Up Close and Personal at the 19th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships

For the first time in history, Davao City hosted the 19th ASEAN age group chess championships from June 18-28, 2018 and I was lucky enough to be among the participants. Venue was the Royal Mandaya Hotel located in the heart of the City. More than 300 players from 10 countries participated with the Philippines having the biggest delegation being the host country and Vietnam coming in second. I played in the seniors 50 + category while my daughter Florence Faith  played in the girls under 18 category.

Me w/ one of the arbiters Alfred Moulic & Cong. Pichay during the opening ceremonies.

Cong. Pichay, NCFP president making the ceremonial moves vs. a Vietnamese player to signal the start of the ASEAN age group chess championships.

(Me with my good friend & fellow Davaoweño PSC Commissioner Charles Maxey)

From the start it was a 2 way battle for ASEAN chess supremacy between host the Philippines, and the new emerging powerhouse Vietnam. Vietnam dominated the standard and rapid category while the Philippines reign supreme in the blitz category to regain the over-all crown. 

( My daughter Florence Faith, seeing action in the girls under 18 vs.a Vietnamese opponent)

(Players in action ).. 

Vietnam amassed a total of 70 golds, 56 silvers and 30 bronze medals, while the Philippines had 55 golds, 45 silvers and 26 bronzes. Indonesia was far behind with only 3 silvers and one bronze to show, having send just a few players. 

( RP's 1-2 punch in the under 20 IM Marvin Miciano and IM Paulo Bersamina in action w/ separate opponents ) 

The only consolation was IM Paulo Bersamina's  fine showing by ruling the under-20 standard, rapid and tying for first in blitz chess. Bersamina was awarded with a grandmaster norm for his effort in his last & final Asean age group competition. Another notable performance was that of Daniel Quizon, who won the gold in the rapid & blitz section in the under 14 category. On the distaff side, WFM   Shania Mae Mendoza, bagged the gold in the standard and rapid section of the girls under 20 category.  

( Me vs. FM Maung Maung Lwin (2076), President of the Myanmar Chess Federation in 1st round action in the rapid section. I won this one, my first ever against a foreign titled player)     

As for me, I had no high expectation  as I was the only untitled and unrated RP player in our field. Scored 4.5 pts in 9 rounds in the standard but exceed my expectation in the blitz scoring 5.5 pts with my 3 wins against much higher Vietnamese opponents which almost landed me with a bronze medal. 

(Surrounded by Vietnamese players). 

Below is my first win against a Vietnamese player in a standard game. 
Atty. Jong Guevarra Jr - Le Thien Vi 2044  1-0
BO7 ASEAN Age Group (3) 18-06-2018  

1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 g6 4.d3 Bg7 5.f4 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be3 0-0 
8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e5 10.0-0 exf4 11.Qxf4 Nh5 12.Qf2 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne5
14.Bb3 Qe7 15.Rae1 a5 16.a4 c6 17.d4 Nd7 18.Bh6 Ng7 19.Re3 Nb6
20. g4 Rae8 21.h4 Qd7 22.Rg3 Qe7 23.Rg2 d5 24.e5 Nd7 25.c4 dxc4
26.Bxc4 Nb6 27.Bb3 Nd5 28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.Qf6 Qxf6 30.exf6 Nf6 31.Bxf8 
Kxf8 and Black resigned after 14 more moves.

Had a lot of fun and meet new friends, one of whom was Grabow Pouelsten Holm, a senior master from Denmark who won the standard and rapid section in the Seniors 65 & above category. He is already 70 years old but stil plays very good chess. I lost to him in the standard and rapid but had a winning position in the blitz which was eventually drawn.   

( Me vs. my new friend Grabow Pouelsten Holm from Denmark)  

It was a  great and unforgettable experience to rub elbows and actually play with some of the best senior players in the ASEAN region. And one thing more, finally after a long wait, I have now a FIDE rating. Got a respectable 1915 in standard, 1995 in rapid and a more respectable 2133 in blitz..      

I invited my new friend fron Denmark to go fishing with me after the tournament..