The Queens’ Online Chess Festival, a series of continental women’s online blitz tournaments, is returning this spring! The fourth edition of the popular event, organised by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, will take place from March 09-30, 2024, on the Tornelo online platform. Visit The fourth edition of Queens’ Festival returns in March 2024 (fide.com)

In 2023, over 800 female players from 124 countries participated in the third edition of the festival. Organisers hope that this time, the number of female players joining the event will exceed one thousand.

The festival welcomes all women chess players from around the world of all ages and all rating groups, including unrated chess enthusiasts. Participation is free of charge.

The festival is comprised of two competitions:

• Queens’ Women Open Tournament (open to all female participants with FIDE ID). Continental qualifying events running from Match 09-17 and Semi-Final and Final scheduled on March 24 and 30, respectively;
• Unrated Princesses’ tournaments (for U16 (born on 1.1.2008 or later) female players with no FIDE rating). The qualification stage is scheduled for March 24, and finals will be held on March 30.

The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2024’s main prizes are worth fighting for. Like in the previous edition, the winners of the World Queens’ Open 2024 and Princess’ Tournament (both U9 and U16 ) will be invited to the 45th World Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, Hungary, this September. Air tickets, full-board accommodation for three days and invitations to the Opening Ceremony of the Chess Olympiad 2024 for the winner and one accompanying person will be covered.

Queens’ Women Open Tournament

Registration form: forms.gle/Bs9swcu5zkuEY4T87

Registration deadlines:

Africa – March 02, 2024

Europe – March 03, 2024

Asia – March 09, 2024

Americas – March 10, 2024

The qualification tournaments and semi-finals will be 9 or 11-round Swiss tournaments with 3+2 time control, depending on the number of participants, while the final will be a round-robin with 5+5 time control (7 rounds).

National Master Al-Basher “Basty” Buto topped the inaugural Noypi FIDE-Rated Standard Chess Tournament held January 20–21, 2024 at Robinsons Metro East in Pasig City, Philippines.

The standout player of the University of Santo Tomas chess team, a resident of Cainta, Rizal who hails from Marawi City, scored a perfect 6 out of 6 against Abraham Bayron in the first round, Matthew Gunnar Gotel in the second round, Elezer Nilo in the third round, Jemaica Yap in the fourth round, Randy Turreda in the fifth round and Joel Diaz in the sixth and final round.
National Master Phil Martin Casiguran, a rising talent from Caloocan, came in second, followed by Joel Diaz from Santa Cruz, Mindoro Occidental, Jian Carlo Rivera, Ariel Santander, Carl Daluz, Ricardo Batcho, and Kyle Ochoa, respectively.

In the meantime, the top unrated award went to Carl Andrew Castanas, while the top kids went to John Lance Valencia, the top college was awarded to John Lawrence Rivera, and the top golden boy went to Randy Turreda. Jersey Marticio was named as the top lady.
Tournament officials who supervised this event were Tournament Director and Chief Arbiter FIDE National Arbiter Richard R. Dela Cruz and FIDE National Arbiter Ranier Pascual, who acted as the Chief Arbiter.
This tournament was organized by Noypi Chess Association Inc. in cooperation with Novelty Chess Club President Sonsea Agonoy, Robinsons Metro East, and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) President Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.-Marlon Bernardino-

International Master Angelo Abundo Young (right) scored a crucial win over International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad in the sixth and final round to claim the championship of the JHC Chess Club Open Rapid Chess Tournament on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at the San Miguel Elementary School in Tarlac City, Philippines.

Young,  an 8-time Illinois USA Champion, prevailed after 65 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined Opening with the black pieces.

Young, head coach of Emilio Aguinaldo College chess team under the supervision of EAC Sports Head Dok. Lorenzo C. Lorenzo finished the six-round Swiss system competition with undefeated 5.0 points from four wins and two draws to rule the 15 minutes plus 5 seconds increment rapid time control format. The tournament was supported by Tarlac City Mayor Maria Cristina Cuello Angeles coinciding with the City’s Fiesta.

After halving the point with Joshua Magno in the second round and National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. in the third round, the Tondo, Manila resident Young, bounced back by winning three straight matches including to former solo leader IM Bagamasbad in the final round.

That was all Young needed to nail the title with the highest output of 5.0 points. He pocketed P2,000 and a trophy for his efforts.

Bagamasbad, on the other hand, figured in a two way tie for second with Magno with similar 4.5 points. Bagamasbad, the reigning back-to-back Asian Senior Chess Champion (over 65 category) settled for the second place honors by virtue of a higher tie-break.

Bagamasbad received P1,000, while Magno who drew with NM Bernardino in the last round got P500 for winding up third.
The fourth to 6th placers with 4.0 points each were CM Genghis Imperial, James Henry Calacday and NM Bernardino.
Angelito Hizon and Henry Calacday wound up seventh and eight placers with 3.5 points apiece.
Rounding up to top eleven (11) placers with 3.0 points each were Edwin Cortez, Noel Jay Estacio and AFM Romeo Rodney Palaming.

Bayanihan Chess Club legal counsel Atty. Rodolfo Enrique “Rudy” Rivera (right) was named top senior player award. In photo above, he receives his award (top senior) from tournament director Henry Calacday

Johnny Guerrero won the Nueva Ecija Chess Knight Rapid Chess Tournament held at the SM Megacenter in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija last Sunday, January 14, 2023. F02 Johnny Guerrero (center) poses for a photo with SF01 Anthony Cabacungan, SF02 Benjamin Bauto, FS/Supt.Artemio Llena (ret.) and SF02 Dominador Dysangco of the Nueva Ecija Chess Knights.
The 37 year old Guerrero, who whors as Fire Officer 2 (F02) of the Bureau of Fire Protection, finished his campaign with a near-perfect 6.5 points after the seven-round competition.
He defeated Ronaldo Malimban in the first round, Jeremy Ramos (2nd round), Carlo Lucas (3rd round), Don Hamilton(4th round), James Henry Calacday (5th round) and Joseph Ocampo (6th round) and split the points with Era Bauto (7th round).
He bagged the title after finishing with a higher score over Don Hamilton and Bads Bugtong, who settled for second and third placers with 6.0 points apiece.
The fourth to 10th placers of the tournament were Samuel Mateo (fourth, 5.5 pts.), Era Bauto (fifth, 5.5 pts.), Kim Cabacungan (sixth, 5.5 pts.) , Roberto Mina (seventh, 5.5 pts.), Bonjino Estrada (ninth, 5.0 pts.), Joseph Ocampo (eight, 5.0 pts.) and Eduardo Lacson (tenth, 5.0 pts.).
“The tournament featured a 15-minute plus 3-second delay time control, organized by the Nueva Ecija Chess Knight,” said Atty. Juman Paa, RiChessMasters Legal Director.
The next Nueva Ecija Chess Knight rapid chess tournament is slated for February 25, delivering another opportunity for young enthusiasts to showcase their talent
Caption photo:

An Asian Online Chess Workshop in English for Women was held 29 Dec 2023 to 12 January 2024.

Fifty five (55) players from twenty nine (29) national federations participated in the workshop.

The project has been supported by the FIDE Development Fund.

 https://trainers.fide.com/2023/12/24/asian-online-chess-workshop-for-women-english-29-december-2023-12-january-2024/

UICC Rapid International Open Fide Rating Chess Tournament 2024 organized by Unite Indore Chess Club, was held at Suruchi Garden, Indore (Madhya Pradesh) from 6th to 7th Jan 2024. This tournament was organized under the aegis of FIDE, AICF and Madhya Pradesh Ad-hoc Committee.

           The opening ceremony was held on 6th of Jan in the presence of Chief Guest Mr. Vinay Chhajlani (Founder and Group President of Webdunia) along with IM D.V. Prasad, IM Anup Deshmukh, IM ShyamNikhil P, FM Ayush Sharma, IA/NI Vikas Sahu (Secretary, Chess in Lakecity), Mr. Anil Fatehchandani (Member, MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee), Mr. Sunil Soni (Organizing Secretary) and Chief Arbiter IA/FI Yashpal Arora.

                             The Two day Swiss event carried a prize fund of ₹3, 00,000 and was distributed amongst different category.

          The event was conducted in Rapid 9 round Swiss format, with a time control of 25 minutes with an increment of 10 seconds per move. 368 players Including (3 IM, 2 FM) participated in this tournament with players coming from 16 different states of India.

 IM Shyaamnikhil P from ICF was top seeded with FIDE rating of 2346.

           At the end of final round games third seeded FM Ayush Sharma ended with 8.5 points out of 9 to bag the Champion’s title with cash prize of Rs. 30,000/- and a beautiful trophy. First seeded IM Shyaamnikhil  P (ICF) grabbed 2nd position scoring 8 points with cash prize of Rs. 25,000/- and a trophy and sub junior champion Mrittika Mallick scored same 7.5 points secured third position received Rs. 20,000/- with trophy.

In the attractive rating category prizes Gabbar (Uttar Pradesh) who also scored 7 points in the tournament, grabbed 1st position in 1401-1600 rating category and won 8,000/- and a trophy, Harshit Dawar (Indore-MP) scored 7 points grabbed 1st position in 1201-1400 rating category and won 8,000/- and a trophy, Siddharth Jain (Indore-MP) scored 7 points grabbed 1st position in 1000-1200 rating category and won 8,000/- and a trophy, Kesava Batchu (Andhra Pradesh) scored 6.5  points grabbed 1st position in Unrated category and won 7,000/- and trophy.

                  The prize distribution ceremony was organized in a grand manner. The prizes were distributed at the hands of Chief Guest Mr. Om Soni (Vice President, MP Olympic Sangh), Special Guests were Mr. Gurmeet Singh (Chairman, MP Chess Ad-Hoc Committee), Mr. Kapil Saxena (International Arbiter), Mr. Rajesh Udawat (Member, MIC Indore) and Mr. Sunil Soni (Organizing Secretary).

Mr. Jitendra Soni, Ms. Soniya Soni, Mr. Piyush Zamindar, Mr. Girish Dhoot and Chief Arbiter were also present.

 The team of arbiter’s was headed by Chief Arbiter IA Yashpal Arora &  Dy Chief: IA Vikas Sahu, SNA Yogesh Mohite , Pairing Arbiter : IA Neelesh Kumawat , Anti-Cheating Arbiter : IA Sunil Soni & they were ably assisted by arbiters SNA Kushal Patel,  SNA Devansh Singh,  SNA Akanksha Astik were very much competent and were equipped with full technical knowledge which helped each one of them to tackle every situation efficiently to make the event a grand success.

Chester Neil Reyes ruled via tiebreak the Atty. GM Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Open Youth Rapid Chess Tournament (18 below ) on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at the Level 1 Digiworld, Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas Center, Quezon City, Philippines.

In photo, Chess Champion Chester Neil Reyes (left) receives P5,000 cash prize from Bayanihan Chess Club co-founding chairman Engr. Antonio Carreon Balinas.

Reyes, tied for first and second places with FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo at 6.5 points apiece in the 10 minutes plus 5 seconds increment time control event organized by Bayanihan Chess Club. With the higher tiebreak points, Reyes took the title while Bacojo finished second.
Reyes defeated Jaeden Urbina in the first round, Ayesha Janelle Guanzon (2nd round), NM Tyrhone James Tabernilla (3rd round), Jeremy Marticio (4th round), Arnel Mahawan Jr. (5th round) and International Master Michael Concio Jr. (6th round) and split the points with Bacojo (7th round).

Rounding up the top 10 winners were FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri (3rd); International Master Michael Concio Jr. (4th); Arnel Mahawan Jr. (5th);  Wenlan Temple (6th);  Cyrus Vladimir Francisco (7th); NM Mar Aviel Carredo (8th)  NM Al Basher “Basty” Buto (9th); and NM Oshrie James Constantino Reyes (10th).

Six years old Shane J. Patropez of Calbayog City, Samar and 6 years old Almario Marlon I “Baby Uno” Bernardino of Quezon City made the ceremonial moves kicking off the Bayanihan Chess Club one-day rapid tournament also graced by International Master Angelo Abundo Young , reigning back-to-back Asian Seniors Champion International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE) National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony P. Alvarez, Coach AFM Ederwin Estavillo and UAE based Danilo Reyes, among others.

Youngest participants were six years old Shane J. Patropez of Calbayog City, Samar and 6 years old Almario Marlon I “Baby Uno” Bernardino of Quezon City while best coach is AFM Ederwin Estavillo.
“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,” Bayanihan Chess Club co-founding chairman Antonio Carreon Balinas said.
The Bayanihan Chess Club 1-day rapid chess tournament was supported by GM Balinas family, Robinsons Galleria, AIM Mark John Centillo, Biyaherong Arbiter, Coach NM Gerald Ferriol, GMG, WFM Kathryn Ann Cruz-Hardegen, Mam Jennifer Cruz, Mam Rosalyn Cruz, Sir Jonas Cruz, Chess Lovers and Kaizen Knights Chess Club.
The next Bayanihan Chess Club 1-day rapid chess tournament on March 23 at the same venue dubbed as GMG chess cup backed up by Coach NM Gerald Ferriol.-

Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Manila Chess Coach Francis Ligon emerged as the champion in the 3rd Noypi Chess Training Tournament-1950 and below last Sunday, January 14, 2024 at the SM Center Sangandaan in Caloocan City.
The 32 year old Ligon pocketed the P6,000 purse and the trophy for ruling the tournament among 78 woodpushers.

In photo are, from left, NA Alfredo Chay, Set Canasta (2nd Place), Francis Ligon (Champion), Sem Canasta (3rd Place), NA Ranier Pascual and Tournament Director NA Richard Dela Cruz.

Ligon had a near-perfect campaign after tallying 6.5 points in the seven-round Swiss system competition.
Ligon defeated Louie Gines, Rhen Rhizzimhel Cristobal, Harris De Guia, Ralph Anthony Velasco, Joshua Roque and Allan Gabriel P. Hilario in the first and sixth rounds, respectively.
He snapped his six-match winning streak when he had a draw against Set Canasta in the seventh round. Set Canasta went on to place second overall with 6.0 points.
Set Canasta’s second place finish earned him P3,000, while the third place went to his younger brother Sem Canasta with a similar 6.0 to earn P2,000.
The Canasta Siblings, both top players of Emilio Aguinaldo College under the supervision of EAC Sports Head Dok. Lorenzo C. Lorenzo and EAC chess coach IM Angelo Abundo Young.
Meanwhile, Franiel Angela Magpily trounced David Leonard Azuela to score perfect 6.0 points and romp home with the kiddies 13 under crown.
Jerick Faeldonia beat Marco Piolo Sanido to figure in a tie with Cyrus Luis Mahawan, who brought down Andrew Corpuz. Faeldonia and Mahawan,  both tallied 5.0 points apiece, good for a share of 2nd and 3rd placers.
Organized by National Arbiter Richard dela Cruz, the 3rd Noypi rapid chess tournament was supported by NCFP chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Novelty Chess Club top honco Sonsea Agonoy and SM Center Sangandaan which aims to promote chess in the grass roots level and discover future chess talents.
By Marlon Bernardino