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The 99^th Internet Based FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar was held from 7^th to 11^th April 2021.

It was organized by the Asian Chess Federation, and under the auspices of FIDE Arbiters Commission. The Lecturer was IA/IO Mahdi Abdulrahim (UAE) FIDE Lecturer, Chairman of FIDE RC & ACF Arbiters Commission. The Organizer was Hisham Al Taher (UAE) ACF General Secretary. and the observer was Mr. Casto Abundo (PHI) ACF Executive Director. KK Chan (HKG) was the technician.

The Language of the Seminar was in Arabic. daily lectures from 18.00-23.00 UAE Time (+4 GMT). The course took 20 hours, divided into four days, at the rate of 5 hours per day. In 11^th April 2021 was the examination test online (3 hours) via fideseminar.com site, and monitored by Zoom.

24 participants registered from nine (9) different federations, four (4) of them were women. The students were from UAE, OMA, BRN, IRQ, YEM, EGY, MAR, LBA and TUN. Twenty-one (21) of them attended the exam. Fifteen (15) of them passed the examination test with 80%, which was held after the end of the lectures. The Seminar will give FIDE Arbiter norms and titles, according to the regulations for the titles of the Arbiters. after the approval of the next FIDE Council meeting.

Visit FIDE web site report.

Topics of the seminars were:

• Laws of Chess (including Rapid, Blitz, etc.).
• Regulations for the rating and the over‐the board titles.
• Swiss system and pairing rules.
• FIDE Competition Rules and standards of chess equipment.
• System of Games, Tie breaks.
• Anti‐cheating guidelines for Arbiters.
• Regulations for the titles of the Arbiters.

Notice:

• On the opening day, words of welcome and encouragement were given to the students participating in the seminar by GM Victor Bologan, Executive Director of the FIDE, Hisham Al Taher, General Secretary of the ACF. They wished everyone luck for a successful seminar.
• The daily lectures were held on the Zoom platform and were recorded. With special link published on YouTube
• Seminar materials were sent to all participants via e-mail.
• At the end of the course, everyone was awarded a certificate of participation.

FIDE Lecturer

IA/IO Mahdi Abdulrahim

The Balochistan Chess Association under the umbrella of the Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) is on track to introduce and establish a chess culture on the provincial as well as National-level. After Successful organization of three Classical FIDE-rated tournaments in just 50 days of BCA establishment, which is a record, yielding 22 FIDE rated players in Balochistan, BCA is proudly announcing the toughest series of tournaments in the province, “Haji Siraj Ud Din Memorial Balochistan Grand Prix Round Robin Series 2021” with complete Support from Chess Federation of Pakistan, Balochistan Sports Board Director Mr. Durra Baloch, and Secretary Sports Balochistan Mr. Imran Gichki.

The Designer and Chief Organizer of the Grand Prix is Dr. Muhammad Ayoub, General Secretary Balochistan Chess Association.

All of the events in the series will be FIDE rated, in Classical format. There will be 6 tournaments in Round Robin format every other month per year. Performance score will be assigned to every player in every event and the winner of the Grand Prix will be the player will the highest total score. The winner of the series will be the first candidate to consider for any future international event’s participation from Balochistan, along with huge cash prizes, Trophies, and the title of “the Champion of Balochistan”.

Tentative Schedule of the events

Each tournament of the Series will be consisting of four (4) pools of 6-14 players, where at least 4-5 players must be Fide rated, playing Single Round Robin matches between them.

From each pool 2 players will qualify to Quarterfinals, where knockout matches will be played between them, consisting of 2 Classical matches with both colors, in case of a tie, they will play 2 Rapid matches, and in case of a tie again, 4 Blitz matches and in the case of a tie still, one Armageddon game will decide the winner, and the winner of the knockout match will qualify to Semifinals and then finals, both will be played in the same format.

To encourage the competitive spirit and ascertain national-level experience, 2 players from other provinces, can be allowed to play in one pool of events, a maximum of 8 players in one event.

Total Cash Prizes will be distributed as follow:

Entry to the Events will only be given to players registered with Balochistan Chess Association under Oath and members of an affiliated Club of Balochistan.

All these events will be organized by a Tournament Committee of 5 members:

Chairman of Committee Afzal Mengal

Members: Zafar Ali Khan, Mir Asad, Muhammad Siddique, and Mehmood Nasir.

Tournament Committee will forward their recommendations to General Secretary BCA for approval, about player’s entry in different events, format adjustment if needed, and other issues.

Oneli Vithanawasam (photo above) of Lyceum International School Wattala who was sharing the lead yesterday with 4 points out of 4 games, played exceptionally well to win the event by scoring 6 out of possible 7 games. She beat the other overnight leader Prasansa Premanath in the 5^th round and drew with Esandi Newansa and Piyumi Uthpala in the last two rounds to finish the event with 6 points. Earlier she beat Hasandi Akuratiya, Miyuni Jayasinghe, Tenuli Dahamna Rathnayake and Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake in first 4 rounds yesterday. She received the Championship trophy and the Gold Medal.

Esandi Newansa (above left) of Dharmasoka Vidyalaya who tied at 5.5 points with Nemindi Linaya of Ramanayake (above right) of Central College, Veyangoda & Piyumi Uthpala of JMC International School, Kaluthara, had the better in the tie breaker to win the Silver medal. Esandi beat Sanuli Dulanya, D T Joachim, Chanindi Mewna, Desandhi Dhihansa, J A K N T Indrajith and drew with Oneli Vithanawasam and lost only to Prasansa Premanath. Nemindi Linaya Ramanayake had the better in the tie breaker against Piyumi Uthpala to win the Bronze medal.

CFSL Online Under 18 Girls Open Youth Rapid Chess Championship 2021 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was successfully held on 8^th and 9^th of May 2021 via the Chess.com Platform. A total of 36 players from all over the country registered for the event which was conducted for 7 rounds with the time control of 15 minutes +10 seconds increment per each move played. Players were logged in to chess.com/live (not only www.chess.com) and played on laptops. Players were instructed to register their real name in their chess.com profile and upload their real photo. Age was considered by the 1^st of January 2021.

The event was conducted with the highest precautions for anti-cheating regulations. Mobiles or other equipment were not allowed during the games. Only the player was allowed in his/her playing room. Player’s webcam, speaker, and microphone worked at all times. Also, players shared their screens with the organizers with task bar. All other programs except the Chess.com & the zoom were closed while playing the games. Players were not allowed to make noise and to avoid background noise. All the games were closely monitored. Engines were used for the analysis purpose and games were analyzed by www.chess.com. If any misconduct or violation found, the player to be removed from the event and disciplinary actions will be taken accordingly by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka. Players may be banned for two years from competitive chess in case of sever misconduct.

Final Standings of top 10 players are as follows.

You may find the complete list of final standings from the link here:

https://chess-results.com/tnr559855.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

Stay Safe! Enjoy Chess!

 Written by Nipuna Chathuraka

Teenage International Masters Daniel Quizon (above left), 17, and Michael Concio Jr. (above right), 16, both of the Philippines, finished first and second, respectively, in the Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo to qualify into the World Cup slated July in Sochi, Russia. Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

Quizon escaped with a draw against a fierce attack by Indonesian GM Susanto Megaranto (photo above). From the white site of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted, Megaranto quickly controlled the center and brought his pieces to the kingside. After 30.Bd3 (see diagram above) instead of the stronger 30.Bxg6, Quizon freed his Queen and Megaranto accepted the draw offer. Quizon finished alone in first with 7 points in the 9-round Swiss System for the top prize of $700.

Concio outmaneuvered the Sicilian Defense of GM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia (photo above) who mirrored symmetrical positions for the first eight moves. Priasmoro had to give up a Knight to prevent pawn promotion on the 56^th move. In the ensuing Rook and Bishop vs. Rook endgame they made 36 moves, 14 short of the 50-move draw rule, when Priasmoro committed a blunder (see diagram above) 103… Ka5? which trapped his King in a mating net after 104.Rh1!. Concio finished alone in second place with 6.5 points for cash prize of $500.

Priasmoro won the bronze medal and $300 with 6 points, tied with five others, namely compatriot IMs (left to right above) Mohamad Ervan, Yoseph Theolifus Taher and Sean Winshand Cuhendi, Singaporean IM Tin Jingyao (below left) and Malaysian FM Lye Lik Zang (below right).

Lye essayed the Trompovsky Attack against Mohamad Ervan to win the Rook and Pawn endgame in 49 moves. Tin Jingyao’s English Opening crushed the Dutch Defense of IM John Marvin Miciano in 47 moves. Taher used the Sicilian Defense against FM Rohan Shan Tze Navaratnam of Malaysia who gave a Knight on the 12^th move to gain two pawns and pry open the castled Black king. Taher forced an exchange of Queen’s on the 19^th move and when his attack fizzled out, Navaratnam resigned on the 28^th move. Cuhendi was held to a draw by Merben Roque of the Philippines in 49 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Game.

Many thanks to the Arbiters above. Read previous articles of Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship

IM Quizon Grabs Solo Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal Pentultimate Round

Quizon, Concio and Ervan Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Homestretch

Michael Concio, Jr. and Mohamad Ervan Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Five Share Lead at Zonal Halfway Mark

Three-way tie for Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Quizon of Philippines and Ervan of Indonesia Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Juniors Share Early Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal Has Started on Tornelo

Seventeen-year-old IM Daniel Quizon of the Philippines (photo above) outplayed compatriot Michael Concio, Jr. to grab solo lead with 6-1/2 points after the penultimate 8^th round of the Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo. Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

In close second slot with 6 points each are IM Mohamad Ervan (above right) and GM Novendra Priasmoro (above left) of Indonesia. Concio (below left) and IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi (below right) of Indonesia are within striking distance at 5.5 points each. The race is tight for the top two slots to the World Cup this July in Sochi, Russia.

Quizon seized the open e-file with his Queen and penetrated the seventh rank, forcing resignation on the 40^th move of their Ruy Lopez Game.

Ervan and Cuhendi drew their Ruy Lopez Game in 21 moves. Priasmoro turned the tables on IM Tin Jinghao of Singapore. In another Ruy Lopez Game, Tin Jinghao’s temporary Knight sacrifice on the 17^th move netted him with an active Queen and Rook against Priasmoro’s defensive Queen and two Knights. The Singaporean was in control (see diagram below) until he blundered 36… Qe4+, losing a piece and the game.

The Malaysian government’s declaration of Movement Control Order (MCO) impacted on the Kuala Lumpur venue. After solving the movement with authorization letters from the Olympic Committee, now they were told they could not gather so openly in the commercial building.

This is the KL venue seen from the “common walkway” hence people can see others gathering for chess. The solution was to move the players away from the glass walls to be a bit more discreet. This way they do not invite unwanted party to visit and “raid” the place.

Malaysian Chess Federation Secretary Najib Wahab said “Hybrid itself is a good solution but, when movement is restricted, even players are not allowed to go to hybrid centers. A full lockdown makes it challenging but partial lockdown is still ok. The challenge is, when a lockdown is enforced, it is done within a day or 2 notice – not enough time to re construct a back up plan.”

Three players in KL had to withdraw because of the MCO. Fortunately, the Penang venue is unaffected by the MCO. Two players in the Davao, Philippines venue got fever and had to withdraw.

The Indonesian hybrid chess center is the envy of the others. Indonesian players are billeted in the Utut Adianto Chess Academy so no lockdown problems for them. Arbiters are in a nearby hotel. The venue has internet hub with backup for failsafe connection. Senator GM Utut Adianto, President of the Indonesian Chess Federation, takes good care of his players.

See previous articles of Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship

Quizon, Concio and Ervan Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Homestretch

Michael Concio, Jr. and Mohamad Ervan Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Five Share Lead at Zonal Halfway Mark

Three-way tie for Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Quizon of Philippines and Ervan of Indonesia Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Juniors Share Early Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal Has Started on Tornelo

Seventeen-year-old IM Daniel Quizon (above left) of the Philippines crushed IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher of Indonesia to barge into a 3-way tie for the lead with co-leaders compatriot IM Michael Concio, Jr., 17, (above right) and Mohamad Ervan (photo below) of Indonesia with 5.5 points each after 7 rounds of the Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo.

Playing the White side of a Ruy Lopez, Quizon was surprised by Taher’s Shleiman Defense and took much time to plan his reply in the opening. Quizon maintained pressure in the center files and Taher chose to give up a Bishop for development. In the ensuing endgame, Quizon had three pieces for a Rook and forced resignation on the 41^st move.

Concio essayed Benko’s Opening to get away from the main lines against IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi (photo above) of Indonesia and drew in 61 moves of a minor piece endgame.

Ervan transposed to a Queen’s Gambit Declined against IM Tin Jingyao, 21, (photo above) of Singapore. Ervan exchanged his two Rooks for his opponent’s Queen and the game was drawn in 70 moves.

Tin Jingyao and Cuhendi trail with 5 points each together with GM Novendra Piasmoro who used the King’s Indian Defense to hold FM Siddharth Jagadeesh of Singapore to a draw in 68 moves.

Jagadeesh (photo above), Taher and six others follow with 4.5 points each, namely IM John Marvin Miciano, Kimuel Lorenzo, Merben Roque and Ellan Asuela of the Philippines, GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia and FM Lye Lik Zang of Malaysia.

Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

See previous articles of Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship

Michael Concio, Jr. and Mohamad Ervan Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Five Share Lead at Zonal Halfway Mark

Three-way tie for Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Quizon of Philippines and Ervan of Indonesia Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Juniors Share Early Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal Has Started on Tornelo

On 7th May started the first round of the Zone 3.4 FIDE Zonal Open Championship in Tashkent. The tournament is played over the board in 9 rounds. 34 qualified chess players from five countries take part in the Championship, namely Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and host Uzbekistan.  Among the favorites are 7 Grandmasters, 6 International Masters and 4 FIDE Masters.

FIDE Zone 3.4 President Husan Turdialiev of Uzbekistan welcoming participants to Tashkent.

On 15th May the last round shall start at 09.30, after the end of the round shall take place the Closing ceremony. Top two of the tournament shall qualify to the FIDE World Cup 2021.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings. Here are some photos from the tournament.

Seventeen-year-old IM Michael Concio, Jr. of the Philippines (above left) and Indonesian IM Mohamad Ervan (above right), 29, defeated their respective opponents to share the lead with 5 points each after six rounds of the Southeast Asian Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo.

Concio, on the black side of a Ruy Lopez Game, defended accurately against IM Azarya Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia who sacrificed the exchange on move 22 for a strong kingside attack. Concio forced an exchange of Queens and in the ensuing endgame forced resignation on the 55^th move.

Ervan crushed the Petroff defense of 14-year-old Jagadeesh Siddharth of Singapore. Gaining a protected passed pawn in the center, the Indonesian transposed to a King and pawn endgame to win in 50 moves.

(From foreground) GM Darwin Laylo, WIM Kylene Joy Mordido, IM Michael Concio Jr. and IM Daniel Quizon at the star-studded Dasmarinas Chess Academy put up by Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. and national coach FM Roel Abelgas

Erstwhile co-leader IM Daniel Quizon of the Philippines luckily escaped with a draw against IM Winshand Cuhendi of Indonesia. Playing white in a Queen’s Pawn opening, the Indonesian sacrificed a Knight for two pawns on the 18^th move to create a passed c-pawn. Cuhendi missed a pawn promotion on the 40^th move (see diagram below 40.c8=Q! Qxc8 41.Rd8!), played instead 40.Qe5+ and settled for a draw a move later.

Quizon, Cuhendi and three others follow with 4-1/2 points each, namely GM Novendra Priasmoro and IM Theolifus Taher Yoseph of Indonesia and IM Tin Jingyao of Singapore.

Priasmoro beat compatriot Ali Muhammad Lutfi by smothered mate in 34 moves.

Taher won against compatriot GM Susanto Megaranto who resigned on the 22^nd move after a mouse slip of Rc8 instead of Rd8, losing a Bishop. Tornelo has an option called “Move Confirmation” which players may choose to prevent mouse slip but it means two clicks per move. Actually, regulations allow for games between players in the same venue to be played over-the-board if they choose, but the Indonesians preferred to play on Tornelo.

IM Tin Jingyao beat Merben Roque of the Philippines with the exchange up in a Rook and Knight endgame to force resignation in 41 moves.\

The Cebu, Philippines lost hotel internet connection in round 6 due to an unforeseen construction work outside the hotel. They were prepared with mobile data and continued playing. See the online news coverage from Cebu.

Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

See previous articles of Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship\

Five Share Lead at Zonal Halfway Mark

Three-way tie for Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Quizon of Philippines and Ervan of Indonesia Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Juniors Share Early Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal Has Started on Tornelo

by Marlon Bernardino.
Filipino juniors IM Daniel Quizon (photo above), 17, IM Michael Concio Jr, 16, and Indonesians Mohamad Ervan and Sean Winshand Cuhendi, and surprise fourteen-year-old FM Jagadeesh Siddharth (photo below) of Singapore share the lead with 4 points each out of 5 rounds at the halfway mark of the Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo. Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

Quizon, the 2018 South Korea Eastern Asia Junior Chess Champion, found second seed Grandmaster Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia a tough nut to crack and settled for a truce despite playing the white pieces after 92 moves of Sicilian defense.
“It was a really tough match,” said the Dasmariñas City bet Quizon, playing under the guidance of Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. and national coach Roel Abelgas. Quizon had Queen and two isolated pawns against Priasmoro’s Rook and Knight.

International Master Michael Concio Jr. (photo above) made a quick 16 move draw with co-leader International Master Mohamad Ervan (photo below left) of Indonesia in their Giuco Piano skirmish.

In other matches, International Master Sean Winshand Cuhendi of Indonesia toppled countryman FIDE Master Pitra Andyka after 36 moves of a London System Opening, FIDE Master Jagadeesh Siddharth smashed untitled Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo of the Philippines after 40 moves of a Kings Indian defense, National Master Merben Roque of the Philippines checkmated Yu Tian Poh of Malaysia after a marathon 131 moves of an Alekhine defense, while top seed Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia trounced International Master John Marvin Miciano after 24 moves of Caro Kann defense.

Megaranto, Priasmoro and Roque and five others woodpushers notch 3.5 points each.

Here are Standings after Round 5
4 points—IM Daniel Quizon (Philippines), IM Michael Concio Jr. (Philippines), IM Mohamad Ervan (Indonesia), IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi (Indonesia), FM Jagadeesh  Siddharth (Singapore)
3.5 points—IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher (Indonesia), GM Novendra Priasmoro (Indonesia),  IM Muhammad Lutfi Ali (Indonesia), IM Azarya Jodi Setyaki (Indonesia), IM Tin Jingyao (Singapore), GM Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia), FM Lik Zang Lye (Malaysia), NM Merben Roque (Philippines)

FM Lik Zang Lye and others in Kuala Lumpur almost did not make it to round 6 as the government declared MCO (Movement Control Order) lockdown in Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Chess Federation (MCF) president Akhramsyah Muammar Ubaidah Sanusi (photo below) spoke with Olympic Committee of Malaysia (OCM) SecGen Dato Nazif Najib and they were happy to provide the necessary letters for Kuala Lumpur players and participants for Zonal. MCF Secretary Najib Abdul Wahab is liaising with the OCM Exec Sec on this matter. Supposedly the OCM letter should be enough for passing any roadblocks, avoiding need of police permit. The Penang venue is not under restricted MCO, IA Hamid Majid of Malaysia reported. Hamid, who is the Arbiter proctoring Philippine players, helped with the MCO in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, lone Filipino Grandmaster Darwin Laylo split the point with International Master Gilbert Elroy Tarigan of Indonesia after 16 moves of King’s Indian defense to raise his total 3 points.
The top two players will advance to the World Cup set July in Sochi, Russia.

Two players in the Davao venue above had to withdraw after coming down with a fever. According to regulations, players who have high temperature may be prohibited from entering the playing hall for the safety of other participants in this time of pandemic.

See previous coverage of Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship

Three-way tie for Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Quizon of Philippines and Ervan of Indonesia Share Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal

Juniors Share Early Lead in Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal

Zone 3.3 Hybrid Zonal Has Started on Tornelo