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by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. defeated National Master Rommel Ganzon in their rapid duel to power Laguna to a 17-4 thrashing of Toledo in the third conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wednesday, October 13, 2021 virtually held at Chess.com Platform.

Barcenilla, who has topped the last two Battles of the Grandmasters, overpowered Ganzon in 25 moves of a Two Knights Defense, Fried Liver Attack to lift the Heroes to their fifth straight win in the Northern division, the same output of San Juan Predators, Pasig City King Pirates and Manila Indios Bravos.

The Trojans slipped to 0-5 in the Southern division. The Paralympics team remain unbeaten with 5-0 clean slate.

“Though the Laguna Heroes scored 17-4 against Toledo, it was a tough match. The early wins of GM Barcenilla and GM Gomez in the rapid match sparked the team to play harder.” ” 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.

A many-time Olympiad veteran, Barcenilla also got help from Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez (in hoto), FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and Vince Angelo Medina.
Enriquez toppled Jeah Jean Gacang in 47 moves of Indian Game, Bagamasbad checkmated International Master Rico Mascarinas in 47 moves of English Opening, Gomez routed Redentor Nailon in 32 moves of a Slav defense and Medina beat National Master Rogelio Enriquez Jr. in 99 moves of a Trompovsky Opening.

FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus split the point with Richard Natividad in 65 moves of an English Opening while Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo drew with Bonn Rainauld Tibod in 87  moves of a King’s Indian defense.
Backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO and Rotary Club of Nuvali,  the Laguna Heroes easily defeated the Toledo City Trojans, 5-2, blitz game behind wins by Barcenilla, Literatus, Enriquez, Gomez and Medina

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—The Pampanga Checkers defeated Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, 12-9,  in the third conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wednesday, October 13, 2021 virtually held at Chess.com Platform.

In the first game, Pampanga edged Surigao, 4-3, in blitz on victories by Woman National Master Lexie Grace Hernandez (Board 3), National Master Louie Pablo (Board 4), Gabrielle Nuqui (Board 5), Vince Duane Pascual (Board 6) and Joseph  Raphael Vergara (Board 7).

The Pampanga Checkers continued its rout on the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates with an 8-6 beating in the rapid event on two pointers by Hernandez, Pablo, Pascual and Vergara.

Backed up by Mr. Jaime “Jimmy” Reyes,  Mr. Jake “Talov” Carlos, Mr. Robert Halili and Mr. Archimedes Miranda de Leon, the Pampanga Checkers squad earlier beat CCE Sunrays, 14-7.

Other members of Pampanga Checkers are National Master Oshrie Jhames Reyes, Erickson Costuna, Tiv Omangay and  Karl Richard Ballobar

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—ALL systems go for the Mariz Manalo Open Chess Tournament via lichess.org on Sunday, October 17, 2021, 10 pm.
The tournament will be played in a 2 hours Arena, one minute plus one second increment time control format with the winner taking home P2,000, second place P1,000 and third place P500.
Category winners for the top senior (50 and above), media and Mandaluyong will receive P500 each.
Registration for the Bayanihan Chess Club event is free.

Mariz Manalo, niece of International Billiards/Snooker Champion  and Barangay Malamig chairman Marlon Manalo (above standing) is also supporting the Beat the Master Chess Challenge Chess For A Cause Match Up Series, organized by Estavillo Chess Academy on Friday, October 15, 2021, 6pm.
“As long as there is Covid, this is the format (online chess tournament) where chess players will spend their time”, said Mariz Manalo, a former SK chairwoman,  sports leader and youth advocate.

The 2022 Asian Para Games, also known as the IV Asian Para Games is a multi-sport event that parallels the 2022 Asian Games which will be held for Asian athletes with disability in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China from 9 to 15 October 2022. Hangzhou will be the second Chinese city to host the Asian Para Games, after Guangzhou in 2010.

 

Asian Chess Federation President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Asian Paralympic Committee to promote chess among disabled. Here is the qualification for chess in Hangzhou.

 

by Marlon Bernardino
MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan—The Bulacan Governor Daniel R. Fernando 2nd Inter-Town Online Chess Tournament gets underway on November 20, 21, 27 and 28, 2021 virtually to be held at Tornelo Platform.

According to tournament director Normel Benigno R. De Jesus,  the free registration with lots of cash prizes two weekend tournament is sponsored by Gov. Daniel R. Fernando in cooperation with PYSPESO headed by its Department Head, Atty. Kenneth Z. Ocampo-Lantin and Sports Division OIC Benjamin B. Santos Jr.

FIDE Master Robert Suelo Jr. of San Jose del Monte, National Master Karl Victor Ochoa of Malolos and National Master Nick Nisperos of Obando lead the list of top Bulacan woodpushers.

Also seeing action next month are National Master Michael Gotel of Santa Maria and National Master Gerardo Cabellon of Bocaue.

 

 

Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage (above left) of DS Senanayake College, Senuja Thimeth Alwela (above center) of Bandarawela Central College, Chanindi Mewna Attanayake (above right) of Devi Balika Vodyalaya and Minethma Lasandi Wickramasinghe (photo below) of Sujatha Vidyalaya were able to grab the Championships of Western 1 Open, North-Western Open, Western 2 Women’s and Southern Women’s events respectively.

Six points were written in front of Pasindu’s name at the end of seven rounds and he was able to stay unbeaten until the end. Two games he shared were played against Insara Nanayakkara and Isara Banidu Dahanayaka who tied for the 2^nd spot. Also, another reason why his name was written at the top was that he was able to defeat Yasantha Jayaweera in the last moment, who led the event throughout.

Due to the lack of half a point and with the advantage in tie-brakes Isara Banidu Dahanayake (above left) of Royal College was able to win second place of the Western I open event with an unbeaten score. The three games he shared were played with Y Jayaweera, Pesandu Rashmitha Liyanage, and Brijesh Saravanabavan.

Meanwhile V T Malitha Rohana (photo above) of Ananda College, Colombo also scored 5 ½ points but had to satisfy himself with the Bronze medal with the little advantage in tie breaker than the 4^th and 5th. He managed to win 5 games and the game played in the fifth round with Nabil Nazar Mohamad was drawn. The game he lost was played against the second runner-up, Isara Banidu Dahanayake. Other players had 5 ½ points as Isara and Rohana are Saravanabaavan Brijesh and Luchitha Pathirana.

Chanindi Mewna Attanayake crowned as the winner of the Western 2 Women’s event concluding a hard-hitting event. Her victory was due to the 6 games she won out of the seven rounds and the advantage of tie-brakesrs The only game she lost was played against R M Dulinma Hemamalini Rathnayaka.

The second place of the event was won by Tharuli Vihansa Ranganath (photo above) of Yoshida International School who won the same number of points as Chanindi, but was unfortunate to have less in Tie-brakeer. The only game she lost was played against Chanindi Mewna Attanayake, the Champion of the event.

The Bronze medal of the event went to Nemindi Lilanaya Ramanayake (photo above) of Bandaranayake Central College Veyangoda and she was able to win 5 points out of the 7 rounds played and the only game she lost was played against Tharuli Vihansa And the other point she lost was due to the couple of drawn games with Kavisha Indrajith and Oneli Vithanawasam in the third and fourth rounds respectively.

Senuja Thimeth Alwela of Bandarawela Central College managed to win the Championship and the Gold Medal in the North-Western/Uva and Rathnapaura open event by winning 6 points out of the seven games played. The only game he lost was to Kiriella.

KGSTD Kiriella (photo above) of Maliyadeva College won the 2^nd place. He was unbeaten and the games he shared were played against A I Dharmasiri and S D B K. Senevirathne The Bronze Medal of the North-Western event was going in the favor of C M S Praneeth Kumara of USJP Chess Club who won 5.5 points out of 7 games and Attanayake A M N R who won the same number of points had to be satisfied with the fourth place due to disadvantage in tie-brakes. The only game Praneeth lost was against the Champion of the event, Alwela and the game he played against S D B K Senevirathne in the last round was shared between two players.

Wickramasinghe Minethma Lasandi of Sujatha Vidyalaya was able to secure the Championship of the Southern Women’s event with 6.5 points in the hand and the only game she drew was played against Minudi Devindi Ranasinghe.

With a huge difference of 1 point, S N K De Silva (photo above) from Dharmasoka College was able to win the Silver medal and she lost her game to the champion and the last round game was shared with P W G Gaveshi Wickramarathne.

After a tough battle, M Esandi Newansa (photo above) of Dharmasoka College was able to win the Bronze medal of the event with 5.0 points and the other player who won the same number of points, Fernando H Methushi Amaya had to satisfy with the fourth place due to less tie-braker.

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is organizing a comprehensive Online Rapid Chess

Championship Cycle for the first time in Sri Lanka started from the 1st week of June 2021. The 7

Novices Division events and 7 Women’s Novices Division events were finished on the 15th of

August 2021 successfully.

 

This event is the selection National Chess Championship is the selection event for the

International Online Rapid Chess Championships in the future. The event will help all Chess

players to stay at home at this difficult time with supporting to grow their Chess Strength. The

event is being held on the Chess.com flat form with all the fair play regulations approved by

FIDE.

 

The Time Control will be 15 minutes + 10-second increment for each move played

.

The Remaining Major Division events will be held in next Weeks end:

16th & 17th October 2021- Northern (Open), Southern Open Central With Kegalle

(Women), and North Western &; Uva with Ratnapura (Women)

 

The event is scheduled in 6 stages:

2. SL National Online Majors Division Chess Championships
3. Western 1
4. Western 2
5. Central, Kegalle

4.North Western, Ratnapura

5. Southern
6. Northern

 

Eligibility – Rating Greater than 1199 and less than 1899 and selected players from relevant

Novices Chess Championship for the Open Section.

 

Rating Greater than 1099 and less than 1599 for Women’s events and qualified players from

Women Novices in the respective region.

 

The Qualification to Online National Premier is that for the first 20 players in the starting rank

list 10 players will qualify and for every subsequent 5 players, an additional 1 player will qualify.

No of Qualifiers = 10 + {(T-20)/5} T-Total Players

If there are 50 players in an event 16 players are qualified.

 

Online SL National (Premier Division) Chess Championship 2021

The final Swiss System event of 11 rounds. All qualified from Major Division and players

having more than 1900 (Women over 1600) rating are eligible to participate in the event. The

first 16 players will be qualified for the Online National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals

Online SL National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals

 

Stage 1

A Round Robin Event of first 16 players of National B Chess Championships 2021

Stage 2

Knocked out Event among first 4 players as Semi-Finals and Finals/ Consolation Finals with

Two games with playing tie breaks.

 

Awards

Trophies and Medals will be awarded to the winners in all events and the Championship title for

the winner in the age group.

A total of Rs. 180,000/= will be awarded as the cash awards to National Finals stage II and

National Premier Division as given Below:

 

SL Online National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals II

Open                Women

Champion –       Rs, 40,000/=     Rs. 25,000/=

1st Runner Up – Rs. 25,000/=    Rs. 15,000/=

2nd Runner Up – Rs. 12,000/=    Rs. 8,000/=

4th Place –           Rs. 7,000/=      Rs. 4,000/=

 

SL Online National (Premier Division) Chess Championship 2021 – Finals

Open                   Women

Champion –        Rs, 15,000/=     Rs. 10,000/=

1st Runner Up – Rs. 10,000/=     Rs. 5,000/=

2nd Runner Up – Rs. 5,000/=       Rs. 3,000/=

 

Download Asian Club Cup Hybrid Chess Regulations 2021

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. destroyed National Master Edsel Montoya in their rapid duel to power Laguna to a 14.5-6.5 thrashing of Lapu-Lapu City in the third conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wednesday, October 6, 2021 virtually held at Chess.com Platform.

Barcenilla, who has topped the last two Battles of the Grandmasters, overpowered Montoya in 55 moves of an English Opening to lift the Heroes to their second win at the start of the second round. The Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warrios slipped to 0-2.

“GM Banjo’s play was always razor-sharp, rational and brilliant.” 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 for Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO and Rotary Club of Nuvali were Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad and Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat.

Gomez (photo above) routed National Master Elwin Retanal in 42 moves of a French defense, Bagamasbad trounced National Master Lincoln Yap in 38 moves of a French defense while Bayangat checkmated Bryle Arellano in 41 moves of a London System Opening.

Meanwhile, Michella Concio halved the point with Woman International Master Bernadette Galas in 31 moves of a Sicilian defense while Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo drew with Allan Pason in 32 moves of an English Opening.

Michael Joseph Pagaran (photo above) carried the fight for Lapu-Lapu City in the rapid event after beating Vince Angelo Medina in 61 moves of a Trompovsky Opening.

According to AGM Fred Paez, Laguna Heroes beat Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warrios, 4.5-2.5, in blitz format and 10-4 victory in the rapid play.

Earlier, Laguna routed Negros, 14.5-6.5, while Lapu-Lapu City yielded to Pasig, 5-16.
Other second-match results saw San Juan nip Negros, 14-7, Pasig outclassed Surigao, 11-5-9.5, Manila crushed Palawan, 15-6, Isabela outpointed Toledo, 11.5-9.5, Caloocan beat Camarines, 16.5-4.5, Rizal subdued Mindoro, 15-6, Olongapo edged Penang, 11.5-9.5, Singapore trounced Pengcheng, 19-2, Paralympic defeated Bangkok, 12.5-8.5, Davao dismantled Sunrays, 15.5-5.5, and Iloilo toppled Pampanga, 16.5-4.5.

In other key matches in the first matches of the evening’s double-header, San Juan bested Iloilo, 15-6, Manila subdued Surigao, 12-9, Isabela crushed Palawan, 13-8, Caloocan beat Toledo, 14.5-6.5, Camarines dealt Rizal, 12-9, Mindoro whipped Olongapo, 13-8, Penang outpointed Pengcheng, 18-3, Singapore routed Bangkok, 12.5-8.5, Paralympic whipped Davao, 14-7, and Pampanga smashed Sunrays, 14-7

The Major division events of the Sri Lanka National Chess Championship cycle started in this weekend with the firecrackers of Western 1 Women’s, Western 2 Open, Central Open and Northern Women’s events. It took little longer for finalizing the results till the fair play reports.

Finally, in the Western 1 Women’s event, Oshini Devindya Gunawardena (photo above)  of Furguson High School Rathnapura was able to win the throne with the form she continued from round 1. She won all 7 points out of the 7 rounds she played. This was expected since she is the newly crowned World Youth Online Chess Champion in under 10 Years Girls this Year.

Sinlay Thanujana (above left) of Gothami BMV, Colombo 10 placed 2nd scoring 6 ½ points out of 7 to earn the Silver Medal while Nimansa Sandanayake (above center) of Musaeus College placed 3rd with 6 points out of 7 games and won the Silver Medal.

Vinuda Shenal Gunatilleke (photo above) of Royal College Colombo was able to win the gold medal of the Western 2 open event after a master class performance in the second day of the event. He was able to stay unbeaten and only shared the games with Kosala Sandeepa and Jayodya Rasindu in the last two rounds. Also, he was able to win the game Weerasinghe Yasiru in the fifth round who lead the way until the fourth round.

Meanwhile, B Jayodya Rasindu Rashmika Perera (above left) of Sri Sumangala College, Panadura won the silver medal of the respective event by winning 5.5 points out of the 7 rounds with a walkover in the first round. He was also able to remain unbeaten and only shared the games he played in the second, fourth and seventh rounds with Liyanage Savinu, Liyanage Daham Kusalwin and Gunathilake and Vinuda Shenal, respectively. Though he scored 5.5 points same as Rasindu, Senuja Dilmith Udahamullage (above right) of Kaluthara Vidyalaya had to placate himself with the third position due to the disadvantage in tie-break.

Unbeaten Jenith Wiratunge (photo above) of Trinity College achieved the Gold medal in the Central Open event with a score of 6 ½ points out of 7 games. He scored 6 wins giving only one draw to Ranjan Damsara in the 1st round. Yonal Sumanathilake (above center) of Royal International School) won the Silver medal in the better tie breaker after tying with 6 points each with Disal Nimsara Weerasekara (above right) of Sri Chandananda Buddhist College, Kandy. Dishal had to satisfy himself with the Bronze Medal.

After a tough war P Thishanuga (above left) of Vembady Girls High School, Jaffna was able to win the championship of the Northern Women’s event with the 6 points she won and the advantage of tie break. The only game she lost was played against Narthavi S. Meanwhile, G H S Sanulya (above center) of Polonnarywa Royal Primary College had to satisfy herself with the silver medal due to lower tie break points and the only game she lost was played with Thishanuga P, the winner of the event. S Narthavi (above right) of Vembady Girls High School, Jaffna was able to win the bronze medal with the 5 points out of 7 rounds.

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka is organizing a comprehensive Online Rapid Chess
Championship Cycle for the first time in Sri Lanka since the 1st week of June 2021. The 7
Novices Division events and 7 Women’s Novices Division events were finished on the 15th of
August 2021 successfully.

This National Chess Championship Cycle is the selection event for the International Online Rapid Chess Championships in the future. The event will help all Chess players to stay at home at this difficult time with supporting to grow their Chess Strength. The event is being held on the Chess.com flat form with all the fair play regulations approved by FIDE.

The Time Control will be 15 minutes + 10-second increment for each move played
.
The Remaining Major Division events will be held in 2 Weekends:
9th & 10th October 2021 – Western I (Open), North Western &Uva with Rathnapura (Open),
Western II (Women), and Southern (Women)

16th & 17th October 2021- Northern (Open), Southern Open Central With Kegalle (Women),
and North Western & Uva with Ratnapura (Women)

The event is scheduled in 6 stages:
2. SL National Online Majors Division Chess Championships
1. Western 1
2. Western 2
3. Central, Kegalle
4.North Western, Ratnapura
5. Southern
6. Northern

Eligibility – Rating Greater than 1199 and less than 1899 and selected players from relevant
Novices Chess Championship for the Open Section.
Rating Greater than 1099 and less than 1599 for Women’s events and qualified players from
Women Novices in the respective region.

The Qualification to Online National Premier is that for the first 20 players in the starting rank
list 10 players will qualify and for every subsequent 5 players, an additional 1 player will qualify.
No of Qualifiers = 10 + {(T-20)/5} T-Total Players
If there are 50 players in an event 16 players are qualified.
Online SL National (Premier Division) Chess Championship 2021
The final Swiss System event of 11 rounds. All qualified from Major Division and players
having more than 1900 (Women over 1600) rating are eligible to participate in the event. The
first 16 players will be qualified for the Online National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals
Online SL National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals
Stage 1
A Round Robin Event of first 16 players of National B Chess Championships 2021
Stage 2
Knocked out Event among first 4 players as Semi-Finals and Finals/ Consolation Finals with
Two games with playing tie breaks.

Awards
Trophies and Medals will be awarded to the winners in all events and the Championship title for
the winner in the age group.
A total of Rs. 180,000/= will be awarded as the cash awards to National Finals stage II and
National Premier Division as given Below:
SL Online National Chess Championship 2021 – Finals
Open Women
Champion – Rs, 40,000/= Rs. 25,000/=
1st Runner Up – Rs. 25,000/= Rs. 15,000/=

2nd Runner Up – Rs. 12,000/= Rs. 8,000/=
4th Place – Rs. 7,000/= Rs. 4,000/=
SL Online National (Premier Division) Chess Championship 2021 – Finals
Open Women
Champion – Rs, 15,000/= Rs. 10,000/=
1st Runner Up – Rs. 10,000/= Rs. 5,000/=
2nd Runner Up – Rs. 5,000/= Rs. 3,000/=