Southeast Asian Games; Wesley So

By Frank “Boy” Pestaño
Chessmoso

SURPRISINGLY, the Philippines is not the toprated chess team in the Men’s division of the Southeast Asian Games. Myanmar, despite having only one grandmaster and four international masters, has an average Elo of 2530 compared to the Philippines’ 2492 and Vietnam’s 2480. Indonesia has 2469 and Singapore has 2378. The other teams are way behind. This is based on the average ratings of the country’s top 10 players.

The top eight players of Myanmar are IM Wynn Zaw Htun with an Elo of 2578, Fide Master Htun Htun Than (2548), FM Aung Kyaw Lwynn A (2533), FM Phyo Chit (2533), GM Zaw Win Lay (2529), FM Mynn Htoo (2526), FM Ye Naung Win Myint (2524) and IM Myo Naing (2516).

Vietnam has four GMs: Dao Thien Hai, the highest rated player in Southeast Asia (2601), Nguyen Anh Dung (2555), 15-year-old Nguyen Ngoc Truongson (2554) and Tu Hoang Thong (2486). Backing them up are IMs Hoang Thanh Trang with an Elo of (2476), Bui Vinh (2467) and Pham Minh Hoang (2466).

INDON VETS. Not to be discounted are the veterans of Indonesia, which has seven GMs, yes seven, led by Utut Adianto (2588). The other players are FM Irwanto Sadikin (2517), IM Juswanto Denny (2509), GM Megaranto Susanto (2499), GM Barus Cerdas (2479), GM Gunawan Ruben (2463), IM Singgang Salor (2415), GM Ardiansyah H. (2409), FM Kosasih Cecep (2408) and GM Handoko Edhi (2407).

Singapore has two GMs, four IMs and also four FMs in its top 10. Its players are GM Wu Shaobin (2510), GM Wong Meng Kong (2460), IM Goh Koon Jong Jason (2428), IM Toh Terry (2410), FM Goh Weiming (2390), FM Ong Chong Ghee (2339), IM Chan Peng Kong (2332), FM Kivisto Mikko (2307), FM Tan Lian Ann (2302) and FM Yeo Min Yang Evan (2300).

I don’t have the final line-up of players of these countries to the Games as it is not listed in their websites, but the bulk should include most of the players listed above.

This early, the Philippines already has its final line-up to the Games after a rigorous series of eliminations, which lasted two months.

Comprising the Standard chess team are GM Joey Antonio (2513), GM Eugene Torre (2535), IM Ronald Dableo (2440), FM Oliver Dimakiling (2329), and Oliver Barbosa (2355). IM Jayson Gonzales (2477) is the reserve player.

On the other hand, the Rapid chess team’s players are Antonio, IM Mark Paragua (2596), GM Nelson Mariano II (2466), IM Barlo Nadera (2423), the only Cebuano in the line-up, and IM Petronio Roca (2414). Torre gave up his spot in favor of Paragua, who was the Rapid champion in the last Seag.

The Blitz players are Antonio, Dableo and Gonzales with the fourth slot going to either Paragua or Mariano.

In the distaff side, the Standard team is made up of Woman Fide Master Sherrie Joy Lomibao (2126), Woman International Master Beverly Mendoza (2140), Shercila Cua (1954), Enirose Magno and Aices Salvador.

The Women’s Blitz players are Sherily Cua and Women National Masters Catherine Perena and Joan Toledo. Mendoza or Lomibao could get the fourth spot.

There are eight gold medals up for grabs in chess: Standard Single, Rapid Single, Blitz Single, Standard Team and Rapid Team for the Men’s cluster and Standard Single, Standard Team and Blitz Single for the Women’s. Theoretically, Antonio can win five gold medals.

Venue is at the Tagaytay Convention Center, starting on Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.

WESLEY SO. Pinoy child-prodigy FM Wesley So defeated pacesetter Srinath Nayaranan of India in the last round for the Philippines’ best finish in the World Youth chess Championship held in Belfort, France recently.

Four players tied for first in the Boys Under-12 category: Srinath Nayaranan, Sanan Sjugirov of Russia, Ter Sahakyan Samvel of Armenia and So.

If the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and other sports bodies handle this boy properly, we have the makings here of a future grandmaster and possible world champion.

Wesley is a grade-six student at St. Francis of Assisi College in Bacoor, Cavite.

CEPCA AUGUST. The monthly tournament of the Cebu Executives and Professional Chess Association (Cepca) for August will be held this Sunday at the Stella Maris Seafarer’s Center in Pier 4, 2 p.m.

Only four monthly tournaments are left, including this one, and NM Bombie Aznar is already seeded for the championship in December same as last year.

Format is five-round Swiss with time handicapping depending on the players’ skill. New members are welcome.