Nomination for Asian Presidential Ticket

Asian Chess Federation received following letters of nomination for the Asian Presidential ticket of Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan:

1. Nomination by UAE Chess Federation president
2. Nomination by All India Chess Federation president
3. Nomination by Chinese Chess Association president
4. Nomination by National Chess Federation of the Philippines president.
5. Nomination by Australian Chess Federation president
6. Nomination by Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation president
7. Nomination by Bangladesh Chess Federation president
8. Nomination by Korean Chess Federation president

Asian Chess Federation received Letters of acceptance of the nomination by:
1. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (UAE)
2. Bharat Singh (IND)
3. Tian Hongwei (CHN)
4. Hisham Al Taher (UAE)
5. Casto Abundo (PHI)

These nominations were forwarded to FIDE before the announced deadline. No other nominations were received by Asian Chess Federation for Asian Presidential tickets.

Asian Chess Federation received the following nominations for FIDE Executive Board representatives from Asia:

Mr. Syed Shahb Uddin Shamim - nominated by Bangladesh Chess Federation
 Mr. Dhafer Al Madhloum - nominated by Iraqi Chess Federation
 Mr. Sainbayar Tserendorj - nominated by Mongolian Chess Federation
 Mr. Jamie Kenmure - nominated by Nauru Chess Federation
 Mr. Ahmed Al Bulushi - nominated by Oman Chess Federation 
 Mr. Murad Abu Rajab – nominated by Palestinian Chess Federation
 Mr. Sahapol Nakvanich - nominated by Thailand Chess Association
 Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulla Hussain Ali Alkhouri - nominated by UAE Chess Federation

Fong Yit San and Tan Li Ting are Malaysian Champions

The Malaysian Chess (Closed) Championships was held from 29 June to 3 July 2018 at the Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Sri Iskandar, Perak, with the winners guaranteed places in the national team to the coming Batumi World Chess Olympiad.

Fong Yit San was declared champion on tie-break after being joined on 7/9 by FM Lim Zhou Ren and top seeded Lye Lik Zang in a representative field of 69 players.

In the women’s champion, WFM Tan Li Ting, Malaysia’s No. 1 woman player who is already a many times national champion, dominated, her final score of 8/5/9 a whole 1.5 points more than second placed WFM Alia Anin Azwa Bakri. The poor turnout of just 18 players must however be of some concern.

Full results:

Men/Open: http://chess-results.com/tnr363162.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=YES

Women: http://chess-results.com/tnr363176.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9&turdet=YES

 

The Saudi Arabia National Championships

by Musa Binthaily

The Saudi Arabian national chess tournament was held in Riyadh between June 28th and July 2nd where more than 300 players have participated, this unique tournament has also had a women section for the first time with the total prize sum divided equally at 125000 SR 25 female players competed solidly for the title as Dalia Alsimairi ended up first.
In the men’s section, the tournament started with seven big names in competition, including the highest rated players in the kingdom, Ahmed Alghamdi ,Abdulrahman Masrahi, Ahmed Abu Kannan, Abdallah Almutairi and Ahmed Althubaiti. The tournament saw a fierce competition at the last three rounds where a lot of tables were turned, but in the end, both Alghalmdi and Masrahi have achieved 8/9 points with the tie break favouring Masrahi to be the winner.
This tournament’s first 10 places gave the opportunity to the selection of the team participating in the coming chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia in September this year.

Ding Liren and Hou Yifan are Top of July Asia FIDE Ratings

Men

China’s Ding Liren remains the top Asian ranked at No. 4 in the world on 2797 while India’s former World Champion Viswanathan Anand keeps second place ranked No. 11 on 2768.

In third place is China’s Yu Yangyi, ranked No. 13th on 2766 and in fourth place is India’s Harikrishan P. who ranked 22nd on 2734.

Vietnam’s Lee Quang Liem is in fifth place ranked 25th on 2728 and with that ends the Chinese-Indian domination of the top five!

China’s Wei Yi is now in sixth place, ranked 27th on 2724 and in seventh place is India’s Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi ranked 29th on 2718.

Three more Chinese round up the top ten, Li Chao in eighth place is ranked 31st on 2711, Wang Hao in ninth place is ranked 35th on 2709, and Bu Xiangzhi in tenth place is ranked 39th on 2706.

Again, six Chinese, three Indians and one Vietnamese!

But in the final analysis, no surprise as in the overall country rankings, China is No. 3 in the world and India No. 4. The rest are quite some distance away but very respectable is the positions of Iran at No. 28th, Uzbekistan 34th, Kazakhstan 36th, then Vietnam 38th.

Then is a drop to Australia which is 44th, former Asian No. 1 Philippines 47th, Mongolia 58th and Indonesia 59th.

 

Women

China’s domination here is very great with Hou Yifan is ranked No. 1 in the world on 2658 and World Champion Ju Wenjun ranked No. 2 in the world on 2568.

Number three is China’s Tan Zhongyi ranked 7th on 2524.

India’s Harika, Dronavalli is in fourth place ranked eleventh on 2494 and in fifth and sixth places are Kazakhstan’s Dinara Saduakassova ranked 15th on 2489 and Abdulmalik Zhansaya ranked 16th on 2488.

China then takes the seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth places places. Zhou Yue is ranked 18th on 2478, Shen Yang si ranked 22nd on 2468, Lie Tingjie is ranked 27th on 2454 and Huang Qian is ranked 31st on 2441.

Seven Chinese, two Kazakhstan, and  one Indian!

Here the country rankings are also very indicative. China is No. 1 in the world.

India is 7th and Kazakhstan 17th, Mongolia 19th, Vietnam 20th, Indonesia 25th, Iran 26th, but then a big drop to Uzbekistan 40th, Australia 44th and Philippines 45th.

 

 

 

Hail Vietnam, the 19th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Champions

by Ed Andaya

VIETNAM, as expected, is back as champion in the 19th ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships at the Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City.

And the Vietnamese did it the old-fashioned way: winning big in both the standard and rapid events and doing just enough in the blitz side of the three-part competitions.

Bannered by players barely in their teens but talented enough to someday take over the chess world, the Vietnamese captured 70 golds, 52 silvers and 30 bronzes at the end of the week-long competition organized by Chess Events international in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines  (NCFP), Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Davao City government..

That’s more than enough to dislodge the Philippines as the overall champion in this annual age-group tournament which local organizers billed as breeding ground for the next Wesley So and Janelle Frayna  but turned out to be a showcase of Vietnam’s future world beaters

The Filipinos’ haul  — 55 golds, 45 silvers and 26 bronzes – was considered respectable enough even though their best effort at home failed to prevent the Vietnamese from reclaiming the title they coveted since losing it to their ASEAN neighbors in absentia in Malaysia last year.

“Congratulations to Vietnam for a very impressive and dominant performance in winning the overall 19th ASEAN Age-Groups Championships 2018. Vietnam had just too much strength in depth – their better training showed – but defending Philippines on home ground can be proud of the fight it put up and can also savour the many fine individual results which point to a bright future for many of their young talents,” said well-known Malaysian journalist Peter Long in his Facebook post.

Mission accomplished

The 105-strong Vietnamese delegation was all business the moment the prestigious, eight-nation tournament  held in the Philippines’ started last June 18.

Mission accomplished for Vietnam.

As expected, the Vietnamese struck hardest in the lower age categories with near shutout victories in the boys and girls 14-under, 12-under, 10-under and 8-under in standard,  rapid and  blitz.

Boys 12-under standard champion Nguyen Quoc Hy and girls 8-under standard winner Dang Le Xuan Hien  both even posted perfect 9//9 to underscore their dominance.

Nguyen Quoc Hy also bagged the golds in the boys 12-under rapid with 5.5/7 and 12-under blitz with 8.5/9 to complete a personal sweep.

Dang Le Xuan Hien was the star of the show in the girls 8-under with two golds in standard  (9/9) and blitz (8/9) snd silver in rapid  (5.5/7).

Home sweet home

It was not an all-Vietnam in beautiful Davao,  however.

Batumi Olympiad-bound WFM Shania Mae Mendoza and Daniel Quizon emerged as multiple gold medalists for the host nation with four mints each in  individual and team events.

Mendoza, the winningest Filipina player with four golds, outdueled WIM Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam  to clinch  the gold in the premier girls’ 20-under with eight points on seven wins and two draws.

Equally impressive was Quizon, whose four-gold medal  haul included the blitz gold capped by three straight victories over Nguyen Lam Thien of Vietnam and compatriots Michael Concio and Jasper Faeldonia for 8.5/9.

Two-time World Chess Olympiad veteran IM Paulo Bersamina also did not disappoint

The National University standout, who played in his final AAGCC,  bagged the gold in 20-under standard  (7.5/9) and shared first place in rapid (5/7) and blitz (6.5/9).

Counting the team golds,  the Pasay City-based Bersamina captured six golds.

More importantly, he earned a coveted GM norm.

Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano (U20), Darry Bernardo (U18), FM Alekhine Nouri (U16), WFM Allaney Jia Doroy (girls U18), Francois Marie Magpily (girls U16) and Ruelle Canino (girls U10),  also provided the other individual victories for the Philippines in blitz side that averted the Vietnam sweep.

Another notable achiever was UAAP champion Far Eastern University team, headed by Chairman Aurelio Montinola, Athletic Director Mark Oliver Molina, Manager Atty. Ruel Canobas and coach GM Jayson Gonzales.

FEU captured 17 golds, eight silvers and 2 two bronzes while attaining direct  IM and WIM titles, WFM norns and FIDE title with IM norm.

Oldies but goodies during the competition were Filipinos Alex Lupian, who topped the senior standard with 7/9; Adrian Pacis, who dominated the rapid with 6/7; and Alex Milagrosa,  who ruled the blitz with 7.5/9.

 

The complete  results:

 

STANDARD (9 rounds)

Boys

20-under – 1. P. Bersamina (Phi) 7.5 points; 2. Jodi Setyaki Azarya (Ina) 6.5; 3.Jeevitesh J. Sai Agni (India) 6.

18-under — 1. D. Bernardo (Phi) 8; 2. J.Jacutina (Phi); 3. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 6.

16-under — 1. R. Canino (Phi) 6.5; 2. Pham Phu Vinh (Vie) 6.5; 3. Bui Duc Huy (Vie) 6.5.

14-under — 1. Nguyen Lam Thien (Vie) 7; 2. Dao Minh Nhat (Vie) 6.5; 3. Mai Le Khoi Nguyen (Vie) 6.5.

12-under — 1. Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 9; 2. J. Velarde (Phi) 6.5; 3. Vu Hoang Gia Bao (Vie) 6.5.

10-under — 1. Pham Tran Gia Phuc (Vie) 8; 2. Nguyen Le Minh Phu (Vie) 6.5; 3. Vu Ba Khoi (Vie) 6.5.

8-under — 1. Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam (Vie) 7; 2. Le Ngoc Minh Truong (Vie) 6.5; 3. A. Buto (Phi) 6.5.

Girls

20-under — 1. S.Mendoza (Phi) 7.5; 2. Dita Karenza (Ina) 6.5; 3. E. Moulic (Phi) 6.5.

18-under — 1. Kieu Bich Thuy (Vie) 7; 2. A. Doroy (Phi) 6.5; 3. Tran Phan Bao Khanh (Vie) 6.5.

16-under — 1.Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (Vie) 7.5; 2. F. Magpily (Phi) 6.5; 3. I. Yngayo (Phi) 6.

14-under — Vuong Quynh Anh (Vie) 7; 2. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 7; 3. J. San Diego (Phi) 6.

12-under — 1. A. Racasa (Phi) 6.5; 2. Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc (Vie) 6; 3. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan (Vie) 6.

10-under — 1. K. Regidor (Phi) 7; 2. Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Vie) 6.5; 3. R. Canino ( Phi) 6.5.

8-under — 1. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 9; 2. Quan My Linh (Vie) 7.5; 3. Ngo Nha Ky (Vie) 6.5.

Seniors — 1. A. Lupian (Phi) 7; 2. Tong Thai Hung (Viet) 6.5; 3. A. Pacis (Phi) 6

 

RAPID (7 rounds)

Boys

20-under – 1. Nguyen Huynh Tuan Hai (Vie)  5; 2. P. Bersamina (Phi) 5; 3. R. Sevillano (Phi) 5.

18-under – 1. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 7; 2. I. Rilloraza (Phi) 5; #. C. Sato (Phi) 5.

16-under – 1. Nguyen Anh Khoi (Vie) 5.5; 2. Ngo Duc Tri (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Lam Tung (Vie) 5.

14-under – 1. D. Quizon (Phi) 6.5; 2. Nguyen Lam Thien (Vie)  5.5; 3. M. Concio (Phi) 5.

12-under —    Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 5.5;  2. Vu Hong Gia Bao (Vie) 5.5; ; 3.  J. Bacojo (Phi) 5.5.

10-under – -1. Nguyen  Le MInh Phu (Vie) 6; 2. Tran Ngoc Duy (Vie) 6; 3. Pham Tran Phuc (Vie) 5.

8-under —  1. Le Pham Minh Duc (Vie)  5.5; 2. A. Buto (Phi) 5; 3.  Pha Nguyen Thai Bao (Vie) 5.

Girls

20-under — 1. Vu Thi Dieu Ai (Vie) 5.5; 2. S. Mendoza (Phi) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien (Vie) 4.5.

18-under — 1. F. Guirhem  (Phi) 5.5; 2.  G. Derotas (Phi) 5; 3. A.Doroy (Phi) 5.

16-under — 1. K. Mordido (Phi) 5.5; 2. J. Lacambra (Phi) 5.5; 3. M.Tan (Phi) 5.5.

14-under — 1. Pham Tran Gia Thu (Vie) 6; 2. Vu Bui Thi Thanh Van (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 5.

12-under — 1. Bui Ngoc Phuong Nghi (Vie) 5.5; 2. Doan Thuy My Dung (Vie) 5.5; 3. Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc (Vie) 5.5.

10-under — 1.Tran Thi Hong Ngoc (Vie) 5.5; 2. Bui Tuyet Hoa (Vie) 5.5; 3. D. dela Cruz (Phi( 5.

8-under — 1. Ngo Nha Ky (Vie) 5.5; 2. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 5.5; 3. Tong Thai Hoang An (Vie) 4.5.

Senior  — 1. A.Pacis (Phi) 6; 2. A.Lupian (Phi) 5.5; 3. E. Gatus (Phi) 5.

 

BLITZ  (9 rounds)

Boys

20-under — 1. K. Sevillano (Phi) 6.5; 2. Pham Minh Hieu (Vie) 6.5; 3  P. Bersamina (Phi) 6.5.

18-under — 1. D. Bernardo (Phi) 8; 2. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 8; 3. J. Jacutina (Phi) 6.5.

16-under — 1. A. Nouri (Phi) 7.5; 2.S. Pangilinan (Phi) 7; 3. Nguyen Anh Khoi (Vie) 7.

14-under — 1. D. Quizon (Phi) 8.5; 2. Le Tri Kien (Vie) 8; 3. M. Concio (Phi) 6.

12-under — 1. Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 8.5; 2. Bui Huy Phuoc (Vie)  7; J. Velarde (Phi) 6.5.

10-under — 1. Tran Ngoc Minh Duy (Vie) 7; 2. Pham Truong Phu (Vie) 7; 3. P. Srihaan (Vie) 6.5.

8-under — 1. Le Pham Minh Duc (Vie) 7; 2. Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam (Vie) 6.5; 3. Phan Nguyen Thai Bao (Vie) 6.5.

Girls

20-under — 1. S. Mendoza (Phi) 8; 2. K. Karenza (Ina) 7, 3. Nguyen Thi Minh Oanh (Vie) 6.5.

18- under — 1. A. Doroy (Phi) 7; 2. G. Derotas (Phi) 6.5; 3. A. Osena (Phi) 6.

16-under — 1. F. Magpily (Phi) 8.5; 2. Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (Vie) 8; 3. Nguyen Vu Thu Hien (Vie) 6.

14-under — 1. Vuong Quynh Anh (Vie) 7.5; 2. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 6.5; 3. Luong Hoang Tu Linh (Vie) 6.5.

12-under — 1. Nguyen Phuc Yen Nhi (Vie) 7.5; 2. R. Pamplona (Phi) 7; 3. M. Alonzo (Phi) 7.

10-under — 1. R. Canino (Phi) 8; 2. K. Regidor (Phi) 8; 3. Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Vie) 7.

8-under — 1. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 8, 2. Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Vie) 8; 3. Quan My Linh (Vie) 6.

Senior  — 1. A. Milagrosa (Phi) 7.5; 2. M. Mangubat (Phi) 6.5; 3. C.Caturla (Phi) 6.

 

More photos to be added soon.

Do visit the official FaceBook Page: https://www.facebook.com/asean.agcc.9

Social Night at the ASEAN+ Age-Groups

by Philip Chan

Photo by Lam Minh Chao

An unique feature of the ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships has been the Social Night Program. This now much imitated innovation was for a long time the only of its kind in any international chess gathering around the world and has become the hallmark of these annual championships.

Players compete feverishly over the boards in Standard, Rapid and Blitz Chess competitions around the clock but for one night only chess is forgotten and instead we get to be entertained and amazed by their other equally wonderful talents in so many other fields.

The participants have over the years without fail showcased their talents in singing, dancing and playing various music instruments such as the piano, guitar and violin, to name but juts a few.

Mind you, all their preparations are largely impromptu and put together during the days before the event by the various contingents, a practice that goes all the way back to the first edition in 2000 held in Vung Tau, Vietnam.

For the 19th edition, it was no surprise that performers from the Philippines took the gold and silver as they gave so often done in the past. The Group ‘ChessT’ from the Philippines took the top prize of USD 500 whilst another Filipina girl-band ‘Girls Unlimited’ took the second spot and USD 300.

Vietnam came in a creditable third with Nguyen Le Minh Phuc and Pham Viet Thien Phuc singing in English a song called ‘Hello Vietnam’. The song earned them USD 200. This was certainly one of the better Vietnamese performances in recent years.

The Philippines is well known for its wonderful music, and simply everyone sings so well! Performance is in their blood and to add to the colour of the event, there were also many world class acts added to keep the participants entertained, including an acrobatic and juggling team, magic show, Jollibee and the 19 AAGCC event mascots. Joining them was Philippines’ top ‘YoYo’ performer and at the same professional level were the two key organizers of AAGCC, James Infiesto and Arnold Allanigui, respectively putting up a magic show and ventriloquist act.

The International Technical Officials also sportingly took to the stage to strut their stuff and in the end it was Jackson Li/Song Benlei (Hong Kong/China) claiming the best performer of the night prize with their well rehearsed duet from apparently secret Karaoke sessions!

Uzbekistan are Overall Champions in World Cadet Rapid & Blitz

Report by Irina Gevorgyan

From 21st to 25th June in Minsk (Belarus) took place the 2nd FIDE World Cadets U8,U10,U12 Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship.

Uzbekistan team successfully participated in this tournament and won 5 gold and 4 silver medals, becoming the first and overall champions team according to the medals.

The medal winners of brilliant young talents are:
1. Begmuratov, Khumoyun (boys under 8) – gold medal in Rapid and gold medal in Blitz,
2. Omonova, Umida (girls under 12) – gold medal in Rapid and gold medal in Blitz,
3. Khamdamova, Afruza (girls under 10) – silver medal in Rapid and gold medal in Blitz,
4. Rakhmatullaev, Almas (boys under 12) – silver medal in Rapid,
5. Karimov, Shakhrombek (boys under 10) – silver medal in Blitz,
6. Olimova, Rukiya (girls under 8) – silver medal in Blitz.

Vietnam Leads After Standard Chess, Philippines Takes Biggest Individual Honors

In the ASEAN + Age-Group Chess Championships in Davao, in Standard Chess, Vietnam came, saw and conquered

by Ed Andaya

Medal standings

                                    G         S         B      Total

Open

Vietnam                     4          4          5        13

Philippines                3          2          1         6

Indonesia                  0          1          0         1

India                           0          0          1         1

 

Girls

Vietnam                      4          4          3         11

Philippines                 3          2          4          9

Indonesia                    0          1          0          1

 Overall

                                    G         S         B       Total

Vietnam                     8          8          8        24

Philippines                6         4          5         15

Indonesia                  0          2          0          2

India                          0          0          1          1

 

In Latin, it’s Veni, Vidi, Vici, a phrase popularized by Roman general Julius Caesar around 47 BC.

But chess fans and friends can also simply describe it in language we all know: They came, they saw, they conquered.

Of course we all know that the rapid chess and blitz events are yet to come in the next two days become it all comes a fitting end at the Royal Mandaya Hotel so it is not over yet for the defending champions.

Yet, Vietnam came, saw and conquered the 19th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships where the real measure of chess competition remains – the blue ribbon standard chess events – where both direct titles and norms were awarded to the medal winners.

Led by a pair of child prodigies ever so eager to scale new heights, the Vietnamese came to Davao City on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, saw off the scaled-down opposition and conquered eight of 14 age categories.

That’s enough to regain the overall championship in the eight-nation competition billed by the organizing National Chess Federation of the Philippines ( NCFP) and the local hosts as a showcase for the next Wesley So and Janelle Frayna of the host nation.

It was not meant to be. At least for now

This year’s ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships in beautiful Davao turned out to be another stage for now long time ASEAN chess powerhouse Vietnam to display its long line of young talents getting ready to make their mark in the international scene.

Consider:

Nguyen Quoc Hy and Dang Le Xuan Hien both posted perfect scores of 9/9 in the boys 12 -under and girls’ 8-under divisions, respectively.

Nguyen finished two and a half points ahead of his closest pursuers, John Jerish Velarde of the Philippines and compatriot Vu Hoang Gia Bao in the boys 12-under.

Dang proved unstoppable in all her nine games and led her Vietnamese teammates Quan My Linh and Ngo Nha Ky to a smashing 1-2-3 finish in the girls 8-under.

And there’s more.

Nguyen Lam Thien wound up with 7/9 to rule the boys 14-under. He finished half a point ahead of fellow Vietnamese Dao Minh Nhat and Mai Le Khoi Nguyen, who both have 6.5. 6.5.

Pham Tran Gia Phuc  came through with eight points in the boys 10-under. A close second and third placers were Nguyen Le Minh Phu (6.5) and Vu Ba Khoi (6.5).

Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam and  Le Ngoc Minh Truong both rallied to dislodge Al-Basher “Basty”  Buto and finish 1-2  in the boys’ 8-under class. Buto, who was nicknamed “Vietnamese Slayer” for his smashing 5/5 score against his Vietnamese opponents, fell apart with consecutive losses in the final  two rounds.

Philippine pride

But the Filipinos also had plenty of  reasons to celebrate.

Two-time Olympiad veteran IM Paulo Bersamina and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza emerged as the overall champions in the centerpiece boys’ and girls’ 20 years old and under categories.

Bersamina defeated Sulu champion Sarri Subahani in the eighth round and then agreed to a draw with top seed IM John Marvin Miciano in the ninth and final round to finish with 7.5 points on six wins and three draws.

The 20-year-old Bersamina, who represented the country in the 2014 Olympiad in Tromso, Norway and 2016 Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, also drew his matches against Kyle Rhenzie Sevillano and Jodi Setyaki Azarya of Indonesia.

The triumph was a fittng vindication for the Pasay City-based Bersamina, who finished out of the top 10 in the recent Asian Universities chess championships in Tagaytay City last month. Mendoza, one of the country’s top young female players, humbled Laila Camel Nadera to close out with 7.5 points.

Mendoza, who topped the recent Batumi Olympiad qualifying tournament held in Alphaland Makati, drew with Marife dela Torre in the eighth round earlier in the day.

Antonella Berthe Racasa and Kaye  Lalaine  Regidor  also provided the  final-day surprises to claim the golds  in the girls’ 12-under and 10-under,  respectively.

Racasa, the 11-year-old campaigner from San  Roque, Marikina defeated Roilanne Marie Alonzo in an  all-Filipino showdown  to finish  with  6.5 points. The daughter of  Memory Sports advocate Roberto Racasa,  also clinched a WFM title.

Regidor took the gold by beating Mecel Angela Gadut in the last round to finish with seven points.

Joining the winners’ roll are Dale  Bernardo and Ronald Canino, who topped the  boys’ 18-under and 16-under categories.

The rest of  the ASEAN 

With some of the ASEAN countries staying away from the competition  for still unexplained reasons,  the four-day event turned out to be a dual match between Vietnam and the Philippines.

The Philippines fielded a total of  230 players while Vietnam sent 105 players,

Aside from the Philippines and Vietnam,  only six other countries took part.

These were India (9 players), Indonesia (3 players) and Denmark, Singapore and South Korea and Switzerland (1 player each).

 

The results:

Boys

            20-under – 1. P. Bersamina (Phi) 7.5 points; 2. Jodi Setyaki Azarya (Ina) 6.5; 3.Jeevitesh J. Sai Agni (India) 6.

18-under — 1. D. Bernardo (Phi) 8; 2. J.Jacutina (Phi); 3. Tran Minh Thang (Vie) 6.

16-under — 1. R. Canino (Phi) 6.5; 2. Pham Phu Vinh (Vie) 6.5; 3. Bui Duc Huy (Vie) 6.5.

14-under — 1. Nguyen Lam Thien (Vie) 7; 2. Dao Minh Nhat (Vie) 6.5; 3. Mai Le Khoi Nguyen (Vie) 6.5.

12-under — 1. Nguyen Quoc Hy (Vie) 9; 2. J. Velarde (Phi) 6.5; 3. Vu Hoang Gia Bao (Vie) 6.5.

10-under — 1. Pham Tran Gia Phuc (Vie) 8; 2. Nguyen Le Minh Phu (Vie) 6.5; 3. Vu Ba Khoi (Vie) 6.5.

8-under — 1. Nguyen Vuong Tung Lam (Vie) 7; 2. Le Ngoc Minh Truong (Vie) 6.5; 3. A. Buto (Phi) 6.5.

Girls

            20-under — 1. S.Mendoza (Phi) 7.5; 2. Dita Karenza (Ina) 6.5; 3. E. Moulic (Phi) 6.5.

18-under — 1. Kieu Bich Thuy (Vie) 7; 2. A. Doroy (Phi) 6.5; 3. Tran Phan Bao Khanh (Vie) 6.5.

16-under — 1.Bach Ngoc Thuy Duong (Vie) 7.5; 2. F. Magpily (Phi) 6.5; 3. I. Yngayo (Phi) 6.

14-under — Vuong Quynh Anh (Vie) 7; 2. Nguyen Thien Ngan (Vie) 7; 3. J. San Diego (Phi) 6.

12-under — 1. A. Racasa (Phi) 6.5; 2. Nguyen Hoang Thai Ngoc (Vie) 6; 3. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan (Vie) 6.

10-under — 1. K. Regidor (Phi) 7; 2. Nguyen Ngoc Hien (Vie) 6.5; 3. R. Canino ( Phi) 6.5.

8-under — 1. Dang Le Xuan Hien (Vie) 9; 2. Quan My Linh (Vie) 7.5; 3. Ngo Nha Ky (Vie) 6.5.

Seniors — 1. A. Lupian (Phi) 7; 2. Tong Thai Hung (Viet) 6.5; 3. A. Pacis (Phi) 6.

Download the Full Results here: ACC19_Standard

ASEAN Chess Confederation Board 2018-2021

The new Board of the ASEAN CHESS CONFEDERATION (2018-2021) elected on 24th June 2018.

by Ignatius Leong

Sitting Left to Right:
Deputy President Tengku Abdullah Badli Shah (Malaysia), President Congressman Prospero Pichay (Philippines), Vice President Panupand Vijjuprabha (Thailand), Deputy President Maung Maung Lwin (Myanmar).

Standing Left to Right:
Chief Executive Ignatius Leong, Secretary General Nguyen Phuoc Trung (Vietnam), Vice President GM Jayson Gonzales (Philippines), Treasurer General Red Dumuk (Philippines), Vice President Bong Bunawan (Indonesia), FIDE General Secretary Abraham Tolentino, Vice President  Dang Tat Thang (Vietnam), Deputy Secretary General John Inthava (Laos).

FIDE Arbiter Seminar Begins in Davao City

The FIDE Arbiter Seminar held in parallel with the 19th ASEAN+ Age-Group Chess Championships in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines, is now underway with 27 participants.

IA Ignatius Leong is the FIDE Lecturer and is assisted by IA Bong Bunawan and IA James Infiesto.