henry 2144 AUT 5½ 29½
4 8 QUINONEZ Reynaldo 2086 AUT 5½ 27½
5 15 ANDOY Jerwell 1992 AUT 5 30½
6 1 NM LUPIAN Alexander 2276 AUT 5 25½
7 17 CAVAN Gerald 1984 AUT 5 25
8 22 TABANAO Zaldy 1870 AUT 5 24½
9 9 FERNANDEZ Eric 2085 AUT 4½ 30½
10 30 LITERATUS Austin Jacob 1735 AUT 4½ 29½
11 14 REYES Nofre 2013 AUT 4½ 25½
12 10 NM MAGNO Cedric 2060 AUT 4½ 22½
13 19 QUINONEZ Arace 1954 Phi 4 32
14 13 BAYRON Perkins 2015 AUT 4 29
15 18 SACAR Mohammad 1962 Phi 4 27½
16 6 DANO Jimmy 2131 AUT 4 27½
17 4 TIDOY Peter 2156 AUT 4 26½
18 11 LAPUT Lito 2054 AUT 4 25½
19 44 MOSQUEDA Anthony 0 AUT 4 24½
20 12 YU Sammy"the Dragon 2040 AUT 4 24
21 29 DIMAKILING Adrian 1739 AUT 4 20½
22 42 LLANOS Adrian Alain 0 AUT 3½ 27½
23 3 LEYSA Ferdinand 2167 AUT 3½ 27
24 24 YAP Christopher 1824 AUT 3½ 25½
25 21 BATUCAN John Ray 1925 AUT 3½ 25
26 36 AMAR Denzel John 0 AUT 3½ 25
27 20 FAJARDO Henry 1951 AUT 3½ 24½
28 31 BATUCAN Neptali Iii 1711 AUT 3½ 22½
29 16 GEMPERO Reynaldo 1991 AUT 3½ 21
30 33 PALERO Mary Israel 1661 AUT 3 34
31 37 ATMOSFERA Jun Engr. 0 AUT 3 25
32 23 GUEVARRA Dioniosio Atty. 1835 AUT 3 24
33 39 BARRIGA Oscar Engr. 0 Phi 3 22½
34 47 SALIMBAGAT Steve 0 AUT 3 22
35 48 VALLE Raul 0 AUT 3 21½
36 25 SINAGULA Jumong 1800 AUT 3 20½
37 50 YPAWAGUIWE Jose 0 AUT 3 20½
38 41 JOVER Ali 0 AUT 2½ 25½
39 32 TUBOG Erwin Jr. 1692 Phi 2½ 20½
40 27 CONTE Reynaldo 1794 AUT 2 23
41 35 ACAS Cecilio 0 AUT 2 21
42 43 LUCERO Jong2x 0 AUT 2 20
43 28 IBA Peter 1763 AUT 1½ 23½
44 49 VELARDE Carlos 0 AUT 1 22½
45 26 AMABLE Rey 1796 AUT 1 22½
46 34 ACAS Alvin 0 AUT 1 20½
47 38 Bo. SNo. Name Pts Res. Pts Name

7th round result

SNo.
1 2 NM RETANAL Elwin 6 ½ - ½ 5 QUINONEZ Reynaldo 8
2 7 SALUBRE Jayson 5 1 - 0 4½ LITERATUS Austin Jacob 30
3 9 FERNANDEZ Eric 4½ 0 - 1 4½ LOPEZ Henry 5
4 1 NM LUPIAN Alexander 4 1 - 0 4 SACAR Mohammad 18
5 17 CAVAN Gerald 4 1 - 0 4 YU Sammy"the Dragon 12
6 15 ANDOY Jerwell 4 1 - 0 4 QUINONEZ Arace 19
7 3 LEYSA Ferdinand 3½ 0 - 1 4 TABANAO Zaldy 22
8 13 BAYRON Perkins 3½ ½ - ½ 3½ DANO Jimmy 6
9 10 NM MAGNO Cedric 3½ 1 - 0 3½ YAP Christopher 24
10 31 BATUCAN Neptali Iii 3½ 0 - 1 3½ REYES Nofre 14
11 4 TIDOY Peter 3 1 - 0 3 PALERO Mary Israel 33
12 37 ATMOSFERA Jun Engr. 3 0 - 1 3 LAPUT Lito 11
13 42 LLANOS Adrian Alain 3 ½ - ½ 3 FAJARDO Henry 20
14 36 AMAR Denzel John 3 ½ - ½ 3 BATUCAN John Ray 21
15 25 SINAGULA Jumong 3 0 - 1 3 MOSQUEDA Anthony 44
16 29 DIMAKILING Adrian 3 1 - 0 3 VALLE Raul 48
17 23 GUEVARRA Dioniosio Atty. 2½ ½ - ½ 2½ BARRIGA Oscar Engr. 39
18 16 GEMPERO Reynaldo 2½ 1 - 0 2 CONTE Reynaldo 27
19 41 JOVER Ali 2 ½ - ½ 2 TUBOG Erwin Jr. 32
20 35 ACAS Cecilio 2 0 - 1 2 SALIMBAGAT Steve 47
21 50 YPAWAGUIWE Jose 2 1 - 0 2 LUCERO Jong2x 43
22 28 IBA Peter 1½ - - - 1 ACAS Alvin 34
23 26 AMABLE Rey 1 - - - 1 VELARDE Carlos 49
24 38 BACALANMO Shaun 0 - - - 0 OMBLERO Gerzon 45
25 40 FLORES Pedro 0 - - - 0 PECISION Mel Justin 46