World championship 2005

By Frank "Boy" Pestaño
Chessmoso

IN A move nobody thought was possible, Fide announced that the World Chess Championship 2005 will be held in San Luis, Argentina on Sept. 27 to Oct. 16 with a prize money of $1 million. The contracts were signed by the Governor of San Luis, Dr. Alberto Rodriguez Saa and Fide president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

The tournament will have eight players in a double-round robin format. $300,000 will go to the champion. The organizers have secured a bank guarantee to the prize fund so a major condition has been met.

It will be recalled that the original championship match between Garry Kasparov and Rustam Kasimdzhanov was cancelled due to Kasparov’s retirement.

The invited participants for this championship are Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, the current champion (knockout winner in Libya 2004), Michael Adams of England (runner-up in Libya), Vladimir Kramnik of Russia (classical world champion), Peter Leko of Hungary.

The list also includes the top four players based on the average Elo rating of July 2004 and January 2005: Garry Kasparov of Russia, Viswanathan Anand of India, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Alexander Morozevich of Russia.

Nobody has, as of this time, confirmed his participation. Although, I expect that with the exception of Kasparov, the other players will go along for the ride to determine once and for all who should be No.1. Replacing those who will decline the invitation are the next rated players based on the January 2005 and July 2004 Elo ratings.

If this tournament materializes and Kramnik participates, we will have a true and undisputed champion since Kasparov defeated Karpov back in 1990 in New York and Lyons.

CHESS CARNIVAL. Chess players had a rare opportunity last week as we had a double treat in the Southeast Asian Games (Seag) rapid eliminations and Filway Open following each other at SM City-Cebu. It was not your normal chess tournament. It was more like a carnival with all the noise, music and people crowding the playing venue.

The next time we have a tournament of this magnitude, there should be giant boards for the top three boards and the playing venue should be in a more appropriate place like Baseline.

Anyway, the major news of the tournament was the official announcement by Casto Abundo, Fide ratings administrator, on the confirmation of Mark Paragua as grandmaster. To recall, Mark got his GM norms in the three Alushta tournaments last year, but his title was delayed as the results were deemed “questionable.”

Speaking of grandmasters and without any allusion to Mark as he fully deserves it being the highest rated Pinoy, it is relatively easier nowadays to become one unlike before when Eugene Torre became a GM in 1974.

Back then, anyone who became GM was featured in most sports news worldwide. It was and should be a rare accomplishment.

I think that Fide should elevate the requirements of being a grandmaster by increasing the required Elo rating to 2600. Just like in boxing, when the cruiserweight division was created, those in the 2500-2599 ratings should be called candidate grandmasters or junior grandmaster. Then the true super grandmasters are those in the 2700 plus category.

With the current format and the huge number of tournaments with possible GM norms, plus the help of computer-aided training, becoming a grandmaster is a common occurrence.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jedara Docena, Lennon Hart Salgados and Cebu Professionals and Executives Chess Association’s pride Jessa Balbona were the champions in the Men, Women, Boys and Girls categories, respectively.

I noticed a number of Cepca players who played in the Filway Open, namely Mandy Baria, Santiago Peque, Richard Abangan, Fred Sandalo, Jason Genobiagon, William Retanal, Jobannie Tabada, Jonard Labadan, Fabio Abucejon, Jerry San Pascual, Felix Balbona, Joe Atillo and new member Pepe Gador.

BOMBI’S GUESTS. After the tournament, National Master Bombi Aznar hosted a well-attended dinner for our out-of-town visitors at Papa’s restaurant along V. Rama Ave. that lasted past midnight. I did not know Eugene Torre is a good singer. His rendition of “Matud Nila” and “My Way” brought the house down.

Those who joined Bombi and me for dinner were Torre, Samuel Estimo, Rose Estimo, Irelle Gaviola, Judge Rosendo Bandal, Ric Bandal, International Master Richard Bitoon, IM (Ilonggo master) Domingo Cordero, IM Barlo Nadera, NM Rolando Nolte, NM Cyril Ortega.

Also there were IM Manny Senador, Danny Pestaño, Maria Isabel Balite, Irina Balite, Maria Dyan Sofia Balite, golfer Rolly Santos, Evelyn Enojo, Florence Marie Doit, Jemina Marie Balite, Ryan Trajera, Jason Bandal and Cepca president Jun Olis.