Archives: News

by Marlon Bernardino.
PH chess wizard Jasper Faeldonia of Odiongan, Romblon won the 20th Romblon Chess Club (RCC) Blitz 5+0 Swiss Chess Tournament last April 4, 2021 at lichess.org.

Faeldonia finished with 9 wins and 2 loses for a total of 9 points, the same output of Blairy Andal Fallarme and 19th Edition Champion Nepthali Bantang.

The top player of Arellano University, playing under the guidance of coach NM/AGM Rudy Ibanez, however, was proclaimed champion due to better tie break points.

Fallarme, on the other hand settled for second while Bantang ended up third.

This is Faeldonia’s eleven crown. He also booked his seat in the  Semi-Finals of the National Age Group under 18  open division.

The 2018 Singapore Age Group co-Champion will be seeing in action again when the National Youth and School Championships South Luzon Leg gets going on Thursday at the Tornelo Arena.

The Romblon Chess Club is headed by DILG Regional Director / Engr. James F. Fadrilan assisted by Eng. Ernie Fetisan Faledonia and Dr. Jenny Mayor. The club aims to promote chess in the grassroots level and to discover future chess masters and champions

The 1st FIDE Rated, Balochistan Champion of Champions Round-Robin Chess tournament 2021, took place in Pakistan Sports Board Complex in collaboration with Pakistan Sports Board.

The Event was organized by the Balochistan Chess Association in collaboration with the Chess Federation of Pakistan under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. It was a 16 players round-robin.

In the  tournament, one best player was selected from each affiliated club of Balochistan. Eight FIDE rated players were also included. The Tournament was 15 rounds, standard time format 30 minutes per side plus 30 seconds per move starting from move one.

Tournaments was played as per FIDE laws, hCief Arbiter was Dr Muhammad Ayoub, deputy arbiter was Muhammad Siddique. Tournament committee consists of Mehmood Nasir, Umerzaib, Tauseef ur Rehman Babar, Ali Tabani and Haidet Mengal.

Dr Muhammad Ayoub was in super form and presented stunning performance of 15 wins in 15 games which is a new record in Round Robin tournament in the country.

Second position was won by Ali Madad scoring 12.5 points while Third Spot was secured by Musawir Khan with 10.5 score. Young Abdul Qayyum was fourth with 9.5 points while Mir Asad khan got fifth with 9.5 points. Hazrat Ali got FIDE rating at age 75+ which is a new, maybe world record. Brilliant chess skills were display by Aftab Mengal, Rehan Khan and Ehsan Lehri from Kuzhdar.

Tounament closing ceremony will be done in few days in the presence of Sports Secretary Imtan Gichki Sab, where cash prizes, trophies and certificates will be given to winners along with tea party from association.

 Dahamdi and Esha maintain lead after 6 rounds

 Dahamdi Sanudula (above left, from Musaeus College) of Group X and Esha Pallie (above right, from Visakha Vidyalaya) of Group Y are in the lead after the 6th round of the 2nd Sri Lanka Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2021 – Round Robin Events at Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Headquarters. Yesterday leaders, Dahamdi beat Dehansa Sandanayake and Yasasi Abeysekara in Group X while Esha beat Chanindi Attanayake and Oneli Weerawardena in Group Y, both in 5^th and 6^th round games respectively to continue their lead with 6 out of 6 games.

The prestigious 2nd SL Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2021 is scheduled from 2nd to 10th April 2021 with 18 leading Girls Under 14 Yrs Chess players. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is offering Rs. 55,000/= as the cash awards for the event. All games are live broadcasted and the link is given below. The CFSL is planning to arrange live streaming of the event time to time and the links will be notified accordingly.

Nemindi Ramanayake (photo above) of Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda is in 5 points in Group Y after she scored a win against Sasmi Sithumsa in the 6^th round and received the bye in the 5^th round. It was not a good day for the yesterday 2^nd seed Dehansa Sandanayake of St. Paul’s Girls School since she scored only a draw with Tharuli Ranganath out of two games today. She is in the 3^rd spot in Group X with shared 4 points with Yasasi Abeysekara(Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara) and Tharuli Ranganath (Yoshida International School).

Oneli Vithanawasam (photo above) of Lyceum International School, Wattala and Oneli Weerawardena of Lyceum International Rathnapura are sharing the 2^nd spot in Group Y with 4 ½ points each where both of them lost to Esha Pallie, the leader and drew with each other.

The last 3 rounds will be held on Friday, the 9^th of April 2021 evening at 3.30 and Saturday, the 10^th of April 2021 two games. Then the top four players in Group X and Y will play a knocked out rounds of Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Finals to end the event as FIDE world cup format of 2 classical games, Two Rapid Games and 2 Blitz games with alternative colours and a sudden death format game to end if all earlier systems are equal.

The event is held according to the strict health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and The Medical Unit of Ministry of Sports. The following regulations should be adhered:

1. A directory of participants is kept.
2. Facilities for fever checking, Hand washing are available. Players should come wearing a Face masks
3. Gloves and face shields are provided by CFSL and players should wear them all the time they stay in the venue.
4. The social distancing should be adhered. Tables are arranged that way as 1 game per table.
5. No spectators, parents are allowed in the venue. They can drop the players at the venue and may come back to collect after the game.
6. Player gathering after the games is strictly prohibited.

Standing after Rd 6

Group X

Rk. Name                                           School                         Pts.

1 WCM Sanudula K M Dahamdi       Musaeus College          6

2 Ramanayake Nemindi Linaya       Bandaranayake College 5

3 Sandanayake Dehansa Nisanduni   St. Pauls Girls Schools             4

4 Abeysekara Yasasi Geemini                   Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara  4

5 Ranganath Tharuli Vihasna Yoshida International School  4

6 Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini    Furguson High School  3

7 Somarathne L H M G S Royal International School, Kurun . 2

8 Sithumsa H G Sasmi Lyceum International School              2

9 Bimansa D G Jayandi Bandaragama Central College          1

Group Y

Rk. Name                               School                                                 Pts.

1 WCM Pallie Ehsha Mishela Visakha Vidyalaya                  6

2 Vithanawasam Oneli Lyceum International, Wattala                       4.5

3 Weerawardana Y W Oneli Vihanga Lyceum , Ratnapura    4.5

4 Gamage Desandhi Dhihansa Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya     4

5 Attanayake Chanindi Mewna Devi Balika Vidyalaya          3

6 Rathnayke, Tenuli                Gothami Balika Vidyalaya      3

7 Wilvalaarachchi Oneli          Gothami Balika Vidyalaya      3

8 Amarathunga Piyumi Uthpala JMC International                1.5

9 Sendanayake Anujana Hasandi, Mathugama Central College 0.5

The links for Live Games:

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Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#deda9b3f-e6a0-47f4-8dcd-a5dba7cd74a5

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Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#9dedf647-cdd5-49cb-9757-0878849282c5

Stay safe! Enjoy Chess!

by Marlon Bernardino.
Jersey Marticio (in photo), a Grade 8-Daffodil student of Pulo National High School in Cabuyao City, Laguna emerged champion in the Elimination for Philippine Sports Commission-National Chess Federation of the Philippines selection tournament dubbed as the 2021 Mayor Atty. Rolen C. Paulino National Age Group Online Chess Championships North Luzon Leg held online last weekend on Tornelo

The 13-year-old Marticio, whose stint here is being supported by Cabuyao City Mayor Atty. Rommel Gecolea, City of Cabuyao Sports Director Mr. Jerome Lualhati and Philippine Executive Chess Association President and Assistant Executive Director for South Luzon of NCFP Dr. Fred Paez scored a perfect seven points to edge Marian Calimbo and Darlyn Villanueva who finished second and third, respectively, in the Girls Under-18 Division.

Calimbo and Villanueva, both tallied 5 points apiece in this event, hosted by Olongapo City Mayor Atty. Rolen C. Paulino in close cooperation with City Sports and Youth Development led by OIC David B. Bayarong, FIDE national instructor Joel Escorial Villanueva, the Philippine Sports Commisison, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it’s Chairman/ President Senior Deputy Speaker Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and tournament director Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales.

Marticio swept all her matches in succeeding rounds against Darlyn Villanueva, Marphine Faith Mangubat, Marian Calimbo, Me Ann Joy Baclayon, bye in fifth round, Aeiona Lou Tomas Mendoza and Shaina Magne Romanillos in the final seventh round.

Other category winners were Robert James Perez (Open U18, 7-7), Ritchie James Abeleda (Open U16, 6/7), Jelaine Adriano (Girls U16, 6/7), Arvie Aguilar (Open U20, 7/7) and Ma. Elayza Villa (Girls U20, 6/7).

“Online chess tournaments have become the safest way to organize, join and participate in high caliber chess tournaments without the risk of exposing oneself to the deadly Covid-19 or more popularly known as the Corona Virus 2019,” said Philippine Executive Chess Association President and NCFP Assistant Executive Director for South Luzon Dr. Fred Paez.

by Marlon Bernardino
Two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr.and FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus played the heroes for the Laguna Heroes on Black Saturday (April 3, 2021) to emerge the National Finals Champion of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference. They gained the distinction of becoming the inaugural champion of the country’s first professional league in the sport.

Barcenilla, a many-time Battle of the GMs champion, playing white defeated Christian Mark Daluz after 55 moves of an English Opening while Literatus, playing black checkmated Ellan Asuela after 43 moves of a Modern Defense.

Grandmaster Mark Paragua, playing black drew first blood in the Armageddon for Camarines after forcing fellow grandmaster John Paul Gomez to resign after 25 moves in the King’s Indian Skirmish.

“It was a total team effort,” said Barcenilla, winner of the last two Olympiad qualifiers.
“Our championship match against the Camarines Soaring Eagles was the toughest and most intense among the matches that we had especially when we reached the do-or-die armageddon match. It was anybody’s match. We were just lucky in the last and deciding game. I would like to give thanks to all the fans, followers and supporters of Laguna Heroes.”  said Head Coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes that includes Engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.

According to 1996 Philippine Junior Champion FIDE Master Robert Suelo who watched the game live thru online chess.com, Asuela was ahead on the quality of pieces captured and on time as he looked poised to breach through Literatus’ Modern Defense.

But a pawn check at f3 in his 37th move started Asuela’s endgame fall as he went full throttle on his time attack against Literatus. A skewer in the 41st move allowed Literatus to capture the rook. Asuela Ke4 in the 42nd move followed by Ne5 in the 43rd move overlooked Literatus’ rook to d4 mating move.

In the regular sets, Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali, opened the National finals with a 14.5 to 6.5 victory over Camarines.

The Engineer Jojo Buenaventura Camarines Soaring Eagles team, however, fought back in the second match with an 11.5-9.5 triumph, to force the Heroes to an Armageddon tie breaker.
Other members of the Laguna Heroes who were also the over-all top notchers in the elimination round and Northern Conference team ruler were Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez,  FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat, Engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril, Mr. David Nithyananthan and head coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez.

Dahamdi and Esha in the lead!

Dahamdi Sanudula of Musaeus College (above left) of Group X and Esha Pallie of Visakha Vidyalaya (above right) of Group Y took the lead after the 4^th round of the 2nd Sri Lanka Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2021 started at Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Headquarters yesterday. Dahamdi beat Jayandi Bimansa, Tharuli Ranganath and Oshini Gunawardena in Group A while Esha beat Hasandi Sendanayake, Oneli Wilvalarachchi and Desandi Gamage in Group Y and both of them had a bye point each to get the full points of 4 out of four games.

The prestigious 2nd SL Youth Girls Chess Grand Prix 2021 is scheduled from 2nd to 10th April 2021 with 18 leading Girls Under 14 Yrs Chess players. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is offering Rs. 55,000/= as the cash awards for the event. All games are broadcast live and the link is given below. The CFSL is planning to arrange live streaming of the event time to time and the links will be notified accordingly.

Dehansa Sandanayake (above) of St. Paul’s Girls school also in the form having 3 ½ points out of 4 in group X and meets Sanudula in the fifth round. She beat LHMGS Somarathe, Sasmi Sithumsa and Jayandi Bimans with a draw against Nemindi Ramanayke to stay just a half a point ahead of Sanudula. Nemindi Ramanayake(Bandaranayake Central College, Veyangoda) and Yasasi Abeysekara(Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara) are in the 3^rd spot with 3 points each in Group X.

Oneli Weerawardena (above) of Lyceum International Rathnapura is also in the race with 3 ½ points out of for with a bye. She beat Pyumi Amarathunga and Tenuli Rathnayake and got a draw with Oneli Withanawasam to keep the 2^nd spot. Chanindi Mewna Attanayake of Deci Balika Vidyalaya is in the 3frd place with 3 points.

The event is held according to the strict health guidelines provided by the Ministry of Health and The Medical Unit of Ministry of Sports. The following regulations should be adhered:

1. A directory of participants is kept.
2. Facilities for fever checking, Hand washing are available. Players should come wearing a Face masks
3. Gloves and face shields are provided by CFSL and players should wear them all the time they stay in the venue.
4. The social distancing should be adhered. Tables are arranged that way as 1 game per table.
5. No spectators, parents are allowed in the venue. They can drop the players at the venue and may come back to collect after the game.
6. Player gathering after the games is strictly prohibited.

Standing after Rd 2

Group X

Rk. Name                                         School                          Pts.

1 WCM Sanudula K M Dahamdi    Musaeus College              4

2 Sandanayake Dehansa Nisanduni St. Pauls Girls Schools     3.5

3 Ramanayake Nemindi       Linaya Bandaranayake College   3

4 Abeysekara Yasasi Geemini Sujatha Vidyalaya, Matara       3

5 Ranganath Tharuli Vihasna Yoshida International School 2 .5

6 Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini Furguson High School        2

7 Somarathne L H M G S Royal International School, Kurun . 1.5

8 Bimansa D G Jayandi Bandaragama Central College              0.5

9 Sithumsa H G Sasmi Lyceum International School                  0

Group Y

Rk. Name                                       School                                 Pts.

1 WCM Pallie Ehsha Mishela  Visakha Vidyalaya                       4

2 Weerawardana Y W Oneli Vihanga Lyceum , Ratnapura         3.5

3 Attanayake Chanindi Mewna Devi Balika Vidyalaya                3

4 Vithanawasam Oneli Lyceum International, Wattala                2.5

5 Rathnayke, Tenuli Gothami Balika Vidyalaya                          2

6 Gamage Desandhi Dhihansa Sirimavo Balika Vidyalaya          2

7 Wilvalaarachchi Oneli Gothami Balika Vidyalaya                    2

8 Amarathunga Piyumi Uthpala JMC International                      1

9 Sendanayake Anujana Hasandi, Mathugama Central College   0

The links for Live Games:

(   ()     –  [ ])

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#deda9b3f-e6a0-47f4-8dcd-a5dba7cd74a5

(   ()     –  [ ])

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#9dedf647-cdd5-49cb-9757-0878849282c5

Join 2021 Congressman Greg G. Gasataya National Age Group Online Chess Championship Visayas Leg 10-11 April 2021 on Tornelo.

The CFSL Online Youth Under 10 Yrs Chess Championship 2021 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka will be held on 3^rd and 4^th of April 2021 at the Chess.com platform. A total of 155 players from all over the country are participating in the event which is conducted on Swiss System in 8 rounds with the time control of 15 minutes + 10 seconds increment per each move played. Players should be born after 1^st January 2011 to play in the event.

With the current COVID 19 Pandemic situation, the Chess Federation as all other Chess organizations have started online Chess with all precautions for cheating. All players participating are allowed to play with laptop/ Desktops only and they are compelled to be in a Zoom meeting throughout the games with shared screen/ Task Manager. The Chess arbiters will be closely observing them through this zoom meeting throughout the game. All other checking measures for cheating is in action and the Chess Federation has declared 2 year ban from Chess if any player found guilty in cheating while playing.

The Chess Federation plans to organize the CFSL Youth Under 10, 10G, 12, 12G, 14, 14G, 16, 16G. 18 and 18 Girls Championships this year in order to field Players to represent Sri Lanka in all World/ Asian Youth Online Chess Championships 2021. The Under 10 Girls, 12, 12G, 14 and 14 Girls are already over.