ANNOTATED GAME: Gata Kamsky vs Wesley So

BY: BOBBY ANG

(Abridged version, as published in Chess Piece, BusinessWorld, December 11, 2009)

In the third round our hero Wesley So was paired against Gata Kamsky, formerly from the Soviet Union and now representing the United States of America. In terms of rating and ranking he might be placed below Wesley’s 2nd-round opponent Vassily Ivanchuk (2739 vs 2695, no. 12 worldwide vs no. 41), but Kamsky might be harder to beat than "Chuckie," for he is a pragmatist, the type who strives to play 60 good moves in a game and does not waste time searching for the truth in each and every position. You see Ivanchuk in terms of understanding and knowledge is probably in the world top 3 (together with Anand and Kramnik) but sometimes gets carried away with his calculations, falls into time trouble, and blunders badly.

And Kamsky is not lacking in credentials. Here are the highlights of his career:

1. Gata Kamsky was born in June 2, 1974 to a Tatar family in Russia. His real surname is Sabirov, and from infancy carried used "Kamsky," which is the stage name of his grandparents, members of a travelling Tatar theater group. He was Soviet Junior Champion twice before 1989, when he and his father "defected" to the United States after playing in the New York Open.

2. Kamsky reached the final of the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996 at the age of 22, he played a 20-game match against Anatoly Karpov for the FIDE World Chess Championship 1996 title at Elista in Kalmykia, losing 7.5-10.5 (+3=9"6).

3. After losing the match to Karpov, Kamsky gave up chess to finish his studies. He attended medical school for a year, then transferred to the Touro Law Center in New York where he graduated with a law degree in 1999.

4. He returned to international chess play by taking part in the 1999 FIDE Knockout World Championship event in Las Vegas.

5. Kamsky played in the FIDE Chess World Cup 2005, and qualified for the Candidates Tournament for the World Chess Championship 2007. He won his first round match against Étienne Bacrot by a score of three wins no losses and one draw (+3-0=1), but was eliminated when he lost his second-round match to Boris Gelfand +0-2=3.

6. In Nov.-Dec. 2007, Kamsky won the Chess World Cup 2007. This earned him a match against Veselin Topalov in 2009 for the right to challenge for the World Chess Championship 2010. The match was held in Sofia, Bulgaria, in February 2009, and was won by Topalov 4.5-2.5.

7. He is the defending champion in this, the 2009 FIDE World Cup and, rating notwithstanding, is considered one of the favorites to win.

Whereas there was talk that Wesley So was lucky to beat Ivanchuk in the second round (completely unjustified in my belief), there was none of that here, for Wesley clearly outplayed Kamsky in the decisive first match game.

Kamsky, Gata (2695) - So, Wesley (2640) [C11]
World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk RUS (3.1), 27.11.2009
ANNOTATED. REQUIRES JAVA TO VIEW THE GAME





The next day Wesley So held a draw and completed the upset. Gata Kamsky went home to the United States and Wesley advanced to the 4th round, down to 16 players from the starting line of 128.

In a post-round press conference Gata Kamsky fielded some questions from the press:

Question: How come that you became another victim of the new star of the Cup -- So?

Answer: Everything is clear: my opponent was better prepared and I was always choosing the wrong openings. In the first game I was playing recklessly and got the problematic position. I was thinking that could manage to win the fellow on class. But he turned out to be very serious chess player. Second game: I had to solve difficult problem: it is almost impossible to win a good player with black. I played "Dutch defense," sacrificed a pawn and got some chances. But at one point I went too far and the advantages for my opponent were clear enough and I offered a draw not to suffer…

Question: Perhaps you underestimated your opponent?

Answer: No, it is not the case. So was playing better and he deserved the victory

Wesley So, the whole Philippines is proud of you, most especially me.

2nd Santa Rosa Estates 2 Chess Cup

BY: ANTHONY NAVARRO (aka pinoymaster77)

The most noble and generous chess undertaking that I know of in Laguna chess got underway last November 29 at the posh Sta Rosa Estates 2 Clubhouse. This is the second staging of this chess project following the successful first tournament conducted earlier in May during the summer break. This chess project which is the brainchild of organizer and SRE2 Officer Boboy Solero aims to promote chess amoung the young and SRE2’s surrounding communities, particularly Laguna’s 1st District.

Taking off from the initial May tourney wherein the participants mainly came from Santa Rosa and neighboring Binan villages, the tournament has had wider awareness and attracted a modest field of 54 players consisting of 26 players in the Open, 12 players in the Juniors (14 to 19yrs old) and 16 players in the Kiddies (13yrs old & below) Division. Players from Calamba,Los Banos and even from Pagsanjan and Muntinlupa played in the event, joining the ranks of Sta Rosa and Brent players who played in the May event. Players from Caritas Don Bosco couldn’t make it due to concurrent schedule of the DBAA competitions. Nevertheless aside from the free snacks plus coffee and the air-conditioned venue, this event offered very juicy prizes for each division as follows :

Champion PhP 3000
1st Runner-Up 2000
2nd Runner-Up 1000
4th Place 750
5th Place 500
6th to 10th Places 300

Best female for kiddies got PhP 300 while those for Juniors and Open got PhP 500. No wonder this 2nd staging became a virtual ‘Laguna Open’ since most of the toughest kiddies and juniors players in Laguna were in the field. The only other kiddies players whom I’m not aware of who weren’t able to play were Fortado (Santa Rosa) and Perez (San Pablo)., Manansala also didn’t make it in time for the first round.

In the hotly contested Kiddies event, Palarong Pambansa silver medalist Michelle Yaon of Calamba ruled the field, with an exciting final round fighting draw with defending champion Shania Mae Mendoza. Kenneth Flores of Pagsanjan also wielded a big stick in derailing other top woodpushers, this kid also did well in the recent 1st CUC Chess Olympics upsetting national age grouper Jerad Docena and also placed well in the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan (TWH) event by Meralco Chess Club last Dec. 6. Sta Rosa’s Shania Mae fought through the tougher field and finished third, followed closely by another top Santa Rosa kiddie player Mark James ‘MJ’ Marcellana.

Both players are the top guns of Sta Rosa’s MJ & Erl’s kiddies chess team which placed 2nd in the Laguna Intertown,under the tutelage of Coach Tony Yu. Both are also competing in the on-going Singapore Chess Festival this Dec 10 thru 14. Jhoemar Mendiogarin rounded up the top 5. We look forward to more slambang action, hopefully in the summer of 2010!

Here are the TOP TEN finishers per Division ( 5 Rounds Swiss System, 25 Mins Rapid):
Chief Arbiter : Joel Hicap Arbiter : Ver Alba

KIDDIES (13 Yrs Old & Below)
NAME LOCATION Points
Michelle Yaon Calamba 4.5
Kenneth Flores Pagsanjan 4.0
Shania Mae Mendoza Santa Rosa 3.5
Mark James Marcellana Santa Rosa 3.5
Jhoemar Mendiogarin Calamba 3.0
Ma. Yssabelle Semillano Muntinlupa 3.0 Top Female
Blaine Atkins Brent 3.0
Janelle Basbas Santa Rosa 2.5
Nathan Jeong Brent 2.5
John Vic Mendiogarin Calamba 2.0

JUNIORS (14Yrs to 19Yrs Old)
Christian Nanola Calamba 4.5
Aaron Rivas Binan 4.0
Michael Penero Binan (Perpetual) 3.5
Kelly Rancap Binan (Perpetual) 3.0
John Pason ? 3.0
Ruth De Guzman Santa Rosa 3.0 Top Female
Mauro Ciriaco Santa Rosa 3.0
Mark Tanamor Calamba 2.0
Amram Rivas Binan 2.0
Louis Ryu Brent 1.0

OPEN
Jayson Visca Binan 5.0
Irineo Gonzales Calamba 4.0
Resvin Diocares Santa Rosa 4.0
Ronald De Guzman Santa Rosa 3.5
Niko Minguez Santa Rosa 3.5 (3rd Yr HS)
Benjo Panganiban ? 3.5
Richie Jocson Calamba 3.5
Anthony Gallon ? 3.0
Gerlyn Medina ? 3.0
Bel Reboldela ? 3.0
Michaela Concio (15th Place) Los Banos 2.5 Top Female

6 Pinoys among leaders in Singapore after Round 2

Six of 15 Filipino campaigners in the 2009 Singapore Challenger chess tournament have remained unscathed after two rounds.

Marie Joseph Turqueza, Christy Lamiel Bernales, Wilfredo Abalos, Wilfredo Neri, Jedara Docena, and Paulo Bersamina are now among the 19 players who are leading the tournament with 2/2 performance.

Big Round 1 winner Jean Karen Enriquez lost to compatriot Docena while the very promising six-year old Stephen Rome Pangilinan bowed to higher-rated opponent Steven O`reilly of Australia in Round 2.

Notably, RP's reigning Girl Under-14 champion Enriquez beat No.2-seed CM Gokhale Raghunandan (2147) of India in Round 1.

In Round 3, however, clashes between Filipinos are unavoidable. NCFP Executive Director Willie Abalos (is that really him?) will face RP's reigning Girl Under-16 champion Bernales while NCFP Regional Coordinator Neri will play against RP's reigning Boy Under-12 ruler Bersamina.

RANKINGS AFTER ROUND 2

Rk. Name FED Pts.
1 Turqueza Mari Joseph PHI 2
Bernales Christy Lamiel PHI 2
Jung Young Hoon KOR 2
Azarya Jodi Setyaki INA 2
Abalos Wilfredo PHI 2
Ang Keliang Albert MAS 2
Neri Wilfredo PHI 2
Tan Jian Wen Wilbur SIN 2
9 Attwood James AUS 2
10 CM Rezon Yanuar INA 2
Neubronner Shannon Scott SIN 2
Ahmad Ismail MAS 2
Docena Jedara PHI 2
O`reilly Steven AUS 2
Paulo Bersamina PHI 2
Chan Cheng Hoong Joel SIN 2
Arjun Vairavan SIN 2
Branzuela Bong SIN 2
Yeoh Khay Guan SIN 2
20 Tay Tze Kiat Jonathan SIN 1.5
Yuliana Sentosa INA 1.5
22 Aay Aisyah Anisa INA 1.5
23 Ong Wah Peng John SIN 1.5
Tan Kwang Shing Bryan SIN 1.5
Limono Handjojo INA 1.5
26 Eng Andre Jerome SIN 1
Cheng Jun Yuan Ryan SIN 1
Luthfi Nurul Huda INA 1
Jean Karen Enriquez PHI 1
Madhavan Olivia MAS 1
Mirano Mira PHI 1
Pangilinan Stephen Rome PHI 1
Pramod Hegde Rajath SIN 1
Tang Hang Sing MAS 1
35 Lai Rui Qian Amber SIN 1
Zheng Junren SIN 1
37 Dennis Nigel W ENG 1
Roos Ezet RSA 1
Tan Kwang Yang Aaron SIN 1
Aron Teh Eu Wen MAS 1
Boey Jin Huey MAS 1
Docena Jesca PHI 1
Jee Kai Xin SIN 1
Kuan Julian HKG 1
Morado Jeth Romy PHI 1
Muhammad Firmansyah P INA 1
Mukmin Panggabean INA 1
Revita Samantha Glo PHI 1
Sitorus Tromphin INA 1
Monica Putri Wigustira INA 1
Wong Chun Yan SIN 1
Yat Guo Jie MAS 1
Tejaswini Reddy S IND 1
54 CM Gokhale Raghunandan V IND 1
Chong Kwai Kun MAS 1
Jang Kyungsik KOR 1
57 Chang Cheng Hwee SIN 1
Chua Xavier SIN 1
Aljunied Sharifah Safiyya SIN 1
Aljunied Syed Muhd Asadullah SIN 1
Chew Clement SIN 1
Jee Kai Yen SIN 1
Tan Wen Xin SIN 1
Woong Zhi Wei William SIN 1
65 Pereira Johnharry SIN 0.5
66 Mark James Marcellana PHI 0.5
67 Jang Jaewon KOR 0.5
Shania Mae Mendoza PHI 0.5
69 Chua Yu Hui SIN 0.5
70 Teng Kai Lee Eunice SIN 0.5
71 Jung Min Jung KOR 0
Koh Zong Duan SIN 0
Lau Xian Hui Rudolph SIN 0
Lee Jun Wei SIN 0
Lim Peck Hwa SIN 0
Lindvall Per SWE 0
Low Yi Quan SIN 0
Tan Si Xian SIN 0
79 Lum Miao Sen SIN 0
Nistala Kameswara Rishi Yeshay SIN 0
Seo Jungmin KOR 0
82 Datu Alcon John PHI 0
WCM Kadek Iin Dwijayanti INA 0
Ahmad Yahaya MAS 0
Augusto Yesayas Joel INA 0
Charmaine S Perit PHI 0
Doshii Devansh Sanjay SIN 0
Hii Kai Li Annabel SIN 0
Isa Aiman Zaki SIN 0
Lim Wan Yu Steffi SIN 0
Reddy Sushruta IND 0
Siew Kai Xin SIN 0
Tiong Jun Wei Jon SIN 0
Chandana Priya Reddy S IND 0

RMCHS UNDER – 16 RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT WINNERS

By: Marlon Bernardino

Manila, Philippines---Don Alejandro Roces Sr. Science and Technology High School student Justin David Corpin was adjudged the winner in the RMCHS UNDER – 16 RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT held recently in Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School (RMCHS) Chess Room. Corpin collected 5.5 points in 6 rounds.

Placing second is Noah Mendoza while Jan Micheal Inocencio came in third with aggregate points of 5 and 4.5 respectively. The tourney was organized by RMCHS Students Chess Club Honorary President Jarmaine M. Mendoza, the country's youngest chess organizer at the age of 16.

According to Raul Cruz and International Arbiter / National Master Erwin Carag, RMCHS Chess Club advisers, “we mold the students not only by nurturing them to become good chess players, but also to become good leaders and citizens as well.”

The RMCHS chess club is the oldest existing school – based chess club in the Philippines which started in 1981. Among the known chess products of RMCHS Chess Club include Asia's first grandmaster Eugene Torre, FIDE Master Elmer Carag, NM Roberto Suelo, NM Michael Gotel, WFM Sheerie Joy Lomibao at WNM Daisy Rivera.

San Juan Triangular Division Chess Meet winners

By: Marlon Bernardino

Manila, Philippines---San Juan National High School student Ma. Perla Datu topped the secondary girls group while younger brother John Vassily “JV” Datu of San Juan Elementary School was the clear winner in the elementary boys group in the San Juan Triangular Division Chess Meet which was held last December 5 at Xavier School in Greenhills, San Juan.

Included in the winners list are Justin Pe and Mervin Ledesma, both from Xavier School in the secondary boys group and Anne Toni Rose Monreal and Rusalina Buenavista in the elementary girls group. Prince Philip Nicdao places second in the elementary boys. All the winners will advance to the Palarong NCR Chess Meet coming into action in February 2010.

Barangay Wesley magic

I call it magic.

That's how enigmatic the charisma of GM Wesley So is. Did you have any idea of how Barangay Wesley citizens spend the time with each other when they get together?

Unique. That's the word to describe it.

See this video which I took after Wesley's simul with BW members at Burgoo Restaurant, Mall of Asia, Pasay City last November 2.

Watch how BW members said "goodbye" many times, but nobody wanted to leave. Magic indeed.

Deadly beautiful

Would you believe that they are Pinay taekwondo jins? How beautiful - and dangerous - indeed!! Oh boy, they look more of pageantry winners to me - as in Miss World, Miss Universe, and Miss International, hehe.

Janice Lagman, Rani Ann Ortega and Camille Alarilla won the first gold for Team Philippines in the 25th Southeast Asian Games at the National University’s Booyung Gymnasium in Laos.

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!

ANNOTATED GAME: Carlsen vs Mcshane

The chess world describes this game as "perfect," to the point of saying that GM Magnus Carlsen even outwitted Rybka. This was played between Carlsen and GM Luke McShane in Round 2 of the London Chess Classic 2009.

Annotation lifted from Chessdom.com: REQUIRES JAVA TO VIEW THE GAME

Wesley So's future plans

Barangay Wesley citizens have been discussing about GM Wesley So's future plans, including his studies.

Well, this video might help to shed some light on our curiosities. (I took this video during the Q&A portion of Wesley's simul with BW members at Burgoo Restaurant, Mall of Asia, Pasay City last November 2.)

ANNOTATED GAME: Carlsen beats Kramnik in Round 1 of London Chess Classic 2009

(PHOTO from Chessbase)

Remember how GM Magnus Carlsen demolished the battlefield in the Nanjing Pearl Spring Chess Tournament in China which included GM Veselin Topalov in the order of battle?

Take a look at this magnificent Magnus again. He defeated GM Vladimir Kramnik in Round 1 of the London Chess Classic 2009 - as if saying, "Hey, I am the world's No.1!"

Now rated 2801, Carlsen might even raise his Elo rating to beat GM Garry Kasparov's personal best of 2851, especially that Kasparov now serves as Carlsen's second.

But how about this naughty thought: Kasparov will leave Carlsen when the latter already hits 2850.

Let's watch how Carlsen beat Kramnik: ANNOTATION from EZZY, a kibitzer at chessgames.com (REQUIRES JAVA TO VIEW THE GAME)

Arianne Caoili plays in Women Invitational

(PHOTO sourced from chessdom)

Filipina chess brains and beauty WIM Arianne Caoili, who now resides in Australia, is among the early leaders in the Women Invitational chess tournament which started parallel to the main event of the London Chess Classic.

Arianne defeated WFM Olivia Smith and will face WFM Maria Yurenok of England in Round 2.

Singapore International Chess Festival 2009

Sixteen youthful Filipino chessers will banner the Philippine flag at the 2009 Singapore Challenger chess tournament which will take place in Singapore from December 10 to 14.

The tournament is part of the Singapore International Chess Festival 2009 which also features the Commonwealth Open Chess Championship and the Commonwealth Age Group Chess Championships.

Eleven of this RP contingent were originally supposed to fight for the country's pride and honor at the 2009 World Youth Chess Championship in Antalya, Turkey in November, namely:

GIRLS
GU8 DOCENA Jesca
GU10 REVITA Samantha Glo
GU12 MIRANO Mira
GU14 ENRIQUEZ Jean Karen
GU16 BERNALES Cristy Lamiel
GU18 DOCENA Jedara

BOYS
BU8 PANGILINAN Stephen Rome
BU10 MORADO Jeth Romy
BU12 BERSAMINA Paulo
BU16 DATU Alcon John
BU18 TURQUEZA Mari Joseph

(RP's reigning Boys Under-14 ruler Jan Emmanuel Garcia is not in the list of participants.)

The much awaited WCC campaign, however, blew in the air like a toy balloon due to lack of financial support from the government.

And so, the 11 reigning age-group champions of the country will just instead carry the country's flag in this international event which drew 91 participants from 11 countries (Australia, England, Hongkong, Indonesia, India, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, South Africa, Singapore, and Sweden).

In addition to RP's 11 reigning age-group champions, five more Filipino players will join the RP contingent. They are Charmaine Perit, Mark James Marcellana, Neri Wilfredo, and Shania Mae Mendoza. Notably, NCFP Director Wilfredo Abalos is listed as participant in the Challengers Category.

I have a friend who is now in Singapore to attend a FIDE Trainers' Seminar. Hopefully, he provides us impressions and photos of his stay there.

Good luck to our players!! Bring home the honors!!

Don Bosco Pampanga Springs Surprise, Rules DBAA BoscOlympics 2009 Grade School Chess

By: Anthony Navarro

Newcomer Don Bosco Pampanga scored a huge upset ruling the Grade School Division of the Don Bosco Athletic Association (DBAA) BoscOlympics 2009
chess event held recently at the sprawling Don Bosco Makati campus last Nov 28 & 29. Perennial contenders Don Bosco Tarlac, Makati and Mandaluyong were stunned with this development.

The tournament format this year was different with 4 regular boards per team compared to 2 players per school last year. This somehow disrupted the complexion and balance of power in the chess event, it has become more exciting with ALL 5 schools having a good shot at the title in the coming years.

Caritas Don Bosco School (CDBS) Greywolves team actually had a good start upending the eventual champs DB Pampanga 2.5-1.5. The team got waylaid in the 2nd round by DB Makati 1-3 as only top board Christian Michael Navarro managed a win. The team recovered with a 4-0 shellacking of DB Mandaluyong in the 3rd round to finish the supposed Day 1 (Nov 28) schedule. At this juncture, CDBS was running 2nd with 7.5 points to DB Makati in the standings. Having a pulled- in 4th round match vs DB Tarlac resulted in a heartbreaking 1-3 match loss for a final score of 8.5 points. CDBS actually had winning games at Boards 1 and 3 but faltered in the end.

At the end of day 1, CDBS had no choice but watch from the sidelines for the final round match-ups, at that point DB Makati had 9.5pts, CDBS had 8.5pts,DB Pampanga had 8.5 pts and DB Tarlac had 5.5 pts. Final round match-ups were Makati vs Pampanga and Tarlac vs Mandaluyong wherein it was expected Tarlac will score 4-0. As it turned out Pampanga stunned Makati 3-1 to snatch the crown and Tarlac expectedly scored 4-0.

FINAL GRADE SCHOOL CHESS STANDINGS:

SCHOOL Win/ Draw/ Loss/ Game Points
Don Bosco Pampanga 3/ 0/ 1/ 11.5
Don Bosco Makati 3/ 0/ 1/ 10.5
Don Bosco Tarlac 2/ 0/ 2/ 9.5
Caritas Don Bosco 2/ 0/ 2/ 8.5
Don Bosco Mandaluyong 0/ 0/ 4/ 0

CDBS Players’ Contributions :
Board 1 Christian Michael Navarro 3/4
Board 2 Paolo Espiritu 1.5/4
Board 3 Daniel Vincent Navarro 1/3
Board 4 Tetsuo Otsuka 2/4
Board 5 Edmund Cruz 1/1
Here are the photos for DBAA Chess at Don Bosco Makati's Joy Center.

CDBS Elem team with Mr. Anthony Navarro

CDBS Elem team together with Mr. Andrew Espiritu

6TH XAVIER INTERSCHOLASTIC CHESS INVITATIONAL TOURNEY ON

BY: Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, PHILIPPINES--- THE 6th Xavier Interscholastic Chess Invitational will reel off on January 23 and 30, 2010 at the High School Multipurpose Hall, Xavier School, Greenhills West, San Juan, Metro, Manila.

Organized by the Athletics and Physical Education – Xavier, the two Saturday event is divided into two groups, the Grade School and High School divisions.

The tournament shall be open to all bona fide students of the invited schools. Tournament officials reserve the right to seek clarification of the eligibility of any participating player so proof of enrollment (valid student ID card) should be available.

Each invited school may field any number of teams composed of four players each—no alternates. The schools must provide the number of teams participating and the names of the players on each team in advance to the tournament officials. The list of players on each team may be changed until the tournament begins.

Once the tournament begins, no changing of player rosters will be allowed. As this is an individual Swiss system tournament, board orders will not be necessary.

The tournament format shall be a 6-round, one game per round, individual Swiss system with barred pairings. Players from the same team will not be paired against each other.

The time control is game in 45 minutes with no increment. The winner of the tournament will be the individual with the highest point total and will be awarded the championship medal. The first and second runner-ups will also be recognized with medals. The team whose players have accumulated the highest combined score will win the Xavier Interscholastic Chess Cup. The first and second runner-up teams will also be awarded runner-up trophies.

Each school may field any number of teams of four players each in both divisions. Tournament fee is P500.00 per individual player or P2000.00 per team of four. Please fill up and sign the confirmation page attached and send it to us through Fax: 722-1980 or Email: xavierschoolathleticsoffice@yahoo.com or john_sy@hotmail.com on or before 16 January 2009. You may also choose to text us the information required on the registration forms. Fees may be paid at the tournament site. Please make checks payable to Xavier School. For more information, call 7230481 Ext 242 or 374 and ask for Jane or Lito. You can also call the tournament director, John Sy, at (0917) 833-3825.

PAHALIPAY SA PASKO CHESS TOURNAMENT GETS UNDERWAY

By: Marlon Bernardino

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---THE “Pahalipay sa Pasko” chess tournament gets going on December 19 and 20 for the age group category and will be followed on December 26 and 27 for the Open category at the Gaisano South Citimall, Illustre St., Davao City.

Registration is for free at the SDD-CMO, mezzanine floor, Davao City Hall, tel.# 227-8074 in the two-division (Age group and Open category) event, organized by Sports Development Division-City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) in close cooperation with

City Government of Davao and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Region XI and backed up by Darren Evangelista of Evangelista, Aquatics Sports Management and Growee.

According to James Infiesto, NCFP Region XI coordinator, the age group category is divided into six groups, the 8 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories); 10 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories); 12 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories); 14 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories);16 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories) and 18 years old and below (Girls and Boys Categories) and will be held on December 19 and 20.

Gerald Cavan, meantime will defend his Open title on December 26 and 27 with the champion getting the lion share of P5,000 plus trophy. The runner-up gets P2,500 plus medal; the third placer will receive P1,500 plus medal while the fourth and fifth placer will bring home P750 plus medal each.

In the last year’s edition, Cavan edged out National Master Elwin Retanal and Henry Lopez via the tiebreak to pocket the top prize of P5,000. Cavan, Retanal, and Henry Lopez finished the tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines-Davao City Chapter with six points each after seven rounds.

The chess tournament was one of the series of sports events that was staged by the City Government of Davao to highlight this year's holiday season.