Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Kiddie challengers


It was really nice to see our young kiddie players banging against the veterans in the Challenge section of the just concluded 4th PGMA Cup in Parañaque City.

Four kiddie players joined the tournament namely, Paulo Bersamina, Jerad Docena, Vince Angelo Medina and Carlo Angelo Perez.

Not only that these kids have the courage to face veteran players, they also have the talent to beat them.

Believe it or not, they command respect even when facing the tournament's top seeds and other seasoned players.

At the very least, the tournament served as a learning experience for them, I suppose.

Here are some notable notes about the performance of these kiddies:

Bersamina defeated No.2 seed Nazario Ubanan in the very first round

Medina finished the tournament in the Top 10 (out of 33 players)

Perez finished at No.12 with 5.0 points (same output as Medina)

Docena drew with Arnel Penero (2067) in Round 9

Below is the winning game of RP's reigning U12 champion Bersamina against No.2 seed Ubanan that ended in 92 moves!

Where have the ladies gone?

If not for the participation of WGM Krutika Nadig of India, the 4th PGMA Cup Championships, both Open and Challenge, would have been an all-male event.

I used to see a lot of female participants in the past stagings of PGMA Cup. But now, they're almost gone.

Imagine, not one female player joined this year's PGMA Cup Challenge.

Thanks to WGM Krutika, there's one rose - who's beautiful indeed - among the thorns.

I was expecting to see some girls, if not ladies, in the Challenge section. Not one was there.

Perhaps they're no longer interested to get exposure, experience, and training in such a competitive field.

Could economics be the reason? I don't know.

Or they don't want to be approached by veteran vulture players who sell games in exchange of points?

How about the four Vietnam-bound ladies (WFM Catherine Pereña, WFM Shercila Cua, WIM Cristine Mariano, and WIM Beverly Mendoza) to have seen actions in the Open section as a preparation for their stint in the upcoming Asian Indoor Games this November?

Not one of them was there.

At least, the NCFP should have required them to participate - and answered for the cost - to prepare them for the Vietnam war.

Yes, I saw ladies there but not as players but rather as fiancees/companions/friends (whatever) of male players.

Knock, knock!! Where have the ladies gone?

(IN PHOTO: Some foreign female participants of last year's PGMA Cup Open giggling over the post-tame analysis being done by GM Wesley So.)

Ganzon tops 4th PGMA Cup Challenge

After a loss at the early part of the tournament, Rommel Ganzon racked up five straight wins to finish solo champion with 7.5 points to rule the just concluded 4th PGMA Cup Challenge at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque.

The No.11 seed Ganzon defeated top-seed Edsel Montaya, the tournament leader through seven rounds, in the penultimate round to highlight his ascent to the top.

Then he beat Ric Raymund Dela Peña in the last round, both of them leading the 33-player battlefield with 6.5 points each entering Round 9.

Montoya shared the second to third spot with NM Andrew Vazquez with 7.0 points apiece.

With the final round loss to Ganzon, Dela Peña finished the tournament at No.4 spot.

FINAL RANKINGS

Rk. Name Pts.
1 Ganzon Rommel 7.5
2 Montoya Edsel 7
3 Vasquez Andrew 7
4 Dela Pena Ric Raymund 6.5
5 Ricafort Marlon 6
6 Caumban Jose Piff 6
7 Balquin Johnnel 5.5
8 Ubanan Nazario 5.5
9 Maamo Harison 5.5
10 Medina Vince Angelo 5
11 Alora Verth 5
12 Perez Carl Angelo 5
13 Cocjin Joel 5
14 Bersamina Paulo 4.5
15 Pasco Sonny 4.5
16 Yu Manny 4.5
Legaspi Gary 4.5
18 Fortunado Jay 4.5
19 Penero Arnel 4.5
20 Docena Jerad 4.5
21 Lumancas Santiago 4.5
22 Trajera Ryan 4
23 Matutino Jose Stevan 4
24 Pascua Cyrus Ian 3.5
25 Gamis Emir 3.5
26 Soria Marguel 3.5
27 Bartolome Antonio 3.5
28 Juada Vic 3.5
29 Almuete Alvin 3.5
30 Labarda Amando 3
31 Abedin Havell 2
32 Yeo Ricson 1.5
33 Anquilo Alexander 1

(IN PHOTO: Ganzon appears to be in serious trouble against RP's reigning U12 champion Paulo Bersamina in Round 5.)

GM Filippov rules 4th PGMA Cup Open

GM Anton Filippov (2595) of Uzbekistan jostled his way through the jampacked leaderboard to rule the 4th PGMA Chess Cup Open which concluded today at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City.

Filippov and GMs NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son (Vietnam), GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan (Iran), GAGUNASHVILI Merab (Georgia), and GEETHA Narayan Gopal (India) shared the 1-5 spots with 6.5 points apiece but Filippov emerged champion by superior tie break points.

Notably, World Chess Championship-bound GM Rogelio Antonio (2557) of the Philippines came just a little short with 6.0 points, only half a point off the leaders, after beating GM-elect Ronald Dableo in the final round to finish at No.7.

Notable notes in Round 9:

GM Darwin Laylo bowed to GM GEETHA Narayan Gopal of India

GM Rogelio Antonio beat GM-elect Ronald Dableo

GM Rogelio Antonio is the only Filipino campaigner who never suffered a loss in the tournament

FINAL RANKINGS

Rk. Name FED Pts.
1 gm FILIPPOV Anton UZB 6.5
2 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son VIE 6.5
3 gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan IRI 6.5
4 gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab GEO 6.5
5 gm GEETHA Narayan Gopal IND 6.5
6 gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael GEO 6
7 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. PHI 6
8 im DIMAKILING Oliver PHI 6
9 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura PHI 5.5
10 gm WONG Meng Kong SIN 5.5
11 gm KOTANJIAN Tigran ARM 5.5
12 gm GOMEZ John Paul PHI 5.5
13 im BITOON Richard PHI 5.5
14 gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar KAZ 5.5
15 gm DAS Neelotpal IND 5.5
16 SENADOR Emmanuel PHI 5.5
17 gm GONZALES Jayson PHI 5.5
18 im DABLEO Ronald PHI 5
19 gm LAYLO Darwin PHI 5
20 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr KAZ 5
21 gm DAO Thien Hai VIE 5
22 gm LI Shilong CHN 5
23 im NOLTE Rolando PHI 5
24 ANDADOR Rolando PHI 4.5
25 OLAY Edgar Reggie PHI 4.5
26 im GARMA Chito PHI 4.5
27 gm PARAGUA Mark PHI 4.5
28 MACALA Allan PHI 4.5
29 fm CARLOS Leonardo PHI 4.5
30 MORAZO John Ranel PHI 4.5
31 im TIRTO INA 4.5
32 SEGARRA Randy PHI 4.5
33 SEVILLANO Voltaire PHI 4.5
34 CAUSO Deniel PHI 4.5
35 fm PASCUA Haridas PHI 4.5
36 wgm NADIG Krutika IND 4
37 LUMANCAS Lyndon PHI 4
38 BAGAMASBAD Efren PHI 4
39 DELA CRUZ Richard PHI 4
40 ELORTA David PHI 3.5
41 ABELGAS Roel PHI 3.5
42 PORTUGALERA Ric PHI 3.5
43 ALISANGCO Nicomedes PHI 3.5
44 GARMA Edgardo PHI 3.5
45 LABAY Rainier PHI 3.5
46 JORDA Danilo PHI 3.5
47 BRANZUELA Ali PHI 3
48 RIVERA Albert PHI 3
49 CORDERO Angel PHI 3
50 POLAO Ben PHI 3
51 gm TORRE Eugenio PHI 2.5
52 im NADERA Barlo PHI 2
53 LEGASPI Edmundo PHI 1.5
54 YULO Gerardo PHI 1.5
55 DIAZ Conrado PHI 1
56 GEPIGA Glicel PHI 1

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Teener Carlsen beats World No.1 Topalov

Here is a star proving he's a real star.

World No.4 GM Magnus Carlsen (2772) just beat World No.1 GM Veselin Topalov (2813) to sustain his 2/2 awesome performance in the 2nd Pearl Spring tournament in Nanjing, China.

His Round 1 win was over GM Peter Leko (2762) of Hungary.

The Carlsen Team has just acquired the services of the legendary former world champion GM Garry Kasparov as the Norwegian sensation's second.

Perhaps, the move to get Kasparov as a second has started to pay off. Or is it too early to tell? (photo sourced from the tournament's official website).

4th PGMA Cup photos













4th PGMA Cup Open Final Round

Notable notes going into the final round of the 4th PGMA Cup Open:

Of the 41 Filipino campaigners, not one is in sight to win the championship title

Of the 15 foreign participants, eight of them occupy the top spots

Players from eight chess federations occupy the top 10 spots

GM Filippov Anton (2595) of Uzbekistan (in photo) leads the tournament (photo sourced from mateoftheking.com)

Regardless of Round 9 game result, IM Richard Bitoon won't have the chance to nail his 3rd and final GM norm


Round 9 Pairings:

Name Pts. Result Pts. Name
gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab 6 6 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son
gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael 5½ 6 gm FILIPPOV Anton
gm KOTANJIAN Tigran 5½ 5½ gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan
gm LAYLO Darwin 5 5½ gm NAYANAN Getha Gopal
im DABLEO Ronald 5 5 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr.
gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar 5 5 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura
im DIMAKILING Oliver 5 5 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr
im BITOON Richard 5 5 SENADOR Emmanuel
gm GONZALES Jayson 5 5 gm WONG Meng Kong
im NOLTE Rolando 4½ 4½ gm LI Shilong
gm GOMEZ John Paul 4½ 4½ im GARMA Chito
gm DAS Neelotpal 4½ 4½ fm PASCUA Haridas
gm DAO Thien Hai 4 4 BAGAMASBAD Efren
SEVILLANO Voltaire 4 4 ANDADOR Rolando
SEGARRA Randy 4 4 fm CARLOS Leonardo
MACALA Allan 4 4 CAUSO Deniel
OLAY Edgar Reggie 4 4 MORAZO John Ranel
gm PARAGUA Mark 3½ 3½ ELORTA David
im TIRTO 3½ 3½ ABELGAS Roel
DELA CRUZ Richard 3 3 BRANZUELA Ali
wgm NADIG Krutika 3 3 CORDERO Angel
JORDA Danilo 3 3 LABAY Rainier
LUMANCAS Lyndon 3 3 RIVERA Albert
ALISANGCO Nicomedes 2½ 3 POLAO Ben
GARMA Edgardo 2½ 1½ YULO Gerardo
GEPIGA Glicel 1 2½ PORTUGALERA Ric
gm TORRE Eugenio 2½ 0 not paired
im NADERA Barlo 2 0 not paired
DIAZ Conrado 1 0 not paired
LEGASPI Edmundo 1½ 0 not paired

4th PGMA Cup Open Round 8

Notable developments in Round 8:

GM Torre withdrew from the tournament (he lost to David Elorta in Round 6 and to FM Haridas Pascua in Round 7)

IM Bitoon lost to GM FILIPPOV Anton

GM John Paul Gomez lost to GM GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan

FM Haridas Pascua beat GM Mark Paragua





Rankings after Round 8


Rk. Name Pts.
1 gm FILIPPOV Anton 6
2 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son 6
3 gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab 6
4 gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael 5.5
5 gm KOTANJIAN Tigran 5.5
6 gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan 5.5
7 gm NAYANAN Getha Gopal 5.5
8 gm WONG Meng Kong 5
9 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 5
10 im DABLEO Ronald 5
11 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. 5
12 gm LAYLO Darwin 5
13 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr 5
14 im BITOON Richard 5
15 gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar 5
16 im DIMAKILING Oliver 5
17 gm GONZALES Jayson 5
18 SENADOR Emmanuel 5
19 gm GOMEZ John Paul 4.5
20 im GARMA Chito 4.5
21 gm DAS Neelotpal 4.5
22 gm LI Shilong 4.5
23 im NOLTE Rolando 4.5
24 fm PASCUA Haridas 4.5
25 OLAY Edgar Reggie 4
26 ANDADOR Rolando 4
27 MACALA Allan 4
28 fm CARLOS Leonardo 4
29 MORAZO John Ranel 4
30 gm DAO Thien Hai 4
31 SEGARRA Randy 4
32 SEVILLANO Voltaire 4
33 CAUSO Deniel 4
34 BAGAMASBAD Efren 4
35 ELORTA David 3.5
36 gm PARAGUA Mark 3.5
37 im TIRTO 3.5
38 ABELGAS Roel 3.5
39 wgm NADIG Krutika 3
40 RIVERA Albert 3
41 BRANZUELA Ali 3
42 LABAY Rainier 3
43 LUMANCAS Lyndon 3
44 POLAO Ben 3
45 CORDERO Angel 3
46 DELA CRUZ Richard 3
47 JORDA Danilo 3
48 PORTUGALERA Ric 2.5
49 ALISANGCO Nicomedes 2.5
50 gm TORRE Eugenio 2.5
51 GARMA Edgardo 2.5
52 im NADERA Barlo 2
53 LEGASPI Edmundo 1.5
54 YULO Gerardo 1.5
55 DIAZ Conrado 1
56 GEPIGA Glicel 1

4th PGMA Cup Challenge Round 8


Notable development in Round 8:

Tournament leader through eight rounds Edsel Montoya faltered in the penultimate round against Rommel Ganzon to slide to 3rd spot.

Rankings after Round 8:

Rk. Name Pts.
1 Dela Pena Ric Raymund 6.5
2 Ganzon Rommel 6.5
3 Montoya Edsel 6
4 Vasquez Andrew 6
5 Balquin Johnnel 5.5
6 Maamo Harison 5.5
7 Medina Vince Angelo 5
8 Alora Verth 5
9 Ricafort Marlon 5
10 Caumban Jose Piff 5
11 Ubanan Nazario 4.5
12 Yu Manny 4.5
13 Pasco Sonny 4.5
14 Legaspi Gary 4.5
15 Trajera Ryan 4
16 Matutino Jose Stevan 4
17 Cocjin Joel 4
18 Penero Arnel 4
19 Perez Carl Angelo 4
20 Docena Jerad 4
21 Bersamina Paulo 3.5
22 Fortunado Jay 3.5
23 Pascua Cyrus Ian 3.5
24 Lumancas Santiago 3.5
25 Soria Marguel 3.5
26 Labarda Amando 3
27 Bartolome Antonio 3
28 Almuete Alvin 3
29 Gamis Emir 2.5
30 Juada Vic 2.5
31 Abedin Havell 2
32 Yeo Ricson 1.5
33 Anquilo Alexander 1

Monday, September 28, 2009

IA Gene Poliarco

I always see this frail, veteran chess arbiter in major tournaments held in Metro Manila.

IA Gene Poliarco (in spotlight) already comes as a common sight to see, if not yet an institutional image, in every big-time tournament here.

Talk about patience and tenacity. Oh wow! I saw IA Poliarco last Sunday at Duty Free Shop painstakingly encoding into electronic copy the scoresheets of the 4th PGMA Cup Open - all by himself!!

He is the reason why the PGN files of Round 1 games are now available for us to enjoy (now available at NCFP's official website). Just in case you missed my post about the Round 1 games, please watch it HERE.

Last year, I saw some younger staff doing the thing. This year, however, the committee's office seems short of staff support. I think you no longer have to ask why waiting for the PGNs of Round 2 games and onwards comes as a test of your patience.

I hate to say it, but I guess only the positive aura being emitted by the steadfastness of IA Poliarco is the only good thing there is in this year's staging of the PGMA Cup.

4th PGMA Cup Challenge Photos

SIMPLY CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.


















More 4th PGMA Cup Open photos











4th PGMA Cup Open Round 6

Notable developments in Round 6:

GM NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam beat erstwhile leader GM WONG Meng Kong of Singapore to wrest the solo leadership

GM-elect Ronald Dableo lost to GM NAYANAN Getha Gopal, a dent on his quest for the 2500-mark to earn his full GM title

GM John Paul Gomez lost to GM GAGUNASHVILI Merab of Georgia

GM Eugene Torre lost to giant-killer David Elorta. Torre now has five draws and one loss in six outings

GM Mark Paragua lost to IM Chito Garma

GM Bong Villamayor sidelined the beauty of Indian WGM Krutika Nadig, rendering her second loss. Her first loss was inflicted by her co-Indian campaigner GM DAS Neelotpal in Round 2

Rankings after Round 6

Rk. Name Pts.
1 gm NGUYEN Ngoc Truong Son 5
2 gm FILIPPOV Anton 4.5
3 gm WONG Meng Kong 4.5
4 gm GAGUNASHVILI Merab 4.5
5 gm KOTANJIAN Tigran 4.5
6 gm NAYANAN Getha Gopal 4.5
7 im BITOON Richard 4.5
8 gm ANTONIO Rogelio Jr. 4
9 gm MCHEDLISHVILI Mikhael 4
10 gm GHAEMMAGHAMI Ehsan 4
11 gm LAYLO Darwin 4
12 gm KOSTENKO Pyotr 4
13 gm ISMAGAMBETOV Anuar 4
14 im DIMAKILING Oliver 4
15 im DABLEO Ronald 3.5
16 gm VILLAMAYOR Buenaventura 3.5
17 ELORTA David 3.5
18 gm GOMEZ John Paul 3.5
19 gm DAO Thien Hai 3.5
20 im GARMA Chito 3.5
21 gm GONZALES Jayson 3.5
22 gm LI Shilong 3.5
23 OLAY Edgar Reggie 3
24 fm CARLOS Leonardo 3
25 MORAZO John Ranel 3
26 MACALA Allan 3
27 CAUSO Deniel 3
28 gm DAS Neelotpal 3
29 SEGARRA Randy 3
30 SENADOR Emmanuel 3
31 SEVILLANO Voltaire 3
32 BRANZUELA Ali 3
33 gm PARAGUA Mark 2.5
34 ANDADOR Rolando 2.5
35 im TIRTO 2.5
36 wgm NADIG Krutika 2.5
37 GARMA Edgardo 2.5
38 PORTUGALERA Ric 2.5
39 gm TORRE Eugenio 2.5
40 RIVERA Albert 2.5
41 im NOLTE Rolando 2.5
42 BAGAMASBAD Efren 2.5
43 LUMANCAS Lyndon 2.5
44 fm PASCUA Haridas 2.5
45 im NADERA Barlo 2
46 LABAY Rainier 2
47 CORDERO Angel 2
48 DELA CRUZ Richard 2
49 POLAO Ben 2
50 JORDA Danilo 2
51 LEGASPI Edmundo 1.5
52 ABELGAS Roel 1.5
53 ALISANGCO Nicomedes 1.5
54 GEPIGA Glicel 1
55 DIAZ Conrado 1
56 YULO Gerardo 0.5

4th PGMA Cup Open photos














MORE PHOTOS TO COME