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By Roy Luarca.

GM Wesley So left the Philippines for the USA in 2013, disgruntled with the way politics is creeping its way into sports, chess in particular.

Over eight years later, when he has carved a name with the United States Chess Federation and the world, So couldn’t help but notice the positive attention Filipino chess players have been getting of late.

So, who went as high as No. 2 in the world behind Magnus Carlsen and one of only 12 chess players in history to breach the Elo 2800 mark, was elated by the creation of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) which is now holding its inaugural All-Filipino tournament.

On January 30, So, the reigning US national champion and Fischer Random king posted: “So proud the Philippines is making an effort to recognize their chess players!!! Happy I have lived to see the day they are recognized as professionals. Brains over Brawn. Congratulations to the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines PCAP!”

So, who also won the Skilling Open, the first leg of the Champions Chess Tour, earlier sent a message to PCAP on the first players draft on December 30, when the 24 competing teams chose among the titled players available.

Thus far, the PCAP All-Filipino has held 9 rounds with the Negros Kingsmen and Caloocan Load Manna Knights holding court with perfect 9 points.

On Wednesday, Negros and Caloocan will dangle their clean slates against the Camarines Eagles and the Isabela Raiders, respectively.

The Kingsmen, composed of FIDE Master Nelson Mariano III, FM Randy Segarra, AGM Rowelyn Acedo, FM Rosendo Bandal Jr, and  International Master Joel Pimentel, are on top of the South division.

They will be battling the GM Mark Paragua-led Eagles, their closest pursuers with an 8-1 slate.

Powered by IMs Paolo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia, the Knights are favored to extend their win-run against the 5-4 Raiders.

The featured match on the sixth day of competitions pits the Manila Indios Bravos (7-2) against the Laguna Heroes (7-2).

By Ed Andaya. Iloilo City Kisela Knights, Negros Kingsmen, San Juan Predators and Caloocan Load Manna Knights continued to show the way after the eighth day of competitions in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference.

GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Karl Victor Ochoa, pulled off back-to-back victories over the Laguna Heroes, 12.5-8.5, and Antipolo Cobras, 18-3, to keep a share of the lead in the Southern Conference with 13-2 win-loss record.

Negros, bannered by IM Joel Pimentel and FM Nelson Mariano III, also completed a sweep by winning over the Cavite Spartans, 14-7, and Isabela Knight Raiders, 17-4, to match Iloilo’s leading record.

But the Camarines Soaring Eagles of GM Mark Paragua and NM Carlo Lorena dropped out of the lead with a split — losing to Rizal Towers, 8-13, and winning over the Pasig Pirates, 13.5-7.5.

The Toledo Trojans also made their move with 13.5-7.5 victory over the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe and 12-9 decision over the Olongapo Rainbow to vault into solo fourth place in the South with 9-6 record.

In the North, San Juan demolished Cebu City Machers, 17-4, and Cordova Dagami Warriors,17-4, while Caloocan humbled Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, 14-7, and Mindoro Tamaraws, 12.5-8.5, to keep the top spot with identical 14-1 slates.

Laguna bounced back from a setback to Iloilo with a convincing 17.5-3.5 victory over the Iriga City Oragons to remain in solo third place in the North with 12-3 mark.

United States-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr., FM Austin Jacob Literatus, WNM Jean Karen Enriquez, FM Efren Bagamasbad and GM John Paul Gomez delivered the victories for the Heroes.

Also making their presence felt in the North are the Manila Indios Bravos, who outclassed the Palawan Queen’s Gambits, 15.5-5.5, and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates,14.5-6.5 to improve their record to 11-4; and Rizal Towers, who upset Camarines Soaring Eagles, 13-8, and Cebu Machers, 13-8, to raise its record to 9-6.

PCAP president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said the 24 member-teams will play a total of 34 games — 22 in their own conference and 12 in the other conference.

Aside from Elauria, the other PCAP officials are Michael Angelo Chua, Chairman; and Atty Arnel Batungbakal, treasurer.

The games are sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra

by Marlon Bernardino
8-time Illinois, USA champion International Master Angelo Abundo Young (in photo) rediscovered his old deadly form as the Manila Indios Bravos demolished Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 14.5-6.5, in the on-going North versus South 2nd phase of elimination round of the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 on online tournament at the lichess platform.
Young, who is best known for his 8th over-all finish in the 2019 World Seniors (+50 division ) Chess Championships in Bucharest, Romania, bested Cyrus Donasco on board 5 (homegrown) to power the Indios Bravos as they improved to fourth place with a 11-4 win-loss record in the Northern Division.
Young downed Donasco in 26 moves of Iregular Opening in their blitz duel before winning in 45 moves of King’s Indian defense in the rapid play.
Also delivering wins for the Indios Bravos were International Master John Marvin Miciano, Womna Candidate Master Mira Mirano, International Master Chris Ramayrat and Arena Grandmaster Glenn Lemen.
Miciano toppled Fide Master Vince Alaan on board 1, Mirano routed Jessa Mae Lisondra on board 3 (female), Ramayrat crushed Joselito Serna on board 4 (senior) and Lemen waylaid Marcialito Penera on board 6 (homegrown).
Engr. Aladino Diez and FIDE Master Cesar Caturla provided the much needed points for Rey Urbiztondo own team Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates.
Diez upset US master Ryan Dungca on board 2 while Caturla split the point with Candidate Master Genghis Imperial on board 7 (homegrown).
Surigao managed to keep things close in the Blitz category to end the showdown in a draw, 3.5-3.5 before yielding to Manila Indios Bravos in the Rapid format, 2.5-10.5, according to Manila Indios Bravos Team Owner Joey Paulo Elauria.
Manila Indios Bravos, earlier beat Palawan Queen’s Gambit, 15.5-5.5.

by Marlon Bernardino
Far Eastern University, Philippines finished in the top 10 in the just ended online Kasparov Chess Foundation University Cup.

National Master Darry Bernardo, a member of the national para chess team that finished fifth in the FIDE Olympiad for People with Disability last year, led the Tamaraws by scoring 8/9 on Board 4 that was highlighted by his shock win over International Master Harshit Raja from University of Missouri A.

FEU’s team A, which also consists of Jeth Romy Morado (above left), Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano (above right), John Merill Jacutina and alternate Kristian Glen Abuton, actually finished tied for seventh with  Greece’s National Technical University of Athens A, the United States’ St. Louis University A and Russia’s Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology A with 6.5 points apiece.
But the reigning Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion ended up just 10th after tiebreakers were applied.
It was a strong performance nonetheless for a team that competed without a titled player and ranged against a field headed by the US’ powerhouse University of Texas at Rio Grande A (UTRGA), which blew away the opposition with a nine-game title sweep.
UTRGA was led by two Grandmasters, Vladimir Fedoseev and Sanan Sjugirov, who combined for 15 points in the tournament that was participated in by 571 chessers including 17 GMs, 11 IMs, 16 FIDE Masters, one Woman GM and four WFMs spread from 125 teams from 24 countries across the globe.
“We are so fortunate despite the pandemic the FEU Sports programs continues especially in Chess. We owe our success to FEU management,” said national women’s and FEU coach GM Jayson Gonzales, who thanked FEU chairman Aurelio R.  Montinola III and athletic director Mark Molina for their support.
Gonzales said his team would see action in the FIDE World University Online Chess Championship slated Mar. 13 to 27.
University of Missouri A placed second with 7.5 points, Texas Tech University A third with seven and University of Texas Dallas A, a team coached by Filipino GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, fourth with seven points.
Indonesia’s Gunadarma University was fifth while England’s University of Cambridge was sixth each with seven points.
FEU Diliman B ended up 18th, FEU Diliman A 28th, FEU Manila C 39th, FEU Diliman C 54th, FEU Diliman D 73rd and FEU Manila D 77th.
Stealing some of the thunder from big guns were UAAP MVP Shania Mae Mendoza, and youthful April Joy Claros and Lemmuel Adena.
Mendoza, a many-time World Chess Olympiad veteran, finished with 7.5 points out of nine and the 13-year-old Claros, the best Filipino finisher who made the quarterfinals of the World Youth and Cadet Championship last year, finished undefeated with seven wins two draws.
Adena, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, sent shockwaves by pulling the rug from GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan of UTRGB

by Marlon Bernardino.
Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Bacenilla Jr.’s skillful maneuvers powered the Laguna Heroes to a 17.5-3.5 whipping of Iriga City Oragons in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 on online tournament at the lichess platform.
The former two-time Asian Junior champion Barcenilla, bouncing back from his loss to Grandmaster Joey Antonio of Iloilo Kisela Knights, 2-1, defeated National Master Glennen Artuz after 34 moves of King’s Indian defense in the blitz portion followed by 25 pushes of London System Opening in the rapid play.
This helped the Laguna Heroes of Team Owner-Playing Coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez  recover from their 8.5-12.5 setback to Iloilo Kisela Knights as the Heroes climbed to 3rd spot with an 12-3 win-loss record in the Northern Division standings behind tournament co-leaders Caloocan Loadmanna Knights and San Juan Predators who totes similar 14-1 output.
Also delivering crucial wins for the Heroes were FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez, FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo.
The Laguna Heroes bested Iriga City Oragons in blitz portion, 5.5-1.5, as well in the rapid format, 12-2, according to Team Owner-Playing Coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez.
The Laguna Heroes look to another great performance Saturday night (February 13, 2021) when they face Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warrios and Mindoro Elgin Tamaraws.
Other members of the Laguna Heroes winning team were Vince Angelo Medina, Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat, engr. Jonathan Mamaril, Mr. Benjamin Dy and Mr. David Nithyananthan.

In photo (before the pandemic) are 13-time national open champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. versus GM Rogelio “Banjo Barcenilla, Jr.

by Marlon Bernardino
The Cavite Spartans beat Palawan Queen’s Gambit, 12-9,  in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 on online tournament at the lichess platform.
Cavite conquered the Blitz category, 5-2, with victories from Lourecel Hernandez Ecot, International Master Petronio Roca, Ricky Batcho, Jayson San Jose Visca and Jaypie Bolado.
Woman International Master Shania Mae Mendoza and Susan Grace Neri provided the victories for Jorge Mitra own team Palawan Queen’s Gambit.
They managed to keep things close in the Rapid category to end the showdown in a draw, 7-7 to clinch the much-needed victory for the Cavite Spartans backed up by Rep. Jon-Jon A. Ferrer, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Deputy Director General Tereso O. Panga and Skin Magical Dist4, CARSIGMA Cavite.
Its was Lloyd Rubio’s heroics that saved the day for the Caviteno woodpushers. After a sorry default loss in the Blitz portion, Rubio, playing black, defeated WIM Mendoza after 41 moves of a French defense transposed in their top board encounter.
Ecot split the point with Woman International Master Catherine Perena-Secopito after 32 moves of London System Opening on board 2, Roca subdued Woman National Master Carmelita Abanes on board 4, while Batcho nipped Yani Seratubias after 35 moves of an Old Indian defense on board 5.
“The turning point was the win by Lloyd (Rubio) over Woman International Master Shania Mae Mendoza on top board.” said Coach Ederwin Estavillo who watched the game live thru online platform of lichess.org.
Neri, Marife dela Torre and Woman International Master Mikee Suede delivered the important win for Palawan Queen’s Gambit.
Neri routed Clairevy Estavillo -Marisga after 37 moves of Center Counter Game on board 3, de la Torre upset Visca after 66 moves of a London System Opening on board 6 while Suede crushed Bolado after 53 moves of Caro-Kann defense on board 7.
Earlier, the Cavite Spartans yielded to Negros Kingsmen, 7-14.
The Cavite Spartans are now in solo sixth with an 8-7 win-loss record in the Northern Division standings. They will face Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates and Toledo City Trojans this coming Saturday, February 13, 2021.
The 24-team tournament is organized by PCAP, headed by Chairman Michael Angelo Chua and President/Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria.
The tournament is being sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

Photo shows (before the pandemic) International Master Petronio Roca of the Philippines (left) versus Khin Tan of Myanmar during the 9th Asian Seniors Chess Championship (Standard event) held at the Tagaytay International Convention Center, Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Mr. Nigel Metge has been elected President of the New Zealand Chess Federation.

Murray Chandler retired from his role as President of NZCF after several years of service as a Councillor and a further five years as President. The board of the NZCF gave him a round of applause for his enormous contribution to New Zeland chess in the varied roles of player, organizer, fundraiser, author, publisher and leader.

Nigel Metge spoke of his start as a chess player in 1970 playing in the NZCF Congress. Nigel recalled playing GM Murray Chandler in 1975 in Dunedin and thanked Murray again for his contribution to NZCF, chess in New Zealand and chess around the world

Nigel spoke of the increasing diversity in chess players – both in age and gender, The interaction and communication with clubs is an important element of the work of NZCF, he said adding that increased communication with clubs was a priority for his Presidency.

Ranindu Dilshan Liyanage of Ananda College, the reigning National Chess Champion showed that he is the strongest after the first tie breaker, the Rapid Games happened since the Classical Games ended in equal points with two draws with Minul Sanjula Doluweera of Royal College. Minul started with white in the 1^st round and opened with the queen’s Gambit to end the round with a tame draw. In the 2^nd round Ranindu started with e4 and Minul’s answer was Carro Khann defense, c6. Ranindu replied with advance e4 and again agreed to a draw in the 28^th move. In photo above, Ranindu receives his award from Sri Lanka Chess Federation president Luxman Wijesuriya.

Generally accepted fact was Ranindu is better in faster Chess. He proved himself better by scoring a win in the 1^st Rapid game and giving a draw with a winning position in the 2^nd Game. Ranindu Dilshan Liynage became the Champion of the 8^th Sri Lanka  Chess Grand Prix 2021 and earned Rs 50,000/= with the Trophy and the Gold Medal. Minul (in photo above) had to satisfy himself with Rs. 30,000/= and the Silver Medal. He was awarded the winner Trophy for the preliminary Round Robin event.

In the Consolation finals Theekshana Denuwan of Ananda College beat S Sivathanujan in the 1^st game and drew in the 2^nd round to earn Rs. 20,000/= and the Bronze medal. Being 4^th. S Sivathanujan of Kokavil Hindu College, being the 4^th received Rs. 10,000/=.

A total of 12 leading Chess players participated in the 8th Sri Lanka Chess Grand prix 2021which was held from 28th January to 7th February 2021was conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with the strict health guidelines. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka had offered a cash award of Rs. 110,000/= to the winners with other attractive awards. The Prize Distribution was held on 7^th of February 2021, just after the Finals with Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya, the President of the Chess Federation as the chief guest.

The games can be seen from the following link:

Link Consolation Finals (8th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix – 2021 [Consolation Finals]) Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#fca060b0-f721-4f8b-a327-deff353e135e

Finals (8th Sri Lanka Chess Grand Prix – 2021 [Finals]) Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#09a04af5-b700-4985-a48b-5b2deec7bf30

A live coverage was arranged at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka YOUTUBE Channel with commentaries from Dulan Edirisinghe, a former National Chess Champion and KA Akhila Kavinda, a National Team Player..