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International Master Michael Concio Jr. and Chester Neil Reyes were unbeaten in their games as they led IIEE Quezon to twin play0ff victories in the 3rd D’ Engineers Cup, part of the Philippine Technological Council World Engineering Day 2025 (PTC-WED2025) and the 1st National Engineering Month.

In photo, IIEE Bicol team captain Jason Villarez face-off with IIEE Masbate team of Oscar Gutlay.  Standing are April Titular, IIEE Bicol Governor and Allan Anthony Alvarez, 2021 IIEE National President.

Concio scored maximum 12 points in beating IIEE Western Visayas in the in-season play-off last January 25, 2025 while Reyes also scored the maximum 12 points in beating IIEE Singapore in the regular season play-off last February 1, 2025.   IIEE Quezon was the defending champion of the in-season with Grandmaster Daniel Quizon leading them in 2024 together with IM Concio and FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo.

Meanwhile the other PTC-WED2025 events and sports are well underway with the following schedule:  Tree planting at UP Diliman on March 1 to be led by PSABE (Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers), Flood Management and Mitigation Seminar on March 2 at La Mesa Eco Park hosted by PICE (Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers) and Technoquest on March 4 by PTC-WEN and IECEP (PTC-Women Engineers and Institute of Electronics Engineers).  Sports on March 8 are Chess at Koten Pasay City hosted by IIEE (Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers), Pickleball at FCIE Sports Center Dasmarinas Cavite hosted by PSME (Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers) and Basketball at Mariana Community Center New Jersey St. Q.C hosted by IECEP which will end until March 30.  Golf will be played on March 15 at  Veterans Memorial Golf Course hosted by PICE, March 16 Darts at Tiendesitas, Pasig City hosted by IIEE, March 22 Bowling and Dart at Gateway Cubao host by PSSE (Philippine Society of Sanitary Engineers) and PIChE (Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers) and on March 23 for Fun Run at MOA hosted by GEP (Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines).

Culminating events will be basketball, chess and dart at UAE hosted by IIEE on March 30 and the International Technical Conference on April 5 and 6 at Abu Dhabi UAE hosted by PTCMENA – UAE.

“The 3rd Edition will be equally exciting as the early editions of this annual sporting event in the Philippines and expanding internationally in the UAE.  This will help our advocacy and the theme for this year is Shaping our sustainable future through Engineering” says Romulo Agatep, the PTC WED overall chairman.
The Armageddon Battle of Champions will be held as a side event of the PTC WED on March 8 with the 8 series champions and runner up of the Armageddon 8.  Qualified series champions are NM Marlon Bernardino (2 times champion), IM Chito Garma, Raymond Ompod and Jason Villarez.  Qualified Runners-up are NM Gerald Ferriol, NM Romeo Alcodia, Jeremy Marticio, Dr. Fred Paez and Oscar Gutlay.-Marlon Bernardino-

Mohammed Al-Masoudi will head the Chess Federation, with a broad membership of Dr. Ali Al-Dalbahi as Vice President, Dr. Khaled Al-Maliki, Dr. Muhammad Al-Tamimi, Dr. Nasser Al-Nafie, Muhammad Al-Dahimi, Najla Bin Hijna, Samia Al-Essa, Abdullah Al-Baqmi, and Abdulaziz Al-Hafi.

Four lists had competed for the presidency of the Saudi Chess Federation, 2 of which were approved and 2 were excluded earlier, before Mohammed Al-Masoudi’s list won the presidency.

For his part, Mohammed Al-Masoudi, the President of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Chess Federation in its new session, expressed his thanks and appreciation to Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Olympic Committee, for his confidence in appointing him Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Chess Federation for a new four-year term, according to the elections that took place recently.

Al-Masoudi expressed his pride in the precious trust granted to him by the members of the General Assembly, asking God Almighty to provide him with support and success in serving the country, calling on God Almighty to succeed in his mission and contribute with his colleagues in the Chess Federation to raise the sporting level of the game to what Saudi youth and lovers of this ancient sport aspire to, in light of the support and interest of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and the Crown Prince, and the follow-up of the Minister of Sports to bring the Saudi sports sector to the highest levels.

Al-Masoudi concluded his speech by thanking the previous Board of Directors of the Saudi Chess Federation, headed by Dr. Abdullah bin Salem Al-Wahshi, for their efforts and service to the game in the past years, asking God to grant them success.

Mohammed Al-Masoudi is one of the most prominent Saudi names who served the sport of chess on the international and Arab levels, as he worked in the service of the game for many years, whether in the organizing and arbitration committees or even in the qualifying and development courses for referees and organizers provided by the official sports authorities.

 

Chester Neil Reyes emerged as the champion in the 2025 Sta. Maria Town Fiesta Chess Challenge Open Division held February 2, 2025 at the ICI College, Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.
Reyes, who plays for the University of Santo Tomas chess team under the tutelage of coach GM candidate Ronald Dableo and GM Darwin Laylo, pocketed the P10,000 purse and the trophy and medal for ruling the tournament with over 80 players.
He had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 6.5 points in the seven-round Swiss system competition.
This event is being held in cooperation with the 2025 Santa Maria Town Fiesta Committee headed by President Engr. Annabel Mauricio-Roldan and in partnership with University of Santo Tomas (UST) Chess Team, NORI Chess Club and Bulacan 6th District Congressman Salvador “Ador” A. Pleyto.
The UST Sophomore BSIT student Reyes scored victories against Rohanisah Buto, Yuri Lei Paraguya,  Ricky Echala, FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo, Mark Gerald Reyes and FIDE Master Stephen Rome Pangilinan in the first and sixth rounds, respectively.
He snapped his six-match winning streak when he had a draw against Sherwin Tiu in the seventh and final round.
Bacojo went on placing second overall with 6.0 points.
Bacojo’s second place finish earned him P5,000, while the third place went to FIDE Master Christian Mark Daluz with similar 6.0 points to earn P3,000.

The fourth to 10th placers were Sherwin Tiu (5.5 points), Kyle Emmanuel Ochoa (5.5 points), Johann Cedrick Gaddi (5.5 points), Mark Gerald Reyes (5.0 points), GM Darwin Laylo (5.0 points), FIDE Master Stephen Rome  Pangilinan (5.0 points) and Lennon Hart Salgados (5.0 points), respectively.

Ceremonial moves between GM Darwin Laylo and Faith Louise Dorupa; GM candidate and IM Ronald Dableo and 2025 Fiesta Town President and Engr. Annabel Mauricio-Roldan; FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo and Tournament Director Normel Benigno De Jesus; and National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. and Chess Committee official Joselito Pascual to usher the start of Santa Maria Town Fiesta 2025 Chess Tournament at ICI College Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines.

In the 17 years old and under, National Master Karlycris Clarito Jr. of Pasig City emerged champion with 6.5 points in seven outings.
National Master Mar Aviel Carredo, Rudmark Dela Cruz and Jerick Faeldonia, each tallied with 6.0 points, took second, third and fourth place.
Allan Gabriel Hillario, National Master Al-Basher Buto and Lemmuel Jay Adena secured the fifth, sixth and seven spots with 5.5 points apiece while Sumer Justine Oncita, Elexis Jazz Mendez and Joshua Mallari made it to the top 10 who totes 5.0-points each.
Tournament Director was Normel Benigno De Jesus while Chief Arbiter was Alfredo Chay.-Marlon Bernardino-

National Master (NM) Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. emerged as the champion in the Dugout 1594 Armageddon 8 Rapid Chess Tournament last Friday, January 31, 2024 at the Dugout 1594 Restaurant E.Rodriguez, Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines. In photo are, from left, IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez, NM Romeo Alcodia (Runner-Up Place), NM Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (Champion) and Yeoj Michael Yusef Cabaya of Dugout 1594.

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NM Bernardino, who plays for the IIEE-PSME Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, pocketed the cash prize and the medal for winning the tournament hosted by Yeoj Michael Yusef Cabaya, Adrian, Ian and supported by Bahrain based Joey Salud Cabaya, IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez and Atty. Rodolfo Enrique “Rudy” Rivera.

NM Bernardino defeated Candidate Master Genghis Imperial (2-1), United States chess master Jose Aquino Jr. (2-0) and National Master Romeo Alcodia (2-0) in the finals.

NM Alcodia, on the other hand, beat Eduardo Campos Jr. (2-1) and International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad (2-0) to arrange a title showdown with NM Bernardino.

Bernardino and Alcodia, both top players of the Rizal Technological University ,Barangay Malamig, Mandaluyong chess team during their College days in the mid 90’s.

Bernardino is scheduled to do a simultaneous chess exhibition on February 10, 2025 in Santo Tomas, Pangasinan hosted by Mayor Dickerson Dauz Villar.

It shall be recalled that NM Bernardino won the Single Knockout Armageddon Tournament (SiKAT) last December 6, 2024 at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District in Mandaluyong City.

Bernardino also settled overall 7th place in the 16th Penang Heritage City International Chess Open 2024 Chess Championship held from December 23 to 27, 2024 at the UOW Malaysia KDU Penang University College (Georgetown) in Penang, Malaysia which attracted 105 players.

Bernardino is the coach and delegation head of the PH chess team who won 2 golds and 1 bronze medal in the 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championship which was held at the Hotel Baleira, Porto Santo Island, Portugal from Nov. 16-29, 2024.

Bernardino achieved another remarkable victory by winning first place in the 3rd Laos International Chess Open 2024 held at the 2nd floor Parkson@ Naga Mall in Vientiane, Laos from September 1 to 6, 2024.

Among those who are supporting his chess campaign here and abroad are ALC Group of Companies Chairman and CEO D. Edgard Cabangon , Mayor Luis “Jon Jon” Ferrer IV,  International Billiard and Snooker Champion Marlon Manalo, National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. , CEO/Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales and Mr. Jessie Villasin.

Bernardino is set to compete in the Melbourne International Open Tournament to be held on April 7-14, 2025 at the Melbourne Chess Club in Melbourne, Australia and the 2025 Sydney International Open on April 23-27, 2025 at  the Novotel West HQ, Conference Rooms 5 & 6 in Sydney, Australia.-Marlon Bernardino-

The Mongolian Chess Federation (MCF) under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE has the honor to invite all Chess Federations in Zone 3.3 affiliated to FIDE to participate in the Asia Zone 3.3 Chess Championships 2025 Open and Women from 22 April to 2 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Download Zone 3_3 Zonal 2025 regulations

Chess Federation of Sri Lanka, on behalf of the Zone 3.2 President, Asian Chess Federation and FIDE, invites all member federations of Asian Zone 3.2 affiliated with FIDE and Asian Chess Federation to participate in the Asian Zonal (Zone 3.2) Chess Championships Open & Women’s from 10^th to 19^th March 2025 at Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Download Asian Zone 3.2 Regulations

The Olympic Council of Asia has announced that the Asian Youth Games 2025 will be held in Bahrain after Uzbekistan withdrew as host.

An online meeting of the OCA Executive Board on Monday, December 2, heard that the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan had sent a letter to the OCA saying they were unable to host the AYG as scheduled in September 2025 as the construction of the Olympic City in Tashkent would not be completed on time.

The OCA Director General, Mr. Husain Al Musallam, said the 2025 AYG was linked to the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal in 2026 regarding the age restrictions and qualification, so the Asian Youth Games could not be postponed.

The Bahrain Olympic Committee said they were ready to host the AYG in 2025 in terms of sports venues, accommodation and medical services.

The Secretary General of Bahrain Olympic Committee, Mr. Faris Al Kooheji, said the Asian Youth Games would have the full support of the leadership and in particular the President of the BOC, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

The meeting also heard that Bahrain had successfully hosted the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Gymnasiade 2024 in October, with over 5,000 participants including 4,000 athletes.

The OCA Executive Board approved unanimously that the Asian Youth Games 2025 be held in Bahrain, and thanked the Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee for all their investment, saying Uzbekistan would be able to host major events in the future.

The OCA EB meeting was chaired by Dr. Thani Al-Kuwari, second Vice President of the OCA.

Eivanne Jacob Cruz scored a crucial win over Romnick Pillos in the sixth and final round to claim the championship of the Nova Wellness Store Standard Chess Tournament over the 25-26 January 2025 weekend at the Met Live, Metro Park, EDSA Extension corner Pres. Diosdado Macapagal Blvd. in Pasay City, Philippines.
After halving the point with Edgardo Maano Jr. in the fifth and penultimate round, Cruz bounced back with aplomb to down Pillos in his last assignment.
That was all Cruz needed to claim the title with the highest output of 5.5 points in six rounds on account of 5 wins and 1 draw. He pocketed P10,000 for his efforts in this 2-day (January 25-26, 2025) FIDE Standard chess tournament, backed up by Nova Wellness Store, Starshots Coffee, Axe Brand Universal Oil and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
Maano, on the other hand, upset top seed Emmanuel Barbosa in the last round to score a similar 5.5 points. Because of his lower tie break points, Maano settled for second place honors to receive P7,000.
Earlier, Cruz defeated Matthew Dominic Sta. Maria (Round 1), Gener Subia (Round 2), Joel Obogne (Round 3) and Jericho Winston Cu (Round 4).
Maano, meanwhile, beat Seth Raphael Lee (Round 1), Kanau Ozawa (Round 2), Israel Cohen (Round 3) and Jin Clark Myco Miranda (Round 4).
Michael Punzalan,  Karlycris Clarito Jr., Andrew San Antonio,  Celine Santillan, Subia and Van Opada finished the tournament with similar 5.0 points; while Barbosa, Miranda, Kirk Anthony Vidad, Stephen Zane Quinto, Pillos, Windale Tan, and Eugene Taroc have identical 4.5 points.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Chief Arbiter Ranier Pascual, Deputy Chief Arbiter Ferdinand Reyes Sr. and Mr. Travis Vincent Chua led the closing rites.

Travis Vincent Chua (right)  ponder his next moves against Aizyleen Mack Lee.

“The event is aimed at developing good thinkers through the understanding of chess strategies and tactics, improving the logical abilities and rational thinking and reasoning of the participants, and instilling a sense of self-confidence, self-worth and camaraderie,” said IM Garcia, Chess Program Head at Ateneo de Manila University.
The 2-day FIDE Standard tournament attracted 100 woodpushers.-Marlon Bernardino-
Caption photo:

Jerome Villanueva reigned supreme in the the 1st GMG Chess Club (Non-Master Open) Tournament 2025 sponsored by Coach NM Gerald Ferriol January 25, 2025 at the Checkpoint Mall in Calamba City, Laguna, Philippines. In photo are, from left, Mr. Ernie Gonzales, Mr. Jerome Villanueva (Champion) and Coach NM Gerald Ferriol.

Villanueva, who plays for PCAP’s Pasig City King Pirates, bagged the P5,000 top prize of the 15 minutes plus 3 seconds increment rapid time control format organized by GMG Chess Club. He registered the highest output of 6.5 points in 7 rounds on account of 6 wins and 1 draw.

Villanueva defeated Jewel Mae Aguilar, Miguel Arond Galleguez,  Michael Gastala, Vincent Ryu Dimayuga, Ace Christian Alcira and  Janmyl Dilan Tisado before halving the point with Kevin Arquero in the last round to claim the title.
Villanueva is a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) employee at TELUS company.
Dimayuga, Tisado, Arquero occupied the second to fourth spots with 6.0 points each.
Dimayuga received P3,000 , Tisado earned P2,000 while Arquero got P1,000 for his efforts.
Terrence Relativo and Gastala wound up fifth and sixth with identical 5.5 points.
Alcira, Galleguez, Christian Huavas and Jeremy Marticio completed the top 10 with 5.0 points.
Jersey Marticio won the top girl (20 year old and below) award with similar 5.0 points.-Marlon Bernardino-

Johnny Wellem Carzano emerged as the champion in the Gambit Masters Chess Tournament 2025 on January 25, 2025 at the Arabia’s Residence, Carmen Annex in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines.
The Tangub City chess wizard Carzano rode on a blistering start as he hurdled his first three opponents – Quinn Zian Yongod,  Paul Benedict Arapoc and Mandy Ortiz.
He snapped his three-match winning streak when he was beaten by Mardonio Fuentes in the fourth round.
However, Carzano went on to win the last three rounds against Shojie Navarro, Gilbert Baba and Jarfinel Amodia for the crown.
The 36-year-old Carzano finished with 6.0 points in seven rounds on account of six wins and one loss.
Carzano, a former varsity player at the University of San Jose-Recoletos in Cebu City thanked his mentor Atty. Peter Chin Dur, Engr. Billy Joe Ereno and the NJSB Chess Academy family for supporting his chess campaign.
Rounding up to the top ten are Baba (second), Fuentes (third), Amodia (fourth), Ortiz (fifth), Archilaus Turno (sixth), Navarro (seventh), Adrian Bohol (eight), Roberto Gotual (ninth) and  Deric Herald Jornales (tenth).
It shall be recalled that Carzano also won the Pasalamat Festival 2025 Mayor Sammy Co Rapid Chess Tournament held at Plaza Luz Covered Court City Hall Complex in Pagadian City last January 11 to 12, 2025 and the 10th Carlo and Wendy Chess Tournament held at Barangay Nabilid in Roxas, Zamboanga del Norte last January 17, 2025.
He is set to compete in the 2025 Sydney International Open Chess Championship to be held on April 23 to 27, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.-Marlon Bernardino-