Fide rating list

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

THIS is to inform all members of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association Inc. that we will have a tournament on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Cebu Youth Chess Center (formerly the Bibo Chess Club) along Jakosalem St.

The format is five-round Swiss system and is exclusively for members. Registration fee is P100.

Time handicaps are the same as in our previous tournament with members divided into three groups depending on their level of play. Sponsors of this one-day affair are Ely Berciles, Ed Cabantug, Felix Balbona, Gerry Tomakin and Cepca president Jun Olis.

Those who already have expressed intention of playing are Class Armadillo: Dante Arguelles, Jun Catayas, Bong San Pascual, Jun Olis, Edmund Suralta, Jojo Muralla, Santiago Peque and Gerry Rallos.

Players belonging to Class Buffalo are Felix Balbona, Art Ynclino, Joe Atillo, Nicnic Climaco, Danny Pestano, Alex Tolentino, Maggi Dionson, Norway Lara, Boy Pestano, Lito Pielago, Henry Cariat and Germs Carballo.

Players belonging to Class Cobra are Ely Berciles, Gerry Tomakin, Bal Ynclino, Tony Cornejo, Ogie Reyes, Felix Salve, Andy Aquino and Gideon Lauta. Other Cepca members who want to join may call Jun Olis at 495-9694. The tournament is open to new members.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP. The big surprise of the World Championship currently ongoing at Tripoli, Libya is Rustam Kasimdzhanov the great killer from Uzbekistan who eliminated the tournament favorite Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the semifinals. The other finalist is Michael Adams of England, who defeated Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaizan in the other semis.

While Adams was expected to figure prominently in the championship, Kasimdzhanov was not even a qualifier. He belonged to the reserved list of players who replaced those who withdrew or could not attend the tournament. He was ranked No.28 at the start and if he wins, it will be the biggest upset in the history of modern chess.

FIDE RATINGS. The World Chess Federation has released its top players as of July 2004. It is categorized into top 100, top 50 women, top 20 Juniors, top 20 girls and top country list. Here are the top 16 players whose ratings are over 2700 and therefore considered Super GMs: 1) Garry Kasparov, Russia 2817 2) Viswanathan Anand, India 2782 3) Vladimir Kramnik, Russia 2770 4) Alexander Morozevich, Russia 2743 5) Peter Leko, Hungary 2741 6) Michael Adams, England 2738 7) Veselin Topalov, Bulgaria 2737 8) Judit Polgar, Hungary 2728 9) Peter Svidler, Russia 2727 10) Shirov Alexei, Spain 2725 11) Ruslan Ponomariov, Ukraine 2722 12) Vassily Ivanchuk, Ukraine 2715 13) Evgeny Bareev, Russia 2715 14) Etienne Bacrot, France 2712 15) Boris Gelfand, Israel 2709 16) Alexander Grischuk, Russia 2705.

The top 10 women are 1) Judit Polgar, Hungary 2728 2) Xie Jun, China 2564 3) Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgaria 2527 4) Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russia 2511 5) Humpy Koneru, India 2511 6) Maia Chiburdanidze, Georgia 2498 7) Zhu Chen, China 2494 8) Alisa Galliamova, Russia 2490 9) Pia Cramling, Sweden 2489 10) Svetlana Matveeva, Russia 2482.

The top 10 Juniors are: 1) Teimour Radjabov, Azerbaijan 2664 2) Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan 2662 3) Luke J. McShane, England 2643 4) Andres Volokitin, Ukraine 2638 5) Bu, Xiangzhi, China 2620 6) David Navara, Czechoslovakia 2616 7) Ferene Berkes, Hungray 2614 8) Artyom Timofeev, Russia 2611 9) P. Harikrishna, India 2609 10) Evgeny Aleksev, Russia 2606.

I have examined Fide’s Top Country players list and the Philippines is not included! I don’t know what is wrong but if it is deliberate then we have a serious problem here. I have already inquired from those who might know the real score, but it will take sometime. Nevertheless it might just be an oversight.

TRIVIA. A math teacher who was one of the most successful players from 1899 to 1908.

Supposedly his ghost returned in 1985 and has been playing Korchnoi through a Swiss medium.

If you know the answer, go to Big Apple Store located in Mabolo beside Kahayag Restaurant and claim your prize, a tournament-size chess set, donated by Ely Berciles of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association Inc.