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The Chess Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran on behalf of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation will conduct a FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar 28th July to 1st August 2021 via Zoom. Visit FIDE.com announcement

A FIDE International Organizer Seminar in Arabic shall be conducted by IA/IO Abdulrahim Mahdi, FIDE Rules Commission Chairman and Asian Chess Federation Arbiters Commission Chairman from 28-31 July 2021. Email mahdi.abdulrahim2020@gmail.com for details.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines on behalf of FIDE and the Asian Chess Federation shall conduct a FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar 16-18 July 2021 via Zoom. Email casto.abundo@gmail.com for details.

100th Internet Based FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar (National Chess Federation of the Philippines)

The annual Auckland Schoolgirls Championships was held last Friday, July 2^nd and attracted a record turnout of 230 girls, an increase of more than 40% on the previous year. It has been organised for many years by FM Bob Smith and his wife WFM Vivian Smith.

The winners in each category were:

Over 12 years: 1^st WCM Nadia Braganza  6/6   [53 competitors]

Under 12 years: 1^st= Sophia Feng & Sarah Sun  5.5/6  [69 competitors]

Under 10 years: 1^st= Tracy Tang & Lauren Ng  6/6   [108 competitors]

The Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities reels off 9th July on Tornelo with 30 players from 9 countries participating in the men’s and women’s divisions.

The Asian Online Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities is an open individual tournament for chess players who belong to any of the three disability categories (visually impaired, hearing impaired and physically disabled).

ACF invites National Federations in Asia to nominate 2 players each for the open section and 2 players each for the women’s section for the Asian Online Championship for Players with Disabilities. Players should be members of their national federation with FIDE ID number.

The event will be played as a Swiss system tournament of five rounds on Tornelo. Time control: 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment per move starting from move 1 (10’ + 5” incr.). There is no default time. No penalty is imposed on a player if they are late for any of their games; their clock simply keeps running until the flag falls.

The 1^st July 2021 FIDE Rapid ratings will be used for pairing purposes. Should a participant have no FIDE Rapid rating, their standard rating will be used and if they have no standard rating, they will be considered as unrated for seeding purposes.

The tournament will take place from 9^th or 11^th of July. An online Technical Meeting is scheduled 3pm Dubai time on 8^th July 2021.

Any request for a special arrangement, in particular a request to have an assistant, shall be communicated to the disabledasia@gmail.com address no later than two (2) days after the registration deadline. The organizers shall attempt to grant the request in good faith. Their decision shall be final and no appeal shall be entertained.

IA Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh is Tournament Director. Chief Arbiter is IA Kausar Bauyrzhan and Appeals Committee Chairman is IA Jamie Kenmure, Chairman of the Asian Chess Federation Commission for Disabled Persons.

Here are lists of participants:

Open Section

Women’s Section

Western(Colombo) 1 Open and Western 2 (Gampaha & Kaluthara) Girls

Seniru Ranuth Nagasinghe of Lyceum International School, Nugegoda excelled in the Western 1 open event by scoring a total of 7 ½ points out of possible 8 games to win the Championship convincingly. He was unbeaten in all 8 rounds scoring 7 wins straight against Mihin Kuruppuarachchi, Dulain Chinthaka, Kishora Siriwardena, Ahmed Kariyapper, Sasiru Sugathadasa, Lasindu Perera and Dulnith Sanviru and giving just one draw to Thisitha Mihindupriya in the last round to win the Gold Medal.

Aloka Jeewantha Hettiarachchi of Nalanda College (above left) won the 2^nd place scoring 7 points out of 8 games while Dulnith Sanviru of Royal College (above right) won 3^rd place with 6 ½ points out of 8 games. Aloka got the Silver Medal while Dulnith was awarded the Bronze Medal.  Though the other three players, Thisitha Mihindupriya (Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiyad), Daham Vidarshana Jayasundara (Thirstan College) and Tathika Waduge (Lyceum International School, Nugegoda) tied with Dulnith with 6 ½ points, they had to satisfy with 4th 5th and 6th places respectively according to tie-brakes.

Amaya Induwari Ranasinghe of Viharamahadevi BMV, Kiribathgoda was outstanding to win the Championship scoring full 7 points out of 7 games. She beat Dewli Munasinghe, Yasara Senanayake, Hasandi Sendanayake, Vihansa Hettiarachchi, Hemalini Rathnayake, Sithuli Sithumya and Jayandi Bimansa convincingly to win the Gold Medal.

Dulinma Hemalini Rathnayake (above left) of Viharamahadevi BMV, Kiribathgoda placed second with 6 points while Jaynandi Bimansa (above right) of Bandaragama Central placed 3^rd with 5 points. Dulnima won the Silver Medal for her performance. Five more players, Sithuli Sithumya, Hasandi Sendanayake, Amani Rukshana, Nilakshi Mahasinghe and Sasindi Grero tied with Jayandi with 5 points each, but Jayandi Bimansa won the Bronze Medal with the better tie breaking points.

The Inaugural Sri Lanka Online National Rapid Chess Championship 2021 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 more than 2000 ELO Ratings (For Women 1700 ELO) will join with the selectees from Major Division events to play 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 (If he is more than 2300 and in Women’s if she is more than 2000) in the 15 round Robin in the 1st stage of the finals while a knocked out of top four players of Round Robin event will play as 2nd stage in the finals. The same structure will be followed in the Women Event as well.

The Chess Federation is offering Rs. 180,000/= as cash awards for the National B and National Finals with Medals and Trophies in all other events.

The top 29 players of the Western I Open Event and the top 14 players of the Western II Women event were qualified to play the SL National (Majors Division) Chess Championships in their regions to be held from late August 2021.

You may find the event details from following links:

http://chess-results.com/tnr567864.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=8

http://chess-results.com/tnr567866.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=7

Final Standings – Open

Final Standings (Women)

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Defending champion Laguna Heroes scored back to back victories in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) dubbed as Grandmaster Wesley So Cup on Saturday, July 3, 2021 at chess.com platform.

The Laguna chess team, backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic, KALARO and Rotary Club of Nuvali,  easily dominated the Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, 17-4, in the first match.
Duplicating its solid performance, Laguna continued their winning streak at the expense of Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, 12-9, in the second match.

Heroes won the blitz game with wins by two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr.(Board 1), FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus (Board 2), FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad (Board 4, won by default), Grandmaster John Paul Gomez (Board 5) and Vince Angelo Medina (Board 6) against National Master Levi Mercado, Nazario Ubanan, National Master Gefer Imbuido and National Master Kim Kenneth Santos of Olongapo, respectively.

The Dr. Fred Paez-owned team also made sure to win the game by ending the rapid category with wins from Literatus (Board 2), Bagamasbad (Board 5, won by default), Medina (Board 6) and a draw by Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo (Board 7) against Ubanan, Imbuido and Lou Antonio Rivera, in that order.

Despite a 7-all deadlock in the rapid game, Laguna won the match, 12-9.

“I am happy because we have won the match. We will prepare for this week’s match as the elimination nears to end,” 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 Load Manna Knights tallied identical 23-6 win-loss records to share 3rd and 4th placers in the Northern division standing while Olongapo (0-29) remains scoreless in 29 outings.

In other results, San Juan Predators routed Cavite Spartans, 19-2, and Caloocan Load Manna Knights, 12-9, Manila Indios Bravos toppled Pasig City King Pirates, 13.5-7.5, and Antipolo Cobras, 12-9 and Rizal Batch Towers force 2 Armageddon tie breaker after 10.5 all deadlock over Isabela Knight Raiders and Cagayan Kings

by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA, Philippines—Christian F. Tolosa brought honor to Imus City, Cavite with his runner-up finish in the boys 10 and under division of the 2021 Hybrid National Age Group Chess Championship Grandfinals last June 26-29, 2021 held at Tornelo platform.

Nine-year-old Christian F. Tolosa scored 8 points in 12 rounds of standard chess (one hour and 30 minutes time control) to place second in the tournament participated in by some of the top young woodpushers of the Philippines.

Tolosa scored huge wins against Oshrie Jhames “OJ” Constantino Reyes in the first round, John Kurt Valencia in the fourth round, Miel Harson Pabalinas in the fifth round, Aldrin Bernardo in the sixth round, Rafiel Irvin Lacorte in the seventh round, Sebastian Marbas in the ninth round, Joash Alton Gumiran in the tenth round and Jaden Cedric Abesamis in the eleventh and final round.

He lost to Jan Calvin Abesamis in the second round, Phil Martin Casiguran in the third round and  Ronell Jose Co in the eight round.

The win is the second big victory for Tolosa, a Grade 3 pupil of Buhay na Tubig Elementary School in Imus City, Cavite.

Tolosa, playing under the guidance of Imus City mayor Manny Maliksi, City of Imus Sports Development Unit and Coach Ed Figuerres also placed 7th overall during the 2021 Hybrid National Youth and Schools Chess championships Grandfinals last June 14-17, 2021.

With this win, Tolosa will receive the Candidate National Master (CNM) title from the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in coordination with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee.

by Marlon Bernardino
 MANILA, Philippines— Carlito Faina Jr., Municipal Local Government Operation Officer of Alcantara, Romblon scored 63 points to lead Romblon Chess Club to victory in the Weekly Rapid Tournament organized by Colegas Chess Team of Madrid, Spain last July 2, 2021, 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM which was held at lichess. com.
MLGOO Faina who joined late from work showed his expertise in Rapid Chess with a time control of 10+0. He obtained a performance rating of 2085 and a berserk rate of 67% to catch up on the early rounds he missed. MLGOO Faina placed 2nd overall behind overall leader Ted Ian Montoyo of Bacolod City playing under Philippine Blitz Arena.
Faina was supported by fellow Romblomanon in top leader scoring boards, Dr. Jenny Mayor of Cajidiocan, Romblon; NM Jasper Faeldonia of Odiongan; Raymond Arevalo of Romblon, Romblon & Noe Ramon of Sta. Fe, Romblon. The top 5 leader boards were supported also by 24 other RCC  members including DILG Director and RCC President James F. Fadrilan.
  ” Congrats RCC Team and thank all who supported the team.” said Engr. Ernie Fetisan Faeldonia.
 The top 10 participating teams are:
1st – Romblon Chess Club – Philippines
2nd – Colegas De Kike – Madrid, Spain
3rd – Philippine Blitz Arena – Elite Chess Players Union
4th – Elite Chess Players  Union – Worldwide
5th – Indian Global Chess Club – India
6th – Lipetsk Chess Club – Липецк (Россия) Russia
7th -National Chess Foundation – Pakistan
8th – Arab World Team – Saudi Arabia
9th – The Arab Team –  Saudi Arabia
10th – FIDE Checkmate Corona Virus – Worldwide Team