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by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Bryan Blair Fallarme and Neph Bantang both from Corcuera Romblon topped the Romblon Chess Club Monthly and Overall Grand Prix.

Fallarme scored 10.5 points with 10 wins, 1 draw, and zero losses in 11 outings to capture the Championship crown of RCC GP-9 July 2021 last Sunday. This was the 3rd championship crown of Fallarme after winning the GP-1, GP-8, and the latest GP-9.

Meanwhile, Neph Bantang is still the overall leader scoring 242 GP points. He was followed by 7-time Phil. Executive Champion and RCC Vice-President Dr. Jenny Mayor from Cajidiocan, Romblon, with 226 GP points, Christian Yrreg Servanez from Odiongan, Romblon at 3rd place with 209 GP Points, Arena Grandmaster/Engr. Joseph HajiYusuf Riano Villanueva Galindo at 4th place with 203 GP points and John Paul Canulo with 200 GP points at 5th.

The RCC GP-10 will be on July 18, 2021, at 8:00 PM according to Engr. Ernie Fetisan Faeldonia.

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—A strong field of Masters are expected to participate in the 1st Cordova Philippines National Open Chess Championships August 20 to 25, 2021 at the Solea Mactan Resort, Cordova, Mactan Islands, Cebu.

13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. of Quezon City (above left), Grandmaster Darwin Laylo of Dasmarinas City (above right), Cavite and the country’s lone Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City, Albay (photo below) have confirmed their participation.

Also expected to see action in the prestigious event which offers a total cash prize of P131,000 are International Master Ronald Dableo (Manila), International Master Michael Concio Jr. (Dasmarinas City, Cavite), International Master Daniel Quizon (Dasmarinas City, Cavite), FIDE Master David Elorta (Manila) and Sherwin Tiu (Makati City).

They will be joined by leading local players National Master Merben Roque, Allan Pason, Yves Christian Fiel, Jerish Velarde and Jave Mareck Peteros.

The champion will take home P50,000, while the second to fifth will receive P25,000, P15,000 P10,000 and P7,000 respectively. Sixth to tenth will each earn P5,000, P4,000, P3,000, P2,000 and P2,000, in that order.
Category winners for the top U-16, U-14, U-12, U-10 and U-8 will get P1,000 each while the best Lady performer will bring home P3,000.

The competition is organized by Richmasters (RCM) sanctioned by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Over-all Tournament Committee Chairman is NA Ariel “APO” Potot, Chief Tournament Director is GM Jayson Gonzales, Supervising Director is NA/Coach Susan Grace Neri, Chief Event Coordinator is Ms. Bernalyn “Bec” Campomanes and Chief Arbiter is IA Reden Cruz.

FM Sander Severino and Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza, both of the Philippines, won the Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities (Open and Women, respectively) held 9-11 July on Tornelo. Replay games on  https://live.followchess.com/#!asian-disabled-online-chp-2021. Visit chess-results.com for final standings and round by round results and to download games.

Severino tied with compatriot Henry Lopez but prevailed in the tie break. Mendoza finished alone with 5 points in as many rounds. See previous story in Asian Chess Championship for Players With Disabilities Starts.

FIDE Disabled Commission Chairman GM Luther Thomas (photo above) attended the event and complemented Asia for being the only Continent to hold championships for disabled players.

Asian Chess Federation (ACF) General Secretary Hisham Al Taher pointed out that Asian Chess Federation signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Asian Paralympic Committee and the ACF is coordinating the 2022 Asian Para Games chess which will be held in Hangzhou, China.

Open champion FM Sander Severino of the Philippines

Women’s champion Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza of the Philippines

Officials: top row from left, Michael Pagaran, Chief Arbiter Kausar Bauyrzhan, ACF Executive Director Casto Abundo and KK Chan; middle from left Gopakumar, Sainbayar Tserendorj, Patrick Lee, Erfan Hashemi; bottom row from left, Jamie Kenmure.

Players of Kyrgyzstan and Malaysia

Players of Philippines and Iran.

Players of Vietnam and Mongolia

Players of Bangladesh and Pakistan

Players needing assistants (blind or cerebral palsy), from Iran, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan

Sanjeewa Dayan Munasinghe (photo above) of National Building Research Organization won the gold Medal at the Western 2 – Open category of the Sri Lanka National Online Novices Chess Championship 2021 with a stunning score of 6.5 points out of possible 7 games. Sanjeewa had 6 straight wins against Jayod Bodaragamage, Mohamed Wishal, EABT Edirisinghe, Akindu Keerthisinghe, Tharushika Silva and WDRT Wijeratne. However, drew his last game to Piyumi Amarathunga to win the title.

Piyumi Amarathunga of Super Fighters Chess Club secured the Silver Medal with an exemplary score of 6 out of the possible 7 games. Piyumi started the tourney having a draw with Thisara Perera but found her form to win 5 games straight against KTS Karannagoda, Senal Francis, Thinod Perera, Ishitha Upeksha, Akindu Keerthisinghe. She drew the last game to the gold medalist, Sanjeewa Munasinghe.

EABT Edirisinghe of University of Moratuwa also scored 6 out of 7 possible games, same as the Silver medalist, but with the lesser tie breaker, earned the Bronze medal. Edirisnghe won his first two games against Akeesh Perera and Sanuka Jayawardane but lost his third game to the gold medalist, Sanjeewa. Later finding his form he had 4 straight wins against Thanuga Geeneth, Dineth Kumara, Janith Rajawasala and Daham Sathsara to score 6 points.

Chenaya Ekaratne of Meauseus College, Colombo 07, scoring a breathtaking score of 7 out of 7 possible games won Gold Medal at the Western 1 – Women’s category of the Sri Lanka National Online Novices Chess Championship 2021. She beat Nethra Rathnayake, Vihansa Liyanage, Resandi Kiringoda, Jenuki Herath, Tenuki Herath, Thinuli Pathirana and Ananya Perera to grab the championship.

Haritha Thillainathan (photo above) of Bishops College, Colombo 03 and Arundi Beminiwatte (photo below) of Defense Services College, Colombo 02 scored an amazing 6 points out of 7 possible games. However, with the better tie breaker, Haritha won Silver while Arundi had to satisfy with Bronze.

Haritha lost her first game to Theruni Jayasundara but stood-up having an astonishing 6 straight wins against Vinuji Mendis, Bhagya Kavindi, Lithumi Hiranya, Ranumi Gamage, Chanudi Jayasinghe and Tenuki Herath.

The Bronze medalist, Arundi, beat Vinaya Perera, Januthi Malinsa, Sanara Kuruppuarachchi, Nethra Rathnayake, Yenuli Wijeweera, Thinuli Pathirana but lost her third game to Chanudi Jayasinghe.

The Sri Lanka National Online Novices Chess Championship – 2021 Western 2 Open and Western 1 girls’ events came to an end today with the participation of 152 players, whose rating is less than 1200. Both events were played according to the Swiss System in 7 rounds under the Rapid Chess time control of 15 minutes + 10 second increment for each move played.

Top 23 players of the Western II Open and the Top 22 players of the Western I Women will be qualified to the appropriate Majors Division Chess Championships to be held from late August 2021. The Inaugural Sri Lanka Online National Rapid Chess Championship Cycle 2021 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka consists of 4 stages. The Cycle is started with the Novices events in 7 regions followed by the Major Division Events in the   same regions. The Top players will join with the selectees from Major Division events in the National B event. The Top 14 players of the National B will join the current National Chess Champion and the top rank player in the 15 round, Round robin event in the 1st stage of the finals while a knocked out of top four players of Round Robin event will be played as 2nd stage in the finals. The same structure will be followed in the Women Event as well.

The qualified players for the Majors Division Chess Championship are given below:

Final ranking – Western II Open Event

Tournament Links:

https://chess-results.com/tnr568937.aspx?lan=1

https://chess-results.com/tnr568936.aspx?lan=1

Sri Lankan National Champion Competes in FIDE World Cup

Philippine Delegation Arrives in Sochi

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—National Master Jasper Faeldonia led Romblon Chess Club to victory with a tournament-high of 87 points in the latest Colegas Weekly Rapid 32 Team  Battle participated in by 490 players worldwide, NM Faeldonia played a total of 26 games with a win rate of 81%, a berserk rate of 91%, and an overall performance rate of 2419.

NM Faeldonia was supported by teammates Carlito Faina Jr., AGM Joseph Galindo, Rilly Familara, and Joel Forcadas. The top 10 participating teams in this tournament were:
1st- Romblon Chess Club- Philippines
2nd- Philippine Blitz Arena- Philippines
3rd- Team Chess 73728 – Worldwide
4th- Xadrez Entre Amigos – Brazil
5th- نادي الشطرنج المغربي – Morocco
6th- Arab World Team – Saudi Arabia
7th- Lichess Swiss – Worldwide
8th- Echecs Maxipontain – Europe
9th- Dream Team – Russia
10th- Gujarat Lions – India

“Congratulations to RCC for defending the title for the 3rd consecutive time. Thanks to all who supported the team. Mabuhay ang mga Pilipinong manlalaro ng ajedrez,” said Engr. Ernie Fetisan Faeldonia

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion Laguna Heroes swept Caloocan City Loadmanna Knights, 3-0, in Armageddon play last Saturday evening, July 10, 2021.

Laguna Heroes and the Caloocan City Loadmanna Knights were tied 10.5 each after seven boards, but the trio of sub-import Ukrainian GM Kiril Shevchenko, GM John Paul Gomez and FM Austin Jacob Literatus saved the day via the Armageddon penalty shoot-out (3-0) beating  sub-import Malaysian IM Jimmy Liew, Paul Sanchez and IM Barlo Nadera to win their assignment in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines dubbed as GM Wesley So Cup being held at chess.com platform.

The Heroes took the blitz boards, 5.5-1.5 behind Shevchenko, Literatus, Gomez, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo and Arjie Bayangat and a draw by FM Jose Efren Bagamasbad.

Caloocan staged a comeback in rapid play with an 9-5 win that forged the deadlock, thanks to the heroic win of WNM Arvie Lozano, FM Nelson Villanueva and Sanchez and draws by IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Liew and AGM Glenn Lemen.

Duplicating its solid performance, Laguna continued their winning streak at the expense of Rizal Batch Towers, 11-10, in the second match.

“I am happy because we have won the match,” Dr. Fred Paez said, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes together with Mr. David Nithyananthan of KALARO, Engr. Benjamin Dy of SDC Global Choice and Engr. Jonathan Mamaril of Oregon, USA.

The defending champion Laguna Heroes and Caloocan City Load Manna Knights tallied identical 26-7 win-loss records to share 3rd and 4th placers in the Northern division standing.

San Juan Predators bounced back with a 14-7 win over Isabela Knight Raiders to remain on top with 30-3 win-loss records.

Manila Indios Bravos, on the other hand shocked San Juan, 2-1,  in Armageddon play then routed Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 17.5-3.5.

Manila remains solo second place with 29-4 win-loss records.

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—National Master Christian Gian Karlo Tade-Arca of Panabo City, Davao del Norte and National Master Ivan Travis Cu of San Juan City defeated their respective last round assignments to share top honors in the 4th Annual National Chooks To Go Rapid Chess Championships Kiddies Boys division Saturday, July 10, 2021 at tornelo platform.

The 12-years-old Arca (photo above), who is also an online Arena Grandmaster, a Grade 6 GT Neptune student of Panabo Central Elementary School SPED Center in Panabo City, Davao del Norte toppled Al-Basher Buto of Cainta, Rizal in 34 moves of Caro-Kann defense

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The 12-year-old Cu, a Grade 7 student of Xavier School, San Juan City under the watch of coach IA Rolly Yutuc, on the other hand trounced Mark Noah Ventayen of Lingayen, Pangasinan in 72 moves of Sicilian Defense, Grandprix variation.

With the wins, Arca and Cu, both finished undefeated in seven games with 6.5 points apiece. They faced each other in the sixth and penultimate round and ended into a fighting draw in 61 moves of London System Opening.

Third to Fourth is Cyrus James Butiu Damiray of Tanza, Cavite and Keith Adriane Ilar of El Salvador, Misamis Oriental who notched 6 points each.

In the Kiddies Girls division, Franiel Magpily of Makati City made a quick draw with Ryien Bahita of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental in 17 moves of a Caro-Kann defense in the last round to romp home with the title.
Magpily tallied 6.5 points, half point ahead over Maria Kristine Lavandero of Cebu City who scored 6 points.

The event was organized by Rotary Club of Nuvali headed by Transforming President Sam Balboa and the Philippine Executive Chess Association led by it’s President Dr. Fred Paez with the support of BAVI President Ronald Daniel Mascarinas and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

The Asian Schools Online Chess Championships are a combined individual and team event. Individual results will be calculated by game points. Team results will be calculated by the total scores of the four (4) players of a team. Team members will not be paired against each other.

Download regulations Asian Schools Online Chess Championships 2021.

Download Reg.Form.Asian Schools Online 2021. Deadline for registration is 16th July 2021.

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines— Filipina Melizah Ruth Carreon (above left) beat Singaporean Siew Kai Xin (above right) in the GM Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Chess Challenge dubbed as Bayanihan Chess Club Chess For A Cause, Goodwill match between Philippines versus Singapore Friday, July 9, 2021 at the lichess.com platform.

Melizah asserted her dominance over Siew, winning, 7-1, in the race-to-7, draws not counted, four minutes plus two second increment time control format in this chessfest, supported by US based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas, Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas, Mr. Jimmy Reyes and PEZA Deputy Director General Sir Theo Panga.

“Luck was on my side until the end,” said Melizah, lady player of Cavite Spartans, who beat Siew, sub-import player of Quezon City Simba’s Tribe during their PCAP chess league encounter.

“I did my best but Melizah still emerged better,” said Siew, a 2-time World Chess Olympiad member of the Singapore National Chess Team.

“I look forward to play against Melizah in the future,” added Siew.