by Marlon Bernardino.
National Master Jonathan Tan showed yet again why he is one of the greatest athletes in the field of online bullet chess.
The 1988 Philippine Junior Champion Tan topped the Cavite Spartans 1+1 Bullet Practice Arena at the lichess.org last Thursday, hosted by International Master Petronio “Rony” Roca and organized by Bayanihan Chess Club.
Tan, the pride of Davao City, won with a score of 42 Arena points on 14 wins and four loss in this one minute plus one second increment tournament.
Tan’s superior tie break points earned him the championship crown against eventual runner-up Jayson Visca of Romblon, who notched similar 42 Arena points.
Arena Grandmaster and sports journalist Marlon Bernardino took solo third with 40 Arena points.
Francis Parro of Makati City, Noel Jay Estacio of Quezon City and Lourecel Hernandez Ecot of Imus City, Cavite were tied fourth to sixth at 38 points.
Rounding up the top 10 were Rhenz Rheann Auza, Michael Linde, Ramon Manon-og and Richard Ausan.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows some members of the Cavite Spartans chess team who paid a courtesy call to Cong. Jon-Jon Ferrer, Mayor Ony Ferrer and Vice Mayor Morit Sison of General Trias City, Cavite.

Bangladesh Chess Federation has maintained the continuity of organising chess competitions over the board in Dhaka city which is the capital of Bangladesh. Over-the-board chess competitions resumed last January after a long hiatus due to the Corona virus Covid-19. So far, Bangladesh Chess Federation has organized Mujib hundred Years Invitational Rating Chess Competition, Marcel 2^nd Division Chess League and WALTON First Division Chess League.

The WALOTN 1^st Division Chess League was held from February 25 to March 7, 2021 under the auspices of WALTON Group, the largest electronics manufacturer in the country. This time WALTON 1^st Division Chess League is represented by 12 teams players where 61 players from Bangladesh and 8 players including one IM from India. The 1^st Division Chess League is a closed team chess event. The competition was officially inaugurated on February 25 by F M Iqbal Bin Anwar (Dawn), Executive Director and Head of Games & Welfare of WALTON Group.

Rupali Bank Krira Parishad (photo above) became unbeaten champion. Rupali Bank Krira Parisad earned 21 points after 11^th round matches to clinch the title. Players of Rupali Bank Krira Parisad are: IM Neelash Saha (India), Arpan Das (India), CM Saiful Islam Chowdhury, Shafiq Ahmed, Md. Nurul Islam and Md. Shafiqul Islam.

Manha’s Castle (photo above) became Runners-Up with 19 points. Players of Manha’s Castle are: Anata Choudhury, CM S M Sharon, FM Mohammad Javed, CM Sharif Hossain, Mostakim Billah and Suhasini Marium Manha.

Sultana Kamal Smirity Pathagar (photo above) became 3^rd with 18 points. Players of Sultana Kamal Smirity Pathagar’s are: Feroz Ahmed, Arpal Das (Jr. India), Mohammmad Shameem, Arya Bhakta (India), Mortuza Mahathir Islam and Md. Saiful Islam.

Other position’s are: 4^th-Dhaka Chess Club, points-11, Game points-23½, 5^th-Esoft Arena Chess Club, Points-11, Game points-21, 6^th-Khelaghar Daba Sangah of Gopalganj, points-10, Game points-20½, 7^th-Agrani Bank Daba Dal, points-10, Game points-19½, 8^th-Mir Chess Club, points-9, 9^th-Basir Memorial Chess Club, points-8, game points-18½, 10^th-Kasparov Chess Club, points-8, game points-16, 11^th-Morning Glory Chess Club, ponts-6 and 12- Dhaka Knight’s Chess Club (photo below).

Board Prizes goes to: 1^st Board-IM Neelash Saha of Rupali Bank, 2^nd Board- Sourath Biswas of Dhaka Chess Club, 3^rd-CM Saifur rahman Chowdhury of Rupali Bank, 4^th Board Arya Bhakta of Sultana Kamal Smirity Pathagar, Reserve 1-A. B. Bappi of Esoft Arena Chess Club and Reserve 2-Shazzad Kishor of Dhaka Knight’s Chess Club (photo below).

Mr. F. M. Iqbal Bin Anowar (Dawn), Executive Director and Head of Games & Welfare of WALTON Group distributed prizes among winners as chief guest in the prize distribution and closing ceremony. K M Shahidullah, Vice President of Bangladesh Chess Federation presided over the ceremony. Syed Shahab Uddin Shamim, General Secretary Bangladesh Chess Federation and President FIDE Zone-3.2 was present as special guest. Masudur Rahman Mallick Dipu, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Chess Federation and Secretary Chess League Committee and International Arbiter Md Haroon Or Rashid gave speeches. Md. Sajo; Mahmud, Executive Member of Bangladesh Chess Federation was present in the ceremony.

Champion Rupali Bank Krira Parisad received fifty thousand taka cash prize, trophy, medals and WALTON Home appliances. Runners-Up Manha’s Castle received thirty thousand taka cash prize, trophy, medals and WALTON Home appliances and 3^rd Sultana Kamal Smirity Pathagar received twenty thousand taka cash prize, trophy, medals and WALTON Home appliances. Champion Rupali Bank Krira Parisad and Runners-Up Manha’s Castle promoted in the Premier Division Chess League-2022. Morning Glory Chess Club, Kushtia and Dhaka Knight’s Chess Club relegated in the 2^nd Division Chess League. The event was held in round-robin league system.

IA Md Haroon Or Rashid

 

 

by Marlon Bernardino.
Thirteen-time National Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. proved unstoppable at the top board as he led the Iloilo Kisela Knights to a 16.5-4.5 victory over Negros Kingsmen in the clash of the league titans in the PCAP All-Filipino Conference Wednesday night, March 10, 2021 at chess.com.
Antonio, who is best remembered for finishing second in the 50-and-above division of the 27th World Seniors Chess Championship in Acqui Terme, Italy four years ago, dismantled International Master Joel Pimentel after 51 moves of a Sicilian defense, Alapin variation.
“We had to do our job. It was a tough match but we showed our character.” said Antonio, who posted his Knight at e6 square in move 51 and threatened double attack on Pimentel’s rook and king that forced the latter to resign.
Karl Victor Ochoa crushed FIDE Master Nelson “Elo” Mariano III after 33 moves of a Ruy Lopez Game, Morphy defense in board 2 to help propel the Kisela Knights to a share of first with Camarines Soaring Eagles and Negros with identical 25-4 win-loss records in the Southern Conference.
Fritz Bryan Porras, Dennis Bermas and National Master John Michael Silvederio again took care of the lower boards outplaying their equally talented counterparts, Junaico Segismar, National Master Rolzon Roullo and Adrian Dela Cruz.
Porras bested Segismar after 113 moves of a Queen’s Pawn Opening, Accelerated London System in board 5, Bermas trounced Roullo after 45 moves of a Scandinavian defense in board 6 while Silvederio nipped Dela Cruz after 71 moves of a King’s Indian defense in board 7.
Arena Grandmaster Rowela “Kajoy” Acedo’s win over Woman FIDE Master Cherry Ann Mejia in board 3 and National Master Rosendo Bandal Jr. split the point with National Master Cesar Mariano in board 4 in the rapid but it was not enough to prevent Negros’s fourth loss in the game.
Iloilo also won in blitz portion, 5.5-1.5, before crushing Negros, 11-3, in the rapid format.
“It is encouraging to see the hard work of team Iloilo starting to pay off. The win against The Kingsmen last night opens the possibility for Iloilo Kisela Knights to end the elimination round on the very top spot within the southern division, if not overall. While our playoffs spot is virtually secured, being on the top spot is strategically ideal going into the division final – and that’s the target we are aiming for. Looking forward for a deciding match at the playoffs.” said Team Owner Leo Sotaridona.
The Leo Sotaridona-mentored chess club also completed its quest with a dominating performance against Lapu-Lapu, 18-3.

by Marlon Bernardino.
Grandmaster Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla Jr. and Woman National Master Jean Karen Enriquez powered the Laguna Heroes to a 17-4 victory over a GM Darwin Laylo-led Pasig City King Pirates in a battle of division heavyweights in the All Filipino Conference Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Wednesday, March 10, 2021 online tournament at chess.com.
The Arizona, US based Barcenilla, a two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Juniors champion in India and Dubai and 1991 Bronze medalist in World Juniors championship in Romania, checkmated fellow Olympiad veteran Laylo after 59 moves of English Opening, Anglo Indian, Queen’s Knight variation in blitz portion then fought well into a fighting draw after 32 moves of Scandinavian defense in rapid play in their board 1 skirmish.
For Enriquez, on her part,  a former Jose Rizal University, Mandaluyong City standout swept Woman FIDE Master Sherily Cua in their blitz (resigning after 26 moves of Reti Opening, Sicilian Invitation) and rapid (checkmated after 64 moves of Caro-Kann defense ) showdown in their board 3 encounter.
“We did not expect to win against Pasig City Pirates, 17-4, since it’s powered by GM Laylo and IM Labog. We were just lucky in the match” said Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, one of the four co-team owners of the Laguna Heroes that includes Engineer Benjamin Dy, Engineer Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.
Also delivering for Laguna backed up by Greatech Philippines, Inc., SDC Global Choice, Jolly Smile Dental Clinic and Rotary Club of Nuvali were FIDE Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez, Vince Angelo Medina and Kimuel Aaron Lorenzo.
Bagamasbad won the blitz  and drew the rapid against National Master Rudy Ibanez in board 4, GM Gomez outlasted Cromwell Sabado in blitz and rapid in board 5, as Medina downed Carl Espallardo in blitz and rapid in board 6 and Lorenzo won the blitz and rapid against Leonel Escote in board 7.
Eric Labog Jr. carried the good fight for Mayor Vico Sotto Pasig chess team by beating FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus after 49 moves of a Trompovsky Opening in blitz and split the point after 28 moves of Neo-Grunfeld defense in rapid in board 2.
With an earlier 17-4 victory over Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, the Laguna Heroes create a three-way tie for first place together with Caloocan Loadmanna Knights and San Juan Predators. The trio tallied similar 26-4 win-loss record in the Northern Division.
Other members of the winning Laguna team were Candidate Master Arjie Bayangat, Arena Grandmaster Dr. Alfredo “Fred” Paez, engr.Benjamin Dy, Engr. Jonathan Mamaril and Mr. David Nithyananthan.
Photo shows US based Grandmasters Julio Catalino Sadorra, Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. and Wesley So

 

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

 

Rk.	Name		Rtg	Pts.
1	Weerasekara Dinul Vinsitha	Dharmapala Vidyalaya, Pannipitiya	1267	3
2	Sanudula K M Dahamdi (WCM)	Musaeus College	1687	3
3	Induwara T H D Thisarindu	Royal College	1306	2.5
4	Ramanayake Nemindi Linaya	Bandaranayke College, Veyangoda	1236	2
5	Gunathilake M D Vinuda Shenal	Royal College	1515	2
6	Amarathunga K S C D	JMC International School, Kaluthara	1286	1.5
7	Samaranayake Pamok Methdinu	Rahula College, Matara	1085	1
8	Wickramaarachchi Nayanaka	DS Senanayake College	1206	1
9	Weerasekara Dishal Nimsara	Sri Chandananda Buddhist College Kandy	1494	1
10	Nanayakkara M M	Richmond College	1170	0.5
11	Weerathungalage W D Malisha	DS Senanayake College	1340	0.5
12	Hettiarachchi D W K	Rahula College, Matara	1441	0

 

 

Group Y

Rk.	Name	School	Rtg	Pts.
1	Samarakoon Vivash Ransara	Royal College	1363	3
2	Senevirathne S D B K	Maliyadeva College	1620	2.5
3	Saravanabaavan Brijeash	Gateway International School	1611	2.5
4	Laksiri A A Kavishka Gimshan	Asoka Vidyalaya	1331	2
5	Gunawardhana Devindya Oshini	Ferguson High School	1308	2
6	Sathmina S L Lalindu (AFM)	Isipathana College	1480	2
7	Jayasundara J M Daham V	Thurstan College	1181	1
8	Thennakoon Disara (AFM)	Dharmaraja College	1308	1
9	Dinayana Thinuga	St. Joseph’s College, Nugegoda	1167	1
10	Ashad Nevan Mishal Mohomed	Lyceum International School, Wattala	1272	0.5
11	Kolonne K A Thisaja Senon	Lyceum International School, Wattala	1215	0.5
12	Bimansa D G Jayandi	Bandaragama Central College	1083	0

 

 

 

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.