DESPITE logistics problems, the 39th Olympiad at Khanty Mansiyk, Russia was considered by the players as well-organized.
The Philippines men’s team started with a bang and ended with a whimper. We actually shared 49th to 63rd places, but after the Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak was applied, we placed 50th, the country’s worst performance in the biennial meet.
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The RP men’s team garnered a total of 12 match points after 11 rounds of competition, while the ladies ended up in 44th place with the same score after the tiebreak points were applied.
The Filipinos had their best-ever finish in 1988 in Thessaloniki, Greece at seventh.
But the rest of the world continued on improving while we were practically at a standstill.
The turning point was the game between Cebuano Richard Bitoon ,who up to that time was considered a hero and IM Aleksander Volodin of Estonia. Before the final-round
setback, Bitoon was the second-best Filipino performer after Wesley So with six points on four wins, four draws and one loss while playing on board five.
If Richard had won, we would have finished in the top 20.
On the other hand, National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero
Pichay, Jr. was named by Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to the Panel of Advisers.
NCFP secretary-general Abraham Tolentino was elected Zone President 0f Southeast Asia.
Pichay was instrumental in the reelection of Kirsan for another four-year term after Pichay lectured former world champion Gary Kasparov on parliamentary procedure during the Congress.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STATS.
Here are the top six men’s team (match /game points): 1.) Ukraine (19/31), 2.) Russia 1 (18/28) 3.) Israel(17/29), 4.) Hungary (17/26.5), 5.) China (16/29), 6.) Russia 2 (16/29.5).
Women’s section: 1.) Russia 1 (22/34) , 2.) China (18/31.5) 3.) Georgia (16/29) 4.) Cuba (16/30) 5.) USA (16/28.5 ) 6. Poland (16/29.5).
Medal winners, men’s section:
Board 1: Gold medal: Vassily Ivanchuk, 8/10, 2890.
Silver: Levon Aronian (Armenia), 7.5/10, TPR (Tourament Performance Rating) 2888.
Bronze: Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia 2), 6.5/9, 2821.
Board 2: Gold Emil Sutovsky (Israel), 6.5/8, 2895.
Silver: Zoltan Almasi (Hungary), 7/10, 2801.
Bronze: Wang Hao (China), 7.5/10, 2783.
Board 3: Gold medal Vitaly Teterev (Belarus), 7/8, 2853.
Silver: Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine), 7/10, 2737.
Bronze: Sergei Rublevsky (Russia 3), 8/11, 2727.
Board 4:Gold medal Sergey Karjakin (Russia 1), 8/10, 2859.
Silver medal Zahar Efimenko (Ukraine), 8.5/11, 2783.
Bronze medal: Anish Giri (The Netherlands), 8/11, 2730.
Board 5: Gold medal: Sebastien Feller (France), 6/9, 2708.
Silver: Mateusz Bartel (Poland), 7/9, TPR 2706.
Bronze: Vlastimil Babula (Czech Republic), 7/9 2668.
Medal winners women’s section :
Board 1:Gold medal: Tatiana Kosintseva 7/10, 2628
Board 2:Gold medal Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia 1), 8.5/10, 2662.
Board 3:Gold medal Yaniet Marrero Lopez (Cuba), 7/8, 2511.
Board 4:Gold medal Inna Gaponenko (Ukraine), 7.5/8, TPR 2691
Board 5:Gold medal Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine), 6.5/9, 2431
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 08, 2010.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Alien abductee is still Fide president
KIRSAN Ilyumzhinov remains Fide President for four more years up to 2014. He won convincingly during the elections held with the Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Maniysk. He
got 95 votes to 55 for Anatoly Karpov, while three abstained.
After his re-election Ilyumzhinov reportedly offered a position to Karpov.
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Gary Kasparov, a Karpov supporter, questioned the proxy list composed of 56 countries that have entrusted their right to vote to other member states participating.
The result was a devastating loss for Karpov, although he had the support of the big federations like Germany,USA and most of Europe.
Kirsan had the votes of the small federations in Asia, Africa and South America.
A review of the developments prior to the election showed that this was probably the nastiest election in Fide history.
Ilyumzhinov criticized the destructive tactics of his opponent a few days before the Olympiad.
I understand that the Philippines voted for Ilyumzhinov. Although he is highly controversial, especially for his claim that he was visited by aliens in his Moscow apartment and taken on a guided tour in their spaceship, my opinion is that chess has become more popular worldwide during his terms starting in 1995.
Besides, I am a firm believer that we are not the only intelligent species in this universe.
Olympiad results after eight rounds. Men’s section (win-draw-loss): Ukraine 14 points, (6-2-0), Russia 1 13 points (6-1-1), Georgia 13 points (6-1-1), Azerbaijan 13 points (6-1-1), Hungary 13 points (6-1-1), Armenia 13 points (6-1-1), France 13 points (5-3-0), China 12 points (5-2-1), USA 12 points (5-2-1),Cuba 12 points (5-2-1), Israel 12 points (5-2-1).
Women’s section: Russia 1 16 points (8-0-0), Serbia 13 (6-1-1), Russia 2 13 (5-3-0), China 12 (6-0-2), Georgia 12 (6-0-2), Ukraine 12 (6-0-2), Cuba 12 (6-0-2), Hungary 12 (5-2-1), India 12 (6-0-2), Bulgaria 12 (5-2-1), Croatia 12 (5-2-1).
The Philippines’ men’s team scored nine pts with 4 wins 1 draw and 3 losses, while the women has eight with 3 wins 2 draws and 3 losses.
Here are our men’s round by round results: 4-0 vs. Korea; 1.5-2.5 vs. Spain, 2-2 vs. Scotland,; 3.5-1.5 vs. Paraguay, 3-1 vs. Uruguay, 1-3 vs. Belarus, 3-1 vs. Puerto Rico and 1-3 vs. Bulgaria.
The RP women results are:4-0 vs. Netherlands Antilles, 0.5-3.5 vs. Romania, 4-0 vs. Qatar, 2-2 vs. Israel, 2-2 vs. Argentina, 4-0 vs. Mexico, 1.5-2.5 vs. Peru and 0-4 vs. Vietnam.
Individual scores of our boys are: Wesley So (4/7), John Paul Gomez (4/7), Darwin Laylo (2.5/6). Eugene Torre (3.5/5). Richard Bitoon (4.5/7).
Individual scores of our women are: Cheradee Camacho (5/8), Catherine Perena (3.5/7), Shercila Cua (2.5/5), Rulp Ylem Jose (5/8) Jedara Docena (2/4). Cheradee was in solid contention for board 1 honors until she lost in the seventh and eighth rounds.
The leading scorers for board honors (men’s):
Board 1—Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 6.5/7, Levon Aronian (Armenia) 5/7 and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia)-5/7.
Board 2—Emil Sutovsky (Israel) 5/6, Wang Hao(China) 6.5/8, Victor Laznika (Czech Republic) 6/8.
Board 3—Vitaly Teterev (Belarus) 6/7, Sergei Rublevsky (Russia 3) 6/8, Judit Polgar (Hungary) 5.5/8.
Board 4—Sergei Karjakin (Russia 1) 6.5/7, Levan Pantsulaia ( Georgia) 5.5/6, Zahar Efimenko(Ukraine) 6.5/8.
Board 5—Vlastimil Babula (Czech Republic) 5/6, Nils Grandelius (Sweden) 5.5/7, Kirili Stupak (Belarus) 5/7.
Our boys were set to play Turkmenistan last night in the ninth round, while the girls were to face Bolivia.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 01, 2010.
got 95 votes to 55 for Anatoly Karpov, while three abstained.
After his re-election Ilyumzhinov reportedly offered a position to Karpov.
Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency
Gary Kasparov, a Karpov supporter, questioned the proxy list composed of 56 countries that have entrusted their right to vote to other member states participating.
The result was a devastating loss for Karpov, although he had the support of the big federations like Germany,USA and most of Europe.
Kirsan had the votes of the small federations in Asia, Africa and South America.
A review of the developments prior to the election showed that this was probably the nastiest election in Fide history.
Ilyumzhinov criticized the destructive tactics of his opponent a few days before the Olympiad.
I understand that the Philippines voted for Ilyumzhinov. Although he is highly controversial, especially for his claim that he was visited by aliens in his Moscow apartment and taken on a guided tour in their spaceship, my opinion is that chess has become more popular worldwide during his terms starting in 1995.
Besides, I am a firm believer that we are not the only intelligent species in this universe.
Olympiad results after eight rounds. Men’s section (win-draw-loss): Ukraine 14 points, (6-2-0), Russia 1 13 points (6-1-1), Georgia 13 points (6-1-1), Azerbaijan 13 points (6-1-1), Hungary 13 points (6-1-1), Armenia 13 points (6-1-1), France 13 points (5-3-0), China 12 points (5-2-1), USA 12 points (5-2-1),Cuba 12 points (5-2-1), Israel 12 points (5-2-1).
Women’s section: Russia 1 16 points (8-0-0), Serbia 13 (6-1-1), Russia 2 13 (5-3-0), China 12 (6-0-2), Georgia 12 (6-0-2), Ukraine 12 (6-0-2), Cuba 12 (6-0-2), Hungary 12 (5-2-1), India 12 (6-0-2), Bulgaria 12 (5-2-1), Croatia 12 (5-2-1).
The Philippines’ men’s team scored nine pts with 4 wins 1 draw and 3 losses, while the women has eight with 3 wins 2 draws and 3 losses.
Here are our men’s round by round results: 4-0 vs. Korea; 1.5-2.5 vs. Spain, 2-2 vs. Scotland,; 3.5-1.5 vs. Paraguay, 3-1 vs. Uruguay, 1-3 vs. Belarus, 3-1 vs. Puerto Rico and 1-3 vs. Bulgaria.
The RP women results are:4-0 vs. Netherlands Antilles, 0.5-3.5 vs. Romania, 4-0 vs. Qatar, 2-2 vs. Israel, 2-2 vs. Argentina, 4-0 vs. Mexico, 1.5-2.5 vs. Peru and 0-4 vs. Vietnam.
Individual scores of our boys are: Wesley So (4/7), John Paul Gomez (4/7), Darwin Laylo (2.5/6). Eugene Torre (3.5/5). Richard Bitoon (4.5/7).
Individual scores of our women are: Cheradee Camacho (5/8), Catherine Perena (3.5/7), Shercila Cua (2.5/5), Rulp Ylem Jose (5/8) Jedara Docena (2/4). Cheradee was in solid contention for board 1 honors until she lost in the seventh and eighth rounds.
The leading scorers for board honors (men’s):
Board 1—Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) 6.5/7, Levon Aronian (Armenia) 5/7 and Ian Nepomniachtchi (Russia)-5/7.
Board 2—Emil Sutovsky (Israel) 5/6, Wang Hao(China) 6.5/8, Victor Laznika (Czech Republic) 6/8.
Board 3—Vitaly Teterev (Belarus) 6/7, Sergei Rublevsky (Russia 3) 6/8, Judit Polgar (Hungary) 5.5/8.
Board 4—Sergei Karjakin (Russia 1) 6.5/7, Levan Pantsulaia ( Georgia) 5.5/6, Zahar Efimenko(Ukraine) 6.5/8.
Board 5—Vlastimil Babula (Czech Republic) 5/6, Nils Grandelius (Sweden) 5.5/7, Kirili Stupak (Belarus) 5/7.
Our boys were set to play Turkmenistan last night in the ninth round, while the girls were to face Bolivia.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 01, 2010.
The 39th Chess Olympiad
THE 39th Chess Olympiad started last Sept. 21 and will end on Oct. 3 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. It is an 11-round Swiss System team event for men and women and each team has four players with one reserve.
Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes play to finish with an increment of 30 seconds/move.
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The numbers are astounding.There are 148 teams (735 players) in the men’s division and 114 teams (262 players) in the women’s division. Russia has fielded a controversial five teams in the men’s section and three in the women’s. The statistics are remarkable--772 titled players or 247 GMs, 63 WGMs, 160 IMs, 87 WIMs, 81 FMs, and 80 WFMs.
Thirty-five are over 2700 ELO and 117 are above 2600. There are a total of 220 players
above 2500 in the Men’s section.
The top seed is the first team of Russia followed by Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Russia B.
The defending champion is Armenia, which won in the last two Olympiads in Turin 2006 and Dresden 2008.
There are 22 teams with a rating average of 2600+, and all are possible medal winners.
In the women’s section, the top seed again is the team of Russia. They are the only team so far with an average ELO of 2500+. China is second with 2494, while Ukraine is third with 2493.
Georgia is the defending women’s champion.
To review, there are 312 titled players in the women section—14 GMs, 63 WGMs, and 37 IMs. 10 players are above 2500 and 37 are above 2400 ELO.
Absent is world champion Viswanathan Anand, who should have been playing for India but is now a Spanish citizen.
Special mention are the current world no.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the volatile Veselin Topalov, playing for Bulgaria and Judit Polgar, the no.1 woman player who has only played 11 tournament games in the last 18 months. She will play board three for Hungary.
Composing the Philippines men team are GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo , Eugene Torre and IM Richard Bitoon. The women’s squad is composed of WFMs Cheradee Camacho, Catherine Pereña, Shercila Cua, Jedara Docena and Rulp Ylem Jose.
Also to be decided in the Olympiad is the election of a new set of Fide officers, which is hotly contested by the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and former world champion Anatoly Karpov, both of Russia.
Initial feedback though shows that 93 federations, including the Philippines, have committed to support Kirsan.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s lineup includes Georgios Makropoulos of Greece for deputy president, Lewis Ncube of Zambia for vice president, Beatriz Marinello of Chile and Brazil, for vice president, Ignatius Leong of Singapore for general secretary, and Nigel Freeman of Bermuda for treasurer.
The ticket of Anatoly Karpov includes Richard Conn Jr. of the United States, for deputy president, Aguinaldo Jaime of Angola for vice president, Alisa Maric of Serbia for vice president, Abd Hamid Majid of Malaysia for general secretary, and Viktor Kapustin of Ukraine for treasurer.
GAMES. As expected the Philippines men’s and women’s teams scored identical 4-0 wins over lowly-rated Korea and Netherlands Antilles,respectively, in the first round.
In the second round, No. 16 Spain edged the No. 37 RP, 2.5-1.5 as John Paul Gomez lost to Ivan Salgado Lopez in Board 2 while the rest were drawn.
The women likewise went down against Romania, 0.5-3.5.
The men were set to play Scotland last night, while the ladies were set to face Qatar.
Vietnam, seeded 27th, registered the biggest upset of the tournament thus far with a spectacular 2.5-1.5 win against No. 3 Azerbaijan while the Topalov-led Bulgarian team, seeded eighth, No. 28 Croatia.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 25, 2010.
Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, plus 30 minutes play to finish with an increment of 30 seconds/move.
Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency
The numbers are astounding.There are 148 teams (735 players) in the men’s division and 114 teams (262 players) in the women’s division. Russia has fielded a controversial five teams in the men’s section and three in the women’s. The statistics are remarkable--772 titled players or 247 GMs, 63 WGMs, 160 IMs, 87 WIMs, 81 FMs, and 80 WFMs.
Thirty-five are over 2700 ELO and 117 are above 2600. There are a total of 220 players
above 2500 in the Men’s section.
The top seed is the first team of Russia followed by Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Russia B.
The defending champion is Armenia, which won in the last two Olympiads in Turin 2006 and Dresden 2008.
There are 22 teams with a rating average of 2600+, and all are possible medal winners.
In the women’s section, the top seed again is the team of Russia. They are the only team so far with an average ELO of 2500+. China is second with 2494, while Ukraine is third with 2493.
Georgia is the defending women’s champion.
To review, there are 312 titled players in the women section—14 GMs, 63 WGMs, and 37 IMs. 10 players are above 2500 and 37 are above 2400 ELO.
Absent is world champion Viswanathan Anand, who should have been playing for India but is now a Spanish citizen.
Special mention are the current world no.1 Magnus Carlsen of Norway, the volatile Veselin Topalov, playing for Bulgaria and Judit Polgar, the no.1 woman player who has only played 11 tournament games in the last 18 months. She will play board three for Hungary.
Composing the Philippines men team are GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo , Eugene Torre and IM Richard Bitoon. The women’s squad is composed of WFMs Cheradee Camacho, Catherine Pereña, Shercila Cua, Jedara Docena and Rulp Ylem Jose.
Also to be decided in the Olympiad is the election of a new set of Fide officers, which is hotly contested by the incumbent Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and former world champion Anatoly Karpov, both of Russia.
Initial feedback though shows that 93 federations, including the Philippines, have committed to support Kirsan.
Kirsan Ilyumzhinov’s lineup includes Georgios Makropoulos of Greece for deputy president, Lewis Ncube of Zambia for vice president, Beatriz Marinello of Chile and Brazil, for vice president, Ignatius Leong of Singapore for general secretary, and Nigel Freeman of Bermuda for treasurer.
The ticket of Anatoly Karpov includes Richard Conn Jr. of the United States, for deputy president, Aguinaldo Jaime of Angola for vice president, Alisa Maric of Serbia for vice president, Abd Hamid Majid of Malaysia for general secretary, and Viktor Kapustin of Ukraine for treasurer.
GAMES. As expected the Philippines men’s and women’s teams scored identical 4-0 wins over lowly-rated Korea and Netherlands Antilles,respectively, in the first round.
In the second round, No. 16 Spain edged the No. 37 RP, 2.5-1.5 as John Paul Gomez lost to Ivan Salgado Lopez in Board 2 while the rest were drawn.
The women likewise went down against Romania, 0.5-3.5.
The men were set to play Scotland last night, while the ladies were set to face Qatar.
Vietnam, seeded 27th, registered the biggest upset of the tournament thus far with a spectacular 2.5-1.5 win against No. 3 Azerbaijan while the Topalov-led Bulgarian team, seeded eighth, No. 28 Croatia.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 25, 2010.
New twist on Jinky and Joey case
SAMUEL Estimo, Jinky Young’s lawyer, e-mailed me the other day for updates on the case of Bobby Fischer’s estate.
“The District court of Reykjavik, Iceland has reopened the case of Jinky Young, the Filipino child of the late Bobby Fischer, to allow her to add further evidence in support of her claim to the estate of the chess legend.
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“In a ruling during the hearing on Sept. 10, Judge Ms. Ingiridur Ludviksdottir reset the case to Oct. 6 to allow Marilyn Young, Jinky’s mother, to engage the services of another lawyer after their counsel in Iceland, Thordur Bogason, had a falling out with Jinky’s local lawyer, Sammy Estimo.”
Estimo has theorized Bogason had prematurely closed the case without consulting his client after the DNA tests in Germany allegedly showed Jinky was not the child of Fischer. He said there were post-DNA remedies available, like a request for a similar test to be conducted on the DNA samples of Fischer’s nephews who are also claimants to his estate. If the result proves negative, then the seven tissue samples which were taken from the coffin supposedly containing the remains of Fischer during his questionable exhumation in July, were not genuinely his. The DNA examination in Germany would then be a hoax.
Estimo also discovered a provision of Icelandic law which would have won the case for Jinky but was not used by Bogason. This law, plus the bank deposits, post cards signed by Fischer admitting he was Jinky’s daddy, photos taken in a hotel in Hong Kong and the expensive house which Fischer bought for Jinky in Davao City could have clinched Jinky’s claim to the estate of her father.
But even if Jinky loses at the District Court, she can still appeal to the Supreme Court where she will have a better chance. Bogason admitted in his letter to Marilyn dated Sept. 11 a losing party at the District Court can go to the Supreme Court
within two weeks from receipt of the lower court’s ruling.
ANTONIO. Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia said he cannot just deprive Joey Antonio of his benefits and his P20,000 allowance based on the request of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines(NCFP).
“Obviously, there’s something wrong here but we need to discuss it first. We will talk to the parties concerned. We need to clarify things,” said Garcia.
The NCFP, through its president Butch Pichay, removed Antonio from the national team that will play in the Olympiad in Russia and the Asian Games in China and replaced him with Richard Bitoon.
Antonio elected to play in some minor tournaments in the USA and did not play in the country’s major international tournaments, the Pichay Cup and the more important $100,000 Capomanes Memorial.
The PSC provided the airfare and daily allowance for Antonio for the US trip based on a letter of request signed by Pichay himself.
“It would be a pity if an elite athlete like Joey Antonio is dropped from the national pool when he is not at fault,” Garcia said.
Pichay said, “Pwede namang ipagpaliban yung pagsali sa US. Kung wala siyang respeto sa Pichay Cup, kahit sa Campomanes Cup man lang siya sumali.”
LOCAL. There will be a tournament this Sept 19 at 9 a.m. in lower San Roque (near City Hall) Bulacao. Format is seven rounds Swiss with 25-minute time control. It is restricted to players 18 and below. For more details contact Denis Navales 09286614674.
Meanwhile, Cebuanos Felix Shaun Balbona and Kyle Sevillano qualified for the Shell
Kiddies Grand Finals. They qualified in the Cagayan leg along with Jhon Rey Batucan of Davao City. Congratulations.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 18, 2010.
“The District court of Reykjavik, Iceland has reopened the case of Jinky Young, the Filipino child of the late Bobby Fischer, to allow her to add further evidence in support of her claim to the estate of the chess legend.
Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency
“In a ruling during the hearing on Sept. 10, Judge Ms. Ingiridur Ludviksdottir reset the case to Oct. 6 to allow Marilyn Young, Jinky’s mother, to engage the services of another lawyer after their counsel in Iceland, Thordur Bogason, had a falling out with Jinky’s local lawyer, Sammy Estimo.”
Estimo has theorized Bogason had prematurely closed the case without consulting his client after the DNA tests in Germany allegedly showed Jinky was not the child of Fischer. He said there were post-DNA remedies available, like a request for a similar test to be conducted on the DNA samples of Fischer’s nephews who are also claimants to his estate. If the result proves negative, then the seven tissue samples which were taken from the coffin supposedly containing the remains of Fischer during his questionable exhumation in July, were not genuinely his. The DNA examination in Germany would then be a hoax.
Estimo also discovered a provision of Icelandic law which would have won the case for Jinky but was not used by Bogason. This law, plus the bank deposits, post cards signed by Fischer admitting he was Jinky’s daddy, photos taken in a hotel in Hong Kong and the expensive house which Fischer bought for Jinky in Davao City could have clinched Jinky’s claim to the estate of her father.
But even if Jinky loses at the District Court, she can still appeal to the Supreme Court where she will have a better chance. Bogason admitted in his letter to Marilyn dated Sept. 11 a losing party at the District Court can go to the Supreme Court
within two weeks from receipt of the lower court’s ruling.
ANTONIO. Philippine Sports Commission chairman Ritchie Garcia said he cannot just deprive Joey Antonio of his benefits and his P20,000 allowance based on the request of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines(NCFP).
“Obviously, there’s something wrong here but we need to discuss it first. We will talk to the parties concerned. We need to clarify things,” said Garcia.
The NCFP, through its president Butch Pichay, removed Antonio from the national team that will play in the Olympiad in Russia and the Asian Games in China and replaced him with Richard Bitoon.
Antonio elected to play in some minor tournaments in the USA and did not play in the country’s major international tournaments, the Pichay Cup and the more important $100,000 Capomanes Memorial.
The PSC provided the airfare and daily allowance for Antonio for the US trip based on a letter of request signed by Pichay himself.
“It would be a pity if an elite athlete like Joey Antonio is dropped from the national pool when he is not at fault,” Garcia said.
Pichay said, “Pwede namang ipagpaliban yung pagsali sa US. Kung wala siyang respeto sa Pichay Cup, kahit sa Campomanes Cup man lang siya sumali.”
LOCAL. There will be a tournament this Sept 19 at 9 a.m. in lower San Roque (near City Hall) Bulacao. Format is seven rounds Swiss with 25-minute time control. It is restricted to players 18 and below. For more details contact Denis Navales 09286614674.
Meanwhile, Cebuanos Felix Shaun Balbona and Kyle Sevillano qualified for the Shell
Kiddies Grand Finals. They qualified in the Cagayan leg along with Jhon Rey Batucan of Davao City. Congratulations.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on September 18, 2010.
Bitoon replaces Antonio in RP team
THE National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) has named Cebuano IM Richard Bitoon to replace GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the national team that will play in the Chess Olympiad in Russia this month and in the Asian Games in China this November.
Antonio was dropped from the national team after he elected to play in two minor events in the United States rather than compete in the Pichay Cup and the first Campomanes Memorial.
Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency
Bitoon, 34, who was called the Gata Kamsky of Cebu while he was growing up, said he is ready to take part in his third Olympiad.
He scored a respectable 6/9 points in the Campo Memorial to tie for seventh to 13th together with Wesley So, Darwin Laylo and several others. The three were the best Filipino placers in the memorial.
Bitoon also donned the national colors in the 1998 Kalmykia and 2000 Istanbul Olympiads which was highly controversial. The issue is too complicated to be discussed here as the Philippines sent two separate teams.
Bitoon, the 2008 Singapore Masters champion, will be joining GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Eugene Torre in the national team.
We placed 46th in the last Olympiad at Dresden. Can we do better without Joey around?
Meanwhile, Antonio is planning to sue NCFP and president Prospero Pichay for removing him from the RP team.
NM Samuel Estimo, Joey’s lawyer explained that under the by-laws of the NCFP, before any disciplinary action can be slapped against any player, he must be given a chance to defend himself before the NCFP Internal Affairs Committee after proper notice has been served.
In the case of Antonio, Estimo said the GM was denied his right to due process.
NEW GMS. I featured Cebuano Banjo Barcenilla a few weeks ago as our next GM.
Joining him is Italy based-IM Roland Salvador who recently snared his third and final norm in Italy late last month.
About 250 players competed in the International Chess Tournament Fermo-Porto San Giorgio. In the Master Open, six players shared first place with 7.0 points each: IM Salvador Roland (2498, Philippines ), GM Epishin Vladimir (2598, Russia), GM Prohaszka Peter (2526, Hungary), GM Meijers Viesturs (2474, Latvia), GM David Alberto (2622, Luxemburg) and GM Leon Hoyos Manuel (2556, Mexico).
Salvador was declared winner because he had the best tiebreak score.
NCFP President/ Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. lauded Salvador’s latest feat.
“He deserves this... I’m really happy for him. This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the world’s best woodpushers,” said Pichay.
“Inaalay ko po sa bayan ang pagkapanalo ko dito sa Italy at pagkuha ng third at final GM norm. Naging inspirasyon din po natin si President Pichay na patuloy na sumusuporta sa local at international tournaments para lalong mapalakas ang chess sa Pilipinas,” said Salvador.
With his impressive performance, Salvador raised his Elo rating from 2498 to 2511. He achieved his first GM norm in 2004 in Bratto, Italy and picked up his second in 2006 in Genova, Italy.
The two will soon join the ranks of RP’s elite group of GMs—Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Antonio Jr., Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, So, Laylo, Gonzales, Gomez and Joseph Sanchez .
Salvador’s and Barcenilla’s status as full-pledge GMs will be confirmed in the upcoming Fide Congress to coincide with the Chess Olympiad in Russia on Sept. 21 to Oct. 3.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
September 10, 2010.
Antonio was dropped from the national team after he elected to play in two minor events in the United States rather than compete in the Pichay Cup and the first Campomanes Memorial.
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Bitoon, 34, who was called the Gata Kamsky of Cebu while he was growing up, said he is ready to take part in his third Olympiad.
He scored a respectable 6/9 points in the Campo Memorial to tie for seventh to 13th together with Wesley So, Darwin Laylo and several others. The three were the best Filipino placers in the memorial.
Bitoon also donned the national colors in the 1998 Kalmykia and 2000 Istanbul Olympiads which was highly controversial. The issue is too complicated to be discussed here as the Philippines sent two separate teams.
Bitoon, the 2008 Singapore Masters champion, will be joining GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Eugene Torre in the national team.
We placed 46th in the last Olympiad at Dresden. Can we do better without Joey around?
Meanwhile, Antonio is planning to sue NCFP and president Prospero Pichay for removing him from the RP team.
NM Samuel Estimo, Joey’s lawyer explained that under the by-laws of the NCFP, before any disciplinary action can be slapped against any player, he must be given a chance to defend himself before the NCFP Internal Affairs Committee after proper notice has been served.
In the case of Antonio, Estimo said the GM was denied his right to due process.
NEW GMS. I featured Cebuano Banjo Barcenilla a few weeks ago as our next GM.
Joining him is Italy based-IM Roland Salvador who recently snared his third and final norm in Italy late last month.
About 250 players competed in the International Chess Tournament Fermo-Porto San Giorgio. In the Master Open, six players shared first place with 7.0 points each: IM Salvador Roland (2498, Philippines ), GM Epishin Vladimir (2598, Russia), GM Prohaszka Peter (2526, Hungary), GM Meijers Viesturs (2474, Latvia), GM David Alberto (2622, Luxemburg) and GM Leon Hoyos Manuel (2556, Mexico).
Salvador was declared winner because he had the best tiebreak score.
NCFP President/ Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. lauded Salvador’s latest feat.
“He deserves this... I’m really happy for him. This proves once again that the Filipino can be at par with the world’s best woodpushers,” said Pichay.
“Inaalay ko po sa bayan ang pagkapanalo ko dito sa Italy at pagkuha ng third at final GM norm. Naging inspirasyon din po natin si President Pichay na patuloy na sumusuporta sa local at international tournaments para lalong mapalakas ang chess sa Pilipinas,” said Salvador.
With his impressive performance, Salvador raised his Elo rating from 2498 to 2511. He achieved his first GM norm in 2004 in Bratto, Italy and picked up his second in 2006 in Genova, Italy.
The two will soon join the ranks of RP’s elite group of GMs—Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Antonio Jr., Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, So, Laylo, Gonzales, Gomez and Joseph Sanchez .
Salvador’s and Barcenilla’s status as full-pledge GMs will be confirmed in the upcoming Fide Congress to coincide with the Chess Olympiad in Russia on Sept. 21 to Oct. 3.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
September 10, 2010.
Just say sorry, Joey
GM JOEY Antonio is out of the Philippine team that will be sent to the Chess Olympiad in Russia and the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou ,China.
Not only that, he stands to lose his monthly allowance of P20,000.
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What happened? How can such a misfortune be possible?
After examining all the facts and following the drama the past week or so, my conclusion is that it is all a matter of misunderstanding.
But Joey should not justify his actions and air his grievances to the media as the blame largely falls upon himself as he was warned and had ample time to rectify his error. What he should do is to admit his mistake and ask for forgiveness from NCFP president Prospero Pichay, who is a reasonable man.
The whole thing started when Joey snubbed the two most prestigious international tournaments of the country--the back-to- back Pichay Cup and the Campomanes Memorial.
The $100,000 Campomanes Memorial is considered to be a major tournament this year and even Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Ignatius Leong, the Fide president and secretary-general were here.
Instead Joey went to the USA and competed in the minor 2nd Central California Open which he won. He also planned to play in the Atlantic Open and return home on Sept. 9, which is too late for the Campo Memorial.
Meanwhile, Pichay said Antonio faces expulsion from the national team if he fails to return to the country in time and participate in the first Campomanes Memorial .
Pichay instructed NCFP executive director Willie Abalos to relay the possible sanction
to Antonio.
“We are giving him the chance and will wait until Saturday. If he fails to show up then we have no other choice but to replace him,” added Abalos.
“Definitely, we will sanction him. Discipline is important for a national player and we will not tolerate players who are prima donnas,” said Pichay.
Antonio said, “I have all the documents signed by Mr. Pichay. I also made a courtesy call on PSC chairman Richie Garcia before I left so I am completely puzzled by their decision, which I hope is not final. Physically, I cannot play in the ‘Campo’ Memorial because my plane ticket has been booked until Sept. 9. If they would send me a new ticket, I will go home ASAP.”
I note a tinge of arrogance here. He should have gone home pronto!
Pichay said, “Yes, I signed the letter intended for the PSC, but it doesn’t mean that he was given the go signal to miss the two major events in the country. We already had the order that national players must take part in at least one tournament, either the Pichay Cup or the Campomanes Memorial. His action shows that he is not serious in joining the team.”
Antonio, the country’s No. 2, said, “Modesty aside, I have given so much honor and glory to the Philippines being one of the main pillars for the RP team in the past 10 Olympiads along with Eugene Torre. I have dedicated my life to the sport and now, they just want to snuff out the fire in me?”
GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre are the other members of the team.
Joey’s replacement will be chosen after the Campo Memorial.
My wish though is for Joey to remain on the team. After all, he has learned his lesson. Taking legal action, which he and his wife are planning to do, is not advisable. It will only make things worse for him.
CLINIC. A clinic on basic chess principles will be conducted in Gun-ob,Lapu-lapu City for kiddies 14 years and younger on Sept.5.
After the clinic, there will be a tournament among the participants with attractive prizes at stake. For details, contact Manny Manzanares at 09058386318 or Jun Olis at 09103476987.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Not only that, he stands to lose his monthly allowance of P20,000.
Updates on President Benigno Aquino III's presidency
What happened? How can such a misfortune be possible?
After examining all the facts and following the drama the past week or so, my conclusion is that it is all a matter of misunderstanding.
But Joey should not justify his actions and air his grievances to the media as the blame largely falls upon himself as he was warned and had ample time to rectify his error. What he should do is to admit his mistake and ask for forgiveness from NCFP president Prospero Pichay, who is a reasonable man.
The whole thing started when Joey snubbed the two most prestigious international tournaments of the country--the back-to- back Pichay Cup and the Campomanes Memorial.
The $100,000 Campomanes Memorial is considered to be a major tournament this year and even Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Ignatius Leong, the Fide president and secretary-general were here.
Instead Joey went to the USA and competed in the minor 2nd Central California Open which he won. He also planned to play in the Atlantic Open and return home on Sept. 9, which is too late for the Campo Memorial.
Meanwhile, Pichay said Antonio faces expulsion from the national team if he fails to return to the country in time and participate in the first Campomanes Memorial .
Pichay instructed NCFP executive director Willie Abalos to relay the possible sanction
to Antonio.
“We are giving him the chance and will wait until Saturday. If he fails to show up then we have no other choice but to replace him,” added Abalos.
“Definitely, we will sanction him. Discipline is important for a national player and we will not tolerate players who are prima donnas,” said Pichay.
Antonio said, “I have all the documents signed by Mr. Pichay. I also made a courtesy call on PSC chairman Richie Garcia before I left so I am completely puzzled by their decision, which I hope is not final. Physically, I cannot play in the ‘Campo’ Memorial because my plane ticket has been booked until Sept. 9. If they would send me a new ticket, I will go home ASAP.”
I note a tinge of arrogance here. He should have gone home pronto!
Pichay said, “Yes, I signed the letter intended for the PSC, but it doesn’t mean that he was given the go signal to miss the two major events in the country. We already had the order that national players must take part in at least one tournament, either the Pichay Cup or the Campomanes Memorial. His action shows that he is not serious in joining the team.”
Antonio, the country’s No. 2, said, “Modesty aside, I have given so much honor and glory to the Philippines being one of the main pillars for the RP team in the past 10 Olympiads along with Eugene Torre. I have dedicated my life to the sport and now, they just want to snuff out the fire in me?”
GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre are the other members of the team.
Joey’s replacement will be chosen after the Campo Memorial.
My wish though is for Joey to remain on the team. After all, he has learned his lesson. Taking legal action, which he and his wife are planning to do, is not advisable. It will only make things worse for him.
CLINIC. A clinic on basic chess principles will be conducted in Gun-ob,Lapu-lapu City for kiddies 14 years and younger on Sept.5.
After the clinic, there will be a tournament among the participants with attractive prizes at stake. For details, contact Manny Manzanares at 09058386318 or Jun Olis at 09103476987.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
Friday, September 3, 2010
Experience team vs. Rising Stars
THIS distinct annual event pits five highly-talented young players against five older and experienced ones. It was held last Aug. 12 to 22 at the five-star Hotel Krasnapolsky in the heart of Amsterdam.
The “Experience” team consisted of Boris Gelfand (Israel, 2739), Peter Svidler (Russia, 2734), Peter Heine Nielsen (Denmark, 2700), Loek van Wely (The Netherlands, 2677) and Ljubomir Ljubojevic (Serbia, 2572). The “Rising Stars” was made up of Hikaru Nakamura (United States, 2729), Fabiano Caruana (Italy, 2697), Wesley So (Philippines, 2674), Anish Giri (Netherlands, 2672) and David Howell (England, 2616).
The tournament was a double round-robin Schveningen type match, in which the players of each team play each player of the other team twice.
It was the fifth and final edition of the tournament. The youngsters won the first three editions. This year the rising stars won again but barely, 26-24.
This tournament is organized by the Monaco-based Association Max Euwe of renowned
billionaire Joop van Oosterom. The players are treated like movie stars and the only thing that is expected in return is that they entertain the public with great fighting chess.
Each player of the winning team receives 2,000 euros, and the losing team 1,000 euros each. In case of a tie, each player gets 1,500 euros. In addition, each player receives 500 euros for each point he scores.
There’s also a special prize for the “Rising Stars” team and the player with the highest score will be invited to the 2011 Melody Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament in Nice, provided he scores over 50 percent. In case two players reach the same score, a blitz tiebreaker will decide who will be invited.
Nakamura and Giri were tied at the end of the tournament and a tiebreak blitz game was played. Nakamura, renowned as one of the world’s best blitz players, swept the series 2-0, and will join an elite field in Nice next year for some blindfold and rapid chess.
Our Wesley So is turning out to be like Peter Leko of Hungary and Tigran Petrosian of Russia—great players with a penchant for draws. Wesley did not win a game in 10 rounds and had nine draws. His single loss against the lowest rated Ljubojevic who I remember was a nemesis of Eugene Torre in the 70s and 80s.
BARCENILLA.US-based GM elect Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla’s long-overdue grandmaster title will be tackled again .
“Mag meeting ulit daw sa September sa next Congress during Olympiad,” said Barcenilla, former Asian Junior champion.
It was Fide delegate Casto “Toti” Abundo of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) who assured Barcenilla’s long-ovedue GM title application.
“Sabi ni Casto Abundo iti-take up nila ang application ko daw ulit,” said Barcenilla.
Barcenilla achieved his first GM norm in 1993 in Jakarta and picked up his second norm five years later in Subic. He won his third GM norm in 2000 in New York and his fourth in 2009 in Phoenix. Barcenilla best ELO rating is 2518.
Barcenilla became the fourth Filipino GM after Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas and Rogelio Antonio, Jr. when he obtained the third and final GM result in the
Marshall Chess Club GM Invitational in New York in June 2000.
However, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) did not confirm Barcenilla’s GM status since his third norm was a result of a tournament which used the Marshall system.
This tournament format is not included among those cited in Fide’s guidelines that could bestow GM norms.
He is a nephew of the late Bombi Aznar and is from Carcar.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
The “Experience” team consisted of Boris Gelfand (Israel, 2739), Peter Svidler (Russia, 2734), Peter Heine Nielsen (Denmark, 2700), Loek van Wely (The Netherlands, 2677) and Ljubomir Ljubojevic (Serbia, 2572). The “Rising Stars” was made up of Hikaru Nakamura (United States, 2729), Fabiano Caruana (Italy, 2697), Wesley So (Philippines, 2674), Anish Giri (Netherlands, 2672) and David Howell (England, 2616).
The tournament was a double round-robin Schveningen type match, in which the players of each team play each player of the other team twice.
It was the fifth and final edition of the tournament. The youngsters won the first three editions. This year the rising stars won again but barely, 26-24.
This tournament is organized by the Monaco-based Association Max Euwe of renowned
billionaire Joop van Oosterom. The players are treated like movie stars and the only thing that is expected in return is that they entertain the public with great fighting chess.
Each player of the winning team receives 2,000 euros, and the losing team 1,000 euros each. In case of a tie, each player gets 1,500 euros. In addition, each player receives 500 euros for each point he scores.
There’s also a special prize for the “Rising Stars” team and the player with the highest score will be invited to the 2011 Melody Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament in Nice, provided he scores over 50 percent. In case two players reach the same score, a blitz tiebreaker will decide who will be invited.
Nakamura and Giri were tied at the end of the tournament and a tiebreak blitz game was played. Nakamura, renowned as one of the world’s best blitz players, swept the series 2-0, and will join an elite field in Nice next year for some blindfold and rapid chess.
Our Wesley So is turning out to be like Peter Leko of Hungary and Tigran Petrosian of Russia—great players with a penchant for draws. Wesley did not win a game in 10 rounds and had nine draws. His single loss against the lowest rated Ljubojevic who I remember was a nemesis of Eugene Torre in the 70s and 80s.
BARCENILLA.US-based GM elect Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla’s long-overdue grandmaster title will be tackled again .
“Mag meeting ulit daw sa September sa next Congress during Olympiad,” said Barcenilla, former Asian Junior champion.
It was Fide delegate Casto “Toti” Abundo of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) who assured Barcenilla’s long-ovedue GM title application.
“Sabi ni Casto Abundo iti-take up nila ang application ko daw ulit,” said Barcenilla.
Barcenilla achieved his first GM norm in 1993 in Jakarta and picked up his second norm five years later in Subic. He won his third GM norm in 2000 in New York and his fourth in 2009 in Phoenix. Barcenilla best ELO rating is 2518.
Barcenilla became the fourth Filipino GM after Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas and Rogelio Antonio, Jr. when he obtained the third and final GM result in the
Marshall Chess Club GM Invitational in New York in June 2000.
However, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) did not confirm Barcenilla’s GM status since his third norm was a result of a tournament which used the Marshall system.
This tournament format is not included among those cited in Fide’s guidelines that could bestow GM norms.
He is a nephew of the late Bombi Aznar and is from Carcar.
(boypestano@gmail.com,www.chessmoso.blogspot.com)
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