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by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—Arjie Bayangat of Santa Rosa City, Laguna again stamped his class in the 2022 National Executive Chess Championship National Capital Region-NCR Leg on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Robinson Magnolia, Quezon City, Philippines. Photo shows Arjie Bayangat (left) of Santa Rosa City, Laguna receiving the trophy and top purse of P7,000 from Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Dr. Fred Paez.

The 39-year-old Bayangat, one of the top players and assistant coach of PCAP’s Laguna Heroes, bagged the top spot in the FIDE rated rapid tournament, organized by Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) headed by it’s president Dr. Fred Paez and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) led by it’s chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.

Bayangat, who presently works as Business & Integration Arch Sr. Analyst  at the Accenture Inc ., completed the 6-round Swiss system tilt with the highest score/tie break of 5.0 points to grab the title.

FM Jose Efren Bagamasbad of Quezon City placed second with 5.0 points, followed by John Ernie Maraan of Iba, Zambales at third with 5.0 points.

Freddie Talaboc of Quezon City and Engr. Mark Oliver Ingcad of Carmona, Cavite tied for fourth and fifth with 4.5 points apiece.
Danilo Tiempo Jr. of Quezon City, lawyer Cliburn Anthony Orbe of Pagadian City, IT expert Joselito Cada of Lucban, Quezon and ship captain Doroteo Whigan Jr. of Tanauan City, Batangas rounded up the top nine with 4.0 points apiece.

Cada won the Top Senior award, Whigan took the Top Unrated award, Joselito Asi who works as Senior Education Program Specialist Bureau of Learning Resources at Department of Education Central Office pocketed the Top 1900 and below award while Joshua Juaneza grabbed the Top 1800 and below award.

Bayangat scored victories over Constantino Villanueva Jr. in the first round, Joselito Asi in the second round, Roberto Racasa in the fourth round, Orbe in the fifth round and Talaboc in the sixth round. His setbacks were at the hands of Bagamasbad in the third round.

GM Novendra Priasmoro of Indonesia won the 17^th MALAYSIAN CHESS FESTIVAL 2022 organized by the Dato’ Arthur Tan Chess Centre (DAT Chess Centre) with endorsement from the Malaysian Chess Federation 2-11 September 2022 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Visit chess-results.com. See blitz results. Go to official web site. See facebook page. Visit announcement on asianchess.com.

186 players from 21 countries are participating in the Asian Amateur tournament scheduled 28 September to 6 October in Muscat, Oman organized by the Oman Chess Committee under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation. Participating are players from Bahrain, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Palestine, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, in addition to host Sultanate of Oman.

Above is the playing venue at the Sultan Qaboos Sport Complex in Muscat, Oman. Visit chess-results.com for full list.

The first-ranked is Kyrgyzstan Asan Kushof, the Lebanese second-ranked is Mahmoud Maasrani and the third-ranked Pakistani, Suhail Junaid, will also participate in the women’s tournament, the first-ranked Emirati Rawda Al-Sarkal, as well as the Palestinian Iman Swan and Salma Al-Khelaifi from Qatar.

The tournament is technically supervised by the international organizer, IA/IO Mahdi Abdul Rahim, and the Arbiters committee is headed by Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh, and a number of Omani internationals are participating in the jury, namely (Muslim Al-Wadahi, Khaled Al-Hadidi, Hamdan Al-Hinai and Ruqayyah Al-Balushi).

The organizing committee aims to enhance the Sultanate’s position as a primary destination for participating in international sporting events and to support and enable the people of the Sultanate to participate in such a sporting event, thus enhancing their confidence in themselves as players, athletes, referees and organizers at a global level.

The organization of the Asian Amateur Chess Championship is a distinctive addition to the achievements of the Omani Chess Committee, where millions around the world follow the activities of the tournament through television and press coverage, websites and specialized sports accounts in the continent of Asia, which enhances the Sultanate’s exceptional position in the game on the continent, and it is an opportunity to promote tourist attractions and the renaissance The construction achieved by the Sultanate during the prosperous reign of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq – may God protect him – and it sheds light on the processes of progress and prosperity in the path of renewed growth.

The biennial Australian Open Championships is one of Australia’s premier chess events. In January 2023, this event will be run by the Chess Association of Western Australia, on behalf of the Australian Chess Federation.

The 2023 Australian Open will be a GM norm tournament, the first event in this category to be held on Australian shores since 2020. It will be an 11 round Swiss, open to all players regardless of rating.

The 2023 Australian Minor is another 11 round Swiss tournament, running parallel to the Australian Open. The Minor is restricted to players rated below 1500 FIDE (or 1600 ACF, for players without a FIDE rating).

The event will be hosted by the beautiful Rendezvous Hotel Perth Scarborough. Players will be able to enjoy Scarborough’s perfect beach, art projects, outdoor heated swimming pool, children’s playgrounds, laid-back cafes, and a wide range of restaurants and vibrant bars along the beachside. There will also be some of the best chess that you will find anywhere. It has the makings of a memorable tournament.

For visiting players, there are plenty of accommodation options available within Scarborough and surrounding suburbs.

Here is the official brochure for the 2023 Australian Open.

Feel free to email the organisers with any questions that you may have.

Mukhammadali Abdurakhmonov (center, left) and Marjona Malikova (center, right), both of Uzbekistan, won the Western Asia Juniors and Girls, respectively, in the championship organized by the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, 5-15 September 2022 at the leisure resort of Korumdu, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. Visit chess-results.com. Watch broadcast of games on lichess, and blitz.

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Abdurakhmonov got his second GM norm and the IM title. Sezdbekov Ruslan took second place while Abdilkhair Abilmansur took third place and both got IM norms.

Malikova Marjona got the WGM norm and the WIM title. Shokirjonova Barchinoy took third place the WIM norm.

The Kyrgyzstan delegation. At right is Damir Talapker, Executive Director of the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation and Chief Organizer of the Western Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championships.

NM Buto wins Angeles rapid chessfest
by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—National Master Al-Basher” Basty” Buto (photo above) of Cainta, Rizal won the Angeles City FIDE-Rated Chess Festival (Junior) September 11, 2022 at the Marquel Mall in Angeles City, Pampanga. Visit chess-results.com for round by round standings and results.

After halving the point with National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca in the fifth round, Buto, who hails from Marawi City, defeated Andrew James Toledo in the sixth, Woman National Master Ruelle Canino in the seventh, Allan Gabriel Hilario in the eight before beating De Asas in the last round.

That was all Buto needed to nail the title with the highest output of 8.5 points to go home with the top prize of P10,000 plus the champonship trophy.

Malls benefit from crowd-drawing chess tournaments and it helps popularize chess.

“I knew that this was a tough tournament with all the players. I just tried to play my best and now I am really happy,” added the 12 years old Buto, Grade 7 Student of Faith Christian School in Cainta, Rizal, playing under the guidance of Mam Sarah Balce and Sir Ambet Balce of Faith Christian School.

Buto’s stint here is being supported by Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., Cainta, Rizal Mayor Ellen Nieto,  MP Atty. Rasol Mitmug, Jr. of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and GPP Muslim Community Greenhills.

Jersey Marticio of Cabuyao City, Laguna, who lost to Buto in the fourth round bounced back winning her game against Sean Adryl S. Tolentino in the fifth, Lira M. Placer in the sixth, Arca in the seventh, Arena FM Gabriel Ryan Paradero in the eight and Canino in the final round to secure solo second place with 8.0 points and take home P7,000 plus trophy.

Allan Gabriel Hillario came third with 7.0 points for P5,000 plus trophy.

Arca, meantime settled for fourth with 6.5 points for P3,000 while Canino ended up fifth with 6.0 ponts for P2,000.

The tournament was hosted by Angeles City Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. in close cooperation with Angeles City Sports Officer Maeve Mendiola.

Last Saturday, International Master Daniel Quizon of Dasmarinas City, Cavite won the Open section with 8.0 points in nine outings. He pocketed the top prize of P20,000 plus trophy

FM Abdurakhmonov Mukhammadali of Uzbekistan leads the Western Asia Juniors chess championship by one point after 7 rounds of the 9-round RR tournament organized by the Kyrgyzstan Chess Federation on behalf of the Asian Chess Federation, 5-15 September 2022 at the leisure resort of Korumdu, Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan. Visit chess-results.com. Watch live broadcast on lichess.

In the girls division, Sultanbek Zeinep of Kazakhstan and Malikova Marjona of Uzbekistan are tied for the lead with 5.5 points each after 7 rounds.

The gold medalist shall receive a GM/WGM norm while the champions of both groups earn the IM/WIM title and FM/WFM titles for runner-up and third place in accordance with FIDE regulations. .

Lhundrup Minjur Dorji representing the Youth Friendly Integrated Service Center in Thimphu is the winner of the first-ever National Youth Chess Championship 2022. He won all the rounds of the one-day championship held in the capital yesterday. Twenty-six youths from 13 youth centres across the country took part in the championship.

‘‘I feel very happy that I won today. In the future, I hope to win more of the national youth tournaments and become the best in the country at some point. And also I hope to continue going to Chess Olympiad,’’ said Lhundrup Minjur Dorji, from the Youth Friendly Integrated Service Center in Thimphu.

He also represented Bhutan in the recent Chess Olympiad hosted by India. He was among the youngest in the international tournament featuring chess masters from 187 countries.

While Lhendrup took home the winner’s trophy without a dispute after winning all the five rounds allocated to each player, the game to decide the runners-up was nothing short of a spectacle to witness. After winning four rounds each from the five rounds they played, three players competed for the 1^st and 2^nd runners-up places. A stalemate in the first round, and then the places were decided by cutting down the game time to a minute.

‘‘I am glad after getting first from Bajo and getting an opportunity to participate here. But in the tournament, it didn’t go too well. But luck is on my side and I won second. I am so happy,’’ said Kinga Norbu, from Bajothang Youth Center.

The Youth Center Division of the Department of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Bhutan Chess Federation conducted the championship.

According to Bhutan Chess Federation, such a tournament is an opportunity for the youth to get trained to feature on international platforms.

‘‘The winners will get the opportunity to compete with renowned international masters, grandmasters, and candidate masters,’’ said Ugyen Wangchuk, the General Secretary of Bhutan Chess Federation.

The initiative is also to make chess an integral part of youth engagement at the Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Service Centers.

‘‘This is to promote professional chess in our Youth Centers and Youth Friendly Integrated Centers. So that more young people get the opportunity to play chess and then benefit from it. Because we are aware that chess significantly contributes to enhancing creativity, critical thinking problem-solving skills, and many others, especially in young children and youth,’’ added Amrith Bdr. Subba, the Deputy Chief Councillor with the Department of Youth and Sports.

The championship also saw young players like 10-year-old Sidanath Bhandari. He says he started playing chess when he was four years old.

‘‘I was inspired by my brother who started playing at the age of 10. So I really got interested and learned the basics of this game. Then I used to watch YouTube videos about how to play chess and tricks and traps so that you could defeat other opponents,’’ said Sidanath.

He is a class V student at Loseling Middle Secondary School. He gave a tough fight to Lhendrup, the champion of this championship, which is a reassurance that the future of chess is in safe hands.