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by Marlon Bernardino
Filipino FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad won the 65-and-over title crown for a Grandmaster norm and an outright International Master title at the 2022 Asian Seniors Championships held October 15 to 21 at the Auckland Rose Park Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand. The event was organized by the New Zealand Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. In photo above are GM Murray Chandler of New Zealand (left) and Bagamasbad.

Still an active tournament player at 66, Bagamasbad emerged unscathed with 6 wins and 3 draws for 7.5 points for the 65-and-over division crown plus the coveted gold medal.

“I’m very happy to win again, especially in an international tournament like this Asian Seniors with One Grandmaster norm and an outright International Master title. Bagamasbad pocketed the top prize of $350 plus qualification to the 2023 World Seniors Chess Championships.

Miles Patterson of Australia finished with 7.0 points for the silver medal plus IM norms while FIDE Master Robert W Smith of New Zealand wound up third with 6.5 points for the bronze.

Meanwhile, International Master Gary Lane of Australia dominated the 50-and-over division crown with 8.0 points in nine outings.  He also got a Grandmaster norms for his effort aside the gold medal.

Another Filipino entry and Singapore based FIDE Master Arlan Cabe came second with 7.0 points for the silver plus International Master norm.

FIDE Master Alexei Kulashko of New Zealand settled for third with 6.0 points for the bronze medal.

Woman Fide Master Vivian Smith of New Zealand (in the over-65 category) and Candidate Master Helen Milligan of New Zealand (50-and-over) won the top Woman awards, respectively.

Efren Bagamsbad (left) at the last round of the Asian Seniors.

Report by Bob Gibbons, Chief Arbter

The Asian Seniors Championships for players over 50 years old and players over 65 years old were held
in the Gladstone room of the RosePark Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand from October 15th to
October 21st 2022.

The Chief Arbiter for the over 50 event was IA Robert Gibbons and for the over 65 event it was IA
Ying Wang. The organizer was IO Paul Spiller.

The over 50 event attracted a field of 27 people from five federations and the over 65 event had a
field of 18 players also from five federations.

Details of the participants and pairings can be found from the following links:
https://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/tournaments/misc/2022/Asian%20Seniors/wwwAsian%20Seni
ors%20Over%2050/
http://www.newzealandchess.co.nz/tournaments/misc/2022/Asian%20Seniors/wwwAsian%20Senio
rs%20Over%2065/

The Chief Arbiter in the 50+ event was IA Robert Gibbons and the Chief Arbiter in the 65+ event was
IA Ying Wang. Each of those acted as the Deputy Chief Arbiter in the corresponding events. Ying also
acted as the Technical Arbiter and managed the liveboards.

Each tournament was a nine round Swiss held over seven days with double rounds on the second
and fourth days. Both events took place in the same room and a water fountain was provided at the
rear of the room. There was only one entrance into the room so that the arbiters were able to
monitor the movements of the players very easily. Electronic boards were used for the first nine
boards in each event which only left four boards in the over 50 section which could not be
monitored from the arbiters table electronically.

A seating area was provided for spectators but this proved unnecessary as at no time were there any
more than two spectators present in the room. There was a reasonable following on the online
boards which were published on the DGT cloud and in lichess.

Because of the presence of COVID in New Zealand sanitizer was provided at both ends of the room
and players were urged to wear masks although that was not mandatory. One player in the over 50
section withdrew before round four as he thought he had a cold but did not test positive for COVID
at that stage. However there were 3 defaults in round 7 as players tested positive and more in round
8. In total 10 players tested positive for COVID during the event and some tested positive later. After
the disruption in round 8 the round nine draw was delayed till the morning of the round. Players
were advised of the likely pairings the night before but it was made clear that this was only a draft
pairing. As it happened there was no further disruption and the draft pairing became the actual
pairing.

Overall and despite the presence of COVID the tournament ran successfully and the arbiters were
pleased with the general running of the event and the conduct of the players.

The winner of the 65 plus event gained the IM title and the runner up gained the FM title. All other
medal place winners in both events did not have a change in title but gained the respective norms
associated with their position.

IA Robert Gibbons / IA Ying Wang

by Marlon Bernardino
MARIKINA CITY—Mark Kevin Gatlabayan outdueled Tristan Jared Cervero in the third round then scored 2.0 points in the last two rounds to capture the Class A- Expert crown while John Luis Rivera made it two-in-row in kiddies play in the Tatay Domeng Santos Invitational Rapid Chess Tournament at Marikina Riverside Gazeebo last Sunday, Nov. 6.

Photo shows Marikina Chess Federation President Johnny “Joel” Gaudia (left) shaking hands with Asia’s First Grandmaster/World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre, before making the ceremonial moves.

Gatlabayan, who vaulted into a share of the lead with Cervero by beating fancied Johnny Muring and Adrian Esteva in the earlier rounds, outwitted Cervero in their crucial encounter then edged sportswriter Joey Villar in the fourth round and Mark Louie Velasco in the fifth and final round to emerge solo champion in the Class A- Expert with perfect five points.

Rivera, who scored 3.0 points in the first three rounds, proved sharper at resumption, sweeping his last two matches against Zeyus Kyle Del Mundo and Rey Albert Cruz to rule the 14-and-under category to match the perfect record of Gatlabayan with 5.0 points.

Other notable winners in this 1-day, 10 minutes plus 3 seconds increment time control format in honor of the oldest living player of the Marikina Chess Community 94 years old Tatay Domeng Santos are Joel Cruz and Publico Bonifacio for the Class B- Intermediate division and Ramon dela Cruz for the Class C- Novice category who also tallied perfect 5.0 points each.

Marikina Chess Federation President Johnny “Joel” Gaudia exhorted the winners and the rest of the participants to strive for more and work hard to further hone their talent and skills during awards rites also graced by Asia’s First Grandmaster/World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre, International Master Chito Garma, National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and US based Sir Jessie Villasin.
Chief Arbiter was FIDE Arbiter Rudy Ibanez while Deputy Chief Arbiter was Ranier Pascual assisted by NA Rusfranco Salcedo and CA Rogelio Baccay.

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA— The 6th Eastern Asia (ASEAN) Youth Chess Championship started on Friday, Nov.5 at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand organized by the Thailand Chess Association under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. In photo are heads of delegations with Sahapol Nakvanich, president of host Thailand Chess Association (fourth from left). Vietnam dominated the Rapid chess medal tally with 6 golds.

The chess tournament drew a participation of close to 200 participants of under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years old boys and girls categories from 12 East Asian nations. Visit chess-results.com.

Eight year old Castronuevo (above right), a Grade 3 pupil of Imus Pilot Elementary School in the Philippines, swept all her opponents to score 7 out of 7 and claim the Rapid chess title among under-8 girls. Here are the other medalists.

 

 

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—International Arbiter James Infiesto ruled the 1st Congressman Alan Dujali Arbiters Tournament 29-30 October 2022 at the Wharf Road, Brgy San Pedro, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.

Infiesto, tied for first to third places with National Arbiter Alfred Moulic and National Arbiter Cecilo Acas at four points apiece. Time control was 3mins + 2 seconds increment. The event was organized by National Arbiter Darwin Bermudez. With the highest tiebreak points, Infiesto took the title, Moulic finished second while Acas settled for third.

Rounding up the top 13 were  Orlando Cequina, Cipriano Magalso, Arlan Labrador, Darwin Bermudez, Homer Rotulo, Roberto Atog, Reynor Cui, Rockey Pagkaliwagan, Jerico Joseph Rotulo and Nissan Villasorda.

Meanwhile, Vince Angelo Medina of Cabuyao City, Laguna, ruled the individual event with 7.0 points.
Also with 7.0 points were 2nd place Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of Tondo, Manila, 3rd place National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca of Dasmarinas City, Cavite and 4th place FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus of Davao City.

Davao Sur Woodpushers bagged the gold medal in the team event. Davao Sur team garnered a total of 10.0 match points while Xignex Solutions earned 8.0 match points for second followed by EWL Team (third), Atong Team-VM Banjong Dujali (fourth) and Nadali Mo (fifth) with similar 8.0 match points.

Davao Sur team was bannered National Master Henry Roger Lopez, Jimmy Dano and Mhelcris Patrimonio.
Chief Arbiter was NA Joseph Palero.

New Delhi (04 Nov 2022):- Top seed Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa R and Woman Grandmaster Nandhidhaa P V became the Asian Champions in the Open and Women’s sections, respectively. In a befitting closing ceremony, Deputy President of Asian Chess Federation Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan and General Secretary Mr. Hisham Al-Taher presented the trophies and cash prizes to the winners.

The Asian Continental Chess Championship was organized by the All India Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. Visit chess-results.com to download games. Follow us on Twitter Facebook and Instagram .

Praggnanandhaa started the final round with a lead of half a point over nearest contenders and drew his ninth-round encounter with compatriot B Adhiban in 63 moves to emerge as clear champion with seven points.

A six-way tie for the runner up position with six and half points was resolved by tie break score and Harsha Bharathakoti finished ahead of the rest while B Adhian completed the Indian domination with a third-place finish. Narayanan S L, Vokhidov Shamsiddin of Uzbekistan, Sethuraman S P and Karthik Venkataraman satisfied with fourth to seventh finish.

In the women’s category, Nandhidhaa drew her final round game against Divya Deshmukh to take her point tally to seven and half points to win the yellow metal.

Priyanka Nutakki, Divya Deshmukh and Thi Kim Phung Vo of Vietnam finished equal on six and half points but better tie break score helped Priyanka to finish as runner up. Divya finished third and Vo placed fourth.

Meanwhile Grandmaster Rinat Jumabayev of Kazakhstan and Divya Deshmukh became the Asian Blitz champions in the open and women categories respectively.

Chief Arbiter Gopakumar of India (center) with Arbiters in the Asian Continental Chess Championship 25 Oct-4 Nov. in Delhi, India.

The Indian National Under-11 Chess Championship is now being organized by the Haryana State Chess Association under the auspices of the All India Chess Federation at HSV Global School, Gurgaon, Haryana.

During the 7th round, the General Secretary of Asian Chess Federation Mr. Hisham Al-Taher along with Mr. Bharat Singh Chauhan, Deputy President of the Asian Chess Federation visited the championship venue and met players and officials. The Secretary of Haryana State Chess Association and Treasurer of All India Chess Federation Shri. Naresh Sharma welcomed Mr. Hisham to the championship.

A total number of 297 players in Open and 131 players in Girls are participating this prestigious Indian National event to select the Indian team for the 2023 edition of World and Asian Youth Chess Championships.

Unlike many other federations, India holds selection tournaments one year ahead with age limit one year below the next year’s event.

New Delhi (02 Nov 2022):- Four players share the lead with just two rounds remaining in the Asian Continental Chess Championship organized by the All India Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE. Visit chess-results.com to download games.

The seventh round on Tuesday produced some exciting matches and unexpected results. On top board, leader Harsha Bharathakoti (above left) signed the peace treaty with second seed S L Narayanan (above right).

Top seed Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa (photo above, left) won a marathon 137 move game against compatriot Karthikeyan Murali (above right) to move into joint lead with three others at five and half points each.

International Master Koustav Chatterjee (above right) upset two-time national champion Aravindh Chithambaram (above left) to join Praggnanandhaa, Bharathakoti and Shamsiddin Vokhidov of Uzbekistan (below right) at the top. Member of Olympiad Gold medal winning Uzbekistan team, Vokhidov joined the leaders pack after defeating former Asian Champion S P Sethuraman (below left).

A bunch of six players have five points and are in joint second spot. They are S L Narayanan, B Adhiban, Leon Luke Mendonca, Karthik Venkataraman and the Turkmenistan duo of Saparmyat Atabeyev and Maksat Atabayev.

In the women’s section, Nandhidhaa P V (above left) maintained her solo lead and unbeaten run with six points after seven rounds, after signing the peace treaty with Padmini Rout (above right) in 49 moves.

Priyanka Nutakki (photo above) follows in the heels of Nandhidhaa with a drift of half a point after winning her seventh round against Nilufar Yakubbaeva of Uzbekistan.

Padmini Rout, Soumya Swaminathan and Divya Deshmukh are in joint third spot with five points. Soumya posted a win over Nisha Mohota while Divya put it across Rakshitta Ravi.

New Delhi (01 Nov 2022):- Overnight sole leader Grandmaster Harsha Bharathakoti (above left) held top seed Praggnanandhaa R (above right) in the sixth round to maintain his solo lead with five points in the ongoing Asian Continental Chess Championship here on Monday.

The Asian Continental Chess Championship is being organized by the All India Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in New Delhi, India. Visit chess-results.com to download games.

Playing white side of Catalan opening, Harsha exchanged the pieces with the top seed at regular intervals to sign the peace treaty after 33 moves. A pack of eleven players including Prgganandhaa are now trailing behind the leader with a drift of half a point.

In other important battles in the sixth round, Grandmaster Leon Luke Mendonca (above left) drew with Sethuraman S P (above right) while Karthikeyan Murali (below left) split the point with compatriot Grandmaster B Adhiban (below right).

Second seed Narayanan  S L moved closer with a win over Sandipan Chanda while Aravindh Chithambaram got the better of Ayush Sharma.

In the women’s section, Nandhidhaa P V (above right) grabbed the solo lead after beating fellow team mate Priyanka Nutakki (above left) in the sixth round. Playing with dark pieces in the Alapin Variation of Sicilian Defense, Nandhidhaa capitalized on the positional mistake committed by her opponent in the middle game to garner the full point and take her point tally to five and half points. She now enjoys a solid one point lead over nearest contenders Padmini Rout (photo below) and Priyanka Nutakki with three rounds remaining.

After a sedate start, 2018 edition winner third seed Padmini Rout found her rhythm back to beat sixth seed Nilufur Yakubbaeva of Uzbekistan to follow the leader with four and half points. In the crucial seventh round encounter on Tuesday, Padmini takes on Nandhidhaa while Priyanka paired against Yakubbaeva.

by Marl on Bernardino MANILA—Woman National Master Mary Joy Tan of  Jasaan, Misamis Oriental split the point with Franchesca Largo of Biñan City, Laguna in the 7th and final round to capture the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship Semifinals at Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) headquarters in Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City on October 30, 2022.

She finished with five wins and two draws in this tough 7-round tournament, organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in close cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Visit chess-results.com.

Largo, on the other hand, wound up second with 5.5 points. Woman National Master April Joy Claros of Angeles City, Pampanga and Ayana Nicole Usman of Santa Rosa City, Laguna came in third and fourth with 5.0 points while Woman National Master Bea Mendoza of Bauio City, Woman National Master Vic Glysen Derotas of Cebu and Kate Nicole Ordizo of Pangasinan settled for fifth to seventh with 4.5 points.

Woman FIDE Master Allaney Jia G Doroy Agusan del Norte, Woman FIDE Master Cherry Ann Mejia of Taguig City, Woman National Master Lexie Grace  Hernandez of Angeles City, Pampanga, Woman National Master Kaye Lalaine Regidor of Santa Rosa City, Laguna and Woman National Master Antonella Berthe Racasa of Mandaluyong City placed eight to twelve with 4.0 points.

Meanwhile, Joseph Mendoza II of Tigaon, Camarines Sur was daclared champion in the 8th NCFP FIDE Rated Chess Tournament.

Mendoza finished (5.5 points) half point ahead with second place Arena International Master Francis Talaboc of Quezon City at 5.0 points.

National Master Jasper Faeldonia of Manila, Jerico Santiaguel of Mariveles, Bataan, Lynus Garrett Kho of Quezon City and Phil Martin Casiguran of Caloocan City was tied at 3rd to 6th placers with 4.5 points.

Tournament Director was Grandmaster Jayson O. Gonzales, FIDE Senior Instructor and Chief Executive Officer of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.

Photo shows Woman National Master Mary Joy Tan of  Jasaan, Misamis Oriental (left) receiving her trophy, certificate and cash prizes from Tournament Director Grandmaster Jayson O. Gonzales, FIDE Senior Instructor and Chief Executive Officer of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr. (Photo credit to Rey Gregorio Nillama)

Final Standings:
6.0 points—WNM Mary Joy Tan
5.5 points—Franchesca Largo
5.0 points—WNM April Joy Claros, Ayana Nicole Usman
4.5 points—WNM Bea Mendoza, WNM Vic Glysen Derotas, Kate Nicole Ordizo
4.0 points—WFM Allaney Jia G Doroy, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, WNM Lexie Grace  Hernandez, WNM Kaye Lalaine Regidor, WNM Antonella Berthe Racasa
3.5 points—Marian Calimbo, WNM Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, WNM Ruelle Canino
3.0 points—WNM Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada, Shaina Magne Romanillo, Aeiona Lou Tomas Mendoza, Mary Grace Tambasen, WNM Rhea Jean Canino
2.5 points—Cyhrea Ruth Atog, Samantha Babol Umayan
2.0 points—Patricia Illeja Bernardo, Keira Hailey Layog
1.5 points—AFM Melizah Ruth Carreon

New Delhi (31 Oct 2022):- Twelfth seed Harsha Bharathakoti (above left) continued his fine form and put it across International Master Koustav Chatterjee to snatch the solo lead with 4.5 points out of 5 rounds. The Asian Continental Chess Championship is being organized by the All India Chess Federation under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE at the Leela Ambience Convention Hotel in New Delhi, India. Visit chess-results.com to download games.

Playing with light coloured pieces in a Scotch game, Harsha exerted pressure on his rival’s territory to secure advantage in the middle game and garner the full point after 49 moves. A pack of seven Grandmasters including top seed Praggnanandhaa are now trailing behind the leader with a drift of half a point.

Praggnanandhaa split the point with Leon Luke Mendonca while other overnight leaders Maksat Atabayev Maksat of Turkmenistan (above left) and Karthikeyan Murali signed the peace treaty.

Sethuraman S P, B Adhiban (photo above) and Vokhidov Shamsiddin of Uzbekistan are giving company to Praggnanandhaa, Karthikeyan Murali, Leon Luke Mendonca and Atabayev at the points table with emphatic victories in the fifth round against Raja Rithvik, Sammed Jaykumar Shete and Sanket Chakravarty respectively.

In the crucial sixth round match on Monday Praggnanandhaa takes on leader Harsha with dark coloured pieces while Mendonca is paired against Sethuraman, Adhiban takes on Karthikeyan Murali and Shamsiddin is paired against Atabayev.

Meanwhile in the Women’s section, Woman Grandmasters Nandhidhaa P V (above left) and Priyanka Nutakki (below right)  scored victories over Thi Kim Phung Vo of Vietnam and Soumya Swaminathan, respectively, to become joint leaders with four and half points. Playing white side of the French Defense game, Nandhidhaa dominated her Vietnamese rival throughout the match to secure the full point after 87 moves.

Priyanka made an exchange sacrifice to use her double bishop combo to annihilate her International Master rival in just 30 moves.

Priyanka, Nutakki (2326) from India had a very good attack during the game, but in this position she won with small tactic: 29… Qa2+ 30.Kc1 Rxd4! In this position Soumya, Swaminathan (2326) resigned because if 30. Rxd4 then 30…Qa1+ followed by 31….Qc3+ and then capturing the pawn and/or rook with check may be possible.