April 2009 FIDE rating list ( GM Wesley So in 89th place )

Top 100 Players April 2009
Rank Name Title Country Rating Games B-Year
1 Topalov, Veselin g BUL 2812 17 1975
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2783 14 1969
3 Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2770 27 1990
4 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2759 0 1975
5 Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2756 27 1987
6 Aronian, Levon g ARM 2754 37 1982
7 Jakovenko, Dmitry g RUS 2753 5 1983
8 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2751 13 1977
9 Leko, Peter g HUN 2751 0 1979
10 Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2748 14 1983
11 Movsesian, Sergei g SVK 2747 23 1978
12 Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2746 37 1969
13 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2745 0 1972
14 Wang, Yue g CHN 2738 38 1987
15 Gelfand, Boris g ISR 2733 0 1968
16 Gashimov, Vugar g AZE 2730 10 1986
17 Bacrot, Etienne g FRA 2728 9 1983
18 Svidler, Peter g RUS 2726 25 1976
19 Ponomariov, Ruslan g UKR 2726 0 1983
20 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar g AZE 2725 6 1985
21 Ni, Hua g CHN 2724 16 1983
22 Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 2721 27 1983
23 Karjakin, Sergey g UKR 2721 19 1990
24 Kamsky, Gata g USA 2720 20 1974
25 Alekseev, Evgeny g RUS 2716 5 1985
26 Malakhov, Vladimir g RUS 2709 26 1980
27 Bu, Xiangzhi g CHN 2704 18 1985
28 Adams, Michael g ENG 2703 13 1971
29 Rublevsky, Sergei g RUS 2702 0 1974
30 Nakamura, Hikaru g USA 2701 10 1987
31 Naiditsch, Arkadij g GER 2700 21 1985
32 Tiviakov, Sergei g NED 2697 38 1973
33 Wang, Hao g CHN 2696 29 1989
34 Akopian, Vladimir g ARM 2696 11 1971
35 Kasimdzhanov, Rustam g UZB 2695 14 1979
36 Eljanov, Pavel g UKR 2693 0 1983
37 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2693 0 1976
38 Moiseenko, Alexander g UKR 2690 15 1980
39 Bologan, Viktor g MDA 2690 11 1971
40 Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 2688 31 1982
41 Vitiugov, Nikita g RUS 2688 20 1987
42 Jobava, Baadur g GEO 2687 16 1983
43 Harikrishna, P. g IND 2686 30 1986
44 Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2685 9 1976
45 Onischuk, Alexander g USA 2684 28 1975
46 Tomashevsky, Evgeny g RUS 2684 24 1987
47 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime g FRA 2684 10 1990
48 Sasikiran, Krishnan g IND 2682 20 1981
49 Efimenko, Zahar g UKR 2682 19 1985
50 Miroshnichenko, Evgenij g UKR 2680 17 1978
51 Cheparinov, Ivan g BUL 2678 11 1986
52 Motylev, Alexander g RUS 2677 29 1979
53 Timofeev, Artyom g RUS 2677 20 1985
54 Inarkiev, Ernesto g RUS 2676 27 1985
55 Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter g ROU 2675 11 1976
56 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2674 13 1965
57 Volokitin, Andrei g UKR 2671 23 1986
58 Sokolov, Ivan g NED 2669 23 1968
59 Najer, Evgeniy g RUS 2669 0 1977
60 Dreev, Alexey g RUS 2668 38 1969
61 Nielsen, Peter Heine g DEN 2668 3 1973
62 Fressinet, Laurent g FRA 2664 11 1981
63 Sargissian, Gabriel g ARM 2660 23 1983
64 Sutovsky, Emil g ISR 2660 0 1977
65 Guseinov, Gadir g AZE 2659 20 1986
66 Milov, Vadim g SUI 2659 18 1972
67 Kurnosov, Igor g RUS 2658 38 1985
68 Areshchenko, Alexander g UKR 2657 39 1986
69 Tkachiev, Vladislav g FRA 2657 0 1973
70 Fedorchuk, Sergey A. g UKR 2656 25 1981
71 Pashikian, Arman g ARM 2655 43 1987
72 Savchenko, Boris g RUS 2655 29 1986
73 Nyback, Tomi g FIN 2655 13 1985
74 Navara, David g CZE 2654 24 1985
75 Grachev, Boris g RUS 2652 29 1986
76 Predojevic, Borki g BIH 2652 20 1987
77 Lastin, Alexander g RUS 2650 9 1976
78 Caruana, Fabiano g ITA 2649 31 1992
79 Amonatov, Farrukh g TJK 2648 18 1978
80 Postny, Evgeny g ISR 2648 11 1981
81 Delchev, Aleksander g BUL 2648 7 1971
82 Avrukh, Boris g ISR 2647 10 1978
83 Fridman, Daniel g GER 2646 9 1976
84 Kobalia, Mikhail g RUS 2645 26 1978
85 Mamedov, Rauf g AZE 2645 20 1988
86 Karpov, Anatoly g RUS 2644 0 1951
87 Li, Chao b g CHN 2643 46 1989
88 Meier, Georg g GER 2641 37 1987
89 So, Wesley g PHI 2641 29 1993
90 Smirin, Ilia g ISR 2641 9 1968
91 Beliavsky, Alexander G g SLO 2640 21 1953
92 Berkes, Ferenc g HUN 2638 21 1985
93 Zhang, Pengxiang g CHN 2638 6 1980
94 Georgiev, Kiril g BUL 2637 11 1965
95 Socko, Bartosz g POL 2637 10 1978
96 Bareev, Evgeny g RUS 2636 9 1966
97 Zhou, Jianchao g CHN 2635 35 1988
98 Riazantsev, Alexander g RUS 2635 28 1985
99 Zvjaginsev, Vadim g RUS 2635 22 1976
100 Roiz, Michael g ISR 2635 17 1983

Battle of GM round 11, GM So wins the title

Wesley So wins Battle of GMs

Overwhelms opposition from start to finish
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer




Final standings:
MEN: 18.0—W. So; 14.0—R. Antonio; 13.0—E. Torre; 12.0—M. Paragua, J. Gomez; 11.5—D. Laylo; 11.0—J. Sadorra, R. Bitoon; 9.0—R. Nolte; 8.0—J. Gonzales; 6.5—B. Villamayor; 6.0—R. Dableo

WOMEN: 17.0—Shercila Cua; 16.5—B. Mendoza; 15.0—Sherily Cua; 14.0—J. Fronda, C. Bernales; 12.0—D. Rivera; 11.0—L. Cuison; 9.0—K. Cunanan; 8.0—C. Perena; 5.0—J. Docena; 4.0—R. Young

DAPITAN CITY—A big gap exists between Wesley So and the rest of the field in the Battle of Grandmasters here.

Already beyond reach, So capped his successful title-retention campaign with a victory over fellow GM Darwin Laylo in the 11th and final round Tuesday night at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel.

His seventh win against four draws gave So a runaway total of 18 points, four up on second placer GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, who drew with GM Eugene Torre after 31 moves of a Bogo Indian.

So, an incoming high school senior at St. Francis-Cavite, led from start to finish to win the P200,000 champion’s purse.

Starting hot, So hurdled GM Buenaventura Villamayor, GM John Paul Gomez, Torre, IM Rolando Nolte and GM Jayson Gonzales before being held to a draw by Antonio in the sixth round.

The 15-year-old So, Group C champion of this year’s Corus Chess Tournament in the Netherlands, then coasted along with successive draws against GM Mark Paragua, IM Julio Catalino Sadorra and IM Richard Bitoon.

Antonio bagged the runner-up purse of P100,000, with Torre pocketing P80,000 for finishing third with 13 points.

Other final-round matches saw Paragua subdue Sadorra in 41 moves of a French Defense and Gomez and Nolte agreeing to a truce after 37 of a Sicilian.

With 12 points each, Paragua and Gomez tied for fourth and won P50,000 each in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by Phoenix Petroleum and the Dapitan City council through Mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr.

In women’s play, FIDE Master Shercila Cua pounced on an endgame blunder by WNM Rulp Ylem Jose to prevail in 79 moves of an English Opening to snatch the title from WIM Beverly Mendoza, who temporarily held the reign when she bested WNM Jedara Docena in 28 moves of a Vienna Opening.

Shercila, an economics graduate from University of Santo Tomas, won P60,000.

Battle of GM round 6 ( replay )

Battle of GM round 10

Round 10 on 2009/03/30 at 1500

GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr ½ - ½ GM PARAGUA Mark
IM SADORRA Julio Catalino ½ - ½ IM DABLEO Ronald
IM BITOON Richard ½ - ½ GM SO Wesley
GM LAYLO Darwin 1 - 0 GM GONZALES Jayson
GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura ½ - ½ IM NOLTE Rolando
GM GOMEZ John Paul 0 - 1 GM TORRE Eugenio

Standings after round 10:
1 GM SO Wesley 7.5
2 GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr 6
3 GM TORRE Eugenio 6
4 GM GOMEZ John Paul 5.5
5 GM LAYLO Darwin 5.5
6 IM SADORRA Julio Catalino 5.5
7 IM BITOON Richard 5
8 GM PARAGUA Mark 5
9 IM NOLTE Rolando 4
10 GM GONZALES Jayson 3.5
11 GM VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 3
12 IM DABLEO Ronald 2.5

Battle of GM round 9

Battle of GM round 8

Rd. 8 Results:
Antonio - Dableo 0-1
Paragua - So draw
Sadorra - Gonzales 1-0
Bitoon - Nolte 1-0
Laylo - Torre draw
Villamayor - Gomez 0-1

Standings After Rd. 8:
1. So - 7 pts
2. Gomez - 5.5 pts
3. Antonio - 5 pts
4-5. Bitoon, Sadorra - 4.5 pts
6-7. Torre, Laylo - 4 pts
8. Paragua - 3.5 pts
9. Nolte - 3 pts
10-11. Gonzales, Villamayor - 2.5 pts
12. Dableo - 2 pts

Battle of GM round 7

Battle of GM round 6

Standing after round 6:
1. So - 5.5 pts
2. Antonio - 4 pts
3-4. Gomez, Laylo - 3.5 pts
5-8. Torre, Paragua, Nolte, Bitoon - 3 pts
9-10. Sadorra, Villamayor - 2.5 pts
11. Gonzales - 1.5 pts
12. Dableo - 1 pt

Battle of GM round 5

Standing after round 5:
5 pts - So
3.5 - Antonio
3 - Gomez, Laylo
2.5 - Torre, Paragua, Nolte, Bitoon
2 - Villamayor, Sadorra
1.5 - Dableo
0.5 - Gonzales

FCPL Doha Regular Weekly ( Friday ) Meeting

Dear All:


It's final. A regular weekly slot is now available at the Qatar Bowling Center. The meeting room which will be available without charge for FCPL's use has been granted with only one condition. The condition is that food shall be ordered at QBC Canteen. Price of food ranges from a minimum of 20-25QR and upwards depends upon the individual choice. In addition, choice of food may be agreed upon by al members for uniformity. We shall observe cleanliness and proper conduct at all times within the premises. Let us discuss more issues tomorrow.


Subject: Regular Weekly Meeting - Friday
Venue: Qatar Bowling Center (QBC)


Date: 27March2009
Assembly Time Start: 10:30am


Proposed Agenda:
11:00am - 12:30Noon FCPL By-laws and constitution & Related Matters
12:30Noon - 01:00pm Lunch / Break time
01:00pm - 05:00pm Proposed Thematic Blitz Match (per agreement)
05:00pm - 08:00pm Extension

FCPL Doha President
Eng'r. Asisclo Villafuerte

Brilliant Chess Ending 1

WHITE TO PLAY AND WIN.

CHESS PUZZLE BY SAM LOYD

WHITE TO MOVE MATE IN FIVE.

Battle of GM round 4

Standing after round 4:
So = 4
Antonio = 3
Gomez / Bitoon / Laylo = 2.5
Torre / Paragua = 2
Nolte / Sadorra = 1.5
Gonzales / Villamayor = 1
Dableo = 0.5

Battle of GM round 3,Young GM So Strikes

Young GM So continues rampage in Dapitan chess tourney
03/26/2009 | 01:25 PM

Email this | Email the Editor | Print | ShareThisMANILA, Philippines – Top favorite grandmaster Wesley So is fast turning the Phoenix Petroleum-Dapitan City “Battle of GMs" chess championship into his own private playground.

So hurdled another major obstacle in his title-retention bid, beating 2008 PGMA Cup champion GM Eugene Torre in a keenly-watched encounter in the third round at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel in Dapitan City.

The 15-year-old So, who opened the tournament with back-to-back victories over fellow GMs Buenaventura “Bong" Villamayor and John Paul Gomez, played superbly with black and clinched the win in 36 moves of the Slav.

The third win in a row enabled So to raise his score to six points and seize an early two-point lead over Gomez and three other players in this 11-round tournament featuring the country’s top GMs.

Gomez, who nailed his GM title during the 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany last November, trounced IM Ronald Dableo in 61 moves of the Dutch to jump to a share of second to fifth places with four points under the unique scoring system which gives two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.

If a stalemate occurs, the player who stalemates his opponent gets 1.5 points while the stalemated player receives half point.

Joining Gomez with a second-running four points are GMs Darwin Laylo and Rogelio Antonio Jr. and IM Richard Bitoon.

Laylo trounced IM Julio Catalino Sadorra in 48 moves of the Slav for his first win against two draws to boost his chances for the P200,000 top prize.

Antonio, who is making his first appearance in local soil following a highly-successful campaign in the United States, halved the point with Bitoon in 31 moves of the Caro Kann.

GM Mark Paragua crushed Villamayor in 32 moves of the Queen's Gambit to join IM Rolando Nolte with three points.

Nolte, one of four IMs in the field, split the point with GM Jayson Gonzales in 38 moves of the French.

Torre, who drew his first two matches against Nolte and Gonzales, remained with only two points in the company of Villamayor and Gonzales.

In the fourth round, it will be So against Nolte, Antonio against Gonzales, Bitoon against Laylo, Paragua against Gomez, Sadorra against Villamayor and Dableo against Torre.

In the women's division, sisters Shercila and Sherily Cua of the V. Luna Chess Club came through with a pair of hard-earned triumphs to gain a share of the lead with five points.

Shercila trounced WNM Kimberly Jane Cunanan in 43 moves of the English while Sherily toppled erstwhile solo leader Jan Jodilyn Fronda in 64 moves of another English.

Dresden Olympiad veterans Daisy Rivera crushed Jedara Docena in 44 moves of the Sicilian and Christy Lamiel Bernales downed Rida Jane Young in 43 moves of the Queen's Indian to climb into a tie for third to fifth places with Fronda with four points.

In other results, Rulp Ylem Jose humbled Catherine Perena in 56 moves of the Center Counter and Beverly Mendoza drew with Loreshyl Cuizon in 80 moves of the Queen's Indian.

Fourth-round matches pit Bernales against Shercila Cua, Docena against Cunanan, Fronda against Rivera, Perena against Sherily Cua, Cuizon against Jose and Young against Mendoza.

Meanwhile, Dapitan City will also host the first of a series of regional eliminations for the third Asian Indoor Games from March 28-30.

The top 10 finishers in the three-day tournament will advance to the national finals set in Manila later this year.

The tournament is being held to determine the country's representatives to the Asian Indoor Games scheduled Oct. 30-Nov. 8 in Halongbay, Vietnam. –GMANews.TV
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Battle of GM round 2

Battle of GM round 1

Result of Battle of the GM2
(1st round)

IM BITOON Richard PHI 2473 1.0
GM GOMEZ John Paul PHI 2539 1.0
GM SO Wesley PHI 2627 1.0
GM ANTONIO Rogelio Jr PHI 2519 1.0
GM LAYLO Darwin PHI 2504 0.5
GM TORRE Eugenio PHI 2560 0.5
IM NOLTE Rolando PHI 2488 0.5
IM DABLEO Ronald PHI 2432 0.5
IM SADORRA Julio PHI 2445 0.0
GM VILLAMAYOR Bong PHI 2471 0.0
GM GONZALES Jayson PHI 2468 0.0
GM PARAGUA Mark PHI 2537 0.0

Battle of GM's up in Dapitan:GM Wesley So favored

DAPITAN CITY—Defending champion Wesley So tries to keep his clean slate against veteran GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor at the start of the Phoenix Petroleum-Dapitan City “Battle of Grandmasters” on Tuesday at the Dapitan City Resort Hotel.

The 15-year-old So has beaten Villamayor twice against one draw in their head-to-head duel, all with the black pieces, making the country’s highest-rated player the slight favorite to take a big head-start in the men’s division of the tournament staking nearly P900,000 in prizes.

So, with an ELO rating of 2627, will handle black anew as he tries to sustain the momentum of his recent exploits that included a victory in Group C of the Corus tournament in The Netherlands, the top junior award in the Aeroflot Open in Russia and a recent triumph in the Barley Rapid Chess.

Out to stop So’s dominance are Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, fresh off a successful stint in the United States where he ruled 10 of 11 events he took part in; and GM John Paul Gomez.

The resurgent Torre will be playing white against International Master Rolando Nolte while Antonio, who came in from Iligan City Monday afternoon, will be facing IM Julio Catalino Sadorra with the black pieces.

Gomez, the country’s highest scorer in last year’s Dresden Chess Olympiad, will battle GM Jayson Gonzales as the quest for the P200,000 champion’s purse begins in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Some of the women’s division matches pits WIM Beverly Mendoza against Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Cristy Bernales against Loreshyl Cuison and Catherine Perena against Rida Jane Young.

The 11-round tournament, being held in cooperation with Mayor Dominador Jalosjos, former congressman Romeo Jalosjos and Vice Mayor Patri Chan, ends on March 31.

Expected to grace the opening ceremony are International Chess Federation (FIDE) honorary chair Florencio Campomanes, Phoenix Petroleum president Dennis Uy and brand and marketing manager Jay Delloso and Secretary to the Mayor Alemarlou Dagpin

Grandmaster Wesley So Tops Barley Rapid Chess Tournament

Grandmaster Wesley So Tops Barley Rapid Chess Tournament
March 22, 2009
FINAL STANDINGS:
1. SO WESLY 8 PTS.
2. BARBOSA OLIVER 7.5
3. VILLAMAYOR BONG 7.5
4. PARAGUA MARK 7.5
5. LAYLO DARWIN 7.O
6. GARCIA JAN EMMANUEL 7.0
7. SALCEDO RAYMUND 7.0
8. DE RAMOS JULIUS JOSEPH 7.0
9. SENADOR EMMANUEL 7.0
10. MONTOYA EDSEL 7.0
11. ROCA PETRONIO 7.0
12. BITOON RICHARD 6.5

Chess Simul by IM Alexei Khamat Galiev 2009

CHESS SIMUL BY FIDE INTERNATIONAL MASTER ALEXEI KHAMAT GALIEV (30 Boards)
Skills and Development Center, Doha, Qatar
30 March 2009
(Annotations by ARH)

I.M. A. GALIEV(White) vs. ANDRO HUERTO (Black) (French Defense)

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e5 c5

The text is played more frequently than 4…Ne7 which was used by Botvinnik against the ten-years younger Smyslov in their long rivalry since 1941. In their theoretical dispute, Botvinnik, finally, gave up and turned to the Caro-Kann in their 3rd match for the title.

However, Botvinnik’s abandonment did not diminish the value and importance of the French as one of the viable defenses against the King Pawn Opening. Other notable players like Bronstein, Petrosian, Uhlmann, Korchnoi, Geller, Portisch, Ivkov, Hort and Andersson took over Botvinnik’s flag. Today, the French Defense is one of the most widely-used weapons of Black especially by players who love to counter-attack.

5. a3 Bxc3
6. bxc3 Nc6
7. Qg4

This is more aggressive than Nf3. Still, after the Queen has left its wing in order to destroy its foe’s Kingside, White has to reckon with some backwardness in development and the disappearance of his own central pawns: e.g. 7…..Nge7 8. Qxg7, Rg8 9. Qxh7, cxd4 10. cxd4, Nxd4. Possible continuation could be 11. Qd3, Qa5+ 12. Bd2, Qa4 13. Rc1, Bd7 followed by 14…..Rc8 with strong pressure along the c-file.

7. ….. Nge7
8. Rb1

An interesting move! It has 3 purposes: first, it seizes the open b-file where White can launch an attack against Black’s Queenside; second, it prevents Black’s Queen from occupying the b6-square where it can exert pressure on White’s pawn at d4; and third, it removes the Rook from the line of attack in the event Black’s Queen targets the c3-square.

8. ….. Qa5

A surprise counter-attack on White’s own weak c3-square. The immediate threat
is 9…..cxd4, forcing White’s next move.

9. Bd2 0-0
10. Nf3 f6

This move is meant to break White’s center-pawn formation and to open a line of attack for Black’s Rooks along the f-file.

11. exf6 Rxf6
12. Bd3 h6

White is building a dangerous attack against Black’s King. I feel it is necessary to deny White from using the g5-square as an outpost for his Knight. The move also prevents White’s black-square Bishop from attacking Black’s Rook at f6.

12…..e5 looks very attractive but after 13. Bxh7+, Kxh7 14. Qh5+, Kg8 15.Ng5,
Black’s King is exposed to attack.

12…..g6 is bad for Black because of 13. Ng5 followed by 14. Qh4

13. Qh5

White threatens 14. Qe8+, Rf8 15. Bh7+

13. ….. Bd7

14. Ne5

14. Rxb7, Be8 15. Qh3, c4 16. Be2, Bg6 17. Bd1, Raf8 18. 0-0, Qxa3 is
advantageous for Black.

….. Be8
15. Qh3 Qc7

15…..c4 16. Be2, Qc2 17. f4 is good for White.

16. Ng4

16. f4 is no longer possible because of 16…..cxd4

16. ….. Rf5

Not 16…..Rf8 because of 17. Nxh6+, gxh6 18. Qxe6+, Rf7 and 19. Bxh6 exposing the Black King.

17. Bf5 ef5
18. Ne3 Bg6
19. Qf3 cd4
20. Nd5???

A costly blunder by IM Galiev. But after 20. Nd1, Qe5+ 21. Kf1, b6 , Black
can mobilize his Rook to join the attack on the open files while White pieces especially the Rooks remain on the back ranks.

20. ….. Qe5+
21. Ne3 dc3
22. Bc1 f4
23. 0-0

Alas, too late to hide for safety!

23. ….. fe3
24. Be3 Rf8
25. Qd1 Rd8
26. Qe2 b6

Closes the only line of attack for White. The rest if a matter of technique for Black.

27. Rfe1 Qe4
28. Rbc1 Bf7

The intention is to transfer the Bishop to d5 and move the Rook to g6 via d6 in order to create direct mating attacks against White’s King.

29. f3 Qc4
30. Qxc4 Bxc4
31. Rcd1 Rxd1
32. Rxd1 Nd5
33. Bd4 Be2

White Resigns.

1st Barley Rapid Chess Open

Saturday, March 21, 2009
1st Barley Rapid Chess Open, results after 4 rounds
GMs Wesley So and Bong Villamayor lead the pack of perfect scorers after four rounds at the 1st Barley Rapid Chess Open at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center. IMs Petronio Roca, Oliver Barbosa, Rolando Nolte, and Chito Garma and NM David Elorta also share the top spot with four points each.

Just a half point behind were GMs John Paul Gomez and Darwin Laylo; AJ Datu, Richard Bitoon, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Barlo Nadera, Michael Linde, JJ De Ramos, and Fernie Donguines. While some 17 players, including Mark Paragua-- who suffered an upset loss at the hands of DLSU player Narquinden Reyes in Round 2, have 3 points each going into the 5th round of the 9-round event.

The 1st Barley Essentials Rapid Chess Open drew about 200 participants, in what could be one of the most successfully staged Rapid tourney in the country. Below is the Round 5 pairings at the top boards:

Barbosa (4) - So (4)
Roca (4)- Villamayor (4)
Nolte (4)- Elorta (4)
Gomez (3.5)- Garma (4)
Laylo (3.5)- Datu (3.5)
De Ramos(3.5) - Bitoon, Richard (3.5)
Garcia, JE (3.5)- Nadera (3.5)
Linde (3.5)- Donguines (3.5)

A REAL CHESS ADDICT

CHESS PIECE: JUST FOR FUN

[Bobby Ang]

Several years ago there circulated in the internet a list written by a Pinoy staying in the United States on how to recognize that the people you are with are Filipinos. It is a long list (more than 100 traits), most of which you already know, but let me share with you some of my favorites (and these are all funny and true!).

1. You have uncles and aunts named "Boy," "Girlie," or "Baby."
2. You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like "Jun-Jun," "Ling-Ling," and "Mon-Mon."
3. You decorate your dining room wall with a picture of the "Last Supper."
4. You have a Sto. Nino shrine in your living room.
5. You own a “barrel man” from Baguio
6. Your pantry is never without Spam, Vienna sausage, corned beef, and sardines.
7. You order a "soft drink" instead of soda. Also, you say "rubber shoes" instead of sneakers, "ball pen" instead of pen, “stockings" instead of pantyhose, "pampers" instead of diapers, "ref" or "pridjider" instead of refrigerator, "Colgate" instead of toothpaste, "canteen" instead of cafeteria, and "open" or "close" instead of turn on or turn off (as in the lights).
8. You ask for the bill at a restaurant by making a rectangle in the air.

The reason I mention this is that lately one of our readers sent me a huge excel file consisting of 9,900 lines which he calls his “ultimate chess collection.” It is a compilation over various internet sources of any interesting in the field of chess. Some of the lists cover chess tips, techniques to annoy your opponent, monickers of famous chessplayers, chess horoscope, chess quotations, and the classification system of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings. Truly a labor of love!

For example, here are some tell-tale signs of a chess addict:

1. You call your girlfriend a “novelty”.
2. You deleted Windows from your PC to have enough space for your computer chess tablebases
3. You think the remark: “get a life” wasn’t directed at you.
4. You keep a chess book and chess set in the bathroom
5. You multiply 8x8 faster than 7x7.

This collection was put together by a chess lover by the name of Edmund “Toto” Beronio, a native of Sultan Kudarat currently employed as the Plant Manager of Rico Philippines Industrial Corporation, a carrageenan factory in Carmona, Cavite.

As he describes himself, his chess career was tainted with tragedy. When Toto was 8 years old, his proud father matched him against Dino, a veteran player in the barber shop. Not only was Edmund beaten but totally demolished. He could still remember the opponent’s statement to the red-faced father, “pare, spirit na lang natitira sa anak mo. Wala nang fighting!”

Many years later, right after Edmund graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology with a degree in Industrial Engineering (batch 1989), he wnet home to the province. Early in the next morning he rushed to the barber shop which was situated at the back of their house to seek revenge. He almost fainted when he found out that Mang Dino had passed away several years earlier!

Good thing that being a chess lover is not measured in terms of won games. There is still so much to be done – writing, organizing, administering, composing, analyzing, studying, and in the case of Mr. Beronio, collecting.

He is now offering this “Ultimate Chess Collection” free to our BW readers. Anyone who is interested can either email Toto Beronio direct at his address: ewberonio@yahoo.com or email me at the address given below and we will see to it that you get the file. Take note that the worksheet size is 1.1 MB, so make sure you have enough space in your mailbox.

Here are some choice items from his trivia collection with my comments.

On Chess Hustling, he reveals that when Stanley Kubrick was only an aspiring film director in the 1950s, he helped fund his early short films by being a chess “hustler” in New York, playing games for money. Even earlier, in the 1930s, Humphrey Bogart, prior to becoming a movie star in Hollywood, hustled for a living in New York, taking on all comers for 50 cents up to $1 a game. In the 1940s Bogart became a director of both the United States Chess Federation and the Californian State Chess Association.

In the Philippines, everybody has heard of Heber Bartolome and his group “Banyuhay”. Yes, they used to perform at the Chess Center in Timog Avenue every Friday. Did any of you know that when he was a struggling musician in Olongapo he used to hustle in a street corner to help make ends meet?

On Chess Popularity, it has definitely seen better days. You know, the chap on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (England) asked the audience to help him answer the questions, and 38% thought that ‘gambit’ is a word used in gardening. He believed them and this chess ignorance cost him $2,000.

US President Ford had the right idea to reactivate interest in this royal pastime. He declared the 9th of October 1976 as “National Chess Day” in the United States of America “...to give special recognition to a game that generates challenge, intellectual stimulation and enjoyment for citizens of all ages.”

That is really a great idea for the Philippines.

Now, let us talk about short losses.

Future world champion Tigran Petrosian started his chess career inauspiciously. In his first USSR Championship final in 1949 (Moscow), played when he was 20 years of age, he managed to lose in the first round to Alexander Kotov in 13 moves.

Kotov,Alexander - Petrosian,Tigran V [D36]
URS-ch17 Moscow, 1949
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Qc2 Ne4?
This is a well-known blunder. Well-known, of course, because of this game.
8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.Qxc8+ Qd8 11.Bb5+ Nc6 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qxc6+ 1–0
Petrosian made his reputation as the toughest man the beat. In fact, he played in 9 chess Olympiads, many of them on top board, between 1958 and 1974, he played 129 games total, out of which he won 78 games drew 50 and lost only 1 game. This was on time against German GM Robert Huebner at Skopje in 1972.

In fact, that loss was only by accident. The position on the board was a difficult rook and pawn endgame which was probably drawn. Anyway, all players are used to the BHB and Russian clocks which had a “flag” located at the top of the clock face which would drop when you exceed the time limit. The Olympiad being held in Skopje, for the first time they were using Yugoslav chess clocks which had a special “count-down” mode – when you reach the last 5 minutes of your allotted time the flag would move in the opposite direction, up, and then suddenly drop down all the way when you run out of time. When you go to a chess club and watch players blitzing away you will notice that the amateurs keep glancing at the clock, while the professionals don’t seem to look at it at all. That is because the professionals have developed the technique of squinting the clock through the corner of their eyes and they can tell by the relative position of the minute hand just how many minutes they still have.

So that was what happened. Petrosian thought that he still had a lot of time and was shocked to suddenly get forfeited for exceeding the time limit. Later that evening over dinner one of his teammates informed him that this loss was televised nationwide, causing him to remark that if he had known he would have forthwith smashed the clock.

Here is another curious short game:

Zapata,Alonso (2480) - Anand,Viswanathan (2555) [C42]
Biel (9), 1988
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3
The usual move for Black now is to either exchange knights on c3, or retreat his knight to f6. Instead, Anand plays a howler:
5...Bf5? 6.Qe2 1-0
Winning a piece because of the pin along the e-file.
So what was that all about?
Apparently in the 1987 San Francisco International Tournament the GMs Tony Miles and Larry Christiansen wanted to take a break and agreed to a short draw in their game. When the time came the two players sat down at the board, blitzed out 20 insignificant moves, exchanged off most of the pieces, and then shook hands on the draw.

Miles,Anthony J (2585) - Christiansen,Larry Mark (2575) [C42]
San Francisco, 1987
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.d3 Bg6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7+ 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0–0 0–0 12.Re1 Rae8 13.Qd2 Ne5 14.d4 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qd7 16.c3 b6 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Kf8 20.g3 ½–½

The Chess Informant (volume 44) picked this up and an editor unthinkingly put the comment “N” (meaning theoretical innovation) on Black’s 5th move.

Just before his game with Zapata Anand was scanning through the Informant and, not aware that Miles-Christiansen was a pre-arranged draw, decided to try out the novelty and the above 6-move loss was what happened.

Christiansen,Larry Mark (2620) - Karpov,Anatoly (2725) [E12]
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (2), 01.1993

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bf4 Nh5 11.Be3 Bd6? 12.Qd1 1–0

Wijk aan Zee 1993 saw the introduction of knock-out matches instead of the usual round-robin tournament in a bid to make the tournament more exciting. They spared no expense to get Karpov to participate so as to increase the prestige of their experiment.

Karpov gave his sponsors a serious fright by losing his first game in a pitiful twelve moves and bring himself to the brink of elimination. Apparently this blunder steadied his hand as he recovered to beat Christiansen 3.5-2.5, then he defeated John Nunn 1.5-0.5, Valery Salov 1.5-0.5, and finally won the match-tournament with 2.5-1.5 against Miguel Illescas. So all’s well that ends well.

There is so much fascinating trivia to discuss. Let’s have another session on Monday.

"This article first appeared in Bobby Ang's column in Businessworld (Philippines) on 04 August 2006"

FCPL-Doha Follow-up Meeting:March 20, 2009(Friday)

Dear All,


What: Call for attendance with reference to the subject above.
Where: Villa 31 Al Muther st. Madinah,Kalifah South
When: 20March09 (Friday) 11am


Follow-up meeting and continuation of discussion of the following matters:
1. FCPL By-Laws and Constitution
2. Membership - active & inactive, reachout to schools (PSD & PISQ), to others scattered in Qatar
3. Other matters: FCPL Rating, Research on Opening (training program/strategy), Induction, Invitational Tournament schedule, etc ...


Thanks,


Asisclo

A Mikhail Chigorin Brilliancy

Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin (12 November 1850, Gatchina, Russia – 25 January 1908, Lublin, Poland) was a leading Russian chess player. He served as a major source of inspiration for the "Soviet school of chess," which dominated the chess world in the middle and latter parts of the 20th century.

White to move.How should White continue the strong attack?

GM Wesley So tipped to break into world's top 100

So tipped to break into world's top 100
Updated March 17, 2009 12:00

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Wesley So

MANILA, Philippines - Teenage Grandmaster Wesley So gained 13.9 points from his recent games as he hoped to barge into the elite world’s top 100 when FIDE releases its quarterly rating list on April 1.

So, 15, earned FIDE points in the Asian Club Cup in Al Ain, UAE where he scored 5.5 points out of seven games in December last year and the Corus Group C event last January in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands where he emerged solo champion with 9.5 points.

He, however, faltered in the Aeroflot Open, considered as the toughest Swiss system tournament in the world, last month in Moscow where he finished five-of-nine.

Still, So is expected to jump from No. 116 in the world to the top 100 next month.

“By the next quarter, I’m sure he (So) would have a chance to break into the world top 100 because we have more international tournaments lined up for him,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Butch Pichay Jr.

GMs Eugene Torre, John Paul Gomez, Mark Paragua and Joey Antonio are the next top RP players with ratings of 2560, 2537, 2519 and 2518, respectively.

The 25-year-old Paragua, who reached the super-GM status three years ago but tumbled down in the rankings with poor performances, continued his slide as he lost 18.3 points.

GM Darwin Laylo remained at No. 6 with 2512 despite gaining 8.3 points with a solid effort in the Asian Club Cup while IM Rolando Nolte remained at No. 7 with 2488.

Joseph Sanchez, tipped to become the country’s 11th GM next month, gained most with 21.6 points from his campaigns in Europe as he jumped from No. 12 to No. 8.

Rounding up the top 15 are IM Richard Bitoon (2470), GM Bong Villamayor (2470), GM Jayson Gonzales (2466), IM Julio Catalino Sadorra (2451), IM Roland Salvador (2445), IM Oliver Barbosa (2435) and IM Ronald Dableo (2432).

Tuesday Puzzle

Black

White
White to move..Mate in 3 moves.

Why Should You Play Chess?What are the Benefits?

WHY SHOULD YOU PLAY CHESS? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

Source: library.advanced.org/10746/reasons.html

Chess is a game for people of all ages. You can learn to play at any age and in chess, unlike in many other sports, you don't ever have to retire. Age is also not a factor when you're looking for an opponent --young can play old and old can play young.

Chess develops memory. The chess theory is complicated and many players memorize different opening variations. You will also learn to recognize various patterns and remember lengthy variations.

Chess improves concentration. During the game you are focused on only one main goal -- to checkmate and become the victor.

Chess develops logical thinking. Chess requires some understanding of logical strategy. For example, you will know that it is important to bring your pieces out into the game at the beginning, to keep your king safe at all times, not to make big weaknesses in your position and not to blunder your pieces away for free. (Although you will find yourself doing that occasionally through your chess career. Mistakes are inevitable and chess, like life, is a never-ending learning process.)

Chess promotes imagination and creativity. It encourages you to be inventive. There are an indefinite amount of beautiful combinations yet to be constructed.

Chess teaches independence. You are forced to make important decisions influenced only by your own judgment.

Chess develops the capability to predict and foresee consequences of actions. It teaches you to look both ways before crossing the street.

Chess inspires self-motivation. It encourages the search of the best move, the best plan, and the most beautiful continuation out of the endless possibilities. It encourages the everlasting aim towards progress, always steering to ignite the flame of victory.

Chess shows that success rewards hard work. The more you practice, the better you'll become. You should be ready to lose and learn from your mistakes. One of the greatest players ever, Capablanca said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player."

Chess and Science. Chess develops the scientific way of thinking. While playing, you generate numerous variations in your mind. You explore new ideas, try to predict their outcomes and interpret surprising revelations. You decide on a hypothesis, and then you make your move and test it.

Chess and Technology. What do chess players do during the game? Just like computers they engage in a search for the better move in a limited amount of time. What are you doing right now? You are using a computer as a tool for learning.

Chess and Mathematics. You don't have to be a genius to figure this one out. Chess involves an infinite number of calculations, anything from counting the number of attackers and defenders in the event of a simple exchange to calculating lengthy continuations. And you use your head to calculate, not some little machine.

Chess and Research. There are millions of chess resources out there for every aspect of the game. You can even collect your own chess library. In life, is it important to know how to find, organize and use boundless amounts of information. Chess gives you a perfect example and opportunity to do just that.

Chess and Art. In the Great Soviet Encyclopedia chess is defined as "an art appearing in the form of a game." If you thought you could never be an artist, chess proves you wrong. Chess enables the artist hiding within you to come out. Your imagination will run wild with endless possibilities on the 64 squares. You will paint pictures in your mind of ideal positions and perfect outposts for your soldiers. As a chess artist you will have an original style and personality.

Chess and Psychology. Chess is a test of patience, nerves, will power and concentration. It enhances your ability to interact with other people. It tests your sportsmanship in a competitive environment.

Chess improves schoolwork and grades. Numerous studies have proven that kids obtain a higher reading level, math level and a greater learning ability overall as a result of playing chess. For all those reasons mentioned above and more, chess playing kids do better at school and therefore have a better chance to succeed in life.

Chess opens up the world for you. You don't need to be a high ranked player to enter big important competitions. Even tournaments such as the US Open and the World Open welcome players of all strengths. Chess provides you with plenty of opportunities to travel not only all around the country but also around the world. Chess is a universal language and you can communicate with anyone over the checkered plain.

Chess enables you to meet many interesting people. You will make life-long friendships with people you meet through chess.

Chess is cheap. You don't need big fancy equipment to play chess. In fact, all you may need is your computer! (And we really hope you have one of those, or else something fishy is going on here.) It is also good to have a chess set at home to practice with family members, to take to a friend's house or even to your local neighborhood park to get everyone interested in the game.

CHESS IS FUN! Dude, this isn't just another one of those board games. No chess game ever repeats itself, which means you create more and more new ideas each game. It never gets boring. You always have so much to look forward to. Every game you are the general of an army and you alone decide the destiny of your soldiers. You can sacrifice them, trade them, pin them, fork them, lose them, defend them, or order them to break through any barriers and surround the enemy king. You've got the power!

To summarize everything in three little words: Chess is Everything!

A painful draw....Queen vs Rook Endgame

Can a 2750 player win a Queen vs Rook Endgame?

Position after 109...Kg2,we will give credit to GM Jakovenko for fighting hard to hang-on.
Lets play the game:

GM topbill Barley Essential Rapid Chess

Grandmasters topbill Barley Essential Rapid chess
03/16/2009 | 04:01 PM
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MANILA, Philippines – The country’s best and brightest chess stars, topbilled by young grandmaster Wesley So, will compete in the Barley Essential Rapid Open on March 21-22 at Gateway Mall, Araneta Center in Quezon City.

Joining the 15-year-old So in the star-studded line up of participants are 10-time national champion GM Rogelio “Joey" Antonio, Jr., Marshall Chess Club International 2008 Champion GM Mark Paragua, Palawan Open 2008 Champion Bong Villamayor, ex-national titlist GM Darwin Laylo and reigning RP national titlist GM John Paul Gomez.

Expected to trade wits with the masters are young and promising chess players like FIDE Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, National Master Haridas Pascua, Gerard Docena, Marc Christian Nazario, Vincent Angelo Medina, Mc Domique Lagula and Jeremiah Alfonso as well as young Olympic player Christy Bernales.

Cash prizes plus giveaways will be at stake in the two-day tournament with the champion in the Open division receiving the top purse of P20,000. -GMANews.TV

Sunday Chess Puzzle

White to move and win.

Philippines 11th Grandmaster

Cebuano chesser Joseph Sanchez is RP’s 11th Grandmaster
03/15/2009 03:54 PM
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MANILA, Philippines – Add the name of 39-year-old Cebuano wood pusher Joseph Sanchez to the growing roster of Filipino chess Grandmasters.A Mandaue born chesser who’s now based in Europe, Sanchez become the country’s 11th Grandmaster after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) confirmed his GM title last week during its 1st Quarter Presidential Board meeting in Istanbul, Turkey. Sanchez’s new status will take effect April 1.Sanchez, who had served second to GM Mark Paragua during his early years, clinched his third and final GM norm by accumulating 6.5 points at the 23rd Cannes International Chess Festival in France last month. He was actually a strong contender for the championship through eight rounds but eventually settled for third after dropping his final round assignment.The Cebuano pride, whose ELO rating is expected to reach 2482 next month, thus joined Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Rogelio Antonio Jr., Buenaventura Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales and John Paul Gomez in the Philippines’ elite club of GMs.Meanwhile, the country welcomed two new International Masters (IMs) in its ranks after the FIDE promoted Virgilio Vuelban and Kim Steven Yap.

Barcenilla dream

Barcenilla wants to earn GM title here
By Joey Villar Updated March 15, 2009 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines – Grandmaster-candidate Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. is back in the country after years of exile in the United States.

Barcenilla, now 36, quietly flew to the country alongside GM Joey Antonio to pursue his dream of becoming a GM on local soil where opportunities are now aplenty.

“I’m here to finally get my GM title,” said Barcenilla, twice denied by the FIDE, the world chess governing body, of the title due to technicality.

“I will not give up because it has been my dream for so long now,” added the two-time Asian Junior champion, former World Junior third placer and many-time Olympiad team member.

Barcenilla gained his first two norms following strong efforts in a closed GM event in Jakarta, Indonesia and the 1996 Yerevan Olympiad and would have clinched the title if FIDE did not nullify his effort in the GM tournament in Subic Bay in 1997.

Barcenilla left the country terribly disappointed, pursuing his dream instead in the US.

He picked up some wins including the 2001 Marshall Chess Club GM tournament in New York which he thought would finally earn him the GM title. Alas, he was again denied by a special FIDE committee by a mere vote.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said he’ll help Barcenilla achieve his dream.

“I’m happy he (Barcenilla) decided to return. We have several international tournaments in the country, he could get his final GM norm here,” said Pichay during Friday’s launching of the Phoenix Petroleum and Dapitan City Battle of the Grandmasters slated late this month in Dapitan, Zaomboanga del Norte.

Barcenilla, however, will not be able to join the Battle of the GMs but vowed to join the Asian Individual Championship and the Subic Bay International Open this May.

“I have a scheduled flight back to the US on March 28 but I will be back in May to join the two tournaments,” said Barcenilla.

Barcenilla would have been the fourth GM after Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas and Antonio if not for the technicality.

Six other Filipino players have become GMs -- Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua, Darwin Laylo, Wesley So and Jayson Gonzales. Barcenilla said he won’t mind becoming only the 10th.

“What’s important is the GM title. It’s all that matters,” said Barcenilla.

Overnight Puzzle

White to move.Can you find the mating move?

Amber Rapid Tournament 2009

18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament
March 14-26, 2009 Nice, France

The 18th Amber Blindfold and Rapid tournament, organized by the Association Max Euwe in Monaco, takes place from March 14 (first round) to March 26 (last round) at the Palais de la Mediterranée, splendidly located on the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The total prize-fund is € 216,000.

This year’s field is stronger than ever with all the world’s best players taking part.

The twelve participants are (in alphabetical order): World Champion Viswanathan Anand (India), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Gata Kamsky (United States), Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Peter Leko (Hungary), Alexander Morozevich (Russia), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria) and Wang Yue (China).

Every day four sessions will be played, two blindfold sessions and two rapid sessions. The first session starts at 14.30 hrs. The fourth session finishes around 20.00 hrs. (Note: the final round on March 26 starts at 12.30 hrs. March 18 and 23 are rest days.)

Hotel Palais de la Mediterranee, Nice.

In Round 1, GM Morozevich in good form defeated GM Vladimir Kramnik....

Chess as part of curriculum

Home » Sun.Star Cebu » SportsPestaño: Teaching your child to play chess13 march 2009Frank “Boy” PestañoChessmosoDESPITE what has been written and said about President Arroyo, I think she has done a lot of good for the Philippines in general. The one thing that I admire the most is her decision to include chess as part of the curriculum for elementary and high school students starting next school year.I suppose that National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Butch Pichay had a hand in this momentous decision as well as secretary Jesli Lapus of the Department of Education.They will start a legacy that will be considered one of the turning points in the history of our country. Producing masters in chess is just the gravy. The main and foremost result is the production of responsible and conscientious citizens that will make our country great and prosperous.START AT HOME. Dr. Robert Ferguson cites several factors in the child’s development in chess: children love games and playing chess motivates them to learn; chess creates a pattern or thinking system that breeds success; the chess- playing child become accustomed to look for more and different alternatives; chess offers immediate punishments and rewards for problem-solving; chess competition fosters interest, promotes mental alertness, challenges all children and elicits the highest levels of achievement.Based on the evidence, it’s easy to conclude that chess can play an essential role in a child’s development.Here is what you do. Chess is very complex and if you introduce a child to the game in the wrong way, it quickly can become tedious and boring for him. If that happens, he will tune you out.Read my two previous articles “64 chess commandments ” and “50 bad chess habits” for guidance. Here are the steps to follow which are culled from various sources on the Internet.1. Present the game in a step-by-step process, making sure the child masters each step before proceeding to the next.2. Make the lessons short. Don’t overload your child. Don’t teach all the moves for all the pieces in one lesson.3. Spend more time practicing lessons you’ve already covered than teaching new material.4. Use the Internet whenever possible.5. Make use of a chess computer program for practice games. This will increase markedly your child’s interest in the game.6. If you are giving a lesson, be prepared. Your child must believe that you know what you’re talking about.7. Give your child positive reinforcement whenever possible. For a particularly outstanding chess performance, reward the child materially with his favorite dessert or a visit to the movie theater.8. Present new chess material only when your child is well-rested and fresh.9. Be patient. Don’t expect too much too fast.10. Keep it fun! If either of you is not enjoying the lesson or practice session, cut it short.11. Have the child watch the games of experienced players. Children can improve their games by watching the strategies of others and applying what they have learned to their own games.12.Take the opportunity to teach the child good sportsmanship. The child will likely lose as much as he wins and should maintain a good attitude regardless of the outcome.13.Make sure that you keep the game honest. Never lose to your child on purpose. This will take away part of the learning experience from the game. Your child will also soon figure out what you are doing and a lot of the fun will be gone.14. If your child shows great promise, invest in a good chess instructor. I know of several good ones, all masters, who are more than willing to help and whose fees are reasonable. They have a role model to follow in our Wesley So. He is only 15 and is earning millions with more to come.15. There are kiddies tournaments,let them play including playing with adults.

Rabies deaths from dog bites could be eliminated

Rabies deaths from dog bites could be eliminatedMarch 12th, 2009 -->
Someone in the developing world - particularly in rural Africa - dies from a rabid dog bite every 10 minutes.


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But global elimination of this horrific disease appears to be possible, according to a team which includes scientists from McMaster University, Britain and the United States.
In a paper in the current issue of PLoS Biology, they report their analysis of data on rabies transmission in two districts of rural Tanzania (Serengeti and Ngorongoro) and suggest that with "sustained, international commitment, global elimination of rabies from domestic dog populations, the most dangerous vector to humans, is a realistic goal."
Jonathan Dushoff, an assistant professor of biology at McMaster University, and a member of the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, analyzed the data. "The paper provides important evidence that the elimination of canine rabies may be possible."
Rabies is an acute viral encephalitis that is spread through the saliva of infected animals. Human rabies deaths from domestic dogs are rare in North America, but the disease causes over 24,000 deaths a year in Africa, mostly in poor rural communities and, most often, in children. Globally, 55,000 people die annually from canine rabies.
During a rabies outbreak in northern Tanzania, the team of scientists was able to directly trace case-to-case transmission of rabies. From this data, they generated a detailed analysis of rabies transmission biology and found evidence for surprisingly low levels of transmission.
The scientists also analysed outbreak data from around the world and found the transmission of canine rabies has been inherently low throughout its global historic range, explaining the success of control efforts in developed countries.
"Achieving vaccination coverage of 60 per cent or more in dog populations in Africa is both logistically and economically feasible through annual vaccination campaigns," the scientists said in the PLoS paper.
Given the success of the current research, Dushoff said a larger study is planned. "If the (larger study) works, we hope that the World Health Organization and the Gates Foundation will decide to tackle rabies world-wide. Canine rabies may well be a disease we can get rid of."
The cost of rabies both in terms of the 55,000 deaths a year and post exposure vaccination treatments is very significant, Dushoff said. "If it really is a disease that can be eliminated, our group believes we should go and get it. This paper is one step along the route of trying to figure out whether canine rabies is controllable, how it can best be controlled and promoting the idea it's a disease we can eliminate."
Dushoff's theoretical biology lab at McMaster is a "dry" lab - with no laboratory benches, chemical reagents or biological specimens. Its main tools are computers, pencils and chalkboards. Scientists working there use statistical, computational and mathematical techniques to engage a broad range of biological questions.
The lab's main focus is on a broad range of questions surrounding the evolution and spread of infectious diseases of humans - including rabies, influenza, malaria and HIV.
Source: McMaster University



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FCPL-Doha Cbox

Linares 2009 Round 12

Magnus Carlsen - Alexander Grischuk
Round 12
Linares 2009
05.03.2009.

The players were obviously tired in round 11, but now they are back with full energy ready for the final sprint in Linares 2009. The current leader Alexander Grischuk will face the Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen. Stay tuned for live commentary by GM Dimitrov at 16:00 CET. (Grischuk's blindfold simul before the start of Linares)

1.e4 Not too long ago this was Carlsen's main first move.

1... c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 Sicilian Defense, Najdorf.

6.Be2 e6 Grischuk took his time to decide how to proceed and finally his choice against the Classical line is the Scheveningen.

7.O-O Be7 8.a4 Nc6 Practically forced with this move order.

9.Be3 O-O 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 This is the position that is reached in most games in Classical Scheveningen.

12.Bf3 Bf8 13.Qd2 Moves like 13.g4 don't fit Carlsen's style.

13... Rb8 (13... Na5 14.b3)

14.Qf2 (14.a5 e5)

14... e5 15.fxe5 I don't know if this move was home preparation but generally in similar positions after dxe5 Black solves his problems and relies in the long run on his much better pawn structure. After my experience in Scheveningen 15.fxe5 doesn't follow the demands the position.

15... dxe5 16.Nb3 Nb4 'd5' has to be controlled. 16...Be6 was the alternative.

17.Ba7 Ra8 18.Bb6 Qe7 19.Rad1 White achieved to centralize all his pieces.

19... Be6 20.Nd5 The only way to fight for advantage.

20... Bxd5 21.exd5 e4 22.d6 Qe6 (22... Qe5 seems more solid)

23.Nc5 Qf5 24.Be2 Qxf2 25.Rxf2 Nbd5 26.a5 Nxb6 27.axb6 Rab8 And this is a mistake in the time trouble. (27... Rec8 28.b4 Rc6 29.Nxb7 Rxb6 30.d7 Rxb7 31.d8Q Rxd8 32.Rxd8 Rxb4)

28.Rxf6 gxf6 29.Nd7 f5 30.c4 a5 31.c5 Bg7 Clock readings: 0.25 0.02

32.Nxb8 Rxb8 Carlsen only has to find the nice tactical blow 33.Ba6 and his pawns will be unstoppable.

33.Ba6 Bf6 34.Bxb7 Rxb7 35.c6 Rxb6 36.Rc1 Bxb2 37.d7 Black resigned. Good game by Carlsen. He pressed his opponent into time trouble and used this fact in a very convincing way. The question 'who will win this tournament?' is open again. 1-0

Women are as good as men at chess

Women are as good as men at chess

New paper out today suggests the top men are better than the top women because the population of male players is so much larger than the population of female players.

Citation:
Bilalić, Smallbone, McLeod, Gobet (2009). Why are (the best) women so good at chess? Participation rates and gender differences in intellectual domains. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (B), 276: 1161-1165.

Abstract
A popular explanation for the small number of women at the top level of intellectually demanding activities from chess to science appeals to biological differences in the intellectual abilities of men and women. An alternative explanation is that the extreme values in a large sample are likely to be greater than those in a small one. Although the performance of the 100 best German male chess players is better than that of the 100 best German women, we show that 96 per cent of the observed difference would be expected given the much greater number of men who play chess. There is little left for biological or cultural explanations to account for. In science, where there are many more male than female participants, this statistical sampling explanation, rather than differences in intellectual ability, may also be the main reason why women are under-represented at the top end.

Anand's reign will end soon:Kasparov

Interview with Garry Kasparov

Kasparov states Anand's reign is going to end soon

“Vishy is a brilliant player. But it is very difficult to compete at 40. He is up against people half his age. I will be surprised if he can go on any longer. He can fight against anyone but time,” Kasparov said for India Today Conclave. “About 50 years ago, the average age of a chess player was about 35 years. Nowadays, 14- year- olds are becoming Grandmasters. This is due to computers and sophisticated softwares,” Kasparov continues. "Nowadays, a 13- year- old would probably know more than Bobby Fischer knew when he retired. They analyse all the moves and prepare themselves on their computers. But that doesn’t mean they are special. Physics students nowadays know more than Einstein and Newton did. That doesn’t make them smarter, does it?” concluded Kasparov. Asked what is the thing that differentiates him, Anatoly Karpov or Anand from today's players, the ex world champion said, "We had a feel for the game. Whenever I saw a position, I relied on the power of evaluation and understanding as to what would be a good move. But the motto of today’s player is — show me the move. I can’t explain it to them but sometimes, it’s just your sense which says what is a good or a bad move."

The visit of Kasparov to India was purely political one and he did not have any chess events scheduled. Among others at the symposium, organised by a Delhi-based media house, were former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf and Bollywood Superstar Shah Rukh Khan. You can read the full story by Digital Today here.

Nf3 according to Kramnik

KRAMNIK 2729 – BRUZON 2652
Torino (ol) 2006.06.03
Chess Informant 97/326
Queen's Gambit Declined: Cambridge Springs Variation [D52]

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cd5 Nd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 0-0 11.
a3 Bc3 12.bc3 Qa3 13.e4 [13.Bd3!?] Ne7 14.Bd3 Ng6 15.Bg3 e5 16.0-0 [a novelty; 16.h4 see 87/400] Re8
17.Rfe1 [17.h4?! ed4 18.cd4 Nf6 unclear] Qa5 [17...a5 18.h4 ed4 19.cd4 Nf6 20.Ra1 and White is superior;
17...Qe7] 18.Qb2 Qd8 19.Bb1! a5 [19...Qf6 20.Qd2! (20.Ba2 Nf4! 21.Qd2 g5 unclear) a5 21.h4] 20.Rcd1
a4 21.Ba2 Qe7 [better is 21...Qa5] 22.Qc1 Ra5 [22...b5 23.h4 ed4 24.Nd4!]
23.Qd2! [with the idea c4] ed4 [23...b6 24.h4 a) 24...ed4 25.Nd4 a1) 25...Nge5 26.Nf5 Qc5 27.Nd6 Rf8
(27...Rd8 28.Bf4 and White is superior) 28.Bf4 and White is superior; a2) 25...Qc5 26.Nf5 Nde5 (26...Nge5
see 25...Nge5) 27.Nd6 and White is superior; b) 24...h5 25.Ng5 Rf8 26.de5 Nde5 27.f4 and White is
superior; c) 24...Nf6 25.Ne5 Ne5 26.Be5 Re5 27.de5 Qe5 and White is slightly better; better is 23...Ra6 and
White is slightly better] 24.Nd4 (and White is superior) Qc5 [24...Nde5 25.f4 and White is superior; 24...
Qg5 25.f4 Qc5 26.Bf2 Qf8 27.Nf5 and White is superior] 25.Bc7 [25.Nf5 Nde5 26.Nd6 Rd8 unclear] Ra8[25...Ndf8 only move 26.Ba5 Qa5 27.f4 and White is superior]
26.Bf7!! Kf7 27.Qa2 Kf8 [27...Kf6 28.Bd8!! a) 28...Ke5 29.Nf3 (29.Qf7 and White is winning) Kf4 30.Qd2
Kg4 31.h3 Kh5 32.g4 mate; b) 28...Ne7 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; c)
28...Rd8 29.Qe6 Kg5 30.Nf3 Kf4 31.g3 Kf3 32.Rd3 Qe3 33.Rde3 mate; 27...Ke7 28.Qe6 Kf8 29.Bd6 and
White is winning] 28.Ne6 Re6 29.Qe6 Ne7 [29...Qg5 30.Rd7 (30.Re3 and White is winning) Bd7 31.Bd6
Ne7 32.Qd7 and White is winning] 30.Re3 Ke8 31.Rf3 Qh5 32.Bd6 1-0

Battle of GMs

BATTLE OF GMs

by: Patrick Lee

ONE of the most-awaited chess events of the year – the “Battle of GMs chess championships – finally comes off the wraps on March 24-31 in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte.

An annual undertaking of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay and secretary--general Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, the week-long tournament will be held this year in cooperation with the Dapitan City government thru Mayor Dominador Jalosjos and secretary to the Mayor Alemalrou Dagpin.

Venue of the competition is the Pavilion Hotel in Dapitan City.

Twenty-four of the country’s top male and female players, led by newly-crowned Corus champion GM Wesley So and Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, and Dresden (Germany) Olympiad veterans Catherine Perena and Cheradee Chardine Camacho, are seeing action in the prestigious tournament which offers a guaranteed cash prize of close to P1-million.

So, the country’ s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2627, and Perena, the highest-ranked female player with an ELO of 2184, are the top seeds in the tournament.

Torre is seeded second with an ELO of 2560 while newly-minted GM John Paul Gomez is ranked third with an ELO of 2539.

Other notable players seeing action are newly-crowned Gov. Umali Cup champion GM Mark Paragua, fourth with an ELO of 2537; GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., fifth with an ELO of 2519; GM Darwin Laylo, sixth with an ELO of 2504; GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, seventh with an ELO of 2471; and GM Jayson Gonzales , eighth with an ELO of 2466.

Completing the men’s field are GM-candidates Richard Bitoon (ELO 2473), Julio Catalino Sadorra (ELO 2439), Rolando Nolte (ELO 2488) and Ronald Dableo (ELO 2342).

So, Gomez, Villamayor, Gonzales and Laylo represented the country in the recent 38th World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany. Torre served as non-playing team captain.

Perena is top seed in the women’s division with an ELO of 2184, followed by Camacho with ELO of 2166.

Joining Perena and Camacho in the female division are Shercila Cua (ELO 2155), Sherily Cua (ELO 2143), Daisy Rivera (ELO 2094), Rulp Ylem Jose (ELO 2054), Beverly Mendoza (ELO 2045), Christy Lamiel Bernales (ELO 2043), JEdara Docena (ELO 2001), Kimberly Jane Cunanan (ELO 1991), Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 1970) and Rida Jane Young (ELO 1957).

Perena, Camacho, Rivera, Cua and Bernales all saw action for the RP team in the Dresden Olympiad.

Linares 2009

Ivanchuk and Grischuk win Linares

Sunday, 08 March 2009 01:16

Final round 14 results: Leinier Domínguez 1/2 Ivanchuk Vassily Levon Aronian 1/2 Grischuk Alexander Vishy Anand 1/2 Carlsen Magnus Teimour Radjabov 1/2 Wang Yue Final Standings: 1-2. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2779 8 1-2. Grischuk, Alexander g RUS 2733 8 3. Carlsen, Magnus g NOR 2776 7½ 4. Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2791 7 5-7. Wang Yue g CHN 2739 6½ 5-7. Radjabov, Teimour g AZE 2761 6½ 5-7. Aronian, Levon g ARM 2750 6½ 8. Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 2717 6

Filipino Chess Player League - Doha Tops Qatar Open Chess Tournament 2009

Filipino techie wins chess tournament
Web posted at: 2/8/2009 2:8:56
Source ::: THE PENINSULA

Children engrossed in games in the SDC Inter-School Chess Tournament organised by Skill Development Centre in Doha yesterday.

DOHA: A Filipino engineer became champion of Qatar Open 2009 chess tournament after garnering a perfect nine points in the nine-day competition that saw some 67 participants outsmarting each other in the mind-challenging board games.

Declared champion last night was Richard Roxas , a structural engineer of KEO International Consultant Co after an exciting final match with Ahmad Al Batah who settled for only six points and was ranked number ten on the list of finalists.

FIDE master Ghanem Al Sulaiti, a national player of Qatar, came in a close First Runner Up with eight points, just a point behind Roxas who beat him in the preliminary rounds.

It was a grueling nine-day match with all players looking exhausted in the final games

last night.

Five other Filipino chess players made it to the top ten of the tournament sponsored by Qatar Chess Association. The players include Andro Huerto in third place, Ferdinand Tan in fourth place, Agustin Nanola Tabol in fifth place, Rommel Elarcosa in sixth place, and Asiclo Villafuerte in seventh place. Other nationalities who made it to the finals were Mohammed Abu Ra’ad, a Jordanian in eighth place, Abdelaziz Al Mahmoud, a Lebanese, in ninth place and Ahmad Al Batah, a Syrian, in tenth place.

Roxas was in top form in the games even though he has not been participating in chess tournaments for the last ten years after he became a consistent champion at the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Philippines where he represented Mapua Institute

of Technology.

He took a clean sweep of the games with no losses, a feat considered as extraordinary for a champion who had yet to hone back his skills and prepare for the matches against equally competent chess players of different nationalities.

Roxas admitted he was a bit nervous when he faced Al Sulaiti in the preliminaries. Al Sulaiti was being considered the favourite being a former champion himself.

In the end, however, Roxas managed to outsmart him

to emerge the final winner.

FCPL-Doha Officers 2009

Filipino Chess Players League Qatar Officers 2009
President		Eng'r. Asisclo Villafuerte
Vice-President		Eng'r. Andrew Huerto
Secretary		Mr. Rommel Elarcosa
Treasurer		Mr. Gerald Guerrero
Business Development		Mr. Lito Mercado
Public Relation		Mr. Noroden Abdulhamid
Technical Committee		Mr. Ferdinand Tan
Research Development		Eng'r. Richard Roxas
Organizing Committee		Mr. Salvador Imbuido
Membership Committee		Mr. Abet Agrimano
Adviser		Mr. Agustin Tabol/Eng'r. Ed Nicolas