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Hilton Bennett 1955-2022

“We mourn the loss of our dear chess friend and colleague Hilton Bennett who very sadly passed away on November 12th after suffering a serious heart attack on Wednesday afternoon, November 9th.
Hilton was a colossus on the New Zealand Chess scene for many decades giving dedicated service as a councillor for the central North Island region and taking on many responsibilities in chess administration with an emphasis on junior coaching and facilitator for many training workshops. He was invaluable in his role in representing NZ at Chess Olympiads dating back to the early 2000’s as the Head of Delegation. It was during these events that his organizational and people skills came to the fore as many past team members can testify.
Hilton was a passionate chess player and always gave 100% in his effort to play the best he could. He continually worked to improve his game. Recently he placed 3rd= in the 2022 Asian Seniors 65+ division and prior to that gained 3rd place in the 65+ section at the 2022 Malaysian Chess Festival in September.
Hilton was part of the 1998 Auckland team that competed in the Asian Cities Championships in the Genting Highlands in Malaysia and the following year represented NZ at the 1999 World Cities and Asian Teams Championships in Shenyang, China.
Hilton’s international tournament successes included 1st= place at the 1st Fiji International tournament in Suva in 2003 and 1st place in the Palau International tournament in Koror in 2006.
Hilton was also a passionate chess historian and was continually on the lookout for historical NZ Chess literature. He had an impressive knowledge in this field.
Hilton held the titles of FIDE Candidate Master, FIDE Trainer and FIDE International Organiser, as well as the national arbiter title and was a life member of the New Zealand Chess Federation.
He will be sadly missed by all who had the good fortune to know him as a wonderful colleague and friend.”

Philippines, Singapore, Mongolia Top 3 in Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship

The Philippines, Singapore and Mongolia emerged top three federations in the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship organized by the Thailand Chess Association on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, 4-13 November 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. Visit chess-results.com. Here is the Medal tally in standard chess:

Close to 200 players from 12 Eastern Asian nations (FIDE Zone 3.3) competed in the event held in standard, rapid and blitz time controls. See Rapid Chess results.

Here are the individual medalists in standard chess:

Thailand Chess Association president Sahapol Nakvanich (seated right) with Chief Arbiter K.K. Chan and committee members and Arbiters of the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship.

IM Nolte wins IIEE National Chess Olympiad 2022


by Marlon Bernardino
IM Rolando Nolte reinforced his position as one of the Philippines’ top chess players when he ruled the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines Inc.-IIEE National Chess Olympiad 2022 last November 10 at the Music Hall, SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.

Nolte split the point with IM Barlo Nadera in the final round to score 6.0 points in seven outings to bag the top prize of P5,000.

Nadera tied with 6 points but with lower tie break points to come in second for the runner-up prize of P3,000,

FM Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri beat CM Genghis Katipunan Imperial in the last round to tie for third with 5.5 points and bringhome P2,000 for his efforts.

IM Chito Garma drew with Arena GM Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo to notch 5.5 points and take the Top Senior award for P1,000.
Lorenzo finished fourth to bring home P1,000.

IM Ronald Bancod subdued Mark James Marcellana and finished fifth for P1,000.

Adjuded category winners were Rolando Gangozo, (Top III, 1st place, P5,000), National Master Robert Arellano , (Top III, 2nd place, P3,000), Paul Julian Querubin, (Top III, 3rd place, P2,000), Vince Duane Pascual (Top Youth, P1,000) and Woman National Master Antonella Tonelle “Berthe” Racasa (Top Lady, P1,000).

Earlier, Ramon Fernandez and Red Dumuk led the opening rites. Tournament Director was Engr. Allan Anthony P. Alvarez

Commonwealth Chess Championships 2022 to be held in Sri Lanka

The Commonwealth Chess Championships 2022 are to be held in Sri Lanka from 14th to 22nd November 202 at the Citrus Hotel, Waskaduwa. The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is organizing the event on behalf of the Commonwealth Chess Association. The president of Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, Mr. Luxman Wijesuriya said that it is an honour for them to host such a great event in Sri Lanka and the CFSL is offering a cash award of Rs. 5 ½ million (equal to USD 15,000) for the winners.

A total of 275 players have registered the event from eight countries, namely India, Maldives, South African England, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to participate in the event. Thirteen Grand Masters, two Women Grand Masters, six International Masters and three WIMs have already confirmed their participation.

The event consists of the open event and 12 youth Chess events as under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years Girls and Boys. Special awards are arranged to the Under 12 years Boys and Girls and Seniors over 60 years category.

The Sri Lankan contingent will be led by recently International Master elect Susal De Silva (above right) of Nalanda College who is Sri Lanka National Chess Champion. Asian Under 10 Girls Champion, Oshini Devindya Gunawardena (above left) will also be a very prominent figure in the event.

Sri Lanka Mercantile and Government Service Chess Championships 2022

K R V R Subasinghe of Evonsys (PVT) LTD and WFM S A K  Chandrasiri of Dialog Axiata PLC won the Open and Women’s championships, respectively. Team Dialog Axiata PLC won the team championship.
10th Mercantile & Government Services International Rating Chess Championship 2022 was held from 04th to 07th November 2022 at Sports Complex, Torrington. The tournament was organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with the support of the Mercantile Chess Association on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE.
A cash fund of Rs 265,000.00 was offered to the winners with certificates, medals & trophies. 150 players representing leading government and private institutes competed in the event. The tournament was held as an individual event with 07 rounds swiss-system format and the best 3 players’ results, 2 Men & a Woman or 2 Women and a Man were considered for the team results.
In the Open category, K R V R Subasinghe of Evonsys (PVT) LTD & M A N Danushka of Bank of Ceylon tied for the championship scoring 6.5/7 points. Both players were unbeaten throughout the event. With a better tie-break, K R V R Subasinghe won the championship and M A N Danushka had to satisfy himself with the first runner-up position.
For the second runner-up position, three players were tied with 6/7 points. Lahiru Munasinghe of Evonsys (PVT) LTD, Elath Mathanga De Silva of IFS R&D International (Pvt) Ltd & D D P Weerakoon of Finite Lanka (Pvt.) Ltd. With a better tie break, Lahiru Munasinghe of Evonsys (PVT) LTD became the second runner-up.
In the Women’s category, WFM S A K Chandrasiri of Dialog Axiata PLC became the champion scoring 5.5/7 points. She only lost one game in 2nd round and one draw in 7th round. C T Koswatte of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd & WIM Nelunika Methmani of LSEG In Sri Lanka tied for the first runner-up position and with the better tie-break, C T Koswatte of Airport & Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd became the first runner-up and WIM Nelunika Methmani of LSEG In Sri Lanka of had to satisfy herself with second runner-up position.
In the team category, scoring the highest individual points, Team Dialog Axiata PLC won the championship and Teams, Bank of Ceylon and IFS R&D International (Pvt) Ltd had to satisfy themselves with first runners-up and second runners-up positions respectively.
In the rating category below 1600 ELO, C S A Arachchi of the Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs won the championship and M N G Jayarathne of Sri Lanka Navy and Krishan Sanjeewa of Ausiz Private Trading Ltd had to satisfy themselves with first runner-up and second runner-up positions respectively.
In the unrated category, Kavinda Dissanayake of the Bank of Ceylon won the championship and P D Marasinghe of Synopsys Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and D H Dhanushka Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Immigration And Emigration had to satisfy themselves with the first runner-up and second runner-up positions respectively.

Nouri, Faeldonia Rule Manny Pacquiao and Buena Viel Construction Chess Cup

by Marlon Bernardino
FM Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri and Jerick Faeldonia ruled the Manny Pacquiao and Buena Viel Construction Chess Cup held over the Nov. 5-6 weekend at Robinsons Place in Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines.

Nouri topped the Open blitz event while Faeldonia captured the title in the Under 16 Rapid Chess Tournament.

Photo shows Buena Viel Construction top official Engr. Jojo Buenaventura, FM Alekhine Fabiosa Nouri (Champion in the Open blitz event) and Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League (MPCL) president International Master Hamed Nouri.

Nouri finished the Open blitz event with 8.5 points while NM Jasper Faeldonia trailed closely at second place with 8.0 points.

IM Joel Pimentel rounded off the top three with 7.5 points followed by Jonathan Jota also with 7.5 points.
Pimentel and Jota’s final ranking were based on their total accumulated tie-break points.

Meanwhile, the 12 years old Jerick Faeldonia ruled the nine-round Swiss system Under 16 Rapid Chess Tournament.

Mindmovers PH CC won the team event with 16 match points followed by second place Romblon Chess Club with 13 match points.

The two-day championships, organized by Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League (MPCL) led by its president International Master Hamed Nouri presented by Buena Viel Construction top official Engr. Jojo Buenaventura is considered as the biggest tournament to be held in Bicol in recent years.

“This is just the beginning. We hope to organize more tournaments through the MPCL and Buena Viel Construction,” said Buenaventura, also the team owner of PCAP member Camarines Soaring Eagles.-

 

Dhafer Al Madhloum Re-eleced President of Iraq Chess Federation

Dhafer Al Madhloum was re-elected president of the Iraq Chess Federation in elections held 9th November 2022 in Baghdad, Iraq. Attending were 64 out of 67 members of the General Assembly. Observers at the elections were Mr. Ahmed Hussein   Representative of Ministry of Youth & Sports, Mr. Ali Naeem Al Badri Representative of NOC Iraq and Mr. Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, Executive Board member of the Asian Chess Federation.

Newly elected Board Members are:

1. Farhan Naseer Jassim  (64 ) votes  1st.Vice President.
2. Abdul Hadi Maftool Mheri ( 62 ) votes 2nd. Vice President.
3. Miss. Sundus Muhsin Hussein (62 )            member.
4. Asaad Ismael Tawfeek    ( 48 ) .                    member.
5. Bassim Jbara Msood      (48  ) .                    member.
6. Bashtewan Ahmed Shekh Hamad  (42)       member.
7. Hussein Ksdshum Hussein ( 47 )                member. 
8. Yousif Yassen Hussein ( 34 )                       member.

 

In photo above are, seated from left: Hossein Ali Hadi election committee, Ahmed Hassan from Youth & Sport Ministry. Asian Chess Federation Executive Board Member Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran, Ali Adman Younes chairman of election committee, Salah Mehdi Abdullah vice chairman of election committee, Nazar Mohsen member of election committee and Ali Naeem, representative of National Olympic committee.

Standing from left are newly elected members of Iraq Chess Federation: Basem Jabarah, Yousef Yasin, Sendes Mohsen, Asaad Esmaeel, Farnham Naseer, first Vice President; Dhafer Al Madloom, President; Abdolhadi Maftool, second Vice President, Hossein Kazem and Bishtvan Ahmed.

 

Sultana Kamal 40th Bangladesh National Women’s ‘B’ Chess Championship

The Sultana Kamal 40th National Women’s ‘B’ Chess Championship-2022, under the financial sponsorship by Abul Khair Group and organised by Bangladesh Chess Federation, began from 7th November at the Chess Federation Hall-Room, 2nd floor of the old building of National Sports Council.

A total of 74 Women and girls from Dhaka city and other districts are participating in the event.

The inauguration ceremony of the event was held before the start of the games. Mrs. Anjuman Ara Aksir, Executive Member & Chairman of Women’s Committee of Bangladesh Chess Federation inaugurated the event.

Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation & International Organiser Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury Moly and IA Md Haroon Or Rashid gave speeches in the ceremony.

The competition is being held in an 8-round Swiss-League format. The top 8 players will get a chance to participate in the Bangamata Sheikh Fojilatunnesa Mujib 40th Women’s Chess Championship.

Defending champion WCM Jannatul Ferdous and runner-up female WCM Ahmed Walijah and two Women International Masters Rani Hamid and Sharmin Sultana Shirin will get a chance to play directly.

Nineteen players are sharing the lead in the points table with maximum 2 points each after 2nd round games of the Sultana Kamal 40th National Women’s ‘B’ Chess Championship-2022.