allan.dinglasan, gmlet888, Jayson, me, IM Pau Bersamina, wordfunph, kardopov, Glen Paclar and Dante Lantayona. Kneeling from left: pulsar,
spawn 2 and ricky).
The 1st Metrolirot Cup was held on January 22, 2012 at the house
of Allan Dinglasan at Woodside Village, Biñan, Laguna. The tourney
has became a tradition among Barangay Wesley (BW) and GM Eugene
Torre Supporters (GETS) members who are based outside Metro Manila
or abroad who want to sponsor a tourney in order to touch based with
fellow members based in Metro Manila. The event is more like a get
together complete with foods and drinks rather than a serious tourney
whereby Metro Manila based players welcome their visiting member. I
was lucky enough to emerged the champion of the 1st edition.
jasper, metrolirot,sheriff, and allan dinglasan. second row/at the
back:coach vic, ricky, richee,shadowleaf, kardopov, pulsar and
pinoymaster77. Not in photo was wordfunph who was the photographer)
After a lull of 3 years, I was lucky to visit Manila again thus the
staging of the 2nd Metrolirot Cup on February 28, 2015. Once again,
the event was held at Woodside Village Binan, Laguna, the house of
Allan Dinglasan. We were lucky enough as the occasion was graced
by no less than International Master Paulo Bersamina, (spartan1998)
RP's youngest IM and a member of the 2014 RP chess olympic team
and his amiable father gmlet888. With me was my 2 friends from Toril,
Davao City, Glen Paclar and Dante Lantayona.
( me with the huge tarpauline at the house of Allan Dinglasan )
After exchanging pleasantries with my fellow chess enthusiasts we
partake the food that was prepared by the host and those brought by
my fellow BW members. Ice cold SM light beer was also served and I
drink 1 bottle before settling down for the start of the tourney.
partake the food that was prepared by the host and those brought by
my fellow BW members. Ice cold SM light beer was also served and I
drink 1 bottle before settling down for the start of the tourney.
.
( BW/GETS stalwarts, from left: wordfunph, allan dinglasan, me and
( BW/GETS stalwarts, from left: wordfunph, allan dinglasan, me and
kardopov ).
Ten players were officially entered in the tourney with a 1 game
knock-out format. I won my 1st round vs. kardopov ushering me
to the semi-final. Pulsar and spawn who both won in the 1st round
had a play-off to determine who will play in the semi-finals. Pulsar
won and we were paired in the semi-finals.
Ten players were officially entered in the tourney with a 1 game
knock-out format. I won my 1st round vs. kardopov ushering me
to the semi-final. Pulsar and spawn who both won in the 1st round
had a play-off to determine who will play in the semi-finals. Pulsar
won and we were paired in the semi-finals.
1st round (Knockout format)
wordfunph vs spartan1998 0-1
spawn vs ricky 1-0
pulsar vs alland 1-0
kardopov vs metrolirot 0-1
gmlet vs jayson 0-1
___________________________
playoff to determine who enters the semis:
spawn vs pulsar 0-1
Pulsar had always been a dangerous opponent for me. I played
against him in the 2012 Metrolirot Cup and I was just lucky
enough to win our match. I essayed my modern defense against
his e4 opening and emerged with a cramp position in the
middle game. A few moves later, I was a pawn down and when
I was expecting his kingside attack to crash through, he
hesitated enabling me to consolidate my position and
liquidate into a won ending. Again a lucky escape for me. I
am now into the finals vs. IM Pau who won his semi-finals
game vs. jason.
___________________________
Semifinals:
pulsar vs metrolirot 0-1
spartan1998 vs jayson 1-0
___________________________
( The start of the championship match between me and IM Pau )
The championship match was a best of 3 games. I was given odds
in time with 5 minutes for IM Pau and 10 minutes for me. I was
white in the 1st game but mishandled the opening of a Sicilian
accelerated dragon and soon was a piece down and resigned. I
promised to myself to do better in the 2nd game.
Our second game was a King's Indian Saemisch- Panno variation. Again
I misplayed the opening and got a passive position. However due to
some inaccuracies from IM Pau ( probably due to his lower time), I was
given some chances. The game was nip and tuck until I committed a
blunder that cost me the game.
Finals (Best of 3)
metrolirot vs spartan1998 0-1
spartan1998 vs metrolirot 1-0
Dinglasan and me ).
I was not able to defend my crown in the 2nd Metrolirot
Cup but losing to RP's youngest Olympian IM Paulo Bersamina
in the finals is already a great honor. Higit sa lahat, hindi
mababayaran ng pera ang kaligayahan ko sa VIP treatment na
ipinakita sa akin ng Barangay Wesley (BW) and GETS players
who were there. Special thanks to the host Allan Dinglasan,
wordfunph, spawn2, kardopov, pulsar ang mag-amang Bersamina
at iba pang kasamahan nila at sa mga kasamahan ko from Toril
( Glen and Dante) for making this event possible. Hopefully there
will be a 3rd Metrolirot Cup next year. Sa muling pagkikita!!
in the finals is already a great honor. Higit sa lahat, hindi
mababayaran ng pera ang kaligayahan ko sa VIP treatment na
ipinakita sa akin ng Barangay Wesley (BW) and GETS players
who were there. Special thanks to the host Allan Dinglasan,
wordfunph, spawn2, kardopov, pulsar ang mag-amang Bersamina
at iba pang kasamahan nila at sa mga kasamahan ko from Toril
( Glen and Dante) for making this event possible. Hopefully there
will be a 3rd Metrolirot Cup next year. Sa muling pagkikita!!
Below is the 2nd game of my championship match vs. IM Paulo
Bersamina with some annotations. Hope you enjoy it..
[Event "2nd Metrolirot Cup"]
[Site "Woodside Village, Binan, Laguna "]
[Date "2015.2.28"]
[Round "Finals- 2nd game"]
[White "IM Paulo Bersamina"]
[Black "Atty. Jong Guevarra Jr."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "2365"]
[BlackELO "1835"]
1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f3 Nf6 5. e4 O-O
6. Nge2 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 Rb8 9. Rc1
This line is the latest wrinkle in the Samisch - Panno
variation. IM David Vigorito in his book " Attacking
Chess The King's Indian Vol. 1 has this to say,
" White does not initiate any action just yet, but he
does prevent 9... b5? because 10. cxb5 axb5 11. nxb5
Rxb5 12. Rxc6 would win a pawn. Moreover, if Black
plays too passively, White will slowly develop his
kingside and look forward to a nice space advantage
in the middle game,so Black must play with some
purpose.
9... Bd7
A good and flexible move according to IM Vigorito. Black
also protects the c6- knight which will allow him to play
10... b5.
10. Nd1 e5?!
Thematic but not the best as White is already well
positioned to make his queenside expansion. 10... b5!
is more consistent.
11. d5 Ne7 12. Nf2 Ne8 13. g3 f5 14. Bg2 Nf6 15.O-O Nh5
(15.. Kh8 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 fxe4 18.fxe4 c5 19.dxc6
1/2-1/2GM Khenkin, Igor 2602 - GM Fedorov, Alexei,
Sigeman & Co. 2006)
16. exf5?!
Best is 16. b4! to commence White's thematic queenside
attack in the King's Indian Defense as black is hard pressed
to organized a kingside attack.
16... Nxf5 17. Bg5 Nf6 18. Ne4 Qe8 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. f4?
Fritz suggest 20. g4 Ne7 21. c5! maintaining the initiative.
20... Bg7!
Preserving the black bishop which could have been activated
after the exchange of black's pawn at e5. The position is
roughly equal.
21.Rce1 Qe7 22. b3 Rbe8 23. Kh1 Bh6 24. Qd3 Qg7?
Black could have activated his queen by 24.. exf4
25. Nxf4 Qe5
25. fxe5?!
25 g4! and black would be a piece down as his black bishop has
no escape route due to his queen's occupation of the g7 square..
25... Rxe5 26. Nf4 Bxf4?
26.... Re7! according to fritz and the black queen has the black
diagonal to operate..
27. Rxf4 Qh6 28. Ref1 Ree8?
The losing move. 28... g5 is the only move to save the game.
Then after 29. R4f2 g4 in order to prevent white's next move.
29. g4! 1-0
Final position..
Black resigns. After 29... Ne7 30.g5! then after the
black queen moves then 31. Nf6 + follows..
You can replay the game below...
