.

by Marlon Bernardino
The Laguna Heroes had to go through the eye of a needle to force a PCAP Northern Conference Finals showdown with San Juan Predators. Laguna defeated the Manila Indios Bravos , 3-0, in Armageddon play last Saturday evening on a virtual chess match via lichess.org. San Juan Predators brought down Caloocan Loadmanna Knights.
The Heroes’ Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. (in photo) toppled Indios Bravos’ Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra after 30 moves of an English Opening while FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus split the point with FIDE Master Deniel Causo after 66 moves of an Alekhine Defense. Grandmaster John Paul Gomez bested International Master Cris Ramayrat after 73 moves of an Old Indian defense.
Black wins in case of a draw during Armageddon play according to Arena Grandmaster Alfredo “Fred” Paez.
“It was tough playing against the strong Manila Indios Bravos in the semifinals. When we lost in the first match, we did not lose hope. We regrouped for the 2nd match and the team responded positively. I commend the determination of GM Barcenilla, FM Literaturs and GM Gomez for scoring great victories in the armageddon match,” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes including Engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.
Backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali, the Laguna Heroes survived the Armageddon duel against the Manila Indios Bravos after splitting the first two sets 12-9 and 8-13.
It shall be recalled that Laguna beat Manila, 11.5-9.5, last February 3rd and 17-4 last March 17th during the gruelling 34 rounds elimination round.
Other members of the winning Laguna Heroes squad were Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez,  FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo and Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat.
Meanwhile, Iloilo Kisela Knights and Camarines Soaring Eagle will vie for the Southern Conference Finals after they hurdled Toledo City Trojans and Negros Kingsmen, respectively, in convincing fashion.

by Marlon Bernardino.
International Master Daniel Quizon (in photo) dominated the 10th CAPEX Cargo Padala Express Online Chess Open Chess Championship on Friday, March 26, 2021 held at lichess.org.
Quizon collected 9 points on seven wins and four draws in 11 outings in this 1-day blitz (3 plus 2) event backed by CAPEX Cargo Padala Express CEO Engineer Vergil J. Bargola, in cooperation with Philippine Executive Chess Association president Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, National Master Homer Cunanan of Upper Bicutan Chess Club Inc. and United States Master Rodolfo “Jun” Panopio Jr.
He was in a six-way tie on top with Vince Angelo Medina, Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, Mark Gerald Reyes, International Master Rolando Nolte and Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.
But Quizon, one of the top players of the star-studded Dasmarinas Chess Academy under the guidance of Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. and National Coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas took the top honors by virtue of superior tiebreak points.
Medina finished second, GM Laylo third, Reyes fourth, IM Nolte fifth and AGM Bernardino sixth with also have similar 9 points each in this 248 player’s field.
Rounding up to the top 10 with 8 points each were 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (7th), FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri (8th), Narquingel Reyes (9th) and Candidate Master Chester Neil Reyes (10th).
Adjudged Category Winners were Top Executive – NM Jonathan Tan, Top Non-Master (Male) – Bryle Arellano, Top Non-Master (F) – Lexie Hernandez, Top Kiddie (Male) – Marjanovic Evanz Refuerzo , Top Kiddie (Female) – Ryien Bahita, Top Junior (Male) IM Michael Concio Jr., Top Junior (Female) – WFM Allaney Jia Doroy, Top Senior – IM Cris Ramayrat, PWD (Male) – FM Sander Severino and PWD (Female) – Cheryl Angot.

by Marlon Bernardino.
Manila Indios Bravos team seeks a Northern Conference finals berth on Saturday, March 27, 2021 when it faces elimination top notcher Laguna Heroes in the All Filipino Professional Chess Association of the Philippines on online tournament at chess.com.

Led by 8-times Illinois, USA chess champion International Master (IM) Angelo Abundo Young (in photo), the Manila Indios Bravos try to beat tournament favorite Laguna Heroes in their 7 p.m. match-up.

“I know the character of our group, and we are still very much committed to what our purpose is.” said Young, who finished eighth overall in the +50 division of the 2019 World Seniors Chess Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

“We have a purpose of why we’re here. We’re competing for a title.” he added.

Joining Young in the Manila Indios Bravos squad are GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, IMs Marvin Miciano and Cris Ramayrat, FM Deniel Causo, US NM Ryan Dungca, along with WCM Mira Mirano, CM Genghis Imperial, AGM Glenn Lemen, Erla Rhysa Elauria and Mr. Val Mendoza with team owner Joey Elauria.

Laguna Heroes, on the other hand is composed of 2-time Asian Junior Champion GM Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr., FMs Austin Jacob Literatus, WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales, FM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, GM John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina, Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, CM Arjie Bayangat, AGM Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, Engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.

Last Wednesday, March 24, 2021, Manila Indios Bravos defeated Rizal Batch Towers to force a semi-final showdown with Laguna Heroes, who brought down Antipolo Cobras.

by Marlon Bernardino
The Philippine Executive Chess Association, in coordination with the Upper Bicutan Chess Club Inc., is staging the 10th CAPEX Cargo Padala Express Online Chess Open Chess Championship on March 26, 2021 at lichess.org.

This free registration tournament uses an eleven-round Swiss system format competition with 3-minute time control according to tournament director Dr. Alfredo Paez (in photo above). “Open to all players who are in good standing with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

It will be backed by CAPEX Cargo Padala Express CEO Engineer Vergil J. Bargola (above photo) assisted by US Master Rodolfo “Jun” Panopio Jr. and NM Homer Cunanan.

The champion will get P4,000 purse while the second to fifth placers will receive P2,000, P1,000, P700 and P500 respectively. Sixth to tenth placers will bring home P400 each.

Category winners for the top non-master (male), top non-master (female), top executive (male), top executive (female), top PWD (male), top PWD (female), top senior (male), top senior (female),top junior (male), top junior (female), top kiddie (male) and top kiddie (female) will receive cash prizes of P400 each.

Among the early entries are 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., International Masters Angelo Young, Chito Garma, Michael Concio Jr. and Eric Labog, FIDE Masters Alekhine Nouri, Austin Jacob Literatus and Roel Abelgas, Woman FIDE Master Allaney Jia Doroy, National Master Jasper Rom and Arena International Master Alexandra Sydney Paez.

 

by Marlon Bernardino.

Laguna Heroes team defeated Antipolo Cobras in two sets, 16-5, 19-2, on Wednesday, March 24, 2021 to reach the semifinal round of the Northern Conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines online tournament at chess.com.
“Our quarter-final match against Antipolo Cobras was exciting and tension-filled since it’s already the knock out stage. Though we won in the first match, the Laguna Heroes did not become complacent. We still played  carefully in the 2nd match. ” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes that includes Engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.
The Laguna Heroes opened the night with a 16-5 win over Antipolo Cobras in the first set where they dominated the Rapid event, 10-4, after winning 6-1 in the Blitz event.
Led by two-time Asian Junior Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. (in photo), FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus, FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and Vince Angelo Medina scored two points each for Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali in their Rapid match against Antipolo.
Woman National Master Christy Lamiel Bernales and Jude Ulanday carried the good fight for Antipolo after beating Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, respectively.
Scoring a point each for the Heroes in the Blitz game against Cobras were Barcenilla, Literatus, Gomez, Medina and Lorenzo. Enriquez and Bagamasbad settled for a draw.
In the second set, Laguna blasted Antipolo 7-0 in the blitz portion then followed with a 12-2 win in rapid game. Only Bernales survived in the rapid game after beating Enriquez.
Also booking semifinal berths were Manila Indios Bravos, San Juan Predators and Caloocan Loadmanna Knights.
Manila defeated Rizal Batch Towers in the first set ,12-9, and ,2-1, in Armageddon after 10.5 all in regulation in the second set.
San Juan, on the other hand, nipped Pasig King Pirates, 11.5-9.5, 13.5-7.5, in two sets.
Caloocan, meantime defeated Cavite Spartans in Armageddon, 2-1.
Cavite’s International Master Petronio Roca failed to convert a winning line against International Master Paulo Bersamina in their top board encounter and ended in a fighting draw that gave Caloocan the match win.
Cavite’s Jayson Visca bested FIDE Master Nelson Villanueva on board 2 while Caloocan’s International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia toppled Renie Malupa on board 3.
Earlier, Caloocan defeated Cavite in 1st set, 14.5-6.5, but Cavite bounced back beating Caloocan in 2nd set, 12.5-8.5, to force an Armageddon tie breaker, with the black pieces and need only a draw to secure a win.
“They’re a team (Cavite Spartans) that fights hard,” said Caloocan Team Owner Atty. Arnel Batungbakal. “They still came out and put up a fight. I respect them so much.”
“It went down the wire. Both teams deserved to win.” added Caloocan Team Owner Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.
In the Southern Conference, Iloilo Kisela Knights spearheaded by 13-time Philippine Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. trounced Cordova Dagami Warriors in 2 sets, 14-7, 15.5-5.5, to join Toledo City Trojans, Team Camarines-Soaring Eagles and Negros Kingsmen in the semi-final round.

Chess Playoffs Semifinals on Saturday, March 27, 2021
Northern Division
Laguna Heroes vs. Manila Indios Bravos
San Juan Predators vs. Caloocan Loadmanna Knights
Southern Division
Iloilo Kisela Knights vs. Toledo City Trojans
Team Camarines – Soaring Eagles vs. Negros Kingsmen

The Asian Nations Cup for under 14 Years (Open and Girls) will be organized by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th of March 2021 at the Chess.com platform. This event conducted by the Asian Chess Federation is a new Youth Chess Team event created by the Asian Chess Federation. As usual the event will be in two categories, Open where Boys and Girls can participate and a separate event for girls only. A team should comprise 4 players and a reserve.

In above photo are the Sri Lanka Under-14 boys and girls winners. More than 50 teams from 20 Asian Countries have confirmed their participation for the event.

Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia Mongolia, New Zealand, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar and UAE has confirmed their participation for the event. Sri Lanka is fielding 3 Open Teams and 3 Girls teams for the event.

The Events will be held on the Swiss System for teams in 9 rounds. Time control is 15 minutes for a player per game with 10 second increments for each move. The event is held with all precautions to prevent cheating. Players are allowed to use laptop/ Desktop computers only and they should play along in a room facing a wall. A camera/Webcam is compulsory and they have to open the camera and microphone in a zoom meeting in all times when they play. The arbiters are carefully observing the players while playing through this zoom meeting. All players are required to share their screen in zoom. All games are sent to experts for checking.

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka has offered medals and Trophies for the winners while a DGT Chess clock is awarded for the members of the winning teams.

The Sri Lanka team is also selected by the CFSL online Youth (Open and Girls) Chess Championships 2021 held in last two months. A live streaming of the total event is arranged through the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka Facebook page with commentaries by Sri Lankan National Chess Champions

Schedule of the event

Opening Ceremony and Technical Meeting – Friday, 26^th March 2021 at 6,00 p.m.

Round 1-3 – Saturday, the 27^th of March 2021 – 11.30 , 13.30 and 15.30

Round 4-6 – Sunday, the 28^th of March 2021 – 11.30 , 13.30 and 15.30

Round 7-9 – Monday, the 29^th of March 2021 – 11.30 , 13.30 and 15.30

Virtual Awards Ceremony – Monday, the 29^th of March 2021 – 20.00

by Marlon Bernardino.
Filipino chess wizard Oshrie Jhames “OJ” Constantino Reyes stunned an elite field to capture the second Qualifying Leg of the GM Eugene Torre Cup Search For Kid Grandmaster Kiddies U-12 Chess Championship on Sunday, March 21.
The nine-year-old Dila-Dila, Santa Rita, Pampanga Reyes, grade 4 pupil of EZEE Guagua, Pampanga swept all his opponents to rule the one-day, seven-round event, organized by BATCH (Barangays Achieving Through Chess) Chess Club Inc. headed by former NCFP director Eduardo “Ed” Madrid in cooperation with National Arbiters Boyet Tindugan Tardecilla and Francis Ramos.
Reyes scored victories over Hans Lee Villorente of Pandan, Antique after 27 moves French defense in the first round, Neo Kervy Dublin of Nabas, Aklan after 22 moves of Sicilian defense in the second round, Jian Carlo Rivera of Rodriguez, Rizal after 54 moves of London System Opening in the third round,  Kate Gener of General Santos City after 29 moves of Queen’s Pawn Game in the fourth round, Cassey Miguel Tabamo of El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental after 35 moves of Slav defense in the fifth round, Maria Kristine Lavandero of Cebu City after 65 moves of Gruenfeld defense in the sixth round and Jacob Villaceran of Binangonan, Rizal after 45 moves of Slav defense in the seventh and final round.

by Marlon Bernardino.
Arena Grand Master Joseph Galindo of Cajidiocan, Romblon led the Romblon Chess Club to Back to Back victories in the Colegas International Chess Championship.
Last March 22, 2021, the RCC Team once again repeated its Rapid 7+2 crown against 200 teams worldwide. AGM Galindo emerged as the overall top scorer with 89 points, followed by Woman International Master Anastacia Avramidou of Greece with 82 points, and International Master Igor Bjelobrk of Australia with 79 points under Elite Chess Player Union.

AGM Galindo was supported by the following teammates on the leader board: Nepthali Neph Bantang, Orly Jon Pascual, Jerry Jher Jr Morada, Jasper Faeldonia, Joel Forcadas, & John Paul Canulo. Plus other 22 players including RCC President DILG Director James F. Fadrilan who kept the team on fire up to the last minute of the tournament.
“Congrats RCC Team you make the Romblomanon proud once again! Padayon Romblon.” said Engineer Ernie Fetisan Faeldonia.
” AGM Galindo is one of the first chess players in the country to get the title of Arena Grand Master. A varsity of the University of the East during his college days, AGM Galindo is one of the assets of the Romblon Chess Club in the International Team Competition.” added Engineer Ernie Fetisan Faeldonia.
It shall be recalled that the RCC Team joined the first-ever 7+2 mini-marathon of the Colegas International Chess Championship last March 2, 2021, and bagged the Championship Crown in a 6 hour marathon battle participated in by 156 teams worldwide. AGM Galindo was supported by 5 team leader boards in scoring, namely Orly Jon Pascual, Engr. Arc Hindap Meñez Aliyah Keziah, Raymond Arevalo, and Miguel Maupay Jr.
The OFW Galindo, working as an Electrical Engineer in the Middle East, gathered 8 wins, zero loss, & 3 draws to rule the 17th Edition of the weekly all Romblomanon Chess Tournament

by Marlon Bernardino.
Israel Landicho of Cavite Spartans insists he is ready for war when he goes up against Genghis Imperial of Manila Indios Bravos in the Bayanihan Chess Club Match Up Series Chess For a Cause on April 9 coinciding with the celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan.
“I have to train hard for this fight, give my best, and give a good show,” said Landicho, who hails from Bacoor City, Cavite.
“I will do my very best,” said Imperial, the pride of  Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The Bayanihan Chess Club Match Up Series Chess For a Cause is being held in cooperation with

Bethesda, Maryland, US based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas;

Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas;

Auckland, New Zealand based Retired Capt. Jun Isaac;

Estonia and Sweden based Euro Gaming Consultant Mr. Kim Zafra;

Caloocan City Chess Team Owner Atty. Arnel Batungbakal,

Quezon City Chess Team Owner External Auditor/Consultant Mr. Danilo Ponay,

Jubail, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia based Mr. Jimmy Reyes,

Mr. Teddy Cu, Mrs. CJT, Little Scouts Chess Club, Mr. Gerry Bustamante of Barberong Broker, Engr. Lito Lapuz and Mr. Wilson Kwan.

A Chess For A Cause Part Of Fund Raising will Go to needy Chess Players