Pestaño: The world chess Hall of Fame

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

Chessmoso

Thursday, April 24 2014

ALMOST all sports have a hall of fame. It is believed that top athletes should be recognized long after their careers have ended. Originally known as the US Chess Hall of Fame, the World Chess Hall of Fame was created in 1986 by the United States Chess Federation and its president at the time, E. Stephen Doyle.

It was originally located in New Windsor, New York but moved to Miami, Florida. On Sept. 9, 2010, it was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri through funds provided by Rex and Jeanne Sinquefield, who also sponsor big tournaments in the USA. US Chess Trust President Jim Eade and other staff and board members from both the Trust and the USCF approved the move in August 2010.

The World Chess Hall of Fame is housed in a historic 15,900 square-foot facility and features artifacts from permanent and temporary exhibitions highlighting the great players, historic games, and the rich cultural history of chess.

The collection—which includes the Paul Morphy silver set, an early prototype of the Chess Challenger, and Bobby Fischer’s memorabilia (purchased by Sinquefield in an auction on eBay)—is dedicated to the history of the game and the accomplishments of the Hall of Fame inductees.

As of May 2013, there are 19 members to the World Hall of Fame.

Here is a short description of the honorees and the year they were nominated.

2001. All world champions. Jose Capablanca (1921-27) is from Cuba; controversial American Robert Fischer (1972-75) is considered the best player of all time though a big number favor Kasparov. The favorite now is Magnus Emmanuel Lasker (Germany), who was champion for 27 years from 1894-1921. He had two doctorate degrees in mathematics and philosophy. He was also the best friend of Albert Einstein, who considered him an equal intellectually.

Paul Morphy (USA) was considered the unofficial world champion during his time and had mental problems like another awardee, Austrian Wilhelm Steinitz modern champion (1886-94).

2003. Mikhail Botvinnik was a three-time world champion (1948-57, 1959-60 and 1961-63) and was also a top notch electrical engineer and computer scientist. Tigran Petrosian (1963-69),Vasily Smyslov (1957-58). Boris Spassky (1969-72) and Mikhail Tal (1960-61) were all champions and Russians.

2004. Russian Alexander Alekhine ( 1927-34) , Dutch Machgielis Euwe (1935-37) and Russian Anatoly Karpov ( 1975-85) were past champions.

2005. Garry Kasparov (1986-2005) is running for Fide president this year against incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

2008. Siegbert Tarrasch was one of the strongest chess players and most influential chess teachers of the late 19th century and early 20th century.

2011. Vera Menchik was a British-player who gained renown as the world’s first women champion. She also competed in tournaments with some of the world’s leading male chess masters, defeating many of them, including future world champion Max Euwe.

2013. Elizaveta Bykova was a Soviet chess player and the third and fifth Women’s World Champion from 1953 until 1956 and from 1958 to 1962.

Mikhail Chigorin served as a major source of inspiration for the “Soviet Chess School,” which dominated the chess world in the middle and latter parts of the 20th century.

Nona Gaprindashvili is a Georgian chess player, the sixth women’s world chess champion, and first female Grandmaster. She was the strongest female player of her generation.

Cepca. Our April tournament is this Sunday at Handuraw Gorordo starting at 2 pm.

(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)

Pestaño: Chess problems—an inherent part of Chessmoso

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

Chessmoso

Sunday, April 20, 2014

FOR more than 10 years now my column always has a side feature featuring chess problems.

There is a prize to be won, in this case, any flavor pizza from Handuraw outlets. For Sun.Star Cebu, the pizza can be claimed from the Gorordo branch. For Superbalita, the winners claim their pizza from the Kasambagan branch in Mabolo (behind Sarrosa hotel), while those of Bisdak Magasin will go to JY Square in Lahug.

Prior to these, there were additional prizes. Aside from pizza, like P100 loads from Globe as sponsor, through the late Jerry Yntig.

It is just amazing. A good number of my followers now have been with me since the beginning!

Handuraw was located then in Mabolo, formerly Coaco Bldg., which has been transformed into the Persimmon Complex.

There is a difference between a chess puzzle and a chess problem. A puzzle is a position derived, sometimes with some improvements, from an actual game while a problem is composed.

Almost all Chessmoso problems are composed. A person who creates such problems is known as a composer. Not all chessplayers, even grandmasters have the ability to compose a problem and like music or art is a unique gift.

A chess problem should have every one of these features.

There is a specific stipulation, that is, a goal to be achieved; for example, to checkmate Black within two or three or more moves.

There is a theme (or combination of themes) that the problem has been composed. For example, in our problem today there are two themes used by our composer, Jerish Velarde, a 7-year-old chess prodigy and an awardee of SAC-SMB All Sports Awards.

The problem exhibits economy in its construction: no greater force is employed than that required to render the problem sound.

The problem has aesthetics value. Problems are experienced not only as puzzles but as objects of beauty.

Solutions of problems and studies are usually not obvious and demand certain mental efforts. Solving such positions, “the player develops his combinational abilities, gets to know original ideas, cultivates analytical skills, and improves his play in the endings. That is why chess players often include solving of problems and studies into their plans of preparation to tournaments and matches.”

A chess player also derives pure enjoyment and arouses in him sheer satisfaction once a problem is solved.

A problem should have only one solution. If a side-solution is discovered (another one, different from the author’s), such a composition loses its right to exist.

When starting to solve a problem, it is advisable first of all to analyze the black King's position and that of White's pieces which surround him. A special attention should be paid to the presence of threats.

There are various different types of chess problems:

Directmates: White to move first and checkmate Black within a specified number of moves against any defense. . In composing and solving competitions, directmates are further broken down into three classes: two movers, three movers and 4 or more movers.

Helpmates: Black to move first cooperates with White to get Black's own king mated in a specified number of moves.

Selfmates: White moves first and forces Black (in a specified number of moves) to checkmate White.

This puzzle by Jerish, problem 311, has originality, invention, conciseness, harmony, complexity and unique from one so young. A lot of imagination is needed in solving this difficult puzzle.

Cepca, our monthly tournament for April is on the 27th. Please bring a set and clock, if you have, as there is a concurrent tournament on that date. Also get involved with our proposed tournament for inmates of BBRC.

(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)

Pestaño: Blondes vs. Brunettes, chess version

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

Chessmoso

Thursday, April 10, 2014

A Cepca-sponsored children tournament will take center stage tomorrow at the Cebu School of Chess.

Children’s tournaments are always fun and rewarding for both the players and the organizers and are fertile breeding grounds for training future masters and champions.

This is a single day tournament to ensure that all participants will stay for the entire event. The most important rule for the children is to be courteous and to behave like adults. Rudeness and arguments can mar an otherwise fun event. Parents should behave too. Let’s teach our children to follow the rules and respect their opponents.

Parents and coaches need to understand and accept that it is normal for young children to do foolish things and to make huge mistakes. Unlike adults, the children are under tremendous pressure at these tournaments, and organizers need to lighten that pressure by providing a good environment.

This tournament is for kiddies 14 years and under and has separate categories for boys and girls. The venue is at Cebu Chess School, at the Central Books Bldg. along P. del Rosario St.. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the first round at 10:30 a.m.

The format is seven rounds Swiss and the time control is 20 minutes per player with five-second increments.

Prizes for the boys division are P2,000 for the first placer, P1,500 for the second placer, P1,000 for the third placer, P700 for the routh placer and P500 for the fifth placer. The rest of the top 10 will get P300 each.

In the girls division, the prizes are P1,500 for the first placer, P1,200 for the second placer, P800 for the third placer and P600 and P400 for the fourth and fifth placers. The rest of the top 10 will get P200 each. Registration is P100 for Boys and P75 for Girls.

This tournament is supported by Handuraw Pizza (Gorordo, JY Square, Kasambagan, Canduman), Kelly Uy, Cepca president Jerryboy Maratas, Marvyne Guardiana, Atty. Jennoh Tequillo, Jun Kidlat, Felixberto Balbona, Ely Berciles, Carlo Maraat, El Labunog, Ben Dimaano, Jun Olis, Gabriel Misterio, Edilberto Jr. Velarde, Ruel Hortelano, Manuel Abucay, Joel Cortez, Percival Fiel and Michael Rebato. Trophies for the champions are fabricated and donated by Ronald Galindo.

This early I would like to announce a big tournament on May 17-18 titled Cebu City Mayor`s Cup Open. There will be P80,000 in total prizes. Another tournament, this time for inmates at the Cebu Provincial Jail or better known as BBRC, is scheduled this month or early next month.

Cepca has an energetic president in Engr.Jerry Maratas who is supported by the board led by vice presidents Marvynne Guardiana and Dante Arguelles and the other members Jun Olis, Jun Kidlat, Ruel Hortelano,Chessmoso and former president Jojo Muralla.

Blondes vs Brunettes. There is a purported rivalry between blondes and brunettes especially in countries like Austria, France, Germany Russia, United Kingdom and the United States. This rivalry is common in television and movies and in real life.

The most famous rivalry are the cartoon characters Betty Cooper (blonde) and Veronica Lodge (brunette) over the affection of Archie Andrews.

My favorite competitive event are the blonde vs. brunette chess matches that began in 2011 in Moscow. They are always held on April 1. Blondes are always dressed in light colors and brunettes dressed in dark colors. Almost all of the contestants are Fide-titled players who are carefully chosen by their respective managers.

The format is 10 players per team who will play all the other players.

The 2011 match was won by the brunettes. The 2012 re-match was won by the blondes and a third blonde vs. brunette chess match was a tie. The fourth was won by the blondes.

(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)

Pestaño: Kiddies tournament on April 12

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

Chessmoso

Thursday, April 3, 2014

THE Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca) will be sponsoring a tournament for children ages 14 and under on April 12 at the Cebu School of Chess whose address is listed below.

The tournament will have the boys and girls divisions and the format format is seven rounds Swiss with time control of 20 minutes plus five-second increments. The registration fee is P100 and players may sign up starting at 9 a.m. .The tournament proper starts at 10 a.m.

Prizes will be announced later in press releases. There will also be special prizes for children 10 and under. The sponsors are Handuraw pizza (Gorordo, Jy Square , Kasambagan and Canduman),Jerry Maratas of Jemar Engineering Services, Marvyne Guardiana of VMA Power, Felix Balbona, Kelly Uy, Ben Dimaano, Carlo Maraat, Engr. John Velarde, Gabi Misterio, Manuel Abucay, Percival Fiel, Ruel Hortelano, Joel Cortes, Jennoh Tequillo and El Labunog .

Cepca March. Antonio “Tony” Cabibil won the Cepca monthly qualifying tournament for March held at Handuraw Pizza-Gorordo. He was undefeated in the five-round Swiss tourney and beat NM Arnolito Cadiz, 2012 grand champion Rey Flores, collegiate star Rosendo Yamyamin and the comebacking former Palarong Pambansa titlist Ben Dimaano.

Cabibil played for the SWU Varsity ChessTeam and was a two-time Cebu Blitz Champion (1995 and 2007) and was the 1996 Sinulog Open Champion.

Flores got second place and Yamyamin got third place.

CCM Masters. The 1st Cebu Chess Masters Rapid Chess Tournament was held at Colonnade Mall last weekend.

The top six placers were Carlos Moreno III (7 points), Venancio Loyola Jr. (6), Anthony Makinano, Edsel Montoya, Yves Christian Fiel, Glicerio Pardillo (5.5).

The top Kiddies are Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Jeremy Pepito and John Lester Belano, while the top ladies were Jessa Marie Balbona, Quennie Cablao and Gayl Bontes.

The sponsors and organizers of the tournament were couple Eduard and Therese dela Torre.

School of Chess. IM Kim Steven Yap sent me some planned activities for the newly-formed Cebu School of Chess, which is located at the Second Books building along P.del Rosario St.

The school has group and private trainings. The group training starts with beginners and progresses to tactics, theories of basic openings and endgame.

Private trainings are also conducted for veteran chess players, NMs, IMs and GMs.

Training dates will be announced. Fees are charged for the training sessions with discounts for members. Membership is P900 per year.

On April 8, GM Oliver Barbosa will give a lecture on chess at 1 p.m. followed by another lecture by Yap at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m. Barbosa will give a simultaneous chess exhibition, while Yap will have one at 5 p.m..

Simul winners will be awarded P1,000, while those who will get a draw will get P500.

They will also get a free one-year group training and an “I beat a master” medal. The last player to finish will receive the “toughest challenger” medal and all players will get the “I challenge the master” medal.

Barbosa (2564) has just won the strongest Open Asian tournament in Kolkata, India this year. It included 27 GMs, seven of were rated over 2600, 18 IMs and 4 WGMs with an average rating of 2394. It attracted 77 players from 13. He played the best performance of his life with five wins and five draws and a rating performance of 2688 despite playing seven GMs and three IMs. He went home with the top prize of $6,500.

He recorded wins over 2600+ players Levan Panstulaia and Konstantin Landa.

About our puzzle 309. This unique and creative puzzle is composed by John Jerish Velarde, a talented Cebuano who is only seven years old! He was an awardee for chess in the recent SAC-SMB big event last week. To my knowledge, he is the youngest composer of quality puzzles in the world and he will be contributing more puzzles in the future.

(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)

Pestaño: How the Olympiad almost got cancelled

By Frank 'Boy' Pestaño

Chessmoso

Thursday, July 24, 2014

THE other week, the organizing committee of the Tromso Olympiad sent an official letter to the World Chess Federation excluding the Russian Women team and several other teams from the Olympiad because they had missed the June 1 registration deadline.

Other countries that were to be excluded were Cambodia, Central African Republic, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Oman, Pakistan, Senegal for the men. The other women’s team, aside from Russia, was Afghanistan .The Russian women’s team is the defending champion.

This drew sharp reactions from Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and other countries.

It seems that politics is rearing its ugly head again as most of these countries support Kirsan against Garry Kasparov. The coming elections is very bitter, bordering on animosity.

Chessmoso is for Kirsan. Why fix it when it ain’t broken?

Kirsan said that the Russian Chess Federation had informed the Organizing Committee long before June 1. The only reason that Russia could not register its women team was that it was waiting for Fide’s decision on the Kateryna Lagno case, which was only finalized on July 12.

Women’s world rapid champion Kateryna changed federation from Ukraine and will play Board 1 for Russia.

Kirsan issued an ultimatum that by Monday, July 21, the Organizing Committee should confirm to Fide in a written statement that no country will be excluded from the Olympiad without its approval.

Fortunately, the other day, the organizers agreed to reconsider its decision to ban the Russian team as well as nine others.

“Nobody wins if the conflict continues,” Boerge Robertsen, director of the Norwegian organising committee, told local television.

I believe the Olympiad, scheduled Aug. 1-15, would have been cancelled by the Fide board had the ban pushed through.

WESLEY UPDATE. Wesley So won the Association of Chess Professionals (ACP) tournament last weekend in Bergamo Italy. It was a Category 17 event and one of the strongest tournaments for this year. He raised his live Elo rating to 2750 while climbing to 12th in the world .

The top-seeded So (2744) opted for a draw with Italian Sabino Brunello in the seventh and last round to wind up with 4.5 points, a full point ahead of Georgian Baadur
Jobava.

So defeated second seed Ian Nepomniachtchi ( 2730) of Russia in the second round, Daniele Vocaturo in the third and Jobava in the sixth for a performance rating of 2844.

Cepca new members. We have two new members—Alex Olis and Regelito Hortelano. Alex is the younger brother of Cepca secretary Jun , while Lito is a cousin of our auditor, Ruel Hortelano.

Alexander C. Olis is from Tanjay and is a B.S. in Agronomy graduate of Silliman University in 1979 . He was salutatorian in high school of East Negros Institute.

He pursued further studies with an M.S. in Agronomy, Soil and Water Engineering, from Asian Institute ofTechnology, Bangkok, Thailand in 1981 and Ph.D., Soil Chemistry, Rutgers University, New Jersey, USA in 1989.

Currently, he is an instructor in chemistry at Ridgeview High School, Orange Park, Florida and an adjunct instructor in chemistry at St. John’s River State College, Orange Park, Florida.

He was an environmental consultant for 20 years for the US Navy and the United States Environment Protection Agency.

He is a member of the Bayanihan Chess Club, Jacksonville, Florida and an organizer/mentor for the Chess Club of Ridgeview High School.

Regelito is presently election assistant II of the Commission of Election assigned in Sta Fe, Bantayan Island and is a BS Commerce degree holder of the University of San Carlos.

Lito was champion in the Bantayan Open in 2011.

(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)