Dinul and Sanidula in the lead in Group X Vivash in Group Y with full points

Dinul Vinsitha Weerasekara (above left of Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya) and Sanidula Dahamdi (above, center of Musaeus College) of Group X and Vivash Samarakoon (above right, of Royal College) of Group Y came to the lead with 3 points out of possible 3 games after the 3^rd round of the  2^nd Sri Lanka Youth (Under 14 ) Chess Grand Prix 2021 today. Dinul beat Pamok Samaranayke, Insara Wickramarachchi and Disal Weerasekara while Sanidula beat Disal Weerasekara, KSCD Amaratunga and DWK Hettiarachchi in first three rounds in group X respectively. Vivash beat Ashad Nevan Mohammed, Daham Jayasundara and Thisaja Kolonne in the 1^st three rounds in Group Y respectively in.

The 2^nd Sri Lanka Youth Chess Grand Prix 2021 conducted by the Chess Federation of Sri Lanka with a total number of 24 leading Chess players of the age group in the country is in progress from 9^th to 14^th March 2021 as two round robin events of two groups of 12 players and the winner and the runner up in both groups will meet in the knocked out stage on 20^th and 21^st of March 2021. The Chess Federation has offered Rs. 55,000/= in cash and has made all the arrangements to have the event according to the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health as given below:

1. Keeping records of all participants.
2. Players should come in masks for the event.
3. CFSL supplies Sanitizer, face shields and gloves for the participants
4. Social distancing is arranged with distance among boards
5. No spectators/ Parents are allowed in the venue.

THD Thisarindu Induwara(Royal College) is in the 3^rd place in Group X while SDBK Seneviratne (Maliyadeva College) and Brijeash Saravanabhavan(Gateway College) are in the 2^nd place in Group Y with 2 ½ points, Just a half a point behind the leaders. The 4^th round will start on 11^th March 2021 at CFSL Headquarters at 9.00a.m.

The event is organized with the highest standard with DGT Chess Boards for all games to broadcast live. A live streaming of the event will also be arranged in selected days.

Live Games link is as given below:

Group X (Sri Lanka Youth (U14) Chess Grand Prix – 2021 [Group X])

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#a2ff5296-50c7-4d77-8861-51973dcb0188

Group Y (Sri Lanka Youth (U14) Chess Grand Prix – 2021 [Group Y])

Link https://view.livechesscloud.com#38a2ebc7-d2a2-4bc8-91b2-dc385e94abbb

The Standings after Rd 3

Group X

Group Y

by Rick Olivares (Philstar.com) – March 10, 2021

MANILA, Philippines – For one of the last teams formed in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the Caloocan Loadmanna Knights are showing they aren’t lacking in fight.

With a 23-4 slate, Caloocan is second in the Northern Conference of the PCAP and behind the Laguna Heroes on mere percentage points as of posting time.

“I was given the enviable task of forming a competitive team with a limited budget a few days before draft day,” recounted Arnel Batungbakal, team manager of the Loadmanna Knights.

How difficult was it?

Batungbakal has been absent from the chess scene for two decades.

“Of course, I know Grandmasters Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Rosendo Balinas, Rony Roca, Rico Mascariñas and others who were making waves in chess many years ago,” clarified Batungbakal. “However, I do not know the new generation of players except for NM Pico Villasenor and his son, who both consult along with myself for Loadmanna, which is owned by Engineer Bong Velasco.”

Batungbakal planned on drafting GM Rogelio Bracenilla but he heard that the latter wanted to play alongside GM John Paul Gomez with the Laguna team.

“I was hoping the league would be pushed back to February and March to give me more time (in forming the team),” said the Caloocan team manager.

Through PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria, Batungbakal learned that IM Paulo Bersamina was possibly available. Bersamina agreed, but intimated of the desire to play alongside IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

With his spots on Boards one, two, and four (Villasenor) filled in, the rest of the slots were filled in on draft day. WNM Arvie Lozano was recommended by Palawan head coach Susan Neri with FMs Nelson Villanueva and Barlo Nadera, and NM Emmanuel Emperado coming in as homegrown players. Rosauro Caunti and Art Villasenor were added as senior players.

“With an 11-0 slate in the first round, we ruled the northern division and proved that for a last minute team, we can compete,” pointed out Batungbakal. The second round caught up with Caloocan losing two matches to southern division powers Iloilo and Negros. We also lost to Camarines; our toughest loss so far.”

The Loadmanna Knights lost in Armageddon play.

“I do not know personally if the Loadmanna Knights have sparked the interest of people from Caloocan to play chess, but I have heard that people across our nation have taken up the sport once more,” summed up the Caloocan team manager. “Just the other night, I saw a group of people playing chess in the Coffee Bean Coffee Shop near my residence in Sta. Rosa Laguna. It made me smile that we at PCAP are doing the right thing.”

March 8 was International Women’s Day. The day is celebrated all over the world. The Bangladesh Chess Federation also organized a day-to-day rapid chess competition for the country’s women’s and girl’s chess players on International Women’s Day.

A total of 34 women and girls from across the country participated in the event, including two Women International Masters. The competition was held in the chess federation hall on the third floor of the old building of the National Sports Council. The competition was inaugurated by Anjuman Ara Aksir, the Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation.

WIM Rani Hamid and OI, WCM Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury Moly, the Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation spoke at the inaugural function. The game started immediately after the opening ceremony. Arrangements were made to show the game live on the Bangladesh Chess Federation’s web site and www.followchess.com.

Noshin Anjum (in photo above receiving her prize), the Woman FIDE Master of the Bangladesh Navy, achieved the honor of being the undefeated champion. WFM Noshin won the title with a maximum 7 points in 7 games.

WIM Rani Hamid, of Bangladesh Police, became the runner-up with 6 points total. Mir Chess Club’s WFM Nazrana Khan Eva came third with five points, Janata Bank Officer Welfare Society’s WIM Sharmin Sultana Shirin came fourth, Bangladesh Navy’s Female WCM Ahmed Walijah came fifth and WFM Afroza Khanam Bably came sixth. Nusrat Jahan Alo, WFM Zakia Sultana and Kazi Jarin Tasnim finished 7^th, 8^th and 9^th ninth respectively with four and a half points. WFM Jannatul Ferdous, Wadifa Ahmed and Kishoara Shajrin Evana finished 10^th, 11^th and 12th respectively in tiebreaking with four points.

Special awards were given to Mushfica Zannat Sawri (Under-16), Israt Jahan Diba (Under-14), Fatiha Eyenoon Diya (Under-12) and Neelava Choudhury (Under-10).

The winners of the competition were given a cash prize of one lakh taka which is equivalent to 1200 US dollars. At the end of the game, IWM Rani Hamid and Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation IO, WCM Mahmuda Hoque Chowdhury Moly distributed prizes among the winners.

IA Md Haroon Or Rashid

Chief Arbiter of the event

From 7^th to 11^th April 2021 FIDE Rules Commission Chairman Abdulrahim Mahdi will conduct a FIDE Arbiters Seminar in Arabic.

Schedule of Online FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar

7^th April 2021

18:00 to 19:30 Laws of Chess (Standard, Rapid, Blitz)

19:40 to 21:30 Laws of Chess (Standard, Rapid, Blitz)

21:40 to 23:00 Laws of Chess (Standard, Rapid, Blitz)

 8^th April 2021

18:00 to 19:30 Laws of Chess (Practice-Case’s)

19:40 to 21:30 Laws of Chess (Practice-Case’s)

21:40 to 23:00 Sitting DGT Clock (time’s control)

 9^th April 2021

18:00 to 19:30 Tournament Regulation

19:40 to 21:30 Tie-Break Systems

21:40 to 23:00 Swiss System

 10^th April 2021

18:00 to 19:30 Rating Regulations

19:40 to 21:30 Title Regulations

21:40 to 23:00 Anti-Cheating

11^th April 2021

Examination Test(3hours) its open from 18:00 – 21:00 pm (Dubai Time).

FIDE Lecturer: IA Mahdi Abdulrahim (Chairman of FIDE RC)9304207

MANILA, Philippines — Across the oceans, Filipino-American Grandmaster Wesley So regularly shares articles and posts about the ongoing Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP) inaugural All-Filipino Conference.

Viewership of their matches on livestream every Wednesday and Saturday is at 5,000 and rising with every play date.

Parents constantly inquire about workshops and training for their children and there are continuous inquiries from parties interested in joining the next conference.

And according to PCAP Commissioner, Attorney Paul Elauria, he is hearing it from the chess old-timers that there hasn’t been this level of excitement about the sport since the Bobby Fischer-Boris Spassky era and the emergence of Grandmaster Eugene Torre.

“The response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Elauria described of the feedback in a nutshell. “The league balance is confirmed by the present standings and no teams are out of the play-off picture. I guess the draft really helped each team’s competitiveness. Although around seven to eight teams are given a realistic chance of going all the way to the championship, there are no certainties Because of the knock-out format of the play-offs, nothing is certain.”

Elauria did point out to some birth pains for the league but said in the same vein that the concerns were swiftly resolved and settled amicably.

With 336 games played every game day (and with more than 4,200 plus held as of this article’s penning) this is more than all the official matches played in the country in the last five years.

“Despite the number of matches, we have had less than 10 protests,” admitted the PCAP commissioner. “Despite the limited resources and technical problems, I have yet to hear complaints about the league.”

Chess.com with its advanced platform recently offered free hosting with its fair play protocols ensuring the integrity of the games that in Elauria’s opinion, “enhances the league’s integrity.”

“PCAP is one of the very few tournaments which will have its own landing site and club within chess.com,” offered Elauria in terms of an additional development.

Perhaps the best response has been from ordinary citizens who have posted pictures of themselves playing chess on social media while referring to PCAP as inspiration.

“It’s a great time for chess,” summed up Elauria.

Rick Olivares (Philstar.com) – March 9, 2021 – 11:37am

MANILA, Philippines – The second conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the Reinforced Conference, will be known as the “Wesley So Cup.”

PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria bared that Wesley So, the first and reigning World Champion of Fischer-Random Chess, will sponsor the second leg of the league’s inaugural tournament.

Aside from lending his name, the Super Grandmaster likewise personally pledged to provide the funds for the event’s cash prizes.

So’s only request, according to Elauria, is to ensure that the prizes are distributed to the players themselves. This is because So wants to help the players directly.

This is a welcome development, considering So’s recent citizenship change that has been contentious among Filipinos.

So was recently conferred US citizenship.

“It only confirms that GM So is true to his words that he remains a Filipino by heart and confirms his continued support to the Pinoy chess players. While this partnership has long been finalized, we deemed it timely to announce it now, to somehow remind our chess players that GM So has always been concerned with his countrymen, despite his move to the US. After all, chess knows no citizenship,” Elauria added.

PCAP’s second conference, which will run May to July, 2021, will feature international players who will reinforce PCAP’s 24 teams.

“The format will give the Filipino players a chance to test the skills of their foreign counterparts and will thus add excitement to our games,” said Elauria.

The ongoing All-Filipino Conference is reaching the end of its elimination stage with the playoffs slated to begin in two weeks.

by Marlon Bernardino.
International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia stamped his class again by topping the GM Atty. Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. online bullet chess tournament dubbed as  “Balinas Day ” Monday, March 8, 2021 at lichess.org.
The 25-year-old Garcia, a program chess director at Ateneo de Manila University chess team, tallied 150 Arena points to rule the online tilt sponsored by US based frontliner Dr. Joe Balinas and Engr. Antonio “Uncle Paps” Balinas, both founding Honorary Chairmen of the organizing Bayanihan Chess Club, in cooperation with Mr. Jimmy Reyes, Mr. Dodoy Kriz Villareal, Mr. Fernan Donguines of Hybreed Apparel Collections and Canadian National Master Zulfikar Sali, team owner of Zamboanga Sultans.
“I’m so happy with this result. ” said Garcia, who also won the Grandmaster (GM) and Attorney (Atty.) Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. and Mayor Maria Carla Lopez Pichay online chess tournament last December 27, 2020.
Candidate Master Chester Neil Reyes of Rodriguez, Rizal, a Philippine junior team standout who plays for the National University, meantime registered 139 Arena points to finished solo second place.
In third place is FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental who had 131 Arena points.
Karl Victor Ochoa of Malolos City, Bulacan finished fourth with 130 Arena points followed by fifth placer International Master Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City who notched 114 Arena points.
Rounding up to the top ten (10) were International Master Daniel Quizon of Dasmarinas City, Cavite, Anatoly Pascua of Manila, Kyle Ochoa of Malolos City, Bulacan, reigning International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Online Chess Rapid Championship ruler FIDE Master Sander Severino of Silay City, Negros Occidental and National Master Giovanni Mejia of Taguig City.

by Marlon Bernardino.
The Laguna Heroes came back from its loss against Caloocan Loadmanna Knights when it scored a victory against Cavite Spartans on Saturday, March 6, 2021 in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) online tournament at the new platform chess.com.
The Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong City native Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla’s skillful endgame maneuvers powered the Laguna team to a 17.5-3.5 whipping of Cavite.
The Arizona, US based Barcenilla (in photo) won the blitz after 34 moves of London System Opening and prevailed in rapid after 42 moves of Double Fianchetto Opening against Arena Grandmaster Voltaire Marc Paraguya in their Board 1 encounter.
“I have to train hard for this competition, give my best, and give a good show,” said Barcenilla, a two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Juniors champion in India and Dubai and 1991 Bronze medallist in World Juniors championship in Romania, whose stint here is being supported by Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, engr. Benjamin Dy, Engr Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.
FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus, meantime swept Lloyd Rubio in blitz after 39 moves of King’s Indian defense and triumphed in rapid after 48 moves of Benko defense in their Board 2 clash.
Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo, on the other hand toppled Renie Malupa in blitz after 51 moves of Sicilian defense and in rapid after 49 moves of Modern defense in their Board 7 skirmish.
Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez beat Melizah Ruth Carreon in blitz after 50 moves of Old Benoni defense and split the point in rapid after 65 moves of French defense in Board 3.
FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad yielded to International Master Petronio Roca in blitz after 27 moves of Benoni defense but won his match in the rapid play after 51 moves of French defense in Board 4.
Grandmaster John Paul Gomez halving the point with Israel Landicho in blitz after 41 moves of London System Opening and won his match in rapid after 45 moves of French defense in Board 5.
Vince Angelo Medina routed Jayson Visca in blitz after 46 moves of Trompovsky Opening and drew with in rapid after 48 moves of Dutch defense in Board 6.
Team Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali won the blitz, 5.5-1.5, and the rapid, 12-2.
With the victory over Cavite Spartans, the Laguna Heroes, held on to the top of the Northern Division with an 23-4 slate, in a three-way tie with Caloocan Loadmanna Knights and San Juan Predators.
Meanwhile, Cavite Spartans, who brought down Rizal Batch Towers, 12-9, earlier, remains in sixth place at 14-13.
The Laguna team look to extend their winning streak Wednesday night, March 10, 2021 when they face Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 and Pasig City King Pirates.
The 24-team pro chess tournament is organized by PCAP, headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria; Chairman Michael Angelo Chua; and treasurer Atty. Arnel Batungbakal.
The games are sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra and supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.