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Almwayne Magpusao won the Marikina Chess Fanatics, 1st 16 and under Rapid Chess Championship held August 10, 2024 at Robinsons Metro East, Pasig City, Philippines.

Magpusao tied for first and second places with Yasmine Capitulo at 6.0 points apiece and prevailed in the tie break.

The 15 minutes time control rapid event was organized by Mr. Audie Marquez of Chess Society of Parang Incorporated (CSPI) and International Arbiter Rudy Ibanez, with support of Marikina Chess Federation President Johnny “Joel” Gaudia.

Rounding up the top 10 winners were third placer Magnus Hednrix Bragais (5.0 pts.), fourth placer Keira Alexandria Aviso (5.0 pts.), fifth placer Yash Ansell Cayabyab (5.0 pts.), sixth placer Light Maranan (5.0 pts.), seventh placer Alyssa Regondola (4.5 pts.), eighth placer Rayne Maniacup (4.5 pts.), ninth placer Alyson Maranan (4.5 pts.), and tenth placer Rox Borras (4.5 pts.)
Adjudged category winners were Karl Vincent Maniacup (top Junior), Jayden Kaizen Aquino (top kiddie boy), Kathleen Monique Gustillo (top kiddie girl), Leonides Hydan Tendencia and Xeth Maniacup (top CSPI), and Rhiz Kaye Arellano (top lady).
In photo, sever-year-old John Adrian R. Gaudia, a Grade 1 student at Marikina Catholic School, shakes hands with Asia’s First Grandmaster and World Chess Hall of Famer Eugene Torre, making the ceremonial moves to kick off the 1st 16 and under Rapid Chess Championship.-Marlon Bernardino-

NM Marlon Bernardino (second from left) won the 2nd IIEE-Bayanihan-Greenfield District (IBGD) Blitz Chess Tournament dubbed as Single Knockout Armageddon Tournament (SIKAT) held August 9, 2024 at the Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City, Philippines.

Bernardino, who is also a veteran sportswriter and radio commentator, bested 21 other participants in the over-the-board chess tournament supported by Greenfield District Retail Marketing Officer Dawn Suzette Aguila, Marketing Coordinator Joana Sison, Philippine Sports Expo President/CEO Michael Herrera, Rotary Club of Bacoor City President Sunrise Mary France Lodronio, Mr. Encio Santos, Mr. Jason Rojo, Mr. Noli Sangil Cruz and Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez.

Bernardino, a former Rizal Technological University Mandaluyong City top chess player defeated former FEATI University mainstay Rodel Jose Juadinez in the finals.

On the road to the finals, Quezon City bet Bernardino, a certified United States Chess Master, beat Stephen Zane Quinto (Final 16), Charles Leandro (Final Eight) and Alexis Emil Maribao (Final Four), in that order.

Juadinez stepped in the Final after beating NM Romeo Alcodia, Gabriel James Cartel, Danilo Lansangan and Jan Francis Mirano, respectively.

The 1st edition of the IBGD SiKAT was won by FM Noel Dela Cruz last July 29, 2024 at IIEE Building in Cubao.  The 3rd Edition is slated on August 30, 2024 at EDSA Pavillion Mall.

IBGD SiKAT format is 6 minutes for white and 5 minutes for black without increment.  The player with white pieces must win while black only needs a draw to win to advance to the next round.  The pairing set up is not by rating seeding but by random shuffling using the Chollenge System.  The winners of this IBDG SiKAT will be featured for battle of champions in December during the Philippine Sports Expo.  The tournament is free registration and the pot prize for donors is split 70-30% for the champion and runner up.

Free chess clinic for kids was rendered by NM Bernardino, NM Alcodia and CM Genghis Imperial and other chess players while a free simultaneous games was also done by NM Bernardino.  The IBGD event was graced by the President of the Philippine Sports Expo Michael Herrera and the President of the Rotary Club of Bacoor City Sunrise Mary France Lodronio and Encio Santos.  IBDG events and free consultations will be held every Friday at EDSA Pavillion Mall from 10am to evening.

The ceremonial signing for the exposition of the 100th years Philippine Sports on December 12 to 15, 2024 at Parqal Mall Aseana City, Pasay City in the presence of Philippine Sports Expo President Herrera and Rotary President Lodronio. Former IIEE National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez represented both the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) and the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) for and on behalf of PTC-IRC Chairman Romulo Agatep and Chief arbiter/sportswriter NM Bernardino.

The 15th edition of the Colombo Chess Festival is slated 21st to 25th August 2024 at the Horizon Campus in Knowledge City, Malabe, Sri Lanka. The event is held in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Chess Federation.  Register here https://forms.gle/KdFfVEj5LzyrLsz67

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Asian Chess Federation president and Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club (ACMG) President Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan (third from right) receives the trophy of the ACMG World Rapid Chess Team Champion from ACF General Secretary Hisham Al Taher (third from left) and club members.

“This is the crowning achievement of the club’s strategic plans and the efforts of its technical and administrative team and players, as well as the support of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council in advancing the infrastructure of various sports in Abu Dhabi,” Sheikh Sultan said.

The Xavier School in San Juan City is hosting a blitz chess tournament on August 17, 2024 at the Xavier School in San Juan, Philippines.
Fifty players, Xavier Students and Alumni are expected to compete in the National Chess Federation of the Philippines sanctioned tournament which aims to discover future talents and champions.
The top 3 winners will receive trophies as well the top Alumni, top Non-Varsity and top student. Free Food For Participants in this event supported by Starshots Coffee and Nova Wellness Store.

FIDE IO Online Seminar was held via Zoom from 2nd to 6th August 2024. It was organized by Asian Chess Federation Academy, and under the auspices of FIDE Events Commission and supported by the FIDE Planning and Development Commission,

The opening session was attended by the Honorary Chairman of FIDE Events Commission Mr. Ozgur Solakoglu. On behalf of the Events Commission Mr. Ozgur Solakoglu welcomed the participants of the Seminar and wished them to make full use of the information that the lecturer would provide and wished good luck to everyone. Mr. Casto Abundo ACF Executive director welcomed every participant and wished them the success.

The Lecturer of the Seminar was the FIDE Lecturer IO/IA Mahdi Abdulrahim (UAE). The Language of the Seminar was Arabic.

Daily lectures were from 18.00 to 22.00 Dubai Time (+4 GMT). 6th August 2024 was the seminar examination test (3 Hours). Twenty-Seven (27) participants are registered from Ten (10) federations: Sudan, Egypt, JOR, Syria, PLE, KSA, MAR, QAT, TUN, and UAE.

Twenty-Seven (27) of them attended the exam, and Twenty (20) of them passed the examination test. The students who passed the exam will be awarded a norm certificate by the FIDE Events Commission.

The Hon. Sen. Manny Pacquiao chess team (trio) tournament (2000 average rating) gets underway on at 11am on 11 August 2024 at Robinsons Balibago in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines

The champion team will earn P40,000 plus a trophy. The second placer will get P25,000 plus a trophy, third placer will receive P15,000 plus a trophy, fourth placer will bring home P8,000 while the fifth placer will pocket P7,000.
Sixth to 8th placers will go home with P4,000 each while the Ninth to 10th placers will bring home P3,000 each.
There will be special awards of P3,000 plus medals for the Top Board 1, Top Board 2 and Top Board 3.

There will also be a 16 years old and below individual tournament with the champion getting the lion’s share of P3,000 while the 2nd to 3rd placers will receive P2,000 and P1,000, in order.
“This event is open to all chess enthusiasts who want to test their skills and compete against other talented players,” tournament director John Salcedo said. -Marlon Bernardino-

Mc Dominue Lagula was crowned champion in the Open competition of the 1st FIDE Master Angelito Z. Camer FIDE Rated Rapid Chess Tournament held August 4, 2024 at the SM City Tuguegarao, Philippines.

Lagula, who hails from Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya, scored a total of 8.0 points after the FIDE-rated 9-Rounds Swiss System competition that used 10-minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control. He went home with the P6,000 cash prize.

IM Joel Banawa of Alicia, Isabela, whose only loss was to Lagula in the sixth round, scored 8.0 points to settle for second place and the P3,000 runner-up purse.

Jesus Anastacio wound up solo third with 7.5 points and received P2,000. Anastacio inflicted the only loss on Lagula in the eighth round.

The fourth to tenth placers were Daniel Tagufa (7.0), AIM Kid Chester Asuncion (7.0), Lionel Cerezo (7.0), Alexander Jude Malabad (6.5), Willy Villaruz (6.5), Jake Tasi Tumaliuan (6.5) and Anwar Cabugatan (6.5), respectively.

Tournament Director was coach John Robert Bumatay of Cagayan Valley Chess Association.-Marlon Bernardino-