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.

Pestaño: Floyd vs. Manny is also a chess match

 Friday, May 1, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

THE interest on this fight is awesome. There has never been a single sporting event comparable to this. The boxer who fights as a chess player will win.

Both are good chess players. Floyd has been quoted as saying “In a tough neighborhood, chess is the only way out.” He also said much earlier , “Chess will help you succeed in life.” Referring to Manny he said, “There are some bad apples on the chess board” and “In the chessboard he is a pawn.”

Manny has a chess set in his training camps and uses it as part of his mental relaxation, playing one or two hours every day. He has sponsored some of the biggest tournaments here.

He bankrolled the Asian Continental Cup in 2013 with a total prize of $100,000. Prior to the start of the tournament ,he played against GM Eugene Torre.

Pacquiao battled Torre to a draw in 20 moves . Manny played with a Queen fianchetto and Torre was quite impressed although he probably eased up a little bit.

In earlier interviews, Manny said that he was an avid chess player even before he became a boxer. Playing chess will allow Manny to strategize his defense and offense as the fight progresses.

I would like to describe this fight as between a bishop and a knight. Because of his longer reach and height, an advantage of four and 11.2 inches respectively, Floyd is the bishop while Manny is the knight.

Which is better? In an open game, the bishop is preferable but a knight is superior in closed positions.

If the fight will be at long range, then Floyd has an advantage. However ,if it will be a brawl and at close range, then Manny will win. Whatever the outcome it will be close and controversial so there will probably be a rematch.

You know what? If Manny wins, he has a good chance of being elected president! One thing sure, he will never enrich himself in office.

Gashimov Memorial. The field is so strong, a Category 22, that one of the players said, “In this tournament, everyone’s either an ex-world champion, a current world champion or a future world champion.”

Playing are World champion Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2863), Fabiano Caruana (Italy, 2802), former world champion Viswanathan Anand (India, 2791), Anish Giri (Netherlands, 2790), Wesley So (USA 2788), former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 2783), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France, 2762), Shakriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan, 2754), Michael Adams (England, 2746) and Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan, 2651).

Wesley finished at third place behind champion Carlsen and second placer Anand. This is a strong performance by Wesley, considering that he finished ahead of Caruana on tiebreak , Giri (his nemesis) and Kramnik. He posted a performance rating of 2814.

He won 15,000 euros and is likely to also receive an appearance fee and refund of expenses. He also moved up one rank higher to No.7.

This good showing represents a rebound from the U.S. championship in St. Louis, where an unexpected visit from his estranged mother made it difficult to focus on his games. He was also slapped a rare forfeit loss for a rules violation.

Next up for Wesley is participation in the French Team Championships starting at the end of May.

Vugar Gashimov was an Azerbaijani GM. He was a noted player of blitz chess and very popular among top players due to his sportsmanship. At his peak, he had a rating of 2761 and was no.6 in the world in 2009. He died due to a brain tumor at age 38.

Beach tournament. We had our annual outing last Saturday at Pado Beach Resort in Marigondon and also our April monthly tournament.

The winners in Group A were Rey Flores, Rosendo Yamyamin and Felix Shaun Balbona. In Group B Elmer Odango, Jun Olis and Jerry Maratas prevailed.

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

Pestaño: Lotis Key and other chess dramas

 Friday, April 24, 2015

 By 

FRANK 'BOY' PESTAÑO

CHESSMOSO

LOTIS Key is a former professional film and theater actress who starred in almost 90 major films and was once romantically linked with the late Dolphy. She is the author of two novels, “The Song Of The Tree” and “A Thing Devoted.” She is married to Bambi Kabigting, a former basketball player of the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles and Crispa Redmanizers.

She has been in the limelight lately as the “foster” mother of chess sensation Wesley So and became controversial during the just-concluded US Championship, which I featured last week. Here is a letter from her daughter in Facebook. The daughter describes herself as Wesley`s best friend.

“My mother, Lotis Key-Kabigting has given up her entire life to support Wesley, and help him achieve his dreams of becoming world Champion.

She has devoted endless love, time, energy and money to aid him in becoming a better person and chess player.

When my mother says she’s going to do something, she gives everything and holds nothing back. She has plunged head-on into this raging river, and in the process, has suffered much in the way of persecution from people who wish they could be her and do the amazing things she does.

She has given up all the comforts of home as she has almost no time now to spend at the house with her family, beloved animals, or attend to her businesses. She has no time for friends, socializing, or personal vacations. She has put everything on hold for Wesley.

She has committed herself to travel with Wesley to every single tournament he has this year so that he won’t be alone, will be protected, and can focus on nothing but chess. You cannot imagine her sacrifice and dedication.

She has endured the threats and insults hurled at her with grace, and even in the face of extreme adversity, continues to move ahead with steadfastness and courage.

She continues to shield and protect those whom she loves because she is a warrior. Well Mom, I want everyone to know that I am here and I will always fight for you.

She is the most selfless person I know, and always gives a hundred percent to help anyone and everyone become the best they can be.

No one can hold a candle to her. I love you Mom

.--Your daughter, Abigail Grace Key

The chess world was full of other dramas last week with news of Wesley So’s disqualification in the ninth round of the US Chess Championship and Gaioz Nigalidze getting caught cheating at the Dubai Open.

The US Championship was highly successful but it was Wesley So’s sensational forfeit that took most of the attention. The reason was not only controversial but absurd.

In a stunning decision, the arbiter Tony Rich forfeited Wesley So when it was discovered that So was writing notes to himself during the game,

At first, it seemed like an abuse of power by a rules-obsessed referee. Wesley wrote a reminder to himself on a piece of paper: “Double-check, triple-check and use your time.” It turned out that he had been warned twice already not to do it. Varuzhan Akobian complained to the arbiter who then forfeited Wesley
“So offended no one nor did he disrespect his opponent; he caused no disturbance, nor did he cheat. So’s actions were not designed to give him anything other than peace of mind and a calm spirit.” Rich could have penalized So by just deducting time for his clock,

Cheating at chess tournaments has become easier with technology.

GM Gaioz Nigalidze was caught cheating in the Dubai Open tournament. He was using a smart phone that he’d hidden in the bathroom. He was expelled from the tournament and faces a three to 15-year ban.

The motivation in Dubai is obvious. The winner gets $12,000.

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

Pestaño: Wesley So’s life in turmoil

THE 2015 US Championship has ended and Wesley lost four times in 11 games to finish third behind winner Hikaru Nakamura and Ray Robson.

The reason behind his dismal performance has emerged in the open and was a big scandal during the tournament. Wesley’s personal life is in turmoil.

“There are personal problems in my family,” So said “Trying to fix them during this tournament caused a lot of stress and tension.”

Since quitting school, So has been living with Lotis Key (a famous actress in the 7o's) and her husband, former PBA cager Renato Kabigting in Minnetonka in Minnesota

Lotis and Leny, Wesley’s mother, had a confrontation in this tournament. Leny says she and her family “are at the end of our rope and don’t know how to proceed.” She also said that Lotis is manipulative and responsible for a change in her son’s behavior and of her blocking access to her son.

Lotis earlier said that Wesley told her his mother made threats, including cutting contact with his sisters if he didn’t return to college.

He is slated to play tomorrow in the Gashimov Memorial—a category 22 tournament—in Azerbaijan, his biggest test ever .

Ruelan Memorial. Our lady journalist KC Morala sent in this report. “Merben Roque remained unbeaten in seven rounds and took the champion trophy in the 4th Marcelo Ruelan Memorial Open Chess Tournament at the Rapid Chess Club Elizabeth Mall last April 11.

After drawing his sixth round match to Richard Natividad, NM Roque sealed a win against Erwin Ababat in the last round to secure his victory.

Elwin Retanal and Rommel Ganzon drew in the seventh round, while Allan Salientes won against Jeffu Dorog, while Mario Mangubat vanquished Moreno. Retanal, Ganzon, Salientes and Mangubat tied for second to fifth places at 6 points.

Rodrigo Alejandre, Alfer Fernandez, Edcel Montoya, and me posted 5.5 pts and tied for sixth to ninth places. Meanwhile, I also nabbed the Top Lady Award.
Erwin Ababat, Carlos Moreno III, Jeffu Dorog, Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano, Adrian de Luna, Arnold Cadiz, Romulo Pialan, William Retanal, Jr., Ceferino Vizco, Jr., KeithClaire Carlisle Morala, and John Francis Balbona finished at 10th to 20th places.

Muzychuk. Mariya Muzychuk of Ukraine is the new women’s world chess Champion. She won the Fide knockout championship in Sochi, Russia, after defeating Natalia Pogonina (Russia) 2.5 to 1.5 in the final match. She will defend her title against Yifan Hou later this year.

Dubai Open. Normally I would not have featured this tournament but Cepca member and formerSun.Star sports editor Jobannie Tabada is playing, being based in Dubai. This is also an important tournament for Pinoys Haridas Pascua and Catalino Sadorra as both are seeking their third and final GM norms. Both have failed.

A field of 151 players from 39 countries are competing with 39 Grand masters, eight Woman Grand masters, 22 International Masters, 3 woman International masters, 13 FIDE Masters and three Woman FIDE Masters.

Jobannie created a stir with a major upset in the first round over Super GM Yuriy Kuzubov, who is rated 2660. However, his results have not been significant in succeeding games.

This tournament merited major headlines. A chess Grandmaster, Gaioz Nigalidze of Georgia has been banned from this tournament after he was found to have used an electronic device hidden in the toilet during a match with Armenia’s Tigran Petrosian.

He has been banned for three years and his title might be withdrawn.