Break

Dear readers,

As much as I would like to blog regularly, the demand of my job and personal requirements deprive me of the luxury of time to provide you a daily dose of chess news/views that Chesswindows offers.

I decided to temporarily take a break from blogging and concentrate on a very important thing that requires my full time and attention.

God willing, I would return to blogging by October 2011.

Till then!

Zonal Championship

BY: BOBBY ANG

(As published in Chess Piece, BusinessWorld, 10 June 2011)

Zone 3.3 Open Chess Championship
Tagaytay City
May 24-30, 2011

Final Top Standings
(in tie-break order)

1. GM Susanto Megaranto INA 2529, 7.0/9

2-4. GM Mark Paragua PHI 2542, GM Zhang Zhong SIN 2592, IM Richard Bitoon PHI 2480, 6.5/9

5-6. FM Jan Emmanuel Garcia PHI 2344, IM Rolando Nolte PHI 2429, 6.0/9

7-14. GM Darwin Laylo PHI 2516, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr PHI 2589, GM John Paul Gomez PHI 2538, IM Oliver Barbosa PHI 2506, GM Nguyen Anh Dung VIE 2481, IM Nguyen Huynh Minh Huy VIE 2464, John Alcon Datu PHI 2218, IM Oliver Dimakiling PHI 2408, 5.5/9

15-21. IM Kevin Goh Wei Ming SIN 2424, IM Nguyen Van Huy VIE 2454, GM Cao Sang VIE 2547, GM Eugenio Torre PHI 2495, GM Dao Thien Hai VIE 2512, FM Nguyen Duc Hoa VIE 2458, FM Rudin Hamdani INA 2368, 5.0/9

Total of 48 players

Tie Break1: The results of the players in the same point group

Tie Break2: Rating average of the opponents

Indonesia’s GM Susanto Megaranto and the Philippines’ Mark Paragua (in photo) both qualified for the 2011 World Cup which will be held this August in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. From this event the top 3 will join five others in a Candidates match-tournament to determine the next challenger to the world champion.

Two rounds before the end it was Darwin Laylo and Goh Wei Ming who looked like they were going to advance, but both of them lost their last two games and were completely overtaken.

Mark Paragua finished the tournament undefeated and his last round victory over Goh Wei Ming tied him for second with ex-Chinese now Singaporean GM Zhang Zhong and compatriot IM Richard Bitoon, where he prevailed on tie break points.

Olay, Edgar Reggie (2343) -- Paragua, Mark (2542) [D85]
Zone 3.3 Championship, Tagaytay City, PHI (1.1), 24.05.2011
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Reggie resigns. A pity he didn’t allow the pretty finish 34...Be4+ 35.Kh3 Rh2+! 36.Bxh2 Bg2#

GM Mark Paragua has lately been showing flashes of his old form. Here is a nice game from the recent 2011 Asian Individual Championship.
Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2495) -- Paragua, Mark (2542) [D46]
ch-Asian Individual Mashhad IRI (6.13), 07.05.2011
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Filipino values

Filipino values are unique, which gives me all the reasons why I am proud to be a Filipino.

The best thing that differentiates Filipino values from other cultures is its gravity that centers on cohesive family ties, pakikipagkapwa-tao (best said in Filipino), and politeness to elders.

Let it always be that way.

I'm sorry my dear readers, but even if you hate me for this, I shall still say "No" - even if the whole world says "Yes" - to give my stand on something that I firmly believe in.

Let us always stand for what is right.

Gelfand is challenger

BY: BOBBY ANG

(As published in Chess Piece, BusinessWorld, 03 June 2011)

In the introduction to the autobiographical collection of Gelfand’s most memorable games the German GM Dirk Poldauf wrote about Boris Gelfand:

"In 1989 the magazine 64 offered an original prize to the participants in one of the now legendary USSR Championships: to be awarded to the player sacrificing the most material in the tournament. It was the twenty-one-year-old Boris Gelfand from Minsk who won this special award and who by his adventurous play went on to win the bronze medal as well. Gelfand’s playing style continues to the present day to be characterized by its direct and combative approach. In contrast to those positional players, who seek to grind down their opponents by long drawn-out maneuvering, Gelfand’s concept of chess has always included a particularly dynamic approach. His dramatic victories with White, not just but especially against the Gruenfeld Defense, are well known. But his precisely judged repertoire with the black pieces is proof of a basic combative approach far removed from classical notions of playing for equality."

The book then started with a chapter on Gelfand’s battles against the Gruenfeld.

Well, the aggressive tendencies of Gelfand has considerably toned down in the past 10 years, and it is now only once in a while that we get to see his wonderful attacking instinct in action. On the other hand even up to the present day his great skill in playing against the Gruenfeld should be respected.

GM Alexander Grischuk found out the hard way during his Candidates’ Finals match against GM Boris Gelfand. This was a six-game match with the winner to challenge India’s Viswanathan Anand in a World Championship match next year. The first five games were all drawn, but in game 6 Grischuk decided to test Gelfand with the Gruenfeld. Here is what happened:

Gelfand, Boris (2733) -- Grischuk, Alexander (2747) [D76]
FIDE Candidates Matches 2011 Kazan/Tatarstan/Russia (3.6), 25.05.2011
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Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 61.





Grischuk: "I think it was a super game by White, and I congratulate Boris wholeheartedly!"

So, Gelfand gets a chance at the world title next year against Viswanathan Anand. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) Executive Board gave during its congress last 2009 an option to London, England to organize the World Chess Championship in 2012. However, the organizing body "Chess promotions Ltd" headed by IM Malcolm Pein were not able to come to terms with FIDE within the deadline period, so as of now there is still no venue although it was announced to take place from April 10-May 31, 2012.

Who do I think will win? That is a question for a different column!

Reader comments/suggestions are solicited. E-mail address is bangcpa@gmail.com

More games from Zone 3.3

When I first saw these games, I said "Wow, is this a 13-year-old kid playing?" I am referring to the country's youngest national junior champ ever, FM Paulo Bersamina (in photo), the youngest player in the recently concluded Zone 3.3 Open Chess Championship.

It was neither the moves, nor the results of the games that caught my attention as I was playing over the games. Rather, it was the awesome, competitive attitude and the unquenchable will to win of a 13-year-old kid who gave it all against more experienced and higher-rated opponents. The result? Serene beauty of chess made manifest.

Select games of FM Paulo Bersamina from Zone 3.3 Open:
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Pichay Cup

The 2nd Chairman Prospero A. Pichay Cup Open Chess Championship is set to reel off today at Travelers Hotel in Subic, Olongapo City.

Only a few days after the conclusion of Zone 3.3 Open and Women Chess Championships that were held in Tagaytay City, this event makes for a 1-2 punch of international chess tournaments organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) in a span of less than a month where Filipino chess players should take advantage from.

An event like this serves as golden opportunities for Filipino players to further their chess goals. Aside from the beneficial exposure of banging it out against foreign counterparts, a tournament of this level could be a mining ground for title norms for our local players.

The golden opportunity is already in our doorstep. The chance is within reach. Economics (transport fares, food and accommodation allowances) and social factors (culture) will not be of so much burden to Filipinos if compared to tournaments held abroad.

Our players, especially the aspiring ones, should not miss an event like this, for this may hardly come again.

This is our battleground. Use your advantage.

The table is served. Feast on it.

NM Vasquez

To the friends and colleagues of NM Andrew Vasquez (in photo) who wish to condole with his passing, his remains lie in Rosal St., Miguelito Homes, Gen. T. De Leon, Valenzuela City. Contact: 0999-765-7509.