1st Philippine Internet Match Revisited

A very special chess event took place last May 15, 
2013.Convicts in the USA teamed up to play a chess 
match via Skype against inmates from Russia. Both 
teams consisted of ten players. The Russians were 
located in Astrakhan, Samara, Saratov, the 
Yekaterinburg region and Krasnodar while the US 
players were all at Chicago's Cook County Jail.

Cook County Jail detainees took part in an online chess match against inmates from the
Russian federal prison system, Thursday, May 15, 2013. (WLS Photo)


The players could see their opponents by video, but 
did not speak to each other. After two hours, the 
final score was 15.5-4.5 in Russia's favour. The USA-
Russia match was attended by no less than former World 
champion Anatoly Karpov.


This event prompted me to take a second look of an 
important breakthrough in Philippine chess history
when two chess clubs composed of 12 players each 
fought it out at Chesscube.com on April 6, 2011 in 
a chess match dubbed as the "1st Philippine Internet 
Match ". 

( The BW- Manila team logged-in at Robinsons internet cafe, Imus, Cavite ) 


The two teams which are now part of Philippine on-line 
chess history were Barangay Wesley(BW)-Manila, an 
internet based chessclub composed of GM Wesley So fans 
at chessgames.com ably headed by Sugardom and 
wordfunph, and Metro Toril Chess Club- Davao headed by 
its President Atty. Jong Guevarra Jr.a.k.a metrolirot. 
Metro Toril Chess Club won the match 16-8

( Metro Toril Chess Club- Davao team logged-in at 3G-G Net Cafe, Toril
 Davao City)

 The highlight of the event was previously featured 
in my blog: http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2011/04/1st-philippine-internet-chess-team.html 
and was also featured in Rusticbull's chesswindows:
http://chesswindows.blogspot.com/2011/04/1st-philippine-internet-team-chess_18.html

I also annotated my game in my blog:
http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2011/04/selected-games-from-1st-philippine.html 

However, despite the joy and excitement that it brought
to the hearts of pinoy on-line chess fans, the event 
did not caught fire and was never tried again although 
at present there are now pinoy on-line blitz tourneys. 
Hopefully, an on-line team tournament will be staged in 
the future just like the US Chess League. 

Below is a game from the said event annotated by the 
winner, former Davao Executive champ  Engr. Jun 
Atmosfera .

[Event "1st Philippine Internet Match"]
[Site "Chesscube"]
[Date "2011.4.16"]
[Round "2nd"]
[White "Asfora (Engr. Jun Atmosfera)"]
[Black "Epistle"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "?"]
[BlackELO "?"]

Sicilian Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 

5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nc6?

[Bobby Ang wrote in his Chess Piece column of Jan. 7, 2011 

in Business World titled Sicilian Theory that Black's 7...Nc6 

has been refuted. He said that "7...Nc6 was championed by 

Najdorf specialist and 6-time US Champion Walter Shawn 

Browne in the '90s, and has recently been picked up by French 

champion Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. GM Alexey Kuzmin pointed 

out the refutation in New in Chess Yearbook 94, and several 

people got to use it with devastating effect".]

8.Nxc6 bxc6 9. e5 h6



9...dxe5? 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. fxe5 h6 12. Bxf6+ gxf6 13. exf6 
Black will be hard put to hold this endgame (Bobby Ang in his 
comment on the game between Bok, Benjamin-Gabuzyan, 
Hovhannes, WYCC Open U16 Porto Carras (8.6), 27.10.2010)]

10. Bh4 g5 11. fxg5 Nd5 12. Qd2?! 

[12.Ne4 is more precise as in the game between Bok, B. (2453)

-Gabuzyan, H. (2261)/WYCC Open 2010 1-0 (22)]

12.. Be7?



[12...Nxc3 seems to be a better alternative].

13. Ne4 dxe5 14. O-O-O hxg5 15. Bxg5 f6?



[Weakening his kingside. Better was 15...Bxg5]

16. Be3 Nxe3

0

 [16...f5 17. Nc3 Nxe3 18. Qxe3 Bg5 19. Rxd8+ wins].

17. Qxe3 Qc7 18. Bc4 Rb8 19. Qg3 Kf7 20. Rhf1
Rg8 21. Qh3 Qb6



[21...Qb7 makes no difference. 22. Bb3 c5 23. Qh7+ Rg7 
24.Ng5+ Kf8 25. Qh8+ Rg8 26. Nh7+ Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Bxf6
 28. Qxf6+ Ke8 29. Rd8#]

22. Bb3 c5 23. Nxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxf6+ Kxf6 25. Rf1+ 



[At this point my opponent was disconnected but his 
position is lost in all variations in spite of being a whole 
rook up. E.g., 25...Ke7 26. Qh7+ Kd6 27. Rd1+ Kc6 28. Ba4+ 
and the Queen is lost. If 26...Ke8 27. Qxg8+ Ke7 28. Qf8+ 
Kd7 29. Ba4+ Kc7 30. Qe7+ and mate. If the king goes to 
the kingside, it's also inevitable mate. 25...Kg6 26. Qg4+ 
Kh6 (26...Kh7 27. Qh5+ Kg7 28. Rf7#) 27. Rf6+ Kh7 28. Qh5+ 
and mate next move. If 25...Kg5 26. g4! threatens mate in 
one. (26...Kg6 27. Qh5+ and mate.) 26. g4! is much faster 
and easier to win than 26. Qg3+ Kh5 27. Qxg8 c4 when 
Black can mount some sort of defense based on the idea 
of Qe3+, transferring the Queen to the kingside, aside from 
cxb3.]

The only way to avoid mate is 26...Rh8 but after 
27. Qxh8 Kxg4 28. h3+! Kg3 or Kg5 29. Qxe5+, Black will 
be mated soon.]

Note that Black's Queen, Q-Rook and Bishop are mere 
bystanders that cannot help the King.

U.M ALL STARS VS. ATON BROTHERS CHESS MATCH - " A SNEAK PREVIEW "

The cast is finally completed for the 2nd edition of the 2013 Toril Chess
Challenge Series featuring the University of Mindanao All-Stars vs. 
The Aton brothers. The event will be held at Atty. Jong Guevarra's Rest 
House in Eden, Bayabas, Davao City on April 14, 2013 from 1:00 p.m to 
7 p.m. 

Playing for the U.M. All Stars will be Atty. Jong (Team Captain), 2012
Penang Open champ ( Challenger ) Vincent Umayan, Nofre Reyes, Eric 

Fernandez and Anthony Mosqueda.  The  Aton Brothers, on the other 

hand, will be composed of brothers Warren Aton, Ariel Aton, Arnel Aton, 

Irwin Aton and Lucky Leo Aton.  Chess patron Bob Bula is donating 2
beautifully crafted trophies from the U.S for the event.

( pulsar, a.k.a Emir Gamis  vs. metrolirot a.k.a Caissa's Father/ Atty. Jong match- Jan.20,2012 Kamayan-Saisaki restaurant 4th floor SM Megamall )


Ariel, Arnel and Irwin were members of the invisible Dela Salle University chess team of the early 2000s which won 6 straight UAAP titles with runaway scores. Ariel is now a teacher at the UP Mindanao,high school section in Mintal, Davao City, while at the same time serves as the coach of the UP-Mindanao chess team.

( Ariel Aton in a Dep Ed sponsored chess clinic )

I'm giving you a sneak preview of the match by presenting my annotated 
game against Ariel Aton. This is the only game that I have played in a 
tournament against any of the Aton brothers.


[Event "2005 ASEAN tourney elimination"]

[Site "Gaisano Mall, Bajada, Davao City"]
[Date "2005.??.??"]
[Round "2nd "]
[White " Ariel Niño D. Aton"]
[Black "Atty. Jong Guevarra Jr."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteELO "1963"]
[BlackELO "1835"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 
7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Qb8 !? 


This is the Ukrainian variation of the Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav attack. 
This variation was developed by the Ukrainian GM Leonid Stein, a former 
Soviet champion whose premature death at the age of 38 kept him from 
being among the greatest players of his time. Black's plan is to bring the 
rook to c8 and blast open the queenside. Modern theory holds that it is 
somewhat suspect but it can be used as a deadly weapon against an 
opponent not familiar with the line.  

11. Bb3 Rc8 12. Kb1 a5 13. a4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 b5! 15. h4?



This move is somewhat automatic in the Yugoslav attack but surprisingly 
it is the losing move (almost!?) in this game. 15. axb5 or 15. Nd5 is much
better. 

 15... bxa4 16. Nxa4 Bxa4 17. Bxa4 Rc4! 



18. Bb3 Rxd4!



This exchange sacrifice paves the way for the dragon bishop to enter the
fray with deadly consequence.

19. Qxd4 a4!



 White is now forced to give up his bishop as there is no defense to black's 
threat of 20... Nxe4! 

20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Qc4+ Kf8 22. e5 Nd7 

In the game IM Bouaziz, Slim vs. IM Levy, David- Siegen Olympiad 1970, 
black played the more accurate 22.... Nh5 and white resigned after a few 
more moves. IM David Levy was the famous author of the Sicilian Dragon
book in the 1970's  and I didn't know that I was playing his moves up to this
point of the game.   


23. f4 a3 24. Qb3 Nc5?! 



Fritz suggest 24... Qc8 instead. The exchange of queens favors white
as it somewhat eases out black's attack against white's castled king. At 
any rate, black is still winning and with correct play should have scored the 
full point. 

25. Qxb8+ Rxb8 26. b3 dxe5 27. fxe5 



27... Bxe5? 

More accurate is 27... a2+ ! 28. Kxa2 Bxe5 29. Kb1 Ra8

28. Ka2 Bb2 29. Rh3 Kg7 30. Re3 e5 31. Rd5 Na6
 32. c3 Rc8 33.Rdxe5 



33....Bxc3? 

(33....Rxc3 ! 34. Rxc3 Nb4+! )

34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Re7+ Kf6?

( Throwing away the win. 35....Kg8 and white can resign... )

 36. Rxh7 Rg3?

( 36... Nc7 is the only move to maintain the advantage but a win is already 
problematic.)

 37. h5! Nc5 38. hxg6 Kxg639. Rh3 

1/2-1/2

Ariel Aton: I thought that this game would be a bonus round for me but I was wrong.  I never expected Atty. Guevarra was an expert in Sicilian Dragon and so I bravely challenged his opening repertoire with black.  As a result, he defended all my attacks and found myself struggling to save the game.

WESLEY THE DRAGON SLAYER

( GM Wesley So vs. GM Ray Robson SPICE CUP 2010 )


 This game was played in the 3rd round of the 2010 SPICE CUP. The six-player A Group featuring GM's Zoltan Almasi of Hungary 2707, Alexander Onischuk of the U.S 2688, Wesley So, Philippines 2668, Georg Meier, Germany 2659, Ray Robson, U.S 2539, and Eugene Perelshteyn, U.S 2528 was a category 16 event. It was the highest rated international invitational Chess tournament in U.S. history at that time.


GM Ray Robson is known to be a fine attacking player with the Sicilian Dragon as among his favorite defense . He is the youngest ever American GM to play for the United States, completing the qualifications at a younger age than Bobby Fischer and current US No.1 Hikaru Nakamura having attained the GM title just a couple of weeks before his fifteenth birthday.


 [Event "Spice Cup"]
[Site "Lubbock USA"]
[Date "2010.10.30"]
 [EventDate "2010.10.28"]
 [Round "3"]
 [White "Wesley So 2668"]
[Black "Ray Robson 2539"]


Sicilian Dragon Yugoslav Attack


 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4


In the last  round of the 2009 Intercontinental Asian Championships held in Subic International Convention Center, Philippines, Wesley was paired with another child prodigy in the person of Vietnam's top player GM Le Quang Liem.  Needing a win to qualify for that year's World Cup, GM So opted to sidestep GM Le's pet Sicilian Dragon and used  the Rossolimo variation ( 3. Bb5 )  instead.  He sacked a pawn and pressed his attack from the opening but GM Le defended tenaciously and was rewarded with a win. This time around, there is no side stepping and GM So was ready to meet the Dragon head on. 


3... cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 





The Yugoslav Attack. In his book " Starting Out: The Sicilian ", GM John Emms made the following  note: " I can safely say that the Yugoslav Attack is the ultimate test of the Dragon. White quickly develops his queenside and castles long before turning his attentions to an all-out assault on the black king. To the untrained eye, this attack can look both awesome and unnerving".


O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O 


The 9. O-O-O was the original idea for White in the Yugoslav Attack and has made a come back in the 1990's. It is now considered as the main move. Previously, 9. Bc4 was considered more precise so as to prevent Black's next move.


9... d5!?





For more than 40 years, this gambit move is Black's main answer to 9. O-O-O. In his book " Easy Guide to the Dragon ", GM Mikhael Golubev stated that in his view, the position after 9. O-O-O d5 remains the most critical for Dragon theory ( and even for the fate of the Dragon) .    


10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Nxd5 cxd5 


13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qc5 Qb7 15. b3!





Previously, 15. Qa3 was considered as the main move. However, Houdini thinks that this move is better. It gives the white queen more option as it can go directly to a5 as in the game thereby saving  a tempo. GM Simon Williams, in his 2 Part DVD Series entitled " Killer Dragon " commented that in a recent game, GM Wesley So played 15. b3 thus he now considered it as the main line. He further commented that GM So is a very talented junior and very good theoretically.   


15... Bf5 16. Bd3 Rfc8?





Moving the wrong rook. More precise is 16... Rac8. 
GM Simon Williams made reference of this game 
in his 2 Part DVD Series "Killer Dragon " and 
considered the diagram as the critical moment of 
the game. He provided the continuation 16...Rac8 
17. Qa5 Rc3!18. Bxf5 Rxe3 and Black enjoys full 
compensation as in the game Smirin-Basin, USSR 
1985. This line would not be possible if Black's 
rook was on a8 because of 19. Be4 pinning black's 
queen and rook.   


17. Qa5 Qc6 18. Bxf5 gxf5 19. c4!





Black's position is now strategically lost. He has no counter play for the gambited pawn and white's pieces are slowly dominating the board. GM So conducted the rest of the game with seaming ease and precision. 


19... Qe6 20. Rhe1 Rab8 21. Bf4 Qf6 22. Be5 Bh6+ 


23. Kb1 Qb6 24. Qxb6 Rxb6 25. Rd7 Rxc4 


26. Bd4 Rbb4 27. Bb2 1-0


Replay the game below.

MY MANILA CHESS JOURNEY LAST PART- THE 2012 METROLIROT CUP

( The championship match- coach vic vs. metrolirot )


This is the last part of my Manila Chess journey. To read part IV just click
http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-manila-chess-journey-part-iv-2012.html



( semi-finals match- sheriff vs. coach vic )

In the other semi-final match, coach Vic made short work of sheriff 2-0 thus the finals cast of the 2012 Metrolirot Cup is completed. Me and coach Vic would be playing a 2 games match at 20 mins/game. Coach Vic is Vicente Vargas III from Cabuyao, a chess coach of Letran Calamba (college) and Caritas Don Bosco School (HS/Elem). He has an NCFP rating of 1874 as compared to my 1835 which I got from joining an NCFP sanctioned tourney 12 years ago. Obviously, Vic Vargas is the favorite in the finals.

Complete semi-finals result:

Semis:
Ricky - metrolirot 1-2
Sheriff - Vic 0-2

We decided to rest for a while and eat supper before the final showdown. After eating we discussed the subject common to our heart, chess and more chess plus a little bit of politics. As it started to get dark, I suggested that we start playing our final match.



( Talking about chess and more chess. From left clockwise: alland, wordfunph, metrolirot, kardopov, shadowleaf, and spawn2. Not in photo were pulsar and pinoymaster77- Not their real names but usernames in chessgames.com)



( The finals match )


In the 1st game I played white and coach Vic used the Sicilian Defense. I countered his Sicilian with the Grand Prix Attack. Prior to the metrolirot cup, I played at the Toril Absolute championships which was a 9 round swiss system and among my preparations there was the grand prix attack. Unfortunately, I was not able to make use of the line in the toril championships but it came handy during the metrolirot cup. Coach Vic was obviously not familiar with the line thus I had an easy win in game 1. I annotated game 1 at the end of this feature.



( Me receiving the champion's prize from Allan Dinglasan )

In game 2, Coach Vic used the h3 line against my KID and after I replied with ...c5 the game transposed into the Modern Benoni defense. I tried to wrest the initiative in the queenside by sacrificing my b pawn thus the game once again transposed into the Benko Gambit line. Coach Vic was able to play a timely Bh6 and after the exchange of dark squared bishops, my game slowly collapsed.



( Coach Vic receiving the runner-up prize from alan dinglasan)


A 3rd and final game is in order and after a choice of colors, Coach Vic played white. This time around I used the Dutch Defense Leningrad variation which is akin to the KID. THe game was nip and tuck and during our mutual time trouble, I was able to concoct a mating attack which coach Vic was not able to parry. I won game 3 and thus was declared the 2012 Metrolirot Cup champion. Thus ended my Manila Chess journey. Special thanks to atty. Nanobrain, Atty. Roy Hirang, epistle, pulsar sheriff, spawn2, kardopov, shadowleaf, ricky, coach vic, pinoymaster77, wordfunph and venue host allan dinglasan for making my journey fruitful and memorable. Hanggang sa uulitin!



( Chief organizers of the 2012 Metrolirot Cup- Allan Dinglasan and wordfunph )

[Event "2012 Metrolirot Cup"]
[Site "Biñan, Laguna"]
[Date "2012.1.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "metrolirot"]
[Black "coach vic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteELO "1835"]
[BlackELO "1874"]

Sicilian Defense - Grand Prix Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 a6 3. a4 Nc6 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Bc4 Bg7

7. O-O e6 8. f5!



The start of the grand prix attack. Coach Vic blurted, " Too agressive."
and played 8...exf5. I think he was not familiar with the line.

8...exf5 9. d3!



At present, many Sicilian players sidestep this line because for just
a pawn white is able to establish a dangerous initiative in the kingside.

9...h6 10. Qe1 Nd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 12. Kh1 Ne7 13. exf5 Bxf5
14. Qh4 Nc6?



14...d5! 15. Ba2 g5 16. Qg3 Be6 with slight advantage for black
according to Houdini.

15. Qg3 Ne5 16. Bd5 Qd7 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. dxe4 c4 19. c3 Bb6 20. Bf4!



With simple developing moves, white has now established an
overwhelming advantage. Black has no way of defending his d6
and f7 pawns.

20... Nd3 21. Bxd6 Nf2+ 22. Rxf2 Bxf2 23. Qe5+!

Not 23. Qxf2 because of 23...Qxd6

23...Kd8 24. Qxh8+ Qe8 25. Qf6+


Final position

Black resigns. 1-0
Replay the game below.

MY MANILA CHESS JOURNEY PART IV- THE 2012 METROLIROT CUP

This is a continuation of my Manila Chess journey. To read part III just click http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-manila-chess-journey-part-iii-round.html





At around 2:00 p.m of January 22, 2012, I rendezvous with spawn 2
and his group at SM Bicutan and together we proceeded to the house
of Allan Dinglasan at Biñan, Laguna where the 2012 Metrolirot Cup
will be held. The tourney has became a tradition among BW/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. The 1st to be organized
was the Bubuli Cup middle of last year for member bubuli who
vacationed from the US. Next was the NF3em Cup held last November
in honor of then Japan based member Nf3em.



(Participants of the 2012 metrolirot cup, front row from left: spawn2,
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.)


A warm welcome greeted me upon arrival in the residence of Allan
Dinglasan. I was surprised to see a huge tarpaulin bearing my
picture and the tourney prominently tied at the gate of Allan's
house.



(Stallwarts of BW/GETS: pinoymaster 77 and wordfunph )


After exchanging pleasantries and picture taking, we decided to
eat merienda before plunging into action. Wordfunph decided for the
drawing of lots to determine the seeding and pairing. Eight players
were entered into the main draw which was a best of 2 games knock-
out sytem at 20 mins/game. I had a tough luck as I was paired vs.
defending champ pulsar right in the 1st round.



( metrolirot vs. pulsar in 1st round action )


In the 1st game, pulsar again essayed the French defense. In the
3rd game of our match, I beat him using a sideline in the Advance
variation. Sensing that he has something in his sleeves, I dare
not to repeat our game and instead used the 3.Nd2 Tarrash variation.
I saw that he was a bit surprise with my opening choice and soon I
was able to exploit his isolated d pawn which is black's perennial
problem in the French Tarrash exchange variation. Soon I was 3 pawns
up and it was just a matter of time before pulsar would resign, so I
thought. Suddenly, pulsar sacrificed his rook and in the ensuing
exchange I realized that he has a perpetual check with his queen. Not
again! This guy is really a tough nut to crack, I was telling myself.

In the 2nd game, I used the Modern Defense in answer to his d4
opening wary that he has something prepared for my King's Indian
Defense. I emerged a pawn up in the opening but my queen was
driven out of play.



( metrolirot vs. pulsar - game 2 position )


In the aboved position, I defended my rook at f7 by playing...Raf8.
Pulsar answered with Rxf7 and after I played...Rxf7, pulsar
immediately played Rc8 check. I said okey and played ...Bxc8. Pulsar
shook his head and resign as obviously he failed to reckon in his
analysis that I had a bishop at h3. I was now on to the semi-finals.
Complete results of the quarters:

Quarter:
spawn2 - Ricky 0.5-1.5
shadowleaf - Sheriff 0-2
Jasper - Vic 0-2
metrolirot - pulsar 1.5-0.5



( Players in action )


I was paired with Ricky in the semi-finals. He was wordfunph's
sparring partner. He was a good practical player but still lacks
opening savvy. In our first game, I played white and made an
interesting knight sac at f7. Ricky was not equal to the task and
defended poorly and soon was forced to gave up his queen to avoid
mate. I just need to draw our last game to enter the finals but
the same was easier said than done. I employed my pet KID against
Ricky's d4 opening and obtained some advantage in the opening.
However, I rush things in the middle game allowing Ricky some
counter play. He maintained the pressure and eventually I
capitulated.



( semi-finals: metrolirot vs. ricky. Wordfunph is keenly watching
the game. )


We choose colors and Ricky played white in our 3rd and deciding
game. Once again I used the KID and emerged a pawn
up in the opening. Ricky was able to regroup his pieces in the
middle game and soon I was put into the defensive. This time
around I did not crack from the pressure and defended tenaciously.
My passed e pawn soon gave him problems enabling me to launch a
mating attack which proved to be successful. I was now into the
finals.

To be continued...

MY MANILA CHESS JOURNEY PART III- THE ROUND ROBIN AT THE COFFEE BEAN AND TEA LEAF, SM MEGAMALL

This is a continuation of my Manila Chess journey. To read part II just click http://metrolirot.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-manila-chess-journey-part-ii-sm.html


After the conclusion of my match with pulsar, Atty. nanobrain suggested that we transfer venue in order to play unlimited chess. Pulsar bade us goodbye as he went back to work while the five of us composed of Atty. nanobrain, Atty. Roy Hirang, the Sheriff, Epistle and myself went downstairs. After a short search we settled down at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 3rd floor SM Megamall. We occupied two tables and ordered brewed coffee and cookies compliments of atty. nanobrain. Afterwards the round robin begun. Having beaten pulsar the BW champ, I thought i could easily handle the rest of the group but as the games progressed, the opposite happened.



( From left: Atty. Roy Hirang, Atty. Nanobrain, Sheriff and me at the Coffee Bean Coffee Shop, 3rd floor SM Megamall )


1st game -metrolirot vs. the sheriff
result: 0-1

I played white against the sheriff. He employed the Sicilian Defense against my e4 opening and i countered with the grand prix attack. I got some advantage in the opening but over pressed. I used my queen to penetrate his position but later on my queen was trapped in the queenside resulting to my resignation.



( Atty. nanobrain vs. metrolirot)


2nd game - atty. nanobrain vs. metrolirot
result: 1-0

I was able to used my Sicilian Defense against nano's e4. The game
went 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Bc4!? Nc6 5.O-O Nf6 6.Re1. I was
able to fianchetto my black bishop and adopted a sicilian dragon
formation. Aty. nano slowly built-up his forces and soon i was on the
defensive. I was forced to sacrificed my rook for white's bishop and
pawn to eased the pressure. At this point, I thought i had already
equalized. Although quality down, I had two bishops and a couple of
central pawns. However, nano pressed on with his attack and a timely
knight sac at f7 ended our game in his favor.



( Atty. nanobrain, myself, epistle, and sheriff )


I paused for a while and consumed my coffee and cookies. The round robin is turning out to be a disaster for me. Next in line was epistle. I played a fine attacking game against epistle's Alekhine defense and scored my only win in the round robin. Atty. Roy Hirang was my last opponent. He employed the exchange variation vs. my King's Indian Defense. Soon pieces were exchanged and we went into an opposite bishop endgame. I pressed on for whatever small advantage that i may have but the game soon ended in a draw.



( Atty. Roy Hirang, myself, sheriff and epistle )


To summarized the friendlies at the SM Megamall, I was in high heaven after beating pulsar in our match but was brought back to earth after the result of the round robin with the rest of the group. Below is my only win in the round robin.

[Event "BW/GETS Round Robin"]
[Site "Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 3rd floor SM Megamall"]
[Date "2012.1.20"]
[Round "3rd"]
[White "metrolirot"]
[Black "epistle"]
[Result "1-0"]

Alekhine's Defense

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bc4 e6 5. d4 d6 6. Nf3 Nxc3
7. bxc3 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Be7 9. Qh5 O-O 10. Bd3 h6?

Better is 10...g6 11.Qh6 Nd7 with only a slight advantage for white.





11. Bxh6! gxh6 12. Qxh6 f5 13. g4!




With the eventual opening of the g file, there is no way for Black
to survived White's unslaught.


13...Bf6 14. gxf5 Bg7 15. Rg1 Qf6 16. Rg6 Qe7 17. Ke2 Rf6
18. Rag1 Rxg6 19. Rxg6 Kf8 20. Qh7 exf5 21. Bc4

Final position.


1-0

Replay the game below..