World’s top-rated players

By Frank "Boy" Pestaño
Chessmoso

THE World Chess Federation has just released its top players as of October 2005. Still retaining his No.1 spot is Garry Kasparov followed by Vishy Anand and current Classical World Champion Vladimir Kramnik. Fide champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov is surprisingly ranked only 47th.

The top woman player is still Judit Polgar while top junior is Teimour Radjabov, and top among girls is the beautiful Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia.

The world’s top 10 are: 1) Garry Kasparov, Russia-2813, 2) Anand Viswanathan, India-2781, 3) Vladimir Kramnik, Russia-2760, 4) Alexander Morozevich, Russia-2758, 5) Veselin Topalov, Bulgaria- 2757, 6) Peter Leko, Hungary-2743, 7) Michael Adams, England-2740, 8) Peter Svidler, Russia-2753, 9) Judit Polgar, Hungary-2728 10) Alexei Shirov, Spain-2726.

Top women: 1) Judit Polgar, Hungary-2728, 2) Xie-Jun, China-2569, 3) Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgaria-2523, 4) Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russia-2508, 5) Maia Chiburdanidze, Georgia-2503, 6) Humpy Koneru, India-2503, 7) Chen Zhu, China-2494, 8) Tatiana Kosintseva, Russia-2493, 9) Xu Yuhua, China-2487, 10) Zhao Xue, China-2487.

Top juniors 1) Teimour Radjabov, Azerbaijan-2663, 2) Shakhiyar Mamedyarov, Azerbaijan-2660, 3) Andrei Volokitin, Ukraine-2652, 4) Ferenc Berkes, Hungary-2630, 5) Luke J. McShane, England-2629, 6) Hikaru Nakamura, USA- 2620, 7) David Navara, Czech Republic-2620, 8) Bu Xiangzhi, China-2615, 9) P. Harikrishna, India-2612, 10) Arkadij Naiditsch, Germany-2611.

Top girls 1) Alexandra Kosteniuk, Russia-2508, 2) Humpy Koneru, India-2503, 3) Tatiana Kosintseva, Russia-2493, 4) Zhao Xue, China-2487, 5) Nana Dzagnidze, Georgia-2484, 6) Nadezhda Kosintseva, Russia-2446, 7) Kateryna Lahno, Ukraine-2435, 8) Marie Sebag, France-2428, 9) Lela Javakhishvilil, Georgia-2423, 10) Ekaterina Korbut, Russia-2400.

Top Filipinos 1) Mark Paragua-2534, 2) Rogelio Antonio Jr.-2524, 3) Eugenio Torre-2518, 4) Rogelio Barcenilla-2507, 5) Nelson Mariano II-2464, 6) Buenaventura Villamayor-2463, 7) Idelfonso Datu-2457, 8) Enrique Paciencia-2449, 9) Yves Rañola-2449, 10) Ronald Dableo-2440.

With his extraordinary performance in his last three tournaments, Mark Paragua is now a full-pledged Grandmaster with an elo rating of just over 2600, the first Filipino to do so.

MIGHTY UC. The Cebu School Athletic Foundation Inc. chess tournament just concluded recently and sweeping both in the college and high school divisions was the University of Cebu. The other participants were University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of San Carlos, Cebu Institute of Technology and Don Bosco in the high school division.

Members of UC’s champion collegiate Men’s team were Rex Androe Cabungcal, Brian Patalingjug, John Nicole Cuyag and James Angelo Uy.

On the other hand, the winning Women’s team is made up of Lorie May Seno, Sherlina Gumapon, Jennyfer Abejan and Mar Grace Gacang.

The top Boys team is composed of Jimson Bitoon, Denver Ruaya, Jose Vano and Melchor Ottara while in the Girls squad are Jacel Bucog, Janina Ebrado, Michele Sagario and Rea Famat.

National Master Linky Yap was the director and arbiter of the tournament.

CEPCA VS. CEBU SELECTION. National Master Bombi Aznar, William Retanal, Ben Dimaano and Sun.Star Cebu sports editor Jobannie Tabada will lead the members of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association against the Cebu Selection this Sunday at the Handuraw Leisure and Learning Café in Mabolo, located at the old Coaco Bldg., beside Kahayag Restaurant.

Heading the Cebu Selection are Anthony Makinano, Boy Abugho, Boy Alejandre, Irwin Ababat, Steven Yap, Carlito Santos, Gene Montesclaros, Therese Gonzales, Jenny Rose Palomo, Jun Sanchez, Bonjoe Lanorias, Bob Tojong and others.

Also playing for Cepca are Jojo Muralla, Gerry Tomakin, Alex Tolentino, Mer Fernandez, Felix Balbona, Norway Lara, Joe Atillo, Santiago Peque, Maggi Dionson, Dante Arguelles, Mandy Baria, Ely Berciles, Tony Cornejo, Gerry Rallos, Fred Sandalo, Fabio Abucejo, Bob Inocian, Loy Miñoza, Junard Labadan, Jun Olis and Danny Pestano.

Time control is one hour for each play to finish and each player will play two games handling both white and black pieces. Games will start at 1:30 p.m.