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by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo destroyed Paul Sanchez to power Laguna Heroes to a 12-9 victory over Caloocan Loadmanna Knights in the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament held at Chess.com Platform Saturday, February 5, 2022.

Lorenzo (Board 6), the pride of Cabuyao City, Laguna, overpowered Sanchez in 25 moves of a Sicilian defense in the blitz portion and in 69 moves of a Dutch defense in the rapid game to lift the Heroes to seven wins against one loss in the Northern Division, the same output of Pasig City King Pirates and San Juan Predators.

The Loadmanna Knights slipped to 5-3 together with Cagayan Kings.
Board 3 player Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez yielded to Woman National Master Arvie Lozano in 43 moves of Pirc defense in the blitz game but bounced back by eking out a 38 move victory of their King’s Indian attack encounter during the rapid play.

“Powered by two strong IMs in the top 2 boards, Caloocan is really a strong team. We had a tough match against them. We were really just lucky for winning the match,” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez, one of the four co-team owner of the Laguna Heroes that include Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.

Also delivering crucial draws for the Heroes backed up by KALARO, Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali were GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. (Board 1), FM Austin Jacob Literatus (Board 2), IMAngelo Young (Board 4) and Richie Jocson (Board 7).

Barcenilla, Literatus, Young and Jocson split the point with IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia,  IM Domingo Ramos and Alexis Emil Maribao, respectively.

Board 5 player IM Barlo Nadera provided the full point for the Atty. Arnel Batungbakal Caloocan Loadmanna Knights squad in the rapid portion. Nadera nipped Vince Angelo Medina.

The Laguna Heroes edged Caloocan Loadmanna Knights in blitz portion,4-3, as well as in the rapid format,8-6.

Heroes routed Cavite Spartans, 15-6, in the following round.
The Laguna Heroes look forward to another great performance Wednesday night (February 9, 2022) when they face San Juan and Quezon City.

PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Ong Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr

The 3^rd Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2022 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka for the players Under 14 years is in progress from 3^rd to 13^th February 2022 at CFSL HQ in Nugegoda.

This is one of the leading Chess Events in Sri Lanka for the Youth Chess players in the country. A total of 23 leading Youth Chess players are competing in 2 groups of A and B which will be held according to Round Robin System in 11 rounds as first stage of the event. As the 2^nd stage the top two players of each Group will play a knocked out event as A1 Vs B2 and A2 Vs B1 in Semi Finals and Winners of Semi Finals meets in the Finals.

Maleesha Savindu Weerathunga of DS Senanayake College and Shenal Vishmin Francis of Bandaranaike Central College Gampaha are leading in the Group A while Vivash Ransara Samarakoon, Dulnith Sanviru and Thisarindu Induwara all Royal College are leading in Group B with total 3 points out of 3 games after the 3^rd round of the above event convincingly. Maleesha beat Piyumi Amarathunga, Lakindu Gamage and Sathini Liyanage while Shenal beat Lakindu Gamage, Sathini Liyanage and Ranul Kannangara in their 1^st 3 rounds.

Vivash beat Hasindu Gamage. Chenaya Ekaratne and Jayandi Bimansa while Dulnith beat Insara Wickramaarchchi, MADD Munasinghe and Anujana Hasandi Sendanayake in their 1^st three rounds. Thisarindu beat MADD Munasinghe, Rehan Ekanayake and a bye in the 3^rd round to reach 3 points.

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is offering cash awards of RS. 65,000/= , Medals and Trophies for the winners as below:

1^st – 30,000/=, 2^nd – 20,000/-, 3^rd – 10,000/- and 4^th – 5,000/-

Medals and Trophies for the Group Winners and the Final Top 3.

The Tournament details from Following Links:

http://chess-results.com/tnr608868.aspx?lan=1&art=1&fed=SRI

http://chess-results.com/tnr608867.aspx?lan=1&art=1&fed=SRI

Public links for live games – 3rd SL Youth Chess Grand Prix 2022

The 3rd Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2022 – Group A

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#4ca70318-772e-442c-926f-1f2bc158a7a4

The 3rd Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2022 – Group B

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#32e72d53-3924-4965-83be-47ccf74fabf7

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—The Quezon City Simba’s Tribe posted a 12-9 victory at the expense of the Pasig City King Pirates on Saturday night, February 5, 2022 in the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament at Chess.com Platform.

The Simba’s Tribe defeated the King Pirates in blitz on wins by National Master Robert Arellano, National Master Edgardo Garma and team owner-playing coach Danilo Ponay against GM Mark Paragua, GM Darwin Laylo and National Master Rudy Ibanez, respectively.

National Master Robert Suelo Jr. split the point with National Master Eric Labog Jr. while Freddie Talaboc drew with IM Chris Ramayrat.

Woman FM Sherily Cu and Kevin Arquero provided the twin wins for the Mayor Vico Sotto backed Pasig City King Pirates after beating MIchaela Concio and Joseph Navarro.

The team continued their winning streak against the King Pirates as they dominated the rapid play behind Ponay, Suelo, Navarro and Talaboc.
Ponay toppled Ibanez, Suelo nipped Labog, Navarro dealt Arquero and Talaboc outplayed Ramayrat.

Paragua, Laylo and Cua fought very well for the King Pirates after smashing Arellano, Garma and Concio.

“It was a huge win for us,” said Ponay, a 12- times Philippine National Bank (PNB) champion. We’re hoping we could carry the momentum”, he added.

Backed up by Global Quality Education Providers, Inc.,  Gates Professional Schools, Inc.,and DVF Dairy Farm Inc., the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, earlier bested Rizal Batch Towers, 11.5-9.5.

The Simba’s Tribe climbed to fourth spot with a 4-4 win-loss record in the Northern Division standings together with Manila Indios Bravos and Isabela Knight of Alexander.

The Quezon City Simba’s Tribe look forward to another great performance Wednesday night (February 9, 2022) when they face Mindoro Tamaraws and Laguna Heroes.

PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Ong Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. powered the Laguna Heroes to a 18-3 whipping of Mindoro Tamaraws in the 2nd season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All Filipino Conference online chess tournament virtually held at Chess.com Platform, Wednesday night, February 2, 2022.

The former two-time Asian Junior champion Barcenilla, bounced back from his 2 draws to GM Mark Paragua of Pasig City King Pirates, by checkmating Arena Grandmaster Emmanuel Asi after 36 moves of a Ruy Lopez Opening in the blitz portion followed by a 42-move victory from an English Opening in the rapid play.

This helped the Laguna Heroes of team owner-playing coach Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez recover from their 10-11 setback to Pasig City King Pirates. The Heroes climbed to third spot with a 5-1 win-loss record in the Northern Division standings behind tournament co-leaders Pasig City King Pirates and San Juan Predators who tote similar 6-0 outputs.

“Our loss to Pasig was a bit disheartening since we won in blitz and we were ahead in the rapid, 10-7,  with 2 games remaining. I told the players not to get affected by the result and focus on the 2nd match instead. The Laguna Heroes responded well by winning both in blitz and rapid against Mindoro,” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Fred Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes that include Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.

Also delivering crucial wins for the Heroes backed up by KALARO, Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali were FM Austin Jacob Literatus, Woman NM Jean Karen Enriquez, FM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Kimuel Lorenzo and Richie Jocson.

Literatus bested Arena GM Nezil Merilles, Enriquez crushed Arena FM Cylliz Kaessa Merilles, Bagamasbad subdued Cesar Cunanan, Lorenzo beat Arena GM Joselito Asi and Jocson nipped Ronald Berdera.

United States Master Rainier Labay averted a shutout for the Mindoro Tamaraws in the rapid play when he drew with Vince Angelo Medina.

The Laguna Heroes trounced Mindoro Tamaraws in blitz portion, 5-2, as well as in the rapid format, 13-1.
The Laguna Heroes look forward to another great performance Saturday night (February 5, 2022) when they face Caloocan Loadmanna Knights and Cavite Spartans.

Meanwhile, Davao and Iloilo chessers take charge in the Southern Division with a 5-1 win-loss record.
PCAP, the country’s first and only play-for-pay chess league, is headed by Atty. Paul Elauria as President-Commissioner; Michael Angelo Ong Chua as Chairman; Dr. Ariel Potot as Vice Chairman and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal as Treasurer.

The tournament is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.

by Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, Philippines – Jan Clifford Labog, a Grade 10 student of Solano High School won the MVP Sports Foundation Secondary School Online Rapid Chess Championship Grandfinals alone with 6.5 points out of 7 rounds in this 3-day (January 28, 29 and 30, 2022) event on tornelo. Visit chess-results.com.

Labog was representing Region II-Cagayan Valley in this nationwide event. He beat Jave Mareck Pateros of Region VII-Central Visayas in the seventh and final round. Other victims of Labog were Julian Rogelio Labaja in the first round, Lance Nathaniel Orlina in the second round, Knarf Lawrence Batislaong in the third round, Mark Jay Bacojo in the fifth round and Christian Gian Karlo Arca in the sixth round . He split the point with Chester Neil Reyes in the fourth round.

Reyes finished second with 6 points following his conquest of Ronald Allan Velasco while Peteros dropped at solo third place with 5 points.

Rounding up the top 10 were Mark Jay Bacojo (4.5 pts.), IM Michael Concio Jr. (4.5 pts.), Ronald Allan Velasco (4.5 pts.), John Dave Labandero (4.5 pts.), Mark Gerald Reyes (4.5 pts.), Christian Gian Karlo Arca (4 pts.) and Cyrus Vladimir Francisco (4 pts.).

In the girls division, Jerlyn Mae San Diego, a Grade 11 student of TFUCS – The First Uniting Christian School. Dasmarinas City Cavite defeated Franchesca Largo in the last round to win the title. San Diego collected 6 points in seven outings.

Earlier, San Diego bested Wena Escalicas in the first round, Angel Nheazy Nicole Po in the third round, Princess Louise Oncita in the fourth round and Mary Joy Tan in the sixth round. She split the point with Anjella Monigue Guno in the second round and Ma. Elayza Villa in the fifth round.

Villa, meanwhile toppled Nathalie Liscano in the sixth then halving the point with Anjella Monigue Guno in the final round to finished second with 5.5 points.

Guno, Liscano and Shiela Mer A. Donoga shared third, fourth and fifth places with 5 points each.
Sixth to Ninth places with 4.5 points each were Tan, Oncita, Josemier Jene E. Panol and Po while  Largo landed at 10th with 4 points.

Tournament manager was National Arbiter Jun Uka, Tournament Director was IA/NM James Infiesto and Chief Arbiter is IA Patrick Lee. At least 60 students took part in the three-day event sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

Final Standings:
(Boys)
6.5 points—Jan Clifford Labog (P10,000)
6 points—Chester Neil Reyes (P7,000)
5 points—Jave Mareck Peteros (P5,000)
4.5 points—Mark Jay Bacojo (P3,000)
4.5 points—IM Michael Concio Jr. (P2,000)
4.5 points—Ronald Allan Velasco (P1,000)
4.5 points—John Dave Labandero (P1,000)
4.5 points—Mark Gerald Reyes (P1,000)
4 points—Christian Gian Karlo Arca (P1,000)
4 points—Cyrus Vladimir Francisco (P1,000)
(Girls)
6 points—Jerlyn Mae San Diego (P10,000)
5.5 points—Ma. Elayza Villa (P7,000)
5 points—Anjella Monigue Guno (P5,000)
5 points—Nathalie Liscano (P3,000)
5 points—Shiela Mer A. Donoga (P2,000)
4.5 points—Mary Joy Tan (P1,000)
4.5 points—Princess Louise Oncita (P1,000)
4.5 points—Josemier Jene E. Panol (P1,000)
4.5 points—Angel Nheazy Nicole Po (P1,000)
4 points—Franchesca Largo (P1,000)

Asian Chess Federation invites all Federations in Asia (except Russian speaking Federations) to nominate 2 players (Boys – U20) from each Federation, to attend the upcoming Asian Online Chess Camp for Boys Under-20 (In English) which will be organized by ACF during the period from 1st to 10th February 2022.