Chess economics

Let's talk some economics.

We all know that chess education is already part of the academic curriculum in the Philippines, come this June 2009.

It means that a few years from now, the country's base of chess-educated individuals will increase. No doubt about that.

When the number of chess players increases, the demand for chess materials and equipment also increases.

That is a direct relationship.

When the demand increases, the prices of relative products and services also increase.

Which means that a few years from, expect that the prices of chess materials and equipment in the Philippines in the near future will shoot up.

Which means that you better have your chess armaments now. Have your chess treasures now when vulture profiteers have not nosed it yet.

Chess and economy

The ongoing global financial crisis continues to create problems not only in the overall global economy but also in specific social activities such as a chess tournament.

Have you read this news posted in the USCF website?

" . . . the industrial group Corus announcing massive job cuts soon after the start of the tournament cannot have raised the spirits of the Wijk aan Zee locals, many of whom rely on employment from the nearby Corus steelworks.

Corus’ cost cutting was also evident around the town. Many of the giant signs on bridges and in fields, which greeted visitors to Wijk aan Zee in years past, were missing. Even the press were grumpy when they discovered that their traditional supply of Dutch treats such as Chocomel and Appelsap had been replaced by a mini-fridge containing bottles of water."

The impact is real. If the world's economic problems persist, I fear that the major international chess tournaments would be affected in the near future.

Interestingly, the 1st Gov. Umali Chess Cup -- which undoubtedly was the grandest local chess tournament in the country -- was staged even when the global economy, including the Philippines, is in turmoil.

Corus news or Wesley news?

No doubt, the local news that comes out about Corus Chess 2009 points to one person.

This person has become Soooooo big he can set the agenda on what to talk about. So who's the talk?


Pinoy chess whiz still on track in Dutch tourney
abs-cbnNEWS.com 01/29/2009 7:36 PM

Filipino teen chess whiz Wesley So remained in contention at the 71st Corus Chess Tournament by beating International Master Roeland Pruijssers of the Netherlands in the tenth round Wednesday (Thursday in Manila).

The competition is being held in Wijk Ann Zee in the Netherlands. A report posted on BilliardPhilippines.com said So prevailed after 47 moves of a Sicilian Defense to remain in solo second with 7.0 points on account of five wins, four draws and a loss.

The 15-year-old Filipino Grandmaster (GM) is just half a point away from GM Tiger Hillarp Persson (2586) of Sweden who defeated German GM Frank Holzke.It was Holzke who gave So's first loss in three top-level tournaments. So's last three remaining opponents are IM Manuel Bosboom of the Netherlands, David Howell of England, and Persson.


Wesley scores, stays second
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 03:03:00 01/30/2009

WIJK AAN ZEE, Netherlands—Top seed Grandmaster Wesley So added 12th seed International Master Roeland Pruijssers of The Netherlands to his list of victims with a crucial 10th-round victory in the 71st Corus Chess Tournament at the De Moriaan Community Centre on Wednesday.

The win—his fifth against four draws and one loss—enabled the 15-year-old Filipino champion (ELO 2627) to remain in contention in this tough, 13-round tournament previously known as Hugovens.

So remains only half a point behind third seed GM Tiger Hilarp Persson of Sweden, who trounced So’s eight-round tormentor, GM Frank Holzke of Germany.
In the 11th round on Friday, So will take on Manuel Bosboom of The Netherlands.


Wesley stays in hunt, holds off Dutch IM
Updated January 30, 2009 12:00 AM
philstar.com

WIJK AAN ZEE, Netherlands – Top seed GM Wesley So added No. 12 seed IM Roeland Pruijssers of the Netherlands to his list of victims, pulling off a crucial 10th-round victory in the 71st Corus Chess Tournament at the De Moriaan Community Centre here Wednesday.

The win – the fifth against four draws and one loss – enabled the 15-year-old Filipino champion (ELO 2627) to remain in contention in this tough, 13-round tournament previously known as Hoogvens.

So remains only half a point behind third seed GM Tiger Hilarp Persson of Sweden, who trounced So’s eight-round tormentor, GM GM Frank Holzke of Germany.

Aside from Prujissers, So’s other victims in the prestigious tournament were fifth seed GM Friso Nijober of the Netherlands in the first round, No. 8 seed GM Eduardo Iturrizaga of Venezuela in the fifth round and sixth seed GM Manuel Leon Hoyos of Mexico in the sixth round and IM Ali Bitalzadeh of the Netherlands in the ninth round.

Wonderful statistics

Chessbase.com did a splendid reporting on Corus Chess 2009.

I think we can learn a lot from this classy reporting. Let's make it a benchmark.

Great effort indeed. Check it HERE.

GM Mark Paragua

Congratulations to GM Mark Paragua for topping the 1st Gov. Umali Chess Cup Championship.

Paragua's newest triumph reminds non-believers that indeed he is the first Filipino chess player who earned the super GM status (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Don't forget that fact, OK? And no matter what happens, that honor will stay forever.

We just hope that Mark continue to have inspirations and dreams to go on bringing out the best in him.

May he continue to have direction and purpose in conquering all the challenges that come his way to always live up to -- and even surpass -- the GM Mark Paragua that we know.

Umali Cup, a postmortem

And so, the 1st Gov. Umali Chess Cup Championship has ended.

It started without so much noise, went on, and ended with the same flat note.

An event of this magnitude didn’t deserve that cold reception. It was a big, big chess tournament – if not the biggest local chess tournament ever staged in the Philippines.

Just imagine the prizes involved and the names and number of people who participated.

I salute Gov. Umali for coming up with this kind of project and for bringing it to its superlative level.

What I didn’t like was the way it was projected to the chess community.

It should have been an event that could bring Philippine chess into higher level, only if projected properly to the chess world.

Nowadays, it’s not enough to read in the newspapers who beat whom, who is the leading player, what round is it already, etc.

We have already entered the period when the chess community wants to watch real games from the comfort of their homes.

Chess fans nowadays want to see the games of their idols move by move – in real time as much as possible.

Chess fans want to feel the adrenaline while the game is being fought. They want to discuss ideas. They simply want to be IN the game.

It doesn’t have to be costly, I tell you. The information technology is well within reach to make it possible.

As we all know by now, there is already a benchmark in staging a successful chess tournament for the whole chess world to enjoy.

It’s not only about the prizes. It’s not only about the participants. It’s not only about the event itself.

The most important thing is how to bring a chess tournament to the chess community! It’s about making chess a wonderful experience for the whole world to live with.

The most concrete example on how to run a chess tournament – for the whole world to enjoy – is the way Corus Chess 2009 is being projected to the whole world.

Oh please, NCFP, when will you ever learn?

IM Roeland Pruijssers

GM Wesley So's Round 10 assignment in Group C of Corus 2009 would not be a walk in the park.

Check this link about IM Roeland Pruijssers: IM Roeland Pruijssers wins Leiden Chess Tournament

Wesley will be handling the Black pieces in this round. May his will to win prevail in this duel.

No draw, please. We want to see a 0-1 score.

Let's hope and pray that Wesley sweep all the remaining four rounds.

Umali Cup's final standing

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines has finally released the official results of the 1st Gov. Umali Cup Chess Championship.

Please click HERE for the final standing.

IM Julio Catalino Sadorra

I already did several posts about the 1st Umali Cup. But it was only a few days ago, if I remember it right, when I noticed that the name of IM Julio Catalino Sadorra was not included in the list of participants.

The truth is that I didn’t have to look down the list to find IM Sadorra’s name. For sure, had this soon-to-be-GM Filipino talent participated in this event, he would have been a very strong contender for the title.

I received an email from Mr. Chalito Sadorra, the father of “Ino” (IM Sadorra), citing the very valid reasons why his son did not participate in the Umali Cup.

In his very own words:

“Ino did not participate in the Umali Cup because he is reviewing and will be taking the TOEFL(test for English as foreign languge) in Singapore . We plan for him to participate in Battle of GMs in March 24-31, Asian Continental and Subic Open in May 12-31 Subic, Zonal in Vietnam and Vietnam Open, Singapore Open, KL open, Korea open and GMA & Pichay . He has to participate in the Vietnam Open to defend his title as1st ASEAN champion, please see the article and photo in these websites, http://www.aseanchess.com/
http://reports.chessdom.com/asean-grand-prix .

He will try to aim his last 2 GM norms this year, there are more or less 13 strong international chess tournaments in the region this year. Sana makuha na niya ang GM title niya, please pray for him.”

Let’s all pray for Ino.

IM Ali Bitalzadeh

IM Ali Bitalzadeh is the opponent of our very own GM Wesley So in Round 9 of Group C in Corus Chess 2009.

Bitalzadeh who? Some information about him:

-- lowest rated participant in Group C (2400)
-- Dutch Open 2008 champion
-- an 1.e4 player with White (based on chessgames.com database)

IM Ali Bitalzadeh (2400) of the Netherlands

I looked for some information about him. Here's what I dug from the Web:

"After finishing school in May, 19-year-old Dutch FM Ali Bitalzadeh decided to be a professional player for a year. Two months later, at the Open Dutch Championship, he surprised everybody by winning clear, ahead of 6 GMs and 7 IMs, scoring his third IM and first GM norm, without a single loss.

But first we need to tell a bit more about what exactly happened. What? The Open Dutch Championships. Where? Dieren, a Dutch small town where the tournament has been held for ages. When? 21-31 July, 2008. Who? GMs Ikonnikov, Sandipan, Ernst, Van den Doel, Nijboer and Pavlovic and IMs Simutowe, Bosch, Brandenburg, Sriram, Hendriks, Van Delft and Wohl were topping the list of participants.

But… it was somebody else who would be stealing the show.After a smooth victory with Black, FM Bitalzadeh surprised for the first time by beating GM Chanda Sandipan (2558). The Indian might have been unaware of the fact that his oppontent, rated 2310, used to have 2400 and already possessed two IM norms.

Ali Bitalzadeh was born April 19, 1989 in Kosovo. His parents are from Iran, who were studying at the Univsersity of Pristina at the time. At the age of 6, Ali learnt chess from his father. Since 2000 he’s been living in The Netherlands. He won the Open Dutch Junior title once, finished shared first at the Dutch Junior Championship in 2001 and 2003 and finished 7th at a European Championship."

Umali Cup leaders

Leaders in the Umali Cup after Round 8:

7.0 points
GM Mark Paragua

6.5 points
IM Richard Bitoon
Rhobel Legaspi
GM Eugene Torre
GM John Paul Gomez
IM Barlo Nadera

6.0 points
Edgar Reggie Olay
IM Rolando Nolte
GM Buenaventura Villamayor
Haridas Pascua
GM Jayson Gonzales
Angel Cordero
Edgardo Garma
FM Fernie Donguines

Notably, a big, big field of some 150+ players are participating.

Umali Cup

Mr. Chalito Sadorra, the father of IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, dropped me a message. He alerted me that the latest results of the ongoing Umali Cup can be accessed from the NCFP's website.

Visitors only need to go to the Umali Cup news item and click on "read more" for the results and pairings.

I noticed that IM Sadorra is not participating in this big event? (Or my eyes simply misled me?)

Thank you very much, Sir!

So far, here are the Round 8 pairings:

Psychology of losing

GM Wesley's Round 8 loss in Corus prompted me to do a little bit of research about the psychology of losing. I found two articles which I want to share with you.

Here is the first article:

"Losing is relative. The psychological effects kick in at different times for different people, based on your tolerance and history. . . The same loss to someone else may put them on serious TILT.

The basic psychological and physiological reaction to losing: Boiled down to it's absolute essence, losing Hurts! Not in an abstract way, but in a very real way. It makes your stomach churn, changes your blood pressure, constricts thousands of muscles and causes physical and mental anguish. Throw emotion on top of that and you have The Psychology of Losing.

It's real, we've all felt it, and it's no fun. So what? So this... when humans experience pain and discomfort we want to make it GO AWAY!! How do we do that? You're sitting in front of the computer so you click into another game as fast as possible. The best way to make the pain of losing go away is to WIN!!

And you want to win as quickly as possible. Add to that the fact that you're still kicking yourself for losing (whether justified or not)... How could you play so smart for 2 hours (at a ring game or MTT for instance) and then implode so quickly? And you have a recipe for disaster."

Here's the second article:

"Professional athletes are human and self introspection is so difficult. Clinically, people are very self protective and sensitive. Many see and view certain character traits and feelings that we all have to varying degrees (like making a mistake, or being afraid, feeling not good enough, or being defective) as fatal character flaws that need to be expunged, so they deny them and blame others. But they are really just protecting themselves.

Perhaps a better way to psychological recuperation and a more enhancing approach would be for each player-person to look at their own individual performances, and allow for some self-introspection, forgiveness and compassion. If given a chance this direction might allow for true personal and professional growth."

GM Frank Holzke

Who is GM Frank Holzke, the player who defeated our very own GM Wesley So in Round 8 of the Corus Chess tournament in Group C?

Well, he's the kind of player who defeated GM Garry Kasparov!

Holzke defeated the legendary Kasparov in a simul as part of the Koln Schach Koln Cup in Cologne in 1988 -- five years before Wesley's birthdate.

Watch the game HERE.

When GM Wesley So loses

We all know by now that 15-year old GM Wesley So (2627) lost his Round 8 game against 38-year old GM Frank Holzke (2526) of Germany in Group C of the ongoing Corus Chess 2009 in the Netherlands.

It’s really hard to lose especially when you know that the whole country rests on your shoulder for inspiration.

It’s painful to lose when you know that you are a hero to a country which fanatically looks at you as a bringer of hope.

Wesley’ loss is not a simple loss. Wesley’s loss means death to a legion of followers who look up to him as a messiah of Philippine chess.

Wesley is no regular chess player. He is extraordinary – a very special one – for he embodies a country’s aspirations and dreams.

That’s why when he suffers a defeat, the whole legion of his followers die with him.

But I want to look at Wesley’s loss as a must-evil to transform him into a lot better player and person. That Round-8 loss will only make him stronger.

Losing reminds everybody that we are humans after all.

As the time-tested adage goes, it’s not really about losing. It’s about what we learn from our loss. It’s about how we recover from the defeat to be more victorious in the future.

Where's the talk?

So far after Round 4 in the ongoing 1st Umali Cup in Nueva Ecija, I haven't seen an online forum yet to talk about what's happening there.

Chess fans here and abroad have to content themselves with what's coming out of the news from media, particularly newspapers and online news sources.

Very sad indeed.

Consider that the Umali Cup is also a big event, even at least in terms of prizes and the list of participants.

Consider also that this event is happening right here in the Philippines. So near yet so far.

So where's the talk?

The heat is in the Netherlands -- in Corus Group C where GM Wesley So has been casting his spell. So far yet so near.

So where's the talk?

Simply browse GM Wesley So's thread at the forum of chessgames.com. Ahh, the chess fans are there.

In that forum, made possible by the power of the Internet, something indescribable is unfolding right before our very eyes.

It's a magic, I tell you.

Check it, and participate, for you to experience how it is to be a chess addict.

Umali Cup Round 4

Paragua, Garma lead Umali chess
By Roy LuarcaPhilippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:08:00 01/25/2009

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Philippines—National Master Edgardo Garma pulled off a huge upset, crushing International Master Richard Bitoon in 46 moves of the Sicilian to gain a share of the lead with Grandmaster Mark Paragua after four rounds of the Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup Open chess championship at the Sierra Madre Suites here.

“I hadn’t played in quite a while but my moves were pretty OK,” said Garma, the younger brother of IM Chito Garma.

Paragua also nailed his fourth straight victory in the tournament offering a top prize of P200,000, disposing of IM Barlo Nadera in 33 moves of the Slav.

GMs John Paul Gomez, Jayson Gonzales and Darwin Laylo, were within striking distance at 3.5 points, along with GM-candidate Ronald Dableo, IM Ronald Bancod, FM Fernie Donguines, Rolando Andador, Xavier Verdun and Ali Branzuela.

Top seed GM Eugene Torre humbled Eduardo Agagon in only 25 moves of the Dutch to move into contention with three points out of a possible four.

Torre was held to back-to-back draws by Allan Cantonjos and Edmundo Gatus in the second and third rounds.

Deeper joy

Who said that chess is not a spectator sport?

In fact, no sports – other than chess—can mightily enslave the hearts and minds of fans who thread between the thin line of reason and insanity just to ecstatically feel the immeasurable joy deep inside that only chess can bring.

Consider these:

- sometimes spending up to roughly seven hours just to finish watching a single game
- depriving themselves of enough rest at night just to talk about every move made over the board
- waiting for up to 30 minutes for a single move (what a patience!)

You may already call it a fanaticism. It’s seems something extreme. Perhaps even more than a passion.

If I remember it right, the reigning FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov termed chess a new religion (which frightened a good friend of mine).

If, for instance, chess has become a new religion, are you ready to be called a Wesleyan (after the name of GM Wesley)?

Are chess players and spectators higher form of humans?

Enrico Sevillano

Sevillano wins over-all crown in US chess tourney
abs-cbnNEWS.com
01/22/2009 7:51 PM

Filipino chess player Enrico Sevillano prevailed over International Master Andranik Matikozyan by tie-break points to win the over-all championship of the recently concluded Western Class Championships in Agoura Hills, California.

BilliardPhilippines.com reported that Sevillano and Matikozyan both finished 5.5 points Monday (Tuesday in Manila) in the seven round-Swiss System tournament organized by the Continental Chess Association.

"Maraming salamat sa suporta ng mga kababayan natin dito sa Amerika, lalu na ang kanilang mga panalangin sa aking paglalaro dito" said the Cebu native, who is also a former Southwestern University stand-out.

The California-based Sevillano said his main goal is to win a grandmaster title.
Sevillano, won the Asian Junior crown in 1986 and took part in the Manila Olympiad of 1992. Soon after, he migrated to the US.

Three other Filipinos also shined in their respective class in the Western Class Championships.
Filipino and US Chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., a sports journalist, finished seven in the Expert section with 4.0 points; Remigio Pampliega finished second in the Class A group with 5.5 points; and Alex Guillermo finished third in the Class E with 5.0 points.

Umali Cup Round 2 updates

Paragua, Laylo, 16 others share top spot

By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:56:00 01/23/2009

Leaders after two rounds:2.0 points—M. Paragua, D. Laylo, R. Bitoon, O. Dimakiling, B. Nadera, C. Garma, F. Donguinez, R. Bancod, M. Maga, E. Lao, J. Garcia, R. Legaspi, J. Habla, J. Salubre, J. de Ramos, V. Villanueva. X. Verdun, M. Yu

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija—Grandmasters Mark Paragua and Darwin Laylo notched their second straight wins Thursday to keep their share of the lead with 16 others in the 1st Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup chess championship at the Sierra Madre Suites here.

Handling white, Paragua downed Jake De la Cruz in 36 moves of a London Opening while Laylo bested Robert Suelo Jr. with black in 31 moves of a Slav to boost their chances for the P200,000 champion’s purse in the nine-round P1-million Swiss System event that lured a big field of 159 players.

Also with 2.0 points were International Masters Oliver Dimakiling, Richard Bitoon, Barlo Nadera and Ronald Bancod, FIDE Master Fernie Donguines, Mirabeau Maga, Joey Habla, Jayson Salubre, Manny Yu, Julius Joseph De Ramos, Elias Lao, Edgardo Garma, Xavier John Verdun, Rhobel Legaspi, Vic Neil Villanueva and Ateneo high school student Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

Top favorite Eugene Torre and fellow GMs Bong Villamayor, John Paul Gomez—the Philippines’ top scorer in last year’s Dresden Chess Olympiad, and Jayson Gonzales settled for draws and tied with 37 others at 1.5 points.

Unable to gain headway with white, Torre opted to split the point with Allan Cantonjos after 48 moves of a Pirc Defense and so did Villamayor against Alcon John Datu after 55 moves of an English Opening.

Gonzales agreed to a truce with black against Antonio Chavez Jr. after 53 moves of an Alekhein, and so did Gomez against Alex Milagrosa after 41 moves of a Sicilian.

Dimakiling, taking a break from his chess-teaching job in Singapore, trounced Leodegario Ricana; Bancod thwarted Allan Macala; Bitoon downed Richard De La Cruz; Nadera subdued Christy Lamiel Bernales; and Donguines bested Vince Angelo Medina as titled players started to assert their might in the event jointly organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Nueva Ecija provincial government.

Villanueva stunned FM Roderick Nava, Garma hurdled Jedara Docena, Legaspi repulsed Abdulla Bin Raw Unding, Yu conquered Edgar Reggie Olay, Salubre tripped De Leon Marhohom, De Ramos mastered Kit Marzo, and Garcia whipped Gabriel Paril.

In Friday’s third round, Paragua will tangle with Joey Habla while Laylo, bronze medalist in the recent Asia Club Cup in the United Arab Emirates, will try to keep pace with his roommate at the venue when he battles Jayson Salubre.

Wesley phenomenon

In the Chessdom website which also features live games of Corus 2009, it's so common to see this line: "GM Wesley So's . . . games voted again by the audience."

As you know, Chessdom has an online voting system where it polls the global online chess community on whose games will be featured and commented live on its webpage.

For me, this statement tells a lot. It's very symbolic of the true nature of sports-loving Filipinos.

I have a guess that most, if not all, of those who voted to see Wesley's games are Filipinos scattered in different parts of the globe.

What does the line "GM Wesley So's . . . games voted again by the audience" tell us?

It tells of a community of people who unite themselves to achieve a common purpose.

It tells of a group of individuals who are not content with simply watching the events -- rather, they are souls who THINK and ACT to express their inner selves.

It tells of a band of brothers who bond with each other to show to the whole world that indeed, they have the freedom and will to express their aspirations.

It tells of Filipinos as a proud race that we can set the agenda for the whole world to see.

This phenomenon about Wesley defines a lot of how it is to be a Filipino.

Umali Cup

Just in case you missed this news:

3 Grandmasters pace Umali Cup
By Roy LuarcaPhilippine
Daily Inquirer
First Posted 02:54:00 01/22/2009

PALAYAN CITY, NUEVA
ECIJA—Grandmasters Jayson Gonzales, Darwin Laylo and Bong Villamayor bested their untitled opponents Wednesday to share the early lead in the 1st Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup at the Sierra Madre Suites here.

Gonzales downed Leonardo Alidani in 28 moves a Queen’s Pawn Opening-London variation while Laylo subdued Winston Silva in 24 moves of an English Opening. Villamayor beat Teddy Santos in 41 moves of a Queen’s Gambit.

GMs Eugene Torre, Mark Paragua and John Paul Gomez also enjoyed winning positions over separate foes at press time.

It's all we can get from this tournament. No such thing as a running website for the updates, live games, pgn games, overall standing, pairings, photos, forum, etc.

Isn't this supposed to be the first grand tournament of the NCFP for 2009?

Outshine

I can't help feeling a little sorry for the timing of staging the 1st Gov. Aurelio Umali Cup National Open Chess Championship which is set to run from January 21 to 27, 2009 in Palayan City in Nueva Ecija.

The event is supposed to be the first grand event by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) to start their programs for 2009.

Yes, the event is "grand." Consider these:

"At stake is a grand prize of P200,000 and trophy to the champion.The runner-up and the third placer will earn P100,000 and P80,000 and trophies, respectively.The fourth and fifth placers will bring home P70,000 and trophy and P60,000 and trophy.

"Other cash prizes are: Sixth placer, P50,000; seventh placer P40,000; eighth placer P30,000; ninth placer P20,000; 10 th placer P15,000; 11 th placer P10,000; 12 th placer P9,000; 13th placer P8,000; 14th placer P7,000; 15th placer P6,000; and 16 th to 25th placers P5,000 each.

"The top three finishers in different categories will also get consolation prizes.These are:Top female – P10,000 first; P6,000 second; and P4,000 third.Top non-master – P7,000, P5,000, P3,000.Top under-14 – P7,000, P5,000 , P3,000.Top senior – P7,000, P5,000, P3,000.Top Nueva Ecijano – P7,000, P5,000, P3,000.Top under-14 Nueva Ecijano – P7,000, P5,000, P3,000."

Also, what makes the event "grand" is the list of participants. Participants include GM Torre, GM Gomez, GM Paragua, GM Buenaventura, GM Laylo, GM Gonzales and other "big" names.

But what makes the event not SO "grand" is the absence of GM Wesley So who is now competing in Group C of Corus Chess 2009 in the Netherlands.

A little bit of bad timing, let me say. The supposed first grand event by the NCFP this year coincides with a much more exciting international event where the country's No.1 player is participating.

Of course, the 1st Umali Cup will go full swing with or without Wesley. And exciting? I'm not sure.

I may hurt a lot of other people's feelings, but a supposed "grand" tournament in the land without Wesley in the list makes it not that SO "grand" after all.

We cannot blame the Filipino chess community if it follows the happenings in Corus more than in the Umali Cup.

The reason: Wesley is playing in Corus. Ahh, this nation simply craves for a hero. This nation craves for somebody who can give them inspiration especially during these times of global crisis.

Another reason: the Corus event, although miles and miles away from the Philippines, seems closer than the Umali Cup due to its effective online coverage. Corus is complete with details, updates, etc.

I call on the NCFP to please, please, please improve on the coverage of its own events. NCFP's supposed first grand tournament for the year is about to begin but all I could see in its official webpage is its month-old press release about the Umali Cup.

I don't have to doubt that a single name -- GM Wesley So -- can outshine the totality of NCFP's first "grand" event for the year.

Will to win

Never dare ask GM Wesley So’s will to win.

Watch his Round 1 game against GM Friso Nijboer (2560) of the host Netherlands in the ongoing Chess Corus 2009 for you to see a 15-year old boy fighting like there’s no tomorrow.

Holding the disadvantageous Black in a Sicilian Taimanov variation, Wesley showed to the world the fighting attitude he has brought with him in this prestigious tournament to live up to his billing as the event’s top seed.

Roughly six hours of play! Sixty-seven moves. Spending some 30 minutes for a single move.

I tell you, the boy is serious. The fighting attitude he has been showing so far in the tournament defines the characteristics of a real champion.

The will to win – an attitude that separates a player from a winner.

Let’s hope that Wesley continue to display this fighting stance to position himself as the newest “fire on board.”

Corus Chess 2009 is a good venue for Wesley to have a good ‘packaging’ of himself. In my opinion, it is not enough that Wesley win his games. Rather, it is a must that he amaze the global audience.

And he has already shown us that he has got what it takes to do it – that attitude of having the will to win.

Position after 67. . .e3. White cannot stop the mate. Black will Queen his pawn and mate White's King with the help of the Black Knight.

Watch the full game HERE.

Higher order thinking skills

Higher order thinking skills (HOTS) is said to be one of the benefits that kids can get from playing chess.

I did a bit of research to have a simple understanding about this HOTS concept. Wikipedia offers this definition: “The simplest thinking skills are learning facts and recall, while higher order skills include critical thinking, analysis and problem solving."

See the difference? From simple understanding to higher order?

Studies have already shown that indeed chess leads to providing kids with HOTS.

Studies also point to the fact that HOTS can make your kids:
- More confident in their own ability to solve problems and succeed academically
- Less impulsive, more willing to disconfirm their initial hypotheses
- More able to see relationships between and among concepts which were formerly viewed as discrete
- Able to consider more information at a time while solving a problem
- More willing to take risks when approaching problems
- Most importantly, HOTS students are able to learn high-level content the first time it is taught.content the first time it is taught.

I can cite a concrete example to prove that chess – indeed – can help kids excel in school.

I have a friend with three kids who are all into chess. The kids are not just into this sport for the sake of the game – all of them are in a competitive level.

Of the three kids, the eldest became a chess champion in his department in University of the Philippines Manila. The lad is taking up a degree in medicines, if I remember the facts right.

The second kid is a chess varsitarian in UE or FEU? He is a scholar and a performer, earning his education with the help of playing chess.

The youngest, who is the most promising among the three, is a very bright scholar in La Salle Green Hills. This young boy’s grade average in school is 95%! In fact, he is now applying to be accelerated to high school at the age of 10!

Chess for kids? Chess as part of the school curriculum? That’s a triple exclamation move!!!

Chess in Philippine media

Seeing a news item about chess in the upper front page of a major daily in the country is indeed a promising sign for the development of our beloved sport in this politically challenged land.

The Philippine Daily Inquirer’s article titled “DepEd includes chess in school curriculum” landed on its front page last January 13, 2009.

Chess news on the front page?

News editors are looking for a number of elements for a news item to deserve a space in the front page.

Is it because this development is so rare in this country?

Is it because this development is extraordinary?

Is it because the Philippine media nowadays have come to realize that the sport of chess in the Philippines has a huge following – which translates to huge readership (print media), viewership (TV), listenership (radio), and clicks (online media). [For instance, the number of readers and followers of this simple blog grows each day.]

Is it because the local chess community – composed of star players, officials and supporters, fans, kibitzers, sponsors – has made the sport interesting enough to draw the media’s attention?

Or is it simply because of the name “GM Wesley So” and the words associated with him such as “prodigy”?

Would you believe that a recent news items on inq7.net entitled “Chess in DepEd curriculum ‘a brilliant move by Lapus’ and “Grandmaster So leaves for Corus Chess” are tagged as “Most Read” article?

Newspapers, tabloids, TVs, radios, websites -- all these media venues in the country are now talking about chess.

Whatever the reason, one thing is sure. Chess development in the country is geared up for a revolution.

Good seed of a cultural revolution

No other government official said it better.

The words he used were so sweet and poetic he could be named the official spokesperson for Philippine chess.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus simply impressed me -- in starting a cultural revolution in the Philippines with the inclusion of chess in the school curriculum.

Let's read how he positioned chess not only in the academic world but more so in the entire Philippine context.

DepEd includes chess in curriculum
By Philip Tubeza

Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 01:59:00 01/13/2009

Filed Under: Education

MANILA, Philippines—Education Secretary Jesli Lapus isn’t looking for a chess genius like Bobby Fischer but he knows the wonders that the game offers.

Saying studies have shown that children exposed to chess learn faster and get better grades, Lapus has ordered the integration of chess into the curriculum of grade school and high school students .

In a memo dated Jan. 8, Lapus ordered that chess should be included in the Edukasyon sa Pagpapalakas ng Katawan subject of Grade 3 to 6 students and in the Physical Education classes of those in high school.

“Global studies have shown that chess is a game that improves individual organizational and analytical skills. Children when exposed to this game at an early age achieve academically better or even faster than those who have not been engaged in said game,” Lapus said.

“Likewise, chess is among the activities that help build memory skills, concentration, self-confidence, self-esteem and in making disciplined decisions,” he added.

Chess mentors needed
To ensure the success of the program, Lapus ordered school divisions to look for chess experts in their communities who could serve as mentors to teachers and students and to purchase chess sets “following the three sets to a class ratio.”

School divisions are also responsible for training “a core of supervisors, principals or teachers, who will mentor other teachers” about the game, Lapus said.

The divisions should also monitor and evaluate “the social effects of chess on children.”
Regional offices of the Department of Education , on the other hand, should monitor the use of chess as a “strategy to develop higher order skills and values and to provide technical assistance.”

They were also tasked to submit to the Bureaus of Elementary and Secondary Education the list of schools implementing “the strategy as well as the results of the assessment.”

Sportsmanship, honesty
Lapus also ordered the department’s central office to formulate guidelines, manual or lesson exemplars on the use of chess and track the program’s impact on students.

“Upload in the DepEd website the said guidelines, manual or lesson exemplars. Other experts or aficionados could be invited to enrich said materials through the Internet,” Lapus said.

But chess will bring you more than just good grades. “Playing chess provides opportunities to practice such values as perseverance, honesty, and sportsmanship,” Lapus said.

Four international chess events

Based on the calendar of events released by the NCFP, the Philippines will host four international chess tournaments in 2009:

- Asian Continental/Individual (May 12-23, Olangapo City)
- 2nd Subic International Open (May 24-30, Olangapo City)
- 4th PGMA Cup (September 24-30, Duty Free, Manila)
- 5th Pichay International Open (October 1-8, Bacolod City)

I am hoping that Shell Corp. will heed the call to stage its own international chess tournament in the future to provide our local chess talents at least five international events.

I am optimistic, too, that we could raise the number to six in the not so distant future. Manny Pacquiao is within reach to make it possible.

This year, however, why don’t we make the holding of each international event technologically at par with how the Dresden Olympiad was staged? (It’s just a wish, you know.)

Also, I’m expecting to see new faces and stronger foreign GMs to come. It somehow feels boring to see same faces again and again.

11th Alay Kay Mayor photos

My thanks to a friend who sent in these photos taken during the 11th Alay Kay Mayor, Marikina Age Group Chess Championships.

BACK ROW: Dave and Mathew De Leon of LSGH; Mrs. Sally Bersamina and Joseph Bersamina (mother and brother of Paulo Bersamina); Prince Aquino.

FRONT ROW: Dindin Samantila, Paulo Bersamina, Daryl Unix

Paulo Bersamina (center) with NM Rudy Ibañez (I'm not sure if he's the one named masterrudyrudyi in the pinoychessinforme forum) and Mr. Johnny Gaudia, president of the Marikina Chess Federation.

Wesley in Chessbase

Our very own GM Wesley So is featured in the highly respected chess website chessbase.com for his successful campaign in the recently concluded 1st Asian Club Cup.

Notably, it was highlighted in that report that Wesley peformed better than GM Sergey Karjakin in that tournament, thus winning the prize for manning Board 1!

You could read the report HERE.

MCC 1850-below

Here's an info I grabbed from the January 13, 2009 issue of the Manila Bulletin:

The MCC 1850-below standard chess tournament gets underway at 1pm on Saturday (January 17) at the lower 2F of St. Francis Square located behind SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

The tournament is open to beginners, unrated and rated players with standard NCFP ratings not over 1850, regardless of ages and sexes.

The interesting thing about this tournament is that the six-year old Stephen Rome Pangilinan is reported to participate in the event.

Remember this little boy who at the age of six can beat opponents more than twice his age? As other onlookers said, this boy is even better than Wesley So! (Let's see if this is true.)

If time allows, I'll drop by the venue this Saturday to watch this boy again and get some pictures of him in action.

Kontrapelo

When was the last time you heard GM Wesley So lose a game?

I could not remember anymore. I don't know if that's an indication of my short memory.

Or maybe, it was already a long time since Wesley committed that "mortal sin" to lose a game.

Ahhh, nowadays Wesley is not expected to lose.

Nowadays, seeing Wesley win a game is something expected.

Nowadays, to draw with Wesley is already tantamount to victory.

And to really win against him? That's already something for the books.

But what if we ask IM Kim Steven Yap -- the chess warrior who now seems like the Filipino tormentor of Wesley?

If the reports were true, then Kim is 2-0 up against Wesley in their head-to-head match up.

Talk about kontrapelo.

Or is it really pure talent for Kim? I am optimistic that Kim would overtake a lot of our present IMs to become a GM in the near future.

Let's watch one of the games where Kim beat(!) Wesley. Please click HERE.

Here is the PGN of that particular game:

[Event "Asian Individual Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.09.25"]
[EventDate "2007.09.19"]
[Round "7.17"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Kim Steven Yap"]
[Black "Wesley So"]
[ECO "B33"]
[WhiteElo "2246"]
[BlackElo "2516"]
[PlyCount "81"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5
d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. Bd3 a6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Qh5 Nd7
12. Be3 Nf6 13. Qf3 b5 14. a3 Bb7 15. g4 Rc8 16. g5 Nd7
17. Bf5 g6 18. Bg4 Rc4 19. h4 Nb6 20. Rd1 Na4 21. Nxa4 bxa4
22. h5 Rf8 23. c3 Bxg5 24. Qe2 Re4 25. Bf3 Rh4 26. Rxh4 Bxh4
27. Qc4 f5 28. Qxa4+ Kf7 29. Qb4 Qe7 30. c4 f4 31. Bb6 e4
32. Bg4 e3 33. Kf1 Qe4 34. Rd4 Qh1+ 35. Ke2 Kg7 36. Qxd6 f3+
37. Kxe3 Bxf2+ 38. Kd2 Qe1+ 39. Kc2 Qe8 40. h6+ Kh8 41. Be6
1-0

Chess, where?

No need to grope in the dark to find out the real status of chess in the Philippines when it comes to popularity -- even at least in the online media.

Did you know the Top 10 most queried terms made by Filipinos in Yahoo! in 2008?

1. American Idol

2. Boracay

3. Charice Pempengco

4. Friendster

5. High School Musical 3

6. Jobs

7. Mall of Asia

8. Marian Rivera

9. MV Princess of the Stars

10. Olympics 2008

My wish is to see the terms "philippine chess," "pinoy chess," or simply "chess" in the list someday. And what about seeing the term "national chess federation of the philippines"? How I wish . . .

Did you know the Top 10 Celebrities most searched by Filipinos?

1. Angel Locsin

2. Angelina Jolie

3. Anne Curtis

4. Hayden

5. KC Concepcion

6. Marian Rivera

7. Piolo Pascual

8. Vanessa Hudgens

9. Wu Chun

10. Zac Efron

How about the name "Super GM Wesley So" in the future? Or anybody else related to chess? Even the name "Kasparov" would suffice.

Did you know the Top 10 Leisures most searched by Filipinos?

1. Chris Tiu

2. Grand Theft Auto

3. Lotto

4. Manny Pacquiao

5. Maria Sharapova

6. NBA

7. Olympics 2008

8. PBA

9. Rubik Cube

10. UAAP

Chess, where? I wish, I wish, I wish . . . someday there would be the term "chess."

This country needs a revolution -- in cultural sense.

First move

I chanced to read an article about the country's boxing pride Manny Pacquiao in the December 2008 issue of Reader's Digest.

The article is all about Pacquiao's life -- from his humble beginnings up to his present status as a Filipino billionaire.

In the interview, he was asked: "What do you do to relax?"

Our boxing hero replied: "My free time? This is my free time, working also. Playing darts, chess, golf and basketball, study."

Chess is in his mind and heart, I'm sure of this.

A Manny Pacquiao Chess Cup is not a farfetched idea. The chess community only needs to push the first move, I guess.

Why don't the local chess community send a communication to Pacquiao with the message 1.e4.

Who knows? Pacquiao might reply with 1. . . e5.

And the game goes on . . .

GM Wesley So's photos

A friend sent me GM Wesley So's photos taken after(?) the recently concluded 1st Asian Chess Club Cup where the RP Team (Tagaytay Team) placed fourth.

GM Wesley So (in red) with GM Sergey Karjakin (a fanstastic, highly fought draw in the 4th round!). The smiles perfectly define their 4th-round battle.

With China's GM Li Chao. Who idolizes whom? Who asked for the photo op? I want to label this photo as 'The Tsinitos." These two Asians draw a lot of respect from fellow Asian and non-Asian opponents. Ask GM Shirov -- and of course, GM Karjakin himself.

I supposed that the woman here is GM Karjakin's mother (beautiful, indeed), with Mr. Willie Abalos.

Some news links

Here are some news links you might want to visit, just in case you missed these news or at least interested to have a peek on:

GM So's character to be tested
Sales tries to rebound in Aussie chess tourney
GM Antonio posts 8th US win

Please take note that I arranged these news based on my OWN PERSONAL judgement of the value of each item.

Just a disclaimer, I cannot answer for the veracity and weight of these news.

You might find one or two or all of these news worthy, just OK, or a ridiculous joke.

NOTE: I can't still get back with my regular daily blogging. But promise, my regular blogging will resume very soon.

Thank you all for continuing to visit this blog.

Corus Chess 2009

My first visit to the official website of Corus Chess 2009 brought me gloom instead of excitement.

Seeing GM Wesley So in Group C didn't stir any adrenaline rush in me.

Seeing GM Wesley So as topseed in that group saddened me even more.

Why not at least in Group B? GM Fabiano Caruana (2640) of Italy is in that group. Even WGM Hou Yifan (2578) of China is there.

And why not in Group A? GM Sergey Karjakin (2730) is there, to whom Wesley recently produced a highly fought draw using the Black armies. And of course, GM Magnus Carlsen (2786) is also there.

Seeing Wesley fight against Karjakin was already a dream match.

Seeing Wesley fight against Carlsen could be a sweeter dream match.

Can somebody please enlighten me on the basis of choosing Corus participants. Thanks.