MUN. OF STA.CRUZ-MAYOR LOPEZ, BRGY. 23-CAGAYAN DE ORO IN EARLY LEAD AFTER DAY 1 OF ACTION IN THE 1st DAVAO CHESS LEAGUE TEAM TOURNEY

Top seed Mun. of Sta. Cruz-Mayor Lopez and 5th seed Brgy 23-Cagayan de Oro City are joint leaders with 2 points at the end of the 2nd round in the Davao Chess League Team Tourney held at the Toril Chess Plaza.



( Atty. Jong Guevarra checking the list of participants. Also in photo is assistant arbiter Lito Laput and tournament director Alfred Moulic )


Mun. of Sta. Cruz-Mayor Lopez Team composed of Jayson Salubre, Henry Lopez, Lyndon Sombilon and Mohammad Sacar beat the Davies Paint-Arch. Nagayo team lead by NM Ric Portugalera 2.5-1.5 in the 1st round and followed it up with a 3.5-.5 beating of the Guevarra Law Wizards bannered by NM Roel Filipinas. Brgy 23- Cagayan de Oro won over SEAL K-Blitzers 3-1 in the 1st round and again won in the 2nd round 2.5-1.5 against the Chess Excellence Movers lead by NM Cedric Magno.





Bunched at 1 point each are the teams of Davies Paint-Arch. Nagayo, Chess Excellence Movers, DAB Survivors, Metro Toril B, Guevarra Law Wizards and Brgy. Tigatto. SEAL K-Blitzers and Cong. Ungab-Metro Toril A brings the rear with no points yet.





The 1st day action was highlighted by the brilliant performance of Atty. Melzar Galicia of SEAL K-Blitzers. Galicia who was the 1990 Far East Bank Region XI champion brought back the hands of time and is leading the board 1 race with 2 points after registering wins against 2nd seed Jhonnel Balquin (2177) of Brgy.23-CDO and Zaldy Tabanao (1870) of Metro Toril B.





Ten teams all over Region XI and as far sa Cagayan de Oro City are seeing action in the inaguaral DCL Team Tourney with 4 teams bannered by National Masters. The champion will received P 15,000.00 + U.S King's trophy. 1st Runner-up is worth P 10,000.00 + U.S Queen's trophy while the 2nd runner-up will received P 5,000.00 + Knight's trophy. Individual board best performance is worth P 500.00 each. The Davao Chess League Team tourney is organized by Chess Excellence Limited Co. in partnership with Guevarra Law Office. Hostilities resume today, May 29, 2011 with 3 rounds to be held at GJ Building, Juan dela Cruz St., Toril, Davao City. Awarding of prizes will immediately follow.

For further details of the tourney just click http://chess-results.com/tnr50595.aspx?art=3&rd=3&lan=1&wi=1000

GM WESLEY SO AND THE RP CONTINGENT HALF WAY THROUGH THE ASIAN CONTINENTAL

( GM Wesley So pondering his move vs. GM Ismagambetov in 1st round action at the Asian Individual Open Chess Championship 2011. Photo from the official tourney website )


A 5 man RP contingent headed by GM Wesley So is currently waging battle over the 64 squares board in Iran which is the host of the Asian Individual Open Chess Championship 2011. Other members of the team includes GM's Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and IM Oliver Barbosa. The event also serves as a qualifier for the 2011 World Cup to be held later this year.

After 5 rounds of play, GM Darwin Laylo leads the RP contingent with 3 points after a draw in the 5th round against former world champ GM Kasimdzhanov while the rest of the members of the RP team have 2.5 points each. IM Barbosa had a good start holding his ground against 3 super GMs in the first 3 rounds but got ambushed by GM Zhao Jun in a wild Kings Indan game in the 5th round. The RP contingent needs a determine push in the last 4 rounds to figure prominently in the standing.

As the vanguard of the RP team, GM So had his hands full fending off the challenge of other Asian chess players notably that of China and India. With a rating of 2667 GM So is seeded 3rd in the event next only to Former World Cup champ GM Rustan Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan ( 2685) and Indian GM Krishnan Sasikiran. GM So's game is still full of excitement but being a marked man, it seems that his lower rated opponents are just content to eke-out a draw with him thus sometimes he over extend himself just to win which proves costly as what happened in his round 4 loss.

Below is a sample of GM Wesley So's energetic play which ended in a
draw as his opponent was not willing to enter into complications but
was rather content to simplify by exchanging pieces. It's like Manny
Pacquiao raring to go toe to toe but his opponent keeps on back-
pedalling and not willing to mix-up.


[Site "Iran"]
[Date "2011.5.6"]
[Round "5"]
[White "GM Wesely So"]
[Black "IM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "2667"]
[BlackELO "2495"]


CARO -KANN DEFENSE


1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6

6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6

11. Bd2 e6 12. O-O-O Be7 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qd3

O-O 16. g4 Nxg4




17. Qe2

GM Mark Paragua essayed the move 17. Rhg1 in winning a beautiful
attacking game against IM Sarkar in the 2010 Marshall Chess Club
Championships. You can view the annotated game of GM Paragua at
http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2010/11/gm-paraguas-annotated-game.html However, it seems that with correct play Black
can hold on to his position.

17. Kh8 18. Rhg1 Nf6 19. Ne5 Qd5 20. Qe3




In the game Saric, I (2456) vs. Dizdarevic, E (2521) 19th Pula
Open 2005 White blundered with 20.f3? and after 20...Qxa2! Black
obtained a big advantage and eventually won the game. The text
move maintains pressure on Black's kingside with the threat of
21. Rxg7 and 22. Qxh6 hanging in the air. Black is now left to
choose whether to enter into complications and play for a win
with 20... Qxa2 or just play solidly and be content with a draw.


20... Qe4

Black choose the latter. After 20...Qxa2 21 c4! The complications
that will follow give chances to both sides. The text leads to a
forced exchange of pieces.


21. Qg3 Nxh5 22. Qh2 Qh4!




White cannot refused to exchange Queens otherwise Black would
consolidate his material advantage.


23. Qxh4 Bxh4 24. Rh1 g5 25. Nf3 Ng7 26. Nxh4 gxh4

27. Bxh6 Rg8 28. Bg5 Nf5 29. Bxh4 Nxh4 30. Rxh4+ Kg7

1/2-1/2


Final position

Replay the game below

IM MARLO MICAYABAS AND THE 2008 BRADLEY OPEN- PART III

This is the 3rd part of IM Marlo Micayabas's personal account of his comeback tourney, the 2008 Bradley Open where he tied for 1st. To view Part II just click
http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2009/05/im-marlo-micayabas-and-2008-bradley.html


By IM Marlo Micayabas

We woke up even much earlier today to check out from our room, bring our luggages to the car in the garage, come back to eat breakfast and wait for the games to start. With not enough time, we settled for an American breakfast of croissant and coffee for me, and muffin and water for my son Adrian. He made me aware that my clearing of my throat during the games can be heard across the playing hall. I made a mental note of it and tried to avoid distracting other players. In my next game, I'm playing against chess expert Andrew Ng who drew with GM Kudrin in the previous round.


Sunday, August 10, 2008, 9:00AM

13th Bradley Open, Round 4, Board 2
White: Andrew Ng (2175)
Black: IM Marlo Micayabas (2339)


Sicilian Rossolimo


1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 e5 6.h3 Be7




Here, I was toying with the idea of a blitzkrieg attack 7... g5
followed by 8... h5 and 9... g4. I decided it was too risky as
he has a central break 8.c3 and 9.d4 at his disposal.


7.Re1 Nf6 8.c3 0-0 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 exd4

Also possible was 10... Nd7 followed by a Black Queen move and
...Rd8.


11.Nxd4 Qb6 12.Nc3 h6 13.Be3 c5 14.Nb3 Be6 15.f4




This starts White's plan of undermining the support of Black's c5
pawn with 16.e5. Unfortunately, the Black c5 pawn is poisoned and
Black gets more than enough compensation for it.


15... Rfe8 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Rad8 18.Qf3 Nd5!




Against the passive 18... Nd7, White has 19.Nd5!


19.Na4 Qb5 20.Naxc5 Nxe3 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qxe3 Rd3!




Seizing the d-file and laying a trap in 23.Qxa7?? Rxb3! winning
White's queen. Also 23.Qe2? is strongly met by Bb4!.


23.Qe4 Red8 24.Rac1 R3d5 25.Kh1 Qd7 26.Rf1 a5 27.Qg6 Rf8

28.Rxf8 Bxf8 29.Qe4 a4




White's knight is lost since 30.Na1 is met by 30... Rd1.


30.Rf1 axb3 31.Qf4 Bc5 32.axb3 Rd1 1-0




White resigned since his position is hopeless.


In this round, GM Ivanov drew with GM Kudrin, while GM Rohde won
his 4th game bringing the following interesting lineup: GM Ivanov
3-1/2, IM Micayabas 3-1/2, GM Kudrin 3, and GM Rohde 3. I will be
playing the black pieces against GM Ivanov in the final round for
the championship.


Replay the game below.

MARI JOSEPH TORQUEZA, JANELLE MAE FRAYNA IS KING AND QUEEN OF THE 2011 NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

The National Junior Chess Championships which was held on April 29 to May 3, 2011 at the NCCC Mall located at Maa, Davao City ended with the crowning of a new king and queen of Philippine junior chess.

In the Juniors- boys category, Mari Joseph Turqueza emerged the champion with 8 points out of 9 rounds. Turqueza who was seeded 3rd went undefeated and scored 5 consecutive wins beginning in the 2nd round, beating top seed Sheider Nebato along the way. He received P 15,000.00 + medal and will be the Philippines representative to the World Juniors to be played later this year in India.

Winners Juniors - Boys category

( Turqueza is sitting at front row with medal and holding his certificate )

Final ranking after 9 rounds

1 Turqueza Mari Joseph PHI 2181 8.0 0.0 53.5 39.50 7 6 4.65 1.35 15 20.3
2 Mejia Giovanni PHI 1992 7.5 0.0 48.0 34.00 5 3.5 1.91 1.59 25 39.8
3 Salcedo Richilieu PHI 2222 7.0 0.0 50.0 31.00 6 4 4.28 -0.28 15 -4.2
4 Fiel Yves Christian PHI 1723 7.0 0.0 43.5 25.50 3 2
5 Mirano Kevin PHI 2042 6.5 0.0 50.5 27.75 5 2.5 1.99 0.51 25 12.8
6 Nebato Sheider PHI 2233 6.5 0.0 50.0 27.25 4 2 2.66 -0.66 25 -16.5
7 Docena Jerad U14 PHI 1941 6.5 0.0 48.5 27.25 1 0 0.20 -0.20 25 -5.0
8 Andoy Jerwell PHI 1992 6.5 0.0 46.5 26.50 3 1
9 Llantada Kyz PHI 0 6.5 0.0 46.0 29.50 2 2


The Juniors- girls category crown, on the other hand went to Janelle Mae Frayna who scored 7.5 points in 9 rounds. Frayna who was only seeded 8th also went undefeated and beat top seed and under 20 champ Jedarra Docena along the way. She received P 10,000.00 + medal and will be the Philippines representative to the World Juniors to be played later this year in India.

Winners Juniors - Girls category

( Frayna sitting at front row with medal and holding her certificate )

Final ranking after 9 rounds

1 Frayna Janelle Mae W PHI 1830 7.5 0.0 48.0 29.25 4 3.5 1.45 2.05 25 51.3
2 Acedo Rowelyn W PHI 1795 7.0 1.0 48.5 26.75 5 4
3 Suede Mikee Charlene W PHI 1902 7.0 0.0 49.5 32.25 3 2.5 1.56 0.94 15 14.1
4 Pineda Judith U8 W PHI 1737 6.0 0.0 51.5 27.50 3 2
5 Enriquez Jean Karen W PHI 1920 6.0 0.0 47.5 24.75 1 0 0.53 -0.53 0 0.0
6 Suede Akiko Charmaine W PHI 1891 6.0 0.0 45.0 20.50 1 0 0.58 -0.58 15 -8.7



( Metro Toril meets BW in person. Players of the Metro Toril Chess Club who played in the recent 1st Philippine internet chess team match Nofre Reyes (docryan), Chris Yap (chriswhiz), and Atty. Jong Guevarra (metrolirot) met BW board 1 FM Paulo Bersamina, the 2010 natl junior champ).



( Celebrating after the end of the gruelling tourney together with the Mejia family. Also in photo is Davao sports writer and SCOOP Davao president Lito delos Reyes. The Mejia siblings Gio and WFM Cherry Ann Mejia submitted good resuls during the twin tourney accompanied in Davao by their ever supportive father.)

THE 2011 NATIONAL AGE GROUP TOURNEY - "SEARCHING FOR THE NEW BREED OF CHESS HEROES"

For the second consecutive year, the National Age Group chess Championship was hosted by Davao City. The Championship was held last April 25-28, 2011 at the Gaisano Mall of Davao. This time it was named " THE 2011 INDAY SARA DUTERTE NAT'L AGE GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP " in honor of Davao City's Mayor who was the main sponsor of the event. Davao City's hosting was a welcome development for Mindanaoan's particularly those players residing within the Davao region who has the potential but has no means to play outside the region.

True to form, new talents emerged at the end of the competition as the pre- tournament seedings did not hold true. After 4 days of intense battle in the 64 squares board, the winners are:

Boys 8 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 Canino Ronald Phi 0 0 0 4.5 0.0 1566 Misamis Oriental
2 Robillos Vladimir James Phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1440
3 Sarchez Chrisus Joshua phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1440 Davao City
4 De Luna Adrian phi 0 0 0 3.5 0.0 1349
5 Olarte Adrian Luis phi 0 0 0 3.0 0.0 1272


Boys 10 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 Gonzales Julius PHI 0 0 0 5.0 0.0 2000 Manila
2 Pepito Jeremy phi 0 0 0 4.0 1.0 1542Mis Oriental
3 Delada Edrian phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1542
4 Pandoyo Chris Aldritz phi 0 0 0 3.5 1.0 1349
5 Yulo Adrian Otniel Phi 0 0 0 3.5 0.0 1295


Boys 12 under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Samantilla Daryl Unix Phi 1637 0 1637 6.0 0.0 1637 Manila
2 Ibaoc Tristan Frech Phi 1708 0 1708 6.0 0.0 1694 Cebu City
3 Marcellana Mark James Phi 0 0 0 6.0 0.0 1564
4 De Leon Haince Patrick PHI 1586 0 1586 5.5 0.0 1691Manila
5 Hijastro Ardyn Phi 0 0 0 5.5 0.0 1545Gen. Santos City


Boys 14 Under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Docena Jerad U14 PHI 1941 1941 0 7.0 0.0 2425 Manila
2 Mejia Giovanni PHI 1992 1992 0 5.5 0.0 1484 Manila
3 Literatus Austin Jacob PHI 1997 1997 0 5.0 0.0 1708 Davao City
4 FM Bersamina Paulo U14 PHI 2098 2098 0 5.0 0.0 1647Cavite
5 Caranyagan Carlo PHI 1923 0 1923 5.0 0.0 1706Cebu City


Boys 16 Under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Lagula Dominique U8 PHI 1973 1973 0 6.0 0.0 1805 FEU/Manila
2 Surposa Jeazzir Kline PHI 1733 0 1733 5.0 0.0 1675 Gen. Santos City
3 Medina Vince Angelo U16 PHI 1963 1963 0 5.0 0.0 1642 Manila
4 Coronel Aldous Roy phi 1710 0 1710 5.0 0.0 1725 Cebu City
5 Amar Denzel John phi 0 0 0 5.0 0.0 1627 Davao City


Boys 20 Under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Turqueza Mari Joseph Phi 2181 2181 0 6.0 1.0 2172 Manila
2 Salcedo Richilieu PHI 2222 2222 0 6.0 0.0 1811 Misamis Oriental
3 Mirano Kevin PHI 2042 2042 0 5.0 0.0 1764 Aklan
4 Salgados Lennon Hart PHI 2114 2114 0 5.0 0.0 1627 Cag. de Oro
5 Batucan Neptali Iii PHI 1768 0 1768 5.0 0.0 1921Davao City


Girls 8 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 Yngayo Irish PHI 0 0 0 5.0 0.0 2000 Davao City
2 Sandiego Jerlyn Mae phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1440 Cavite
3 Quitong Mary Sol Phi 0 0 0 3.0 0.0 1272
4 Olila Erlyn Mae phi 0 0 0 3.0 0.0 1272
5 De Guzman Kheam Ara phi 0 0 0 3.0 0.0 1272


Girls 10 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 Docena Jesca PHI 0 0 0 4.5 0.0 1566 Manila
2 Magno Vanesa phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1440 Mis. Oriental
3 Yngayo Lorraine phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1393 Davao City
4 Derotas Vic Glysen phi 0 0 0 4.0 0.0 1440
5 Baclayo Honey Grace phi 0 0 0 3.0 0.0 1272


Girls 12 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 San Diego Marie Antoinette U8 PHI 1744 0 1744 4.5 0.0 1722 Cavite
2 Revita Samantha Glo U8 PHI 1943 0 1943 4.0 0.0 1549 Pangasinan
3 Nadera Laila Camel phi 0 0 0 3.5 0.0 1458
4 Opema Juelie an phi 0 0 0 3.5 0.0 1458
5 Coloma Kathlyn phi 0 0 0 3.5 0.0 1498


Girls 14 Under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Mirano Mira U14 PHI 1793 0 1793 6.0 0.0 1603 Boracay, Aklan
2 Moulic Ella Grace phi 0 0 0 5.5 0.5 1609 DAVAO CITY
3 Alcarz Crisselne phi 0 0 0 5.5 0.5 1579 Ilocos Norte
4 Yngayo Dhona PHI 1648 0 1648 5.0 1.0 1443 Davao City
5 Morala Keith phi 0 0 0 5.0 0.0 1452 Cebu City


Girls 16 Under


Final Ranking after 7 Rounds

1 Enriquez Jean Karen phi 1768 0 1768 6.0 0.0 1786 Manila
2 WFM Mejia Cherry Ann U8 PHI 1912 1912 0 5.5 0.0 1738
3 Frayna Janelle Mae PHI 1830 1830 0 5.0 0.0 1593
4 Apao Exiquila phi 0 0 0 5.0 0.0 1460 Davao City
5 Acedo Rowelyn PHI 1795 0 1795 4.5 0.0 1537 Davao City


Girls 20 Under


Final Ranking after 5 Rounds

1 Docena Jedara PHI 2035 2035 0 4.5 0.5 2083 Manila
2 Palero Mary Israel PHI 1908 1908 0 4.5 0.5 2108 DAVAO CITY
3 Balbona Jessa Marie PHI 1757 0 1757 3.5 0.0 1562 Cebu City
4 Suede Mikee Charlene PHI 1902 1902 0 3.0 0.0 1719
5 Nahudan Eibtizam PHI 1902 1902 0 3.0 0.0 1656