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by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines – National Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca proved unstoppable at the lower board as he led Prince Alekhine Chess Team to the championship in the ASJ-RCM Team Tatluhan Rapid Open Chess Championship which was held recently at the Event Center, Limketkai Mall in Lapasan, Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results.

Arca defeated John Cyrus Borce to lead the Prince Chess Team to a 2.5-0.5 win over the RnR Ice Cream Corner Zamboanga Chess Team in the sixth and penultimate round. He beat Warren Aton of Dr. Marlonsky Chess Center in the seventh and final round.

The Prince Alekhine chess team split the point in the final round 1.5-1.5 with Dr. Marlonsky Chess Center, but still emerged as the overall champion in the 46-team tournament, 15 minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control format, organized by Richessmasters Cagayan de Oro City backed up by VisMin Chess Patron CPA Phd Ariel Potot.

The Prince Alekhine Chess Team finished with six wins and one draw for 13 match points and 16 board points in seven outings to receive the top purse of P50,000.

Apart from Arca, the team was made up of Allan Cantonjos and Samson Chhiu Chhin Lim.

“I knew that this was a tough Team Tatluhan Rapid Open Chess Championship with all the players,” said the 13 year old Arca, a Grade 7 STE – Section Universe pupil of Panabo City National High School.

“I just tried to play my best and now I am really happy,” added NM Arca, who got the Most Promising Player Award after winning 2nd place of his Panabo City chess team as top board player in the recent Tatluhan Inter Cities and Municipalities Chess Team Championships in Zamboanga City.

In other interesting match-ups, the Prince Alekhine Chess Team blasted Assassin Team, 3-0, in the first round, Patsada, 2.5-0.5, in the second round, Three Aces, 2-1, in the third round, Parabelum, 2.5-0.5, in the fourth round, Science, 2-1, in the fifth round before beating RnR Ice Cream Corner Zamboanga Chess Team, 2.5-0.5, in the sixth round and halving the points with Dr. Marlonsky Chess Center, 1.5-1.5, in the final canto.

Asian Chess Federation invites all registered junior players born on or after 1^st January 2002 from all Asian FIDE member federations to participate in the Asian Junior and Girls Online Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities, 24-26 June 2022 on Tornelo.

The Asian Junior and Girls Online Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities is an open individual tournament in online format for junior chess players born on or after 1^st January 2002 who belong to any of the three disability categories (visually impaired, hearing impaired and physically disabled).

All players shall have been registered with the Asian DIS Commission previously or shall register disability when they express intent to participate. Federations may register by email to disabledasia@gmail.com (a scan of a medical disability certificate is required) with copy to asianchessfederation@yahoo.com.

The event is played as an Open Swiss system tournament of five (5) or seven (7) rounds on Tornelo. A separate event for girls may be held depending on the number of entries. Time control: 10 minutes plus 10 seconds increment per move starting from move 1.

Download Asian Junior Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities 2022 Regulations

Download Asian Juniors Disabled Chess Championship Registration form

by Marlon Bernardino
Manila—The Mindanao team Surigao Diamond Knights demolished Edmonton Oilers Uniteam in their best of three final match 2-0 to win the championship trophy of the highly competitive professional team chess competition Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Cup Philippine Chess League Season 3 virtually held at Lichess Platform.

The Knights, owned by Arena Grand Master (AGM) Rey Urbiztondo, defeated the Oliers, 136-98 in Game 1 of the Standard Chess Competition, 10 minutes play to finish time control format.

The Knights continued their momentum against the Oilers, eked out a 144-46 wins in Game 2 of the Fischer random chess, also known as Chess960, a variation of the game of chess invented by the late World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer.

According to Tournament Director National Arbiter and Engineer Joel Anthony Hicap, the total combined score 280-144 in favor for Surigao Diamond Knights Team.

On the road to the finals, the Surigao Diamond Knights beat Durianburg of Davao in the quarterfinals and Chessmis TV in the semifinals.

Aside from Urbiztondo, the team is managed by Engr. Dodjie Morales, sponsored by Congressman Robert Ace Barbers and assisted by playing team coach Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, team captain Engr. Joselito Serna and team coordinator Mr. Mark Antes.

PCL is an online chess league organized by the Philippines’ Finest Chess Club.

“To the team, pleased to announce another P10,000 bonus from our Team Manager, Engr. Dodjie Morales. Congratulations again. That makes P20,000 bonus if added to my earlier commitment of P10,000 bonus!” said Urbiztondo.

“We are the Champions of Philippine Chess League ( Season 3), a national chess team competition! Congratulations to Surigao Diamond Knights players! With team sponsor : Congressman Ace Barbers; team manager – Engr. Dodjie Morales; team  coach – Atty . Cliburn Orbe ;  team captain – Engr. Joselito Serna; team coordinator -Mr. Mark Antes and myself as the playing team owner.” he added.

Other members of the team are Atty. Melzar Galicia, Atty. Jason Bandal, Dr. Wil Maghanoy, Fr. Vic Arellano, Lennon Hart Salgados, Kevin Mirano, Alfred Rapanot, Cyrus Donasco, Adrian Perez, Rodney Opada, Alexis Emil Maribao, Reynaldo Quinonez, Deo Sandro Ladion, Francis Joseph, John Ranel Morazo, Antonio Chavez, Mariel Batulan-Romero, Gladys Romero, Lovelyn Rapanot, James Catayas, Mark Gabriel Usman and Jerome Pullos.

The Knights are the sister team of Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, competing in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) tournament.

The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates was tied at 3rd to 5th in PCAP. They defeated all Mindanao Teams: Davao, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian.

Luxman Wijesuriya has been re-elected unanimously for the presidency of the Sri Lanka Chess Federation  for the second consecutive term.

The Annual General Meeting of the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka was held on 30^th May 2021 at the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka headquarters.  Wijesuriya is currently serving as the General Secretary of the South Asian Chess Council and the Commonwealth Chess Association and a Vice President of the Asian Chess Federation as well.

Mr. Kanishka Welipitiya was elected as the new Secretary General of the Chess Federation while Mr. Erosh Jayasinghe will continue as the Hony. Treasurer.

All members of the Executive Committee were also elected unanimously showing the Unity of Chess community:

President – Luxman Wijesuriya

Deputy President – Deepthi Hewageegana

Secretary General – Kanishka Welipitiya

Hony. Treasurer – Erosh Jayasinghe

Vice President – Thushan Wickramaarachchi

Vice President – Malith Akalanka

Vice President – Buddhi Alahakoon

Vice President – Chinthaka Weerasinghe

Vice President – R S Kalugampitiya

Vice President – Dayal Siriwardena

Vice President – Buddhi Panagoda

Tournament Secretary – Niroshan Chathuranga

Asst. Secretary – J K C Ketalawala

Asst. Treasurer – Rajiv Thilakarathne

Executive Committee Members:

Werochana Perera

Santhiribalan Nirmalarajah

Ayodhya Liyanagedara

Washini Chamithri

Lalantha Viraj Mudalige

The Sri Lanka Schools Chess Association will nominate the Vice President to represent Sri Lanka Schools Chess.

Addressing the gathering, the president thanked everyone for the progress of CFSL even with the pandemic situation and he requested their continued support. He declared that this is the Golden Jubilee year of the Chess Federation and there are various events/ function to celebrate it including International Youth Online event, Golden Jubilee Grand master event, Arbiter seminars and a comprehensive league with foreign players is organized. He also said that the CFSL is looking forward for participation in International events including the FIDE Chess Olympiad this year.

The election Committee, consisting of Upali Gunasekara (Chairman), Aruna De Silva and Mrs. Nadeeka Perera, handled the election process

Under the Patronage of H.H Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sport Council, Abu Dhabi Chess Festival Committee has the honor of inviting you to take part in this distinguished annual event, which consists of numerous FIDE registered tournaments. It will be held in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE from 16^th until 25^th August, 2022.

Download Abu Dhabi Chess Festival 2022

Sethika Hansira Samaraweera of Royal International School, Kurunegala won the Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Under 8Yrs Championship 2022 convincingly scoring full points of 7 out of possible 7 games. Sethika was very positive with 7 wins against Hamrith P Riyon, Jayarathne K P D M P, Jayasinghe D Dulen Abiru, Baddegamage Sadew Dewsanka, Meemanage Saviru Thinal, Ekanayake E M Methuka and Palliya Guruge Kemindu Sehas to earn the National Youth (Under 8) Champion title, trophy and the Gold Medal. Visit chess-results.com.

Six players tied for the 2^nd rank with 6 points out of 7 games and Kemindu Sehas Palliyaguruge(Rahula College, Matara) managed to win 2^nd place with the Silver medal with the better tie breaker. Kemindu best Egodawatta W Vinuja Nimsith, De Silva L Sanuth Adithya, Aayuishmaan Samson, Batagoda Bevin Yashel, Wijethungaarachchi Thinuthi Suhas, Sahabandu and G S A Jenuvi Dahamneeand lost to the winner Sethika in the final round to reach 6 points.

RB Hasadi Sethumsa(Sujatha Vidyalaya) had the nest best tie breaker and awarded the Bronze Medal. She also scored 6 points, beat Illangasinghe I M N, Karunasena A P Chenitha Sihas, Herath H M Chanidu Saven Bandara, Gunawardhana Yuvin Sejitha, Gobishan Piratheepan, Ovitigala Dehain Nethvidu and lost to Meemanage Saviru Thinal to reach 6 points.

Saviru Thinal Meemanage (Nalanda College) and Rasindu Manketh Kasthuriarachchi (Rahula College Matara) also scored 6 points and had to satisfy with the 4^th and 5^th places due to the poor tie breaking points.

The Sri Lanka National Youth Chess Championships 2022 is in progress from 20^th April 2022 to 5^th June 2022. Earlier the District qualifying events were held in 19 districts and around 5,000 Chess players participated for the events. This particular under 8 years open event was held from 26^th to 28^th May 2022 at Sastrananda Vidyalaya, Dehiwala according to Swiss System in 9 rounds. The top three will get the selection to play in International Youth Chess events.

Philippines won three gold medals in the Open and Women’s divisions while Kazakhstan won the gold medal in the Visually Impaired Women’s division of the Asian Chess Championships for Disabled Players held 27-29 May 2022 on Tornelo. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and to download games.

Follow us on Twitter,  facebook and  Instagram. In photos below, IA James Infiesto heads the Philippine disabled team in a courtesy call to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Thirty one men and 20 women from 11 countries competed in the 5-round Swiss System events. Time control was 10 minutes plus 10 second increments starting from move 1. Games were played over the weekend of 27th to 29th May 2022. Awards ceremonies will be held Thursday, 2nd June.

In the Open, Jasper Rom of the Philippines (photo above) finished undefeated with 4.5 points out of 5 rounds for the gold medal.  Kazemiyan Eski Abolfazl of Iran won the silver medal with 4 points followed by compatriot Rahmat Pour Arminwith with 3.5 points for the bronze medal.

In the women’s division, Cheryl Angot of the Philippines (photo above) also finished undefeated with 4.5 points out of 5 rounds for the gold medal. Compatriot Cheyzer Crystal J Mendoza won the silver medal with 3.5 points while Ostry Irina of Kyrgyzstan won the bronze medal with 3 points and the higher tie break.

Among the visually impaired, Redor Menandro of the Philippines (photo above) finished undefeated with 4.5 points in 5 rounds for the gold medal. Dashtseren Ganbat of Mongolia and Karimi Omid of Iran won the silver and bronze medals, respectively, by tie break after both finished with 4 points each.

Tomiris Kurmanalina of Kazakhstan topped the Women’s Visually Impaired division with a perfect score of 5 points for the gold medal. Safaei Maliheh of Iran finished with 4 points for the silver medal. Compatriot Rahimi Mahneh Fatemeh scored 3 points and won the bronze medal with the better tie break.

IM Tin Jingyao of Singapore (photo below) won the Hanoi GM Tournament held 24-29 May 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam with an astounding 8 points out of 9 rounds, securing his GM norm with one point over the required score. IM Michael Concio of the Philippines won the Hanoi IM tournament held concurrently.

The tournaments were organized by the Vietnam Chess Federation to dovetail the 31st Southeast Asian Games Chess Championship which finished in Ha Long City a day before.

Visit chess-results.com for round by round results. Follow us on Twitter,  facebook and  Instagram.

Here is the crosstable of the Hanoi IM tournament, held concurrently, won by Michael Concio (photo above) of the Philippines.