Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Super GM Wesley So

And SO, it's official.


The Philippines takes pride for having again a Super GM in the name of Super GM Wesley who now has a rating of 2610!

Next target: 2700. No doubt, Wesley will be the first Filipino to reach that mark. Let's watch out.
If I'm not mistaken, GM Mark Paragua was the first to hit the 2600 mark. Paragua reached his peak at 2621.
Let's see how Wesley rocketed to his present status:
Top 10 Filipino players (FIDE October Rating List)
RP is ranked 34th out of 138 rated countries. Below is RP's ratings statistics (valid for active players only):

Grand Master : 7
Woman Grand Master : 0
International Master : 14
Woman International Master : 2
FIDE Master : 7
Woman FIDE Master number : 1

Monday, September 29, 2008

Hiring foreign coaches

There was a recent call aired by parents of the country’s leading and promising players for hiring foreign coaches to improve the competitiveness of their prized wards. Well, let me give my humble opinion on it.

Hiring foreign coaches does not necessarily mean NOT hiring local coaches.

NCFP can hire foreign coaches while at the same time use the expertise of local coaches. It’s some sort of augmentation, or complementation. What the foreign coaches couldn’t provide, their local counterparts could, and vice-versa.

As for some caution, something ‘foreign’ does not necessarily mean something ‘better.’ .
Hiring foreign coaches CANNOT guarantee better results. Haven’t we freed ourselves from the colonial mentality that if something is ‘imported,’ then it must be good?

But although the move cannot guarantee positive results, it could guarantee one thing: the un-Filipinized mindset about chess improvement and development.

Well, what do I mean exactly by the term un-Filipinized?

Let’s say we have a Filipino coach who has been in the circle for long, long years already. Of course, he already saw the smiles and grins of parents and players. Sometimes, he liked the smile of one parent over the smile of another parent. For years, the exchanges of smiles could have deeply rooted that they view the smiles of others as grins.

Got what I mean? And that’s just one area of so many to consider!

But with a foreign coach who is new to the whole system, something different could possibly happen. He might select players based on actual merits, and not on smiles and grins (let’s just pray that the coach would be independent-minded, somebody who would not just bow to the wishes of NFCP people).

Hiring foreign coaches matches the leadership style of NCFP president Pichay. Barako! The move could lead to removing players from the national pool who are not really deserving to be there.

Who knows, the hiring of a foreign coach could lead to something unexpected, let’s say a reformed Philippine chess landscape?

First Filipina Super GM

When will we ever have a glimpse of the first Filipina WGM, or Filipina GM?

To make the dream a ‘little’ grander, when will we ever have our first Filipina Super GM?

Dream is just a dream? Dream forever?

The Malibay Chess Club helps in this dreamy search even in a very small way. It’s because we believe that, indeed, “The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention.”

We engage in organizing (and assisting) chess tournaments for kids in the grassroots, for boys and girls. Who knows, we might be able to spark chess interest among the kids. To be able to spark chess interest among them, I suppose, is already a decent objective.


(The girls above were participants to the 1st Edang Rapid Chess Tournament held in Pasay City.)

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Grassroots chess

I strongly believe that we need to develop and implement a realistic and effective chess development program starting from the grassgroot level to search for and hone our own Kasparov and Polgar.


The Malibay Chess Club is doing its humble share even if the dream seems farfetched. As they put it, "The smallest deed is greater than the grandest intention."

The photo above was taken during the 2nd Edang Rapid Chess Tournament recently held in Edang, Pasay City.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Calendar of events

WORLD EVENTS

1st World Mind Sports Games
Beijing, China
3-Oct-2008
18-Oct-2008

World Chess Championship Match 2008 Anand vs Kramnik
Bonn, Germany
14-Oct-2008
2-Nov-2008

World Youth Championship 2008
Vung Tau, Vietnam
19-Oct-2008
31-Oct-2008

World Senior Championship 2008
Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
28-Oct-2008
8-Nov-2008

World Blitz Championship 2008
Almaty, Kazakhstan
7-Nov-2008
8-Nov-2008

38th Chess Olympiad 2008
Dresden, Germany
12-Nov-2008
25-Nov-2008

Challengers Match Topalov-Kamsky
Lviv, Ukraine
26-Nov-2008
15-Dec-2008

FIDE Grand Prix Series
Doha, Qatar
13-Dec-2008
29-Dec-2008

ASIAN EVENTS

Asian Men's and Women's Championships
Tehran, Iran

21-Oct-2008
30-Oct-2008

1st Asian Club Cup
Al Ain, UAE

11-Dec-2008
19-Dec-2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008

GM Torre to RP Team?



Right after the 3rd PGMA Cup, I read somewhere about a proposition that GM Eugene Torre be included in the Philippine Team for the Dresden.

Not only that he be included as a ‘reserve.’ If I recall it right, Torre should be inserted in the line-up at the expense of somebody who had already qualified for the event. The idea is that somebody in the line-up should be pulled out just to accommodate Torre.

Reasons for Torre’s insertion to the Olympiad-bound RP Team:
- Torre can still make it (since he topped the recently concluded 3rd PGMA Cup)
- Torre can make a world record by playing his 20th consecutive participation in the event
- Torre can lead the RP team due to his leadership as a player and as a team captain

OK, let’s say the reasons being given are valid. Of course, they are valid!

In fact, we really salute Torre for all the services, hardships, and honor he has given to our country for long, long years.

We truly congratulate him, and take pride, for winning the 3rd PGMA Cup.

We also itch for him to play his 20th consecutive participation in the event. How we love that to happen!

BUT THERE ARE RULES. And nobody – I repeat, NOBODY – should be exempted.

The five Filipino chess warriors chosen to battle it out against the whole world in Dresden passed through difficult stages to win their tickets to the event. They labored for it, fought for it. And above all, they followed the rules.

Worries abound that the present Dresden-bound RP Team (GM So, GM Buenaventura, GM Laylo, GM Gonzales, IM Gomez) is doomed to meet a disastrous end. It’s because, as they put it, Torre is out, Antonio is out, Paragua is out.

Who wouldn’t want Torre, Antonio, and Paragua in the Team? Of course we want them in the Team! But they must pass the tests! They must follow the rules! And only those who passed the test should be in the Team.

I’m seeing light, really, in the leadership that the NCFP is showing right now. We can see the concrete chess developments happening around us, thanks to NCFP’s active role.

May the reinvigorated direction the NCFP is presently taking lead to even more light. One test to this is its take on the call for Torre’s late inclusion in the Olympiad-bound RP Team.

Only by strict discipline can we really improve Philippine chess.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

4 Pinoys in Top 10

Four Filipino campaigners in the recently concluded 4th Pichay Cup Open made it to Top 10.


Congratulations to:

-- GM Wesley So (5th) -- 6.0 points
-- GM Bong Villmayor (7th) -- 6.0 points
-- IM Richard Bitoon (8th) -- 5.5 points
-- GM Mark Paragua (9th) -- 5.5 points
TOP 10 Finishers (Filipino players are highlighted)

Li Shilong rules 4th Pichay Cup

GM Li Shilong of China (2503) – the player who dealt the only loss of GM Wesley So (2577) in the 4th Pichay Cup – halved the point with GM Ghaemmaghami Ehsan (2597) of Iran in the final round to capture the title.

Li piled up a total of 7.5 points after 9 rounds, a whole point clear off the second placer.

Here’s how he performed:



Li’s breakaway triumph drained the zest of other players in the top boards to really battle it out in the final round.

Board 1: Li vs Ghaemmaghami (1/2-1/2) – 14 moves
Board 2: So vs Zhang (1/2-1/2) – 10 moves
Board 5: Nguyen vs Shanava (1/2-1/2) – 11 moves
Board 6: Xiu vs Zhou (1/2-1/2) – 12 moves
Board 7: Megaranto vs Dao (1/2-1/2) – 14 moves
Board 8: Nguyen vs Gonzales (1/2-1/2) – 18 moves

I can say it’s a dead final round – at least in the top boards.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Paulo Bersamina

Paulo Bersamina (1862), the 10-year old chess gem of Pasay City (and of course of the Philippines, too), proved that he is the chess kid to watch for in the near future after halving a point with Ildefonso Datu (2185) in the third round of the ongoing 4th Pichay Cup Chess Challenge.

After four grueling hours of battle, the youthful Bersamina held Datu to a draw after 65 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined (D52) Opening.

He continued to provide a good showing after splitting a point in round 6 with Mike CariƱo (1975), the former coach of GM Wesley So (2577) and now the coach of Central Luzon Univeristy(?).

Not only that, Bersamina was also able to exchange wits and courage against Ryan Dungca (2012) in Round 7, compiling a total of 3.5 points after 7 rounds.

“Magaling na talaga,” said Merben Roque (2216), the tournament’s top seed, of Bersamina. Roque and Bersamina played each other during the one-day non-master rapid tournament right after the 3rd PGMA Cup event.

Bersamina vs Datu. Position after 33. . . f4?



White punished Black's mistake with 34.Rxf4!

Watch the game between Bersamina and Datu HERE

Wesley beats Mark

The most awaited match between the two, young chess prodigies of the Philippines – GM Wesley So (2577) and GM Mark Paragua (2523) – certainly lived up to the hype.

It was a fantasy game brought to life by chess wizards, a game so captivating it can lift you up to the highest heavens.

Simply enchanting. Real. Perfect.

The sweetest part is that it was a highly hard fought battle. The combatants unleashed all their powers and magic up to the end.

No arranged truce. Both combatants bled up to their last breath – to the real delight of chess horde which craves for real war over the board.

Fantastic indeed! It was a masterpiece worth laying on a pedestal.

It doesn’t matter who remained standing when the smoke of war cleared. What really matters is that the combatants gave their best shots – the pure spirit of the sport.

This particular game of Wesley and Mark can somehow make Filipinos’ heads up in the global chess community.

Just look at some of the magic:

Position after 20. . .Nd8




Wesley the chess wizard started to enchant the crowd with 21.Nxe6!

Click HERE to witness the magic unfold before your very eyes.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

GM Wesley So vs GM Mark Paragua


The two young chess superstars of the country -- GM Wesley So (2577) and GM Mark Paragua (2523) -- are pitted against each other in the 6th round of the 4th Pichay Cup Open.

I hope that they would really give all their best to beat each other for us chess fans to see a real entertainment. Who's your bet? Wesley or Mark?

Let's see their performance after five rounds:


Notably, only two Filipino players are included in Top 10, no other than Mark and Wesley. Top 10 players after five rounds:


4th Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Open Chess Championship

This time I count on GM Mark Paragua (2523) to be the best performing Filipino chess player -- if not the overall champ -- in the ongoing 4th Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Open Chess Championship.

Here's how he has been faring after 5 rounds:


Watch his games:




Photo fiesta

I provided picture slides for the 3rd PGMA Cup International Open and 3rd PGMA Cup Challenge. You could watch those pictures in the side bar. Enjoy . . .

Age in chess

The victory of 56-year old GM Eugene Torre sent a resounding, clear message across the chess world, especially among members of the Malibay Chess Club, that age is not a hindrance for anybody who wants to reach his/her maximum potential in chess.

It's really heartwarming to note that as we were discussing the triumph of the first grandmaster in Asia in the recently concluded 3rd PGMA Cup International Open, our passion for chess seemed to get reinvigorated -- or even got stronger.

The victory of our countrymen in sports can really make us Filipinos feel better, the kind of victory that serves like a morphin that makes us forget --even for a while -- the sad realities of life in this politically and economically ailing country.

Just imagine when GM Wesley loses a game. That phenomenon brings death to Filipino chess addicts.

So to all the Filipino athletes, especially to our chess superstars, please always bring us the sweetest smiles that we could bring to our sleep and the hope to face the morning light with savor of another victory.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

3rd PGMA Cup International Open Photos

These are select photos taken during the 3rd PGMA Cup International Open.



I don't know if Chinese female players giggle over the post-game analysis, or with the analyst (GM Wesley So). Oh boy, oh boy! What if Wesley starts to fall in love? Will it be an advantage or the other way around? Whatever, go Wesley!



NCFP President Prospero Pichay analyzes a game where IM Catalino Sadorra lost. If I remember it right, Pichay was saying that Sadorra missed a GM norm because of the defeat. To my amazement, Pichay is showing to an IM (Sadorra) the way to win that particular game!! Pichay was saying like this: "Kitang-kita ko ang tira!"



Age doen't matter. The 10-year old Paulo Bersamina is up against a 'veteran' in the PGMA Challenge category.


Chess is beautiful!! The little boy is amazed at this foreign female player, as if saying (Antay ka lang paglaki ko, hehe)



The wide projection screen, a truly welcome development. I just hope that next time around, at least three projection screens will be provided (is it too much to ask?)

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Perfect

GM Eugene Torre (2524) downed top seed GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev (2641) of Kazakhstan in round 5 to post 5 points in as many rounds in the ongoing 3rd PGMA Cup Open – now with a performance rating of 3175!!

Holding the Black pieces, Torre downed Kazhgaleyev after 73 moves in a Nimzon-Indian Classical Opening. Watch this masterpiece (Kazhgaleyev vs Torre)

Let me repeat:

-- 5.0 points in 5 rounds
-- Beating the top seed rated 2641
-- 3175 performance rating

Considering that he’s no longer that ‘young” and that he’s up against young GMs who are computer-savvy . . .

Oh my, oh my! Eugenio Da Henyo indeed! Is this something for the record in the Philippine soil?

Here is how GM Torre has been faring through five rounds:




Top performers after 5 rounds:


GM Darwin Laylo

GM Darwin Laylo (2504) executed a spectacular move in his 4th round game against GM Mikheil MCHEDLISHVILI (2604) in the ongoing 3rd PGMA Cup.

MCHEDLISHVILI,Mikheil (2604) - LAYLO,Darwin (2504)
[A00]
3rd Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arr
Duty Free Fiesta Mall, Philipp
(4.4), 09.09.2008
Position after 39.g4



GM Laylo unleashed the wild 39. . . Nxc3!

The game continued 40.Qxc3 Qxd4 41.Qe1 c3 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.f4 Rdc7 44.Rc2 Qc5 45.Nf3 Bb5 46.f5 d4 47.fxe6 fxe6 48.Qe4 Rd8 49.Rxe6 d3 50.Nxd3 Bxd3 51.Qxa4+ Na5 52.Rc1 Bf5 53.Rf6 Bg4 54.Qf4 Nb3 55.Qa4+ Na5 56.Qf4 Nb3 ½-½

Eugenio Da Henyo

GM Eugene Torre (2524) beat a higher rated player in Round 4 in the name of Weiqi Zhou (2556) to post an incredible output of 4.0 points after 4 rounds!!


Watch GM Torre's win in 4th round HERE.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Paulo Bersamina

I want to label the following featured game "Swabe." This game was executed by Paulo Bersamina (1862), the 10-year old chess gem of Pasay City during the second round of GMA Chess Challenge 2008 at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Paranaque City.

Please click HERE to watch the game.

GM Eugene Torre

GM Eugene Torre (2524), the first grandmaster in Asia, is carrying the baton for the Philippine flag by posting 3.0 points after three rounds in the ongoing 3rd PGMA Cup International Open with a rating performance of 3107!

Watch his three games:
Round 1: GM Torre vs FM Canh Huan Hoang (2330) of Vietnam

Round 2: Ziyang Zhang (2441) of China vs GM Torre

Round 3: GM Torre vs Shilong Li (2551) of China




Ranking after 3 rounds: CLICK HERE


Round 4 Pairings: CLICK HERE

3rd PGMA Cup Intl Open

Updates AT A GLANCE:


ROUND 2 RESULTS



ROUND 3 PAIRINGS




Watch the games here.

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Malibay Chess Club vs MERALCO Chess Club

First impressions last forever.

And what an impression it was! Members of the Malibay Chess Club and the kids from Edang in Pasay City were really enthralled by the warm reception accorded to them by the officers and members of the MERALCO Chess Club in a friendly club-to-club match held last September 6, 2008 at the Meralco Theater in Pasig City.

It was indeed an educational trip – especially for the Edang kids – as they were introduced to the importance and relevance of chess in their daily lives and future. After a serene prayer led by a kid from the host club, Mr. Raul J. Sol Cruz (Meralco Chess Club President), related the significance of chess, even basing his insights from the Holy Bible.

Getting first-hand tips from the father of a chess rising star is simply priceless. Mr. Norlito Bersamina, the father of the 10-year old Paulo Bersamina (1862), shared his experiences on how he raises Paulo as a fast-rising star in the chess community. Mr. Bersamina, a man of big heart, even treated the visitors from Pasay to a simple burger merienda (we guess, from his own pocket).

Capping the visit was MERALCO Chess Club’s generous act of donating seven chessboards to Edang kids. The gesture was highly appreciated by the visiting club.

The seven chess sets were donated by the following kind people, or the so-called "Magnificent 7":

1) Anna Sabularse
2) Manny Benitez
3) Teddy Santiago
4) Sammy Campos
5) Roger Ilano
6) Darryl Mata
7) June de Galicia

FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, THANK YOU, MERALCO CHESS CLUB, FOR A WONDERFUL AND ENRICHING CHESS EXPERIENCE!



Mr. Sol Cruz (center, standing tallest) welcomes the Malibay Chess Club and the Edang group from Pasay City and relates the importance of chess.


Mr. Bersamina (center, in green(?) shirt) shares how he raises his son Paulo to be a good chess player.


Kids from the MERALCO Chess Club in the act of donating seven chess boards to the kids from Edang, Pasay City. At the back are senior players from both clubs.


Kids in serious mode.


A happy farewell. Satisfied visitors with the generous hosts.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Endgame study

As I mentioned in my previous blog not long ago, one of the effective ways to learn about something is to write about it.


And heeding the first two of ten tips given by Michael Goeller in his article titled "To an Adult Chessplayer Who Wants to Improve" that was posted in this blog, I will post here a lot of tactics and endgame quizzes as part of my learning process.

Here it begins:

White to move and win. Can you solve this one?

Kim Steven Yap

Filipino chess warriors once again proved that we are a force to reckon with when it comes to chess.

In the recently concluded DATMO 2008 in Malaysia which was participated in by 112 players from different parts of the globe, three Filipinos landed on top 10!

Congratulations to the ff:
- GM Darwin Laylo (8.0 points in 11 rounds, 5th place overall)
- Kim Steven Yap (7.5 points, 9th place)
- IM Ronaled Dableo (7.5 points, 10th place)

GM Li Chao of China retained the title by posting 9.0 points.

But my admiration goes to Kim Steven Yap (2321), the untitled Filipino chess warrior who was able to make life hard for a GM opponent rated 2549.

Yap also beat two Filipino IMs in the same tournament namely IM Dimakiling and IM Sadorra.

Watch the untitled Yap's select game vs IM Sadorra:

Yap vs Sadorra

Combinations

I won't fall in love with chess if not for the combinations. For the first time, I am posting here one of my games where I really loved my combinations. In this game, I was against a higher-rated opponent.

Just don't mind the details of the game as to "Date" and "Venue." I wasn't able to change my PGN template with the right details.

Actually, this post is just a test of posting chess games here where you, my blog readers, can replay them at your delight.

Please see my game here.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

To an Adult Chessplayer Who Wants to Improve

One of my co-club members asked me if adults could still improve their playing strength in chess.

Without hesitation I replied, “Yes!”

My real intention was to encourage him more to keep on learning and continue on playing the game with joy. But I’m really not sure if adults (let me say 35 years old and above) could really still improve MUCH in their maturity. Maybe. I’m on the optimistic side.

I hope that the following tips I lifted from the Kenilworth Chess Club website can help. Read on . . .

To an Adult Chessplayer Who Wants to Improve
By: Michael Goeller (original source here)

If you choose to make the commitment, here is the ten point plan:

1) Study tactics, tactics, and more tactics.
Learn the basic tactical motifs and practice combining them by doing lots of puzzles. Buy CT-ART or some other intensive tactics training program if you want to intensify your training and you are as committed as a Knight Errant. The CT-ART program helps you monitor your progress and presents material in a very usable format.If you don't feel like investing in a commercial program, there are plenty of free tools and puzzle collections available online, including the addictive Chess Tactics Server, DejaScacchi, Chess Puzzles by GMs, and ChessBase Puzzles. Design a program of trying to solve X number of puzzles in an hour and keep track of your scores, trying always to improve your percentages and your times.

2) Do a limited amount of focused endgame training.
With faster time controls, endgames are becoming more rare and endgame training is therefore becoming less vital to success below the master level. But it is important to possess some basic knowledge if you want to improve your results -- especially since any amount of study will give you a significant advantage over most players below 2000. And, again, it is not important to have a lot of books here to master the subject. Most endgame books, after all, are like grammar books, dictionaries, and other reference works: they sit on the shelf unread except when we have a specific question. If you buy one good training manual and actually read it you will get more benefit than you would from twenty books on the shelf. My best suggestion would be Bernd Rosen's Chess Endgame Training, which is ideal for class players through master who have learned some basics already but need training and practical experience to improve the knowledge they carry with them to the board.

3) Commit to a single solid repertoire as Black and one as White.
Decide on an opening repertoire, map it out carefully with the help of a stronger player and some literature (or CD or DVD), and stick to it for a long time. Since you'll be sticking to it for a long time, it should be a valid repertoire. It could have a gambit or two as a sideline or alternative line (unless it is something fully legitimate like the Scotch Gambit), but you should prefer openings you can keep for a long time and not grow out of.As you develop a repertoire, keep book-buying to a minimum. Not only will you then do more playing, but you'll also spend less time figuring out what theory says and instead learn to think for yourself. And remember: there are lots of great opening resources online for free. If I were to recommend a good opening system for a beginning to mid-range player, I might suggest one built around the isolani pawn formation with the following three books: Meeting 1.e4 by Alexander Raetsky (truly an excellent book), Meeting 1.d4 by Jacob Aagaard (not as good as Raetsky's, but a great fit), and An Attacking Repertoire for White by Sam Collins. If that is not so attractive, you could just go with Alburt, Dzindzi, and Perelsheyn's Chess Openings for White, Explained (reviewed here in August) and Chess Openings for Black, Explained. But whatever you choose, keep it simple and study it well. Don't stop with the books themselves but train yourself in these openings by doing your own analysis, playing often, and looking at lots of master games in these lines.

4) Play through lots of games.
Review hundreds of master games in your lines where the good guys win until you literally have the critical ones memorized and you have absorbed the key patterns from the rest. It's almost less important that you fully understand what's going on in these games than that you internalize the strategic and tactical patterns. Don't bother so much with annotated games or research, unless that comes your way naturally. Just try to get the patterns and make them stick.The simplest way to go through lots of games is online at any of the database sites, including NICBase (probably the best free tool for the study of opening lines), ChessBase, Chessgames.com, and ChessLab. For most students of the game below 2000 rating, the commercial databases are a waste of time. It's less important to own a good database on your computer than to use a database well to improve the knowledge that you have with you at all times.

5) Read on strategy only as it relates to your openings or problems you have in your play.
If you are playing openings where you are likely to get an isolani, pick up an article or two or three or four on that theme. But don't feel you have to learn everything or master every strategic idea. Focus instead on the ones that apply immediately to the openings that you are playing or the strategic mistakes you are making in your games.

6) Decide how to make decisions and practice it.
Work on your "thinking" -- your decision making process. This may be most critical of all. If you have a good decision-making process and you train with it, you will reduce your errors and improve your use of the clock dramatically. You will also be able to play with more confidence and start to improve your calculating ability -- which you can only really start to hone through practice and experience.You can develop a rubric for guiding your thinking with a coach, with a book, or with any number of online articles. Dan Heisman has written some excellent articles on the subject in his Novice Nook column at ChessCafe, including "A Generic Thought Process," "Initial and Final Candidate Moves" and "Improving Analysis Skills." Those article alone would be sufficient for most developing players.

7) Get experience, and lots of it.
Play a ton of games against computers, against people online, at tournaments, and at the club. Getting your game count up will increase your experience and will reinforce your training. If nothing else, it will also give you some games to look at closely with a coach. Remember that you have to lose 10,000 games before you can improve....

8) Find a coach or mentor.
A coach will be most helpful with refining your thinking process (including intrusive thoughts), helping to choose your openings, and going over your own games so you can ask questions and start to understand "Why?" As you train, "How" is more important than "why," but eventually you'll need to know "why" also.... If you cannot afford an actual coach, try to develop mentoring relationships with stronger players. Or take advantage of free advice on forums such as Openings for Amateurs or Chess Publishing. But recognize that you get what you pay for and the best coaching does not come for free.

9) Make a time committment.
You have to devote at least two hours a day on average to it with weekly to monthly sessions that are longer -- sort of like going to the gym every day to train, doing some more intensive sessions on the weekend, and then running a marathon once a month. Basically, stop watching TV almost entirely. You should play in a tournament at least once per month.Remember: the one thing that Michael de la Maza never mentions in his book is that he was unemployed during his period of intensive training. I would guess he was also single, childless, and not a home owner. The reason why young people can improve so rapidly is because they have the time to devote to their training that most adults do not. The only advantage that an adult might have over a kid is that we can do things more consciously and deliberately than kids might. If you set aside the time, you can get it done.

10) Find a partner.
Think of it like getting a gym partner and choose one with the same attitude as you'd want in a friend likely to get your butt into the gym. You want someone who is willing to commit to going to tournaments and who will challenge you to go further with a bit of friendly competition. You want someone at about your strength or better who will also make a good sparring partner.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Yoga in chess?


What about yoga in chess? Ace Mary, in yogic sitting position, is in deep thought (or meditation) in a recent tournament in Edang, Pasay City. His sitting style seemed to be effective since he landed on the second spot in the said tournament, only after Paulo Bersamina (sitting next, blurred), the tournament's champion.

I really don't know if there is a prescribed sitting position in chess tournaments.




But what about a standing position? This photo can be aptly titled "Find the difference." Ren-Ren Villar litterally stands out among all the players since he's the only one standing.

What really matters, I suppose, is the comfort in your position, whether in your sitting or standing position, and much better of course in your position over the board.

Monday, September 1, 2008

1st Dragon Vietnam Chess Open

Our men led by GM Wesley So performed well in the recently concluded 1st Dragon Vietnam Chess Open that ran from August 26 to September 2, 2008 in Vung Tau, Vietnam.


Here's how they made our country proud:




Filipino players are highlighted.

My favorite game in the tournament was IM Richard Bitoon's (2439) battle against the No.2-seeded player, Ngoc Truong Son Nguyen (2579) of Vietnam in Round 2.

Position after 77. . . Ke5.



IM Bitoon simply wrapped up the game with 78.bxa5!
Here is the full game:
Bitoon,Richard (2439) - Nguyen,Ngoc Truong Son (2579)
[C10]1st Dragon Capital Vietnam chess open Vung Tau
(2.2), 27.08.2008

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e5 Nd7 7.h4 a6 8.Qd2 h6 9.Bf4 Nb6 10.Rh3 Bd7 11.Rg3 Bf8 12.a4 Ne7 13.Rh3 Nc4 14.Qc1 Ng6 15.Bh2 Bb4 16.Bd3 c5 17.Kf1 cd4 18.Ne2 Qb6 19.b3 Na5 20.Nfd4 Bc5 21.h5 Ne7 22.Qf4 Nac6 23.Nc6 Nc6 24.Rf3 0-0-0 25.Qf7 Rdf8 26.Qg7 Rfg8 27.Qf6 Be7 28.Qf4 Rg5 29.Bg6 Ne5 30.Rc3+ Bc6 31.Qd4 Qd4 32.Nd4 Bf6 33.Be5 Be5 34.Rd1 Rg4 35.Rcd3 Rd4 36.Rd4 Bd4 37.Rd4 Rf8 38.Rg4 e5 39.Bh7 Kd7 40.Rg7+ Ke6 41.Ke2 e4 42.Ke3 d4+ 43.Kd4 Rf2 44.Rg6+ Ke7 45.Rh6 Rg2 46.Be4 Rg4 47.Rc6 bc6 48.h6 Ke6 49.b4 Rh4 50.h7 Rh3 51.a5 Rh5 52.Bd3 Rh4+ 53.Be4 Rh5 54.Ke3 Ke5 55.Bd3 Rh3+ 56.Kd2 Rh2+ 57.Kc3 Rh3 58.Kc4 Kd6 59.Kd4 Rh4+ 60.Be4 Rh5 61.Kc4 Rh4 62.Kb3 Rh3+ 63.c3 Rh2 64.Bf5 Ke5 65.Bd3 Kd5 66.Bg6 Kd6 67.Be4 Rh6 68.Ka4 Rh2 69.Kb3 Rh3 70.Kc2 Rh2+ 71.Kd3 Rh3+ 72.Kd4 Rh5 73.c4 Rh4 74.b5 c5+ 75.Kc3 Rh3+ 76.Kb2 Rh2+ 77.Ka1 Ke5 78.ba6 Ke4 79.a7 1-0