Pestaño: Wala diay maghikog tungod napilde sa chess

 Thursday, June 11, 2015

 Ni 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMIS

NAAY dies anyos nga bata nga niambak sa second floor sa ilang eskwelahan ug namatay human magkalalis sa iyang kontra kay napilde kuno sa chess.

Ang ngalan sa grade 5 nga estudyante wala gihatag sa media (VR lang) pero nahitabo ni sa Grant School sa Dumont, New Jersey sa miaging buwan.

Nagsuwat ang bata una miambak ug gihatag sa usa ka aide nga ang iyang reklamo: wala kuno misulti ug “checkmate” ang iya kontra ug gikaon lang dayon ang iya king.

Ang suwat dili kuno suicide note matod pa sa pulis.

Si Corey Schlosser, 27, nga naa anak sa indergarten sa eskwelahan misulti nga   ‘I was scared and just freaked out. I don’t know how something like this could happen, especially at a school. They’re supposed to be protecting our children.’

Apan naa psychologist, David Miller, nga nakasuwat ug libro bahin adolescent suicide mi komentaryo nga “Suicide, we’re learning, is not as sometimes widely believed, an impulsive act. Most people who are suicidal have thought about this and have communicated it to other people. It sounds like that’s the case here as well.”

Ang bata nasuko ug giaway ang iya kontra ug nisulti nga “Something bad was going to happen to him. Do you want me to do something drastic?”

Pyschologist Jill Harkavy-Friedman sa American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFPR), misulti sa NJ Media nga talagsaon ra ang pre-adolescent suicides.
kadaghanan naa undiagnosed problema sa utok. “It doesn’t just come out of the blue .It often comes from long-standing contributors and then other risk factors that are like triggers — like having a fight or getting a bad grade.”

Sa imbestigasyon sa pulis, ang bata bag.o lang miabot gikan sa Russia ug naglisud ug adjust sa eskwelahan. Ingon sa mga empleyado sa eskwelahan wala sia uban mokaon sa lunch break ug sia lang usa. Giingnan pud sia sa iyang mga classmates nga dili sia makaduwa ug chess nila pero gibadlong sila sa lunch aide. Giingnan sila nga paapilon si VR sa ilang mga dua.

Misulti pud ang iyang classmates nga katulo kuno mihulga si VR nga moambak sa bentana pero abi nila “messing around” lang.

Ingon ang mga experts nga talagsaon ra kaayo ang paghikog sa mga elementary students. Sa 2013, 41,000 ang naghikug sa Amerika pero 17 ra ang under 14. Kadaghanan dili sad sa eskwelahan atubangan sa iyang mga classmates ug adto sa ilang balay pinaagi sa pagbitay.

Dili klaro kung si VR naa psychiatric treatment. Dili man mo komentaryo ang iya pamilya ug gidili sad sa federal law ang pagpagawas ani sa media. (boypestano@gmail.com)

Pestaño: Australia eyes compulsory chess in schools

 Friday, June 12, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

COULD a humble board game improve school performance and play a role in driving a country’s economy?

Economist and former Liberal advisor John Adams thinks so and is heading a push to make chess a compulsory part of the national curriculum.

“The Gonski report clearly outlined that the performance of Australian school children, based on the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment, has been in decline since 2000 across mathematics, science and reading,” he said.

He points out that chess is already a part of the curriculum in more than 40 countries worldwide and is already implemented in some schools in Australia with evidence that the game is an effective teaching tool.

“In some Australian primary and secondary schools, chess is being taught by full or part-time chess teachers as part of the school’s curriculum or co-curriculum,” Adams said. “I have been amazed at the teachers’ stories, particularly the outcomes they say have been achieved from chess instruction and the transformational effects it has had on the children.”

He adds, “To compete in a knowledge-based and high-tech global economy, Australia will require a workforce that has not only greater skills but greater intellectual prowess based on superior analytical and cognitive abilities.”

Julia Eileen Gillard was Prime Minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013. She wanted to make Australia’s education system in the top 5 in the world by 2025.

Australia’s results have been appalling in recent tests however. In 2011, Australia participated in PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) in which children throughout the world in grade four had their reading abilities evaluated. Australia ranked 27th out of 48 countries, behind every other English-speaking country in the world!

Russia, which ranked second in the PIRLS test, has long been using chess in their education system with astounding results. Chess as an educational tool has been scientifically proven to have limitless benefits academically, psychologically and socially.

Adams also said that “For us to be globally competitive but also to increase our living standards, we will have to compete in the knowledge economy with a greater level of complexity, particularly around high-tech innovation and manufacturing.” The future belongs to the ability of children and their training in school.

Playing chess regularly teaches children of all ages that each decision they make needs to be carefully thought out and viewed from a long term point of view. This is particularly relevant now as teens have problems with drugs and alcohol.

In 2009, President Gloria Macapoagal Arroyo issued an executive order to include chess in schools. As a result, a memorandum of agreement was signed between NCFP president Prospero Pichay and then DepEd Secretary Jesli Lapus to implement the program and a National Chess Academy was supposed to be created.

However, there has been no progress made and the present administration does not have the foresight or the inclination at the highest level. The MOA is still technically in place though and GMs Eugene Torre, Jayson Gonzales , Pichay and especially Armin Luistro have their work cut out for them.

The chess leader here in Cebu, Bodjie Lim, has informed me that they have taken note of Marie Ernestine historic decision to include chess in the curriculum here in Cebu for Grades 3,4,5 and 6.

Apparently the biggest problem is the lack of competent teachers to implement it on a nationwide basis. That is a lame excuse though as Arroyo signed the executive order six years ago.

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

Pestaño: Caruana, Nakamura top grand prix qualifiers

 Friday, June 05, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

THE Fide Grand Prix 2014–15 is a series of four tournaments that form part of the qualification cycle for the 2016 world championship. The top two finishers will qualify to the 2016 candidates tournament, which consists of 16 players.

Fide announced the 11 qualifiers as per regulations, with four more nominees from the organizers and one from the Fide president. The players will be required to play three legs—comprising 12 players per leg.

The players were Dmitry Andreikin (Russia), Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Fabiano Caruana (formerly Italy but now USA), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Sergey Karjakin (Russia), Leinier Domínguez (Cuba), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Peter Svidler (Russia)

The organizers’ nominees were Dmitry Jakovenko (Russia), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan) and Baadur Jobava (Georgia).

Anish Giri (Netherlands) was nominated by the Fide president. When the list was announced last year, Wesley So would have been included. However, he was not released (or ignored) by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines when he transferred to the USA.

However, Wesley will still have a chance to challenge for the world championship as he will be playing in the World Cup. The 2015 World Cup is an important part of the 2014-16 world championship Cycle as the top two qualify to the 2016 Candidates. The WC15 will take place in Baku, Ajerbaijan from Sept. 10 to Oct. 4, 2015.

The total prize money is 120,000 Euros in every Grand Prix. The champion got 20,000 Euro and 170 points, while the second placer got 15,000 Euros and 140 points.

The third placer earned 13,000 Euros and 110 points. Every leg had 12 players so everybody won some money.

In the first leg played in Baku, Azerbaijan, last 0ct. 1 to 15, 2014, the winners were Caruana and Gelfand who were tied. The second leg in Tashkent, Uzbekistan was won by Dmitry Andreikin. The third leg in Tbilisi, Georgia last Feb. 14 to 28 was won by Evgeny Tomashevsky. The fourth and final leg saw a tie for first among Caruana, Nakamura and Jakovenko. It was played in Khanty-Mansiyk, Russia last May 12 to 26.

After all the points were counted, Caruana and Nakamura were declared the Grand Prix qualifiers.

At the beginning of the 2014-15 Fide Grand Prix cycle there was just one American attempting to qualify for the candidates tournament but by the end of the series, two American qualified. As previously reported, American-born Fabiano Caruana changed federations mid-cycle to once again represent the U.S.

Wesley So is continually improving and will be a dangerous opponent for anyone. He will also join the U.S. Team for the 2016 Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan, forming the strongest American team of all time.

Cepca. We had our monthly tournament last Sunday and the winners in the A group were Jimmy Ty Jr and NM Arnold Cadiz respectively. In the B section, Jojo Paredes prevailed followed by a tie for second and third between Edwin Cablao and new member Michael Ventulan.

Michael is just 26 years old and is a BS Computer Science graduate of AMA Computer Learning Center in Tacloban City. He is connected as technical support engineer of Convergys (Comcast account) in IT Park, Lahug.

He Loves to solve chess puzzles online and was a former member of Leyte-Samar Chess Club in Tacloban City and Naval Chess Club as well. He was also a three-time champion of his school.

VP of Cepca Marvynne Guardiana will sponsor the cash prizes for the month of June. Many thanks Vin!

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

Pestaño: Marie Ernestine makes chess history

 Friday, May 29, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

CHESS history will be signed and sealed today. Marie Ernestine School will include chess in their curriculum starting this coming school year. The Memorandum of Agreement of the school, the Cebu School of Chess and the Cebu Chess Masters will be finalized today at 3 p.m. at their school in Canjulao, Lapu-Lapu City.

Signing for the school are Dr. Marie Ernestine D. Fajatin, school founder and Dr. Michael Robert Dennis D. Fajatin, VP for Administration and International Master Kim Steven Yap of Cebu School of Chess, Therese dela Torre and National Master Merben Roque of Cebu Chess Masters. Witnesses will be Eric Maria S. Dizon and Jojo Muralla of Cepca.

To my knowledge this will be the first time to happen in the Philippines.

Invited to witness this unique event is Mayor Mike Rama and former Mayor Alvin Garcia. Also invited is the president of Cebu Chess Federation Benjamin B. Lim. The three are honorary members of the Cebu Executives and Professionals Chess Association (Cepca), which serves as the adviser of this project.

Selected members of Cepca will also be present and all print media has been invited.

Why chess? Because chess is more than a board game. It teaches us to think analytically and be more successful in life, no matter what profession one pursues.
In about 40 countries across the globe, including Brazil, Spain, Armenia, Venezuela ,China, Singapore, Israel, Italy, Russia, Turkey and Greece, chess is incorporated into the country’s curriculum.

In a previous article I also noted that “We face in our modern, splintered world not only a crisis in education, but more pointedly a crisis of understanding--of thought and of willingness to engage in thought. Thinking tools like chess, help our minds expand, grow comfortable with abstraction and learn to navigate complex systems.”

DepEd Secretary Lapus said, “It is a game that improves organizational and analytical skills. Children when exposed to this game at an early age achieve academically better than those not engaged. Likewise, chess is among the activities that help build memory skills, concentration, self-confidence, self-esteem and in making disciplined decisions. Playing chess provides opportunities to practice such values as perseverance, honesty, and sportsmanship.”

Jerry Maratas has approved the donation of 15 chess sets and two chess clocks to the school from Cepca. Bodjie Lim will also donate two brand new digital chess clocks to the school. The school will also provide scholarships to child chess geniuses.

One of the prime movers of Chess in Schools (CIS) is no less than former world champion Garry Kasparov thru the foundation (KCF) bearing his name.

He said, “I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the most worthy of endeavors – the education of our children. In an age when schools are facing significant budgetary restraints, there is a greater need than ever to make chess available to as many students as possible. We’ve assembled the very best in chess education to develop a complete chess curriculum – K through 12.

We’ve designed a program that encourages creativity, instills self-discipline and offers hope and a feeling of accomplishment to millions of children. But we can’t do it alone. With your help, we can bring chess into the classrooms where it belongs. We can turn our dream of a better education for tomorrow into a reality today. KCF’s mission is to bring the many educational benefits of chess to children throughout the world by providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs.”

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

Pestaño: Transfers make USA a world power in chess

 Thursday, May 21, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

FABIANO Caruana, the world’s No. 3 player, announced just recently that he was switching allegiance to the U.S. Chess Federation from the Italian federation.

The news of Caruana’s decision was described as a “bombshell announcement” in one chess website.

Caruana admitted that he was offered a “large sum” of money from an unnamed source to play for the USA. There’s speculation that the bill ($100,000) is being picked up by Rex Sinquefield, a wealthy chess benefactor and the host of the Sinquefield Cup.

Transfers of elite players are not common, partly because of the fees that must be paid. In Caruana’s case, the fees will total 55,000 euros (about $61,000)--50,000 euros to the Italian federation and 5,000 euros to Fide.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be representing the United States again,” Caruana said in a statement . “I’d like to thank everybody who has made this possible, and I look forward to this exciting new partnership. In addition, I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and gratitude for the support given to me over the past 10 years by the Italian Chess Federation. “

The USA will now have three players in the world’s top ten. Caruana will join Hikaru Nakamura, world No. 4 and Wesley So, world No. 7, who recently switched his federation to the US from the Philippines. The US has never had three players in the modern era’s top 10. American chess is now poised to become a true powerhouse, and all of them are under 28 years old,

The trio sets up the U.S. team as a favorite in international competitions, including next year’s Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan. The last time the United States won was in 1976, when the Soviet Union and allies boycotted the event in Haifa, Israel. The last time the United States won an Olympiad that was not boycotted was 1937.

Caruana’s playing strength has surged in the past two years. Carlsen has admitted that among the field of younger players closing in on his title, Caruana is “the guy.” This was confirmed when Caruana defeated Carlsen in the 2014 Sinquefeld Cup. He had a 7-0 winning streak against a super-elite field and that feat is now celebrated as the greatest tournament performance in chess history.

Caruana was born in Miami and raised in USA up to age 12 though he has enjoyed dual citizenship with Italy for the past 10 years.

Mabolo. In celebration of its fiesta , original Cepca member Bob Inocian, who just arrived after being an OFW for sometime, organized a chess tournament last weekend.

There were two categories--kiddies and seniors.

In the kiddies, Aldrich Podoyo was champion (P2,500). The other winners and their prizes were Edel Vosotros (P2,000), James Francis Paraon (P1,500), James Virneer Paraon and Jeremy Bajo (P1,000 each), Adelyn Bensi, Shaina Caparino, Robert Diloy, Rejel Perandos and Rex Sumalinog (P200 each).

In the seniors division, the winners were Christian Podoyo (P2,000), William Valle (P1,500), Raul Cinco (P1,000), Nick Monterroyo (P500) and Joe Nasul (P500).

An interesting match was between Rex Sumalinog and Glory Bensi. I have been observing chess for the past 60 years and I have never come across similar to this game. Peterson Sia, who has hundreds of books on chess, expressed the same sentiment.

Rex defeated Glory when she ran out of time (25 minutes per player). There were no pieces captured, not even a pawn! This game is Book of Guinness material.

The sponsors were Cepca, Mayor Mike Rama, Vice-Mayor Edgar Labella, JP Labella, Ading Macasero, Mabolo Baranday Council and Bob Inocian.

Tournament arbiters were Marvin Ruelan and Tony Cabibil.

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

Pestaño: Marie Ernestine adds chess in curriculum

 Friday, May 15, 2015

 By

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

MARIE Ernestine , in both their Mactan and Talamban campuses, will continuously and permanently include chess education as part of their curriculum for Grades 3,4,5 and 6 starting this school year .

To my knowledge, this is the first time for a school to do so in the whole Philippines. The administrator believes that this move shall further enhance the critical thinking skills for the continuous improvement of their students. Just like any subject in school, the students will be graded according to what skills and life values they have learned.

International Master Kim Steven Yap of the Cebu School of Chess will handle the Mactan campus, while National Master Merben Roque of Cebu Chess Masters will be assigned at Talamban. The memorandum of agreement will be finalized and signed in their Mactan campus this May 29 at 3 p.m..

In about 40 countries across the globe, including Brazil, Spain, Armenia, Venezuela ,China, Singapore, Israel, Italy, Russia, Turkey and Greece chess is incorporated into the country’s scholastic curriculum.

I would like to share a recent article by John Koshy (with permission) which is very enlightening to those involved in the education of children.

“Why chess? Because chess is more than a board game. It teaches us to think analytically and be more successful in life, no matter what profession one pursues..

If you favor intelligence over strength, then think chess. Unlike some other games, chess does not rely on luck, muscular strength or brute force. It is a brain over brawn exercise and an exquisite art form that has existed for more than 1,500 years in India.

In chess, both players are provided with equal opportunities and they use strategy and intelligence to win.

So why is chess more than a game?

Because the pattern of thinking in a game of chess can be used while dealing with real-life situations to achieve better outcomes. As a chess player, you learn to analyze situations, evaluate options, plan strategically and solve problems-attributes that will help us be more successful in our daily lives.

Foresight, anticipation, prediction: the ability to consider the consequences of a particular action by someone else, and using this information to plan and decide your actions. Foresight helps in planning and decision-making.

Circumspection: being able to view the big picture. Remember you can see all the pieces on the board in a game of chess, your opponent’s and yours. If you know what moves your opponent is going to play, several moves ahead, wouldn’t that be a great skill to use in real-life situations?

Caution: We all know how important it is to think and act cautiously. We can only be cautious if we think.”

In addition, chess is extremely helpful in brain development and improving IQ, particularly when it is played regularly from a very early age.

Playing chess on a regular basis right from childhood improves the learning, thinking, analytical power, and decision-making ability of the child.

Practicing chess regularly also aids in improving the self-confidence of the child, which is extremely essential for the child’s growth.

In chess, a child learns to do a thorough analysis, research, and assessment of the situation before making any decision. Mental clarity and mental dexterity is required for solving problems, analyze consequences, and formulate future tactics.

Children playing chess from an early age exhibit extraordinary memory skills and helps in improving concentration and academic performance of the child.

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

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on May 15, 2015.

Pestaño: Wesley out of super grand tour

EIGHT of the top grandmasters on the planet have committed to join a three-tournament circuit, christened the “Grand Chess Tour.” The total prize money is $1,050,000 – a fairly huge sum even for top-level chess.

Former world chess hampion Garry Kasparov was instrumental in making the tour happen.

The three tournaments that will make up the tour are Norway Chess, the Sinquefield Cup (held at the club in St. Louis), and the London Chess Classic. Those who have signed up initially are Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Fabiano Caruana (Italy), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Viswanathan Anand (India), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), and Hikaru Nakamura (USA.

It was not clarified why Wesley So is out. An informally designated media liaison in Manila said in a Facebook post that Wesley was invited but could not make it due to prior commitments which are in conflict with the schedule of some of the legs of the tour.

Personally this is a mistake if indeed Wesley declined. Now he is definitely out of the tour as Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France was just recently added as the ninth and last player in the Super Grand Tour starting June 15. A wildcard will fill out the 10-person field, normally coming from the country where the leg is held. It’s possible though that Wesley may be the wild card in the Sinquefield Cup.

New members. Cepca had three new members who joined our April tournament at Pado Beach Resort in Marigondon.. They are Sammy Limquiaco Jr., Elmer Odango and Rafael Bensi Jr. Incidentally Elmer was the champion in the B group.

Sammy is an electrical engineering graduate of USC and passed the board exams for Assistant Electrical Engineers. He was a production engineer of a wire and cable company then joined the marketing and sales of a multinational oil company. He is a widower with four kids who finished their schooling and professions.

As a retiree, he is presently venturing in the extraction and processing of aggregate products based here in Cebu.

At a very young age, he was fond of watching people play chess. Constant practice and a little of text book stuffs made him one of the good players in school and at work. His interest on the game is back and prompted him to join Cepca.

Elmer is an AB Economics graduate of of USJR and BS Marine Transportation graduate of Mats College,Davao City. He is a songwriter and member of Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He was an OFW as a professional singer.

He loves to read and analyze the life and chess games of world champions such as Bobby Fischer, Tal, Kasparov and Carlsen.

Raffy is a 1989 graduate of Associate in Marine Engineering at Cebu Central Colleges now UC. He was connected with William Lines Inc and Cimecor ( Cebu Industrial Marine Engineering Corporation) .

He started work on Schlumberger as a contractor under Monsoon Maritime Services, Phils. from July 2006 up to December 2012 on a 10-week, on 5-weeks Off rotation.

On Feb. 11, 2013 he became a direct hire on the same company with a five weeks on, five weeks off rotation up to present.

He started to play chess in high school and taught all his children to play at very young ages. He even hired a trainer and spent good money for their travel expenses in various tournaments because of his love of the game.

Three of his children played multiple times in the Cviraa---Raffy Glen, Lefa Glier and Adelyn. Lefa Glier qualified for the Palaro this year. Edelyn also almost qualified and only needed a draw in her last game but lost.