Final countdown to the SEA Games

By Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso

The chess competition in the Southeast Asian Games will start this Sunday at the Tagaytay Convention Center. Eight gold medals are up for grabs: Standard Team, Standard Singles, Rapid Team, Rapid Singles and Blitz for Men and Standard Team, Standard Singles and Blitz for Women.

GM Rogelio Antonio spearheads the RP team and will be in contention for five gold medals: Standard Team and Singles, Rapid Team and Singles and Blitz.

The other players of the Standard Team and Singles are Eugene Torre, Oliver Dimakiling, Oliver Barbosa, and Ronald Dableo. Comprising the Rapid Team are Nelson Mariano II, Barlo Nadera and Petronio Roca. Jayson Gonzales will compete in the Blitz Singles category.

The members of the powerhouse Vietnamese team are Nguyen Ahn Dung, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Le Quong Liem, Ly Hong Nguyen, Dinh Duc Trong, Tu Hoang Thong, Duong The Anh, Nguyen Thi Thanh An.

Not to be underestimated is Singapore, the fast-rising star in the Asean region. Its members are Wu Shaobin, Wong Meng Kong, Goh Wei Ming, Goh Koon Jong Jason.

Myanmar, whose average Elo (Top 10 players) is higher than the Philippines might be the surprise of the tournament. Their players are U Wynn Zaw Htun, U Myo Naing, Zaw Oo, Phyo Chit, Kyaw Lin Naing,

Counting on their experience are the veteran stars of Indonesia namely Susanto Megaranto, Edhi Handoko, Nathanael Situru, Tirto, Taufik Halay, Danny Juswanto Graha, Tirla Chandra Purnamo.

Trying their best not to be underdogs are the Malaysian woodpushers Mas Hafizulhilmi Agus, Nicholas Chan, Wong Zi-Jing, Lim Yee Weng, Mok Tze Meng,Lim Chuin Hoong, Marcus Chan, Anas Nazreen Bakil,

Also the Top 3 players in the region, Vietnam’s Dao Thein Hai, Indonesia’s Utut Adianto and the Philippines’ Mark Paragua, are not competing as they will be playing in the World Cup in Moscow.

CEPCA INDUCTION. The Induction of the new set of officers of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association and Dinner Show scheduled on Nov.27 has been postponed to Dec. 11 to coincide with the Grand Finals and Christmas party of the club. For more info contact Jun Olis at 341-3661.

CHESS PUZZLE solution to last week‘s puzzle: Ke2. Only four entries got the correct answer and they are Richard Ching, Ronald Hamac, Alexis Pilario and Eugenio Rocha. Claim your prize of Globe P100 prepaid card each from Handuraw Cafe in Mabolo anytime in the afternoon up to 11 p.m. My sponsor, the Corporate and Regulatory Group of Globe Telecom through Jerome Yntig will award a P100 prepaid card each to the five correct answers. Be reminded that only Globe Subscribers can participate in this contest. Text your name and the keymove to 0915-507-0286. The key to the solution is finding the surprising second move. This puzzle by Samuel Lloyd has been declared as “one of the world`s most famous puzzle”