Imagine

Imagine you’re a strong chess player that you made it to a Chess Olympiad

Imagine you’re assigned to man Board 2.

Imagine you’re handling Black against a formidable GM.

Imagine that your teammate in Board 1 already drew his game. Then, your friend in Board 3 won his game. Unfortunately, your Board 4 teammate lost using his favorite opening.

Score: 1.5:1.5. It’s all on your shoulder now. If you lose, the team loses.

Time ticking. Both of you have just a minute or so in your clocks.

PRESSURE. You must not blink. You must not falter. Or else, the whole country will mourn.

PRESSURE. You are not expected to lose. The hero of a country is not expected to lose.

A lot of eyes are looking at you. All your teammates are holding their breath.

Imagine the whole country expects a lot from you.

Imagine the whole country who hates you when you settle for a draw.

PRESSURE.

Imagine you’re only 15 years and 1 month old.

Could you handle it?

Imagine you’re GM Wesley So. Aahhh, everything’s under control.

The Pope

I learned that Iranian GM Amir Bagheri (2490) is the owner of chesshere.com -- now my favorite chess site where I play free online chess under my handle name rusticbull.

My free account at Bagheri's chess server allows me to play 5 games in 24 hours. I have to acquire a premium account should I wish to enjoy the server's full benefits including ulimited games and a lot more.

I have no financial or any connection with chesshere.com but I highly recommend the site for FREE online game experience. Of course, you could sign up for a premium account if you desire.

I somehow feel sorry that the owner of chesshere.com, the online site where I play free blitz chess (don't mind my rating, hehe, am just a beginner) lost his Round 5 game in the ongoing Dresden Olympiad.

At the same time, however, I feel happy because the Filipino GM-strength IM John Paul "The Pope" Gomez won his Round 5 assignment.

It just so happened that it was GM Amir Bagheri whom "The Pope" defeated.

Just like the 14-year old Chardine Cheradee Camacho, Gomez (2519) now parades 4.0 points in five games (3 wins, 2 draws) and a rating performance of 2672.

May "The Pope" continue to deliver the 'sermon.' AMEN . . .

Camacho is super hot

The 14-year old Chardine Cheradee Camacho (2100) is leading the way for RP's Women's Team in the ongoing Dresden Chess Olympiad.

After five rounds of play, Camacho piled up 4.0 points (3 wins, 2 draws) for a rating performance of 2214.

Camacho is one of the three girls who recently made history in Philippine chess by bringing home the first ever bronze medal from World Youth Chess Championship.

May she improve her skills more and more and in the future become the country's first WGM (is my Philippine chess history right?).

Strike 3

I can't explain the joy within me whenever I come to see the tactical maneuvers of GM Wesley So (2610).

As you already knew, Wesley displayed tactical fireworks in his Round 1 game against China's GM Ni Hua (2710) in the Dresden Chess Olympiad 2008.

I don't know if that's the first time for Wesley to beat a 2700-rated opponent.

Let's see the three strikes that struck Ni Hua out.

Chess Olympiad 2008 Dresden

So Wesley (2610) - Ni Hua (2710)

(1), 13.11.2008

Position after 17. . . Kb7. Let's see Wesley's Strike One (just my own point of view, a chess beginner). Here, Wesley unleashed 18.e6!

Position after 22. . . a6. Wesley hurled Strike Two 23.Nxc7!

Position after 26. . . Kd8. Wesley pitched Strike Three with 27.Rxc8 and struck Ni Hua out.

Really appetizing. The chess is alive with Wesley playing. That's why I wanted to see him play against Shirov in Round 6. Oh how I pray it happens. For sure, fire meets fire.

ASEAN chess

After Round 5 of the Dresden Chess Olympiad, let's see how the Philippines is faring compared with other ASEAN chess federations.

Men's Team
No.21 Vietnam (SNo. 37)
No.28 Philippines (SNo. 38)
No.52 Indonesia (SNo. 69)
No.59 Malaysia (SNo.73)
No.91 Singapore (SNo. 78)
No.122 Thailand (SNo.97)

Women's Team
No.18 Vietnam (SN0.24)
No.57 Indonesia (SNo.67)
No.58 Philippines (SNo.51)

Hmmnnn . . . it seems Vietnam is now the chess leader in the ASEAN region

(Not included are new member-nations of ASEAN).

Who's hot, who's not

RP Team’s Performance after Round 4

Men’s Team Performance (Now in 47th place. Initial seeding: No.38)
RP vs China (1.5 : 2.5) 0 point
RP vs Algeria (2.5 : 1.5) 2.0 points
RP vs Monaco (2.5 : 1.5) 2.0 points
RP vs Greece (2 : 2) 1.0 point

Women’s Team Performance (Now at 73rd place. Initial seeding: No.51)
RP vs Lithuania (2 : 2) 1.0 point
RP vs Greece (1 : 3) 0 point
RP vs Yemen (3.5 : 0.5) 2 points
RP vs Belarus (0.5 : 3.5) 0 point

Men’s Individual Performance
Villamayor - 0.5 point out of 3 games (loss, draw, loss)
So – 2.0 points out of 3 games (win, draw, draw)
Gonzales – 0.5 point out of 3 games (loss, draw, loss)
Gomez – 3.0 points out of 4 games (draw, draw, win, win)
Laylo – 2.5 points out of 3 games (win, win, draw)

WHO's HOT:

Gomez

Laylo

Women’s Individual Performance
Pereña – 1.0 out of 4 games (loss, loss, win, loss)
Cua - 1.5 points out of 4 games (win, loss, draw, loss)
Rivera – 0 point out of 1 game (loss)
Camacho – 3.0 points out of 4 games (win, draw, win, draw)
Bernales – 1.5 points out of 3 games (draw, win, loss)

WHO's HOT:

Camacho

Arianne Caoili

Remember her? I can't help featuring her here after seeing her name in the chessresults.com team pairings.

Arianne Caoili -- that cute, smart, young lady. She fought for the Philippine Team in two chess olympiads (2000 and 2002).

She's now playing Board 1 for Australia. In fact, she already had played for Australia twice for the olympiad (2004 and 2006). It's now her third for Australia.

The main reason, really, why I thought of focusing the spotlight on her is the reality of LOSING our young female chess talents from the Philippine pool -- just like Arianne.

The reasons for LOSING a jewel like Arianne are many. Anybody, for one, can blame our politically fucking government.

We have many young female talents now . . . Camacho, Bernales, Fronda, Cua, and other names.

Let's take care of these young girls that they refrain from migrating to foreign lands for greener pasture.

Who wouldn't be mesmerized by Arianne?

Making chess a spectator sport

The proper and effective use of technology can largely contribute to making chess a spectator sport.

Let's see how:

A camera catches the game between Jan Nigel Galan (left) and Angelo Vince Medina (left). Galan won this match, if I remember it right.

The action in Medina-Galan game as monitored in the console.

The Medina-Galan match as projected in the wide TV screen for the spectators to frolic on.

Popularizing chess in the Philippines

These people are falling in line not to wage lotto bets -- they are mesmerized by the beauty of chess.

Their eyes are glued to the wide TV screen beaming the world-class games of SNYACC 2008 grand finalists.

The event, as you already knew, was held at SM Megamall.

Maybe it's time to rethink the venue in holding the country's international chess tournaments, namely PGMA Cup and Pichay Cup.

Do you really want to promote chess in the Philippines? The picture above will give you the realistic answer.

Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the youngest chess player who made it to the 16 Shell National Youth Active Chess Championship grand finals.

Introducing . . . the 9-year old Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano.

Rhenzi Kyle earned his ticket to the 16th SNYACC grand finals by topping the Cebu leg notably by posting a perfect score.

May this kid become another Pinoy grandmaster in the future.

Rhenzi Kyle (left) playing against Andres Buendia II.

The little wonder boy receiving his special award.

Sherwin Tiu

There's always a flavor of human interest whenever the so-called 'marginalized' (I just used this term for lack of a better word in mind) makes an admirable feat.

Sherwin Tiu, an out-of-school-youth who took part in the just concluded 16th Shell Natioinal Youth Active Chess Championship grand finals, braved all odds to prove that he can bang with the rest of well-schooled young players in the country.

Sherwin finished in solo second place, behind the eventual champion Nelson Mariano III in the Juniors Category. In fact, he tied with Mariano in the top spot with 7.0 points, but ended only in second place due to tie breaks.

By the way, Sherwin often visits the Malibay Chess Club to play blitz chess. Our club's top players are always ready, and able, to bang with him.

It's just nice to know that our club's frequent visitor has made an admirable feat.

Congrats, Sherwin!

Sherwin Tiu (left, with the Black pieces) playing against Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

Shewin Tiu accepting the 1st runner-up trophy and a cash prize.

RP Women's Team in Round 1

The RP Women’s Team faces tough assignment in Round 1 of the Dresden Olympiad as our ladies are up against three WGMs and one FM of Team Spain.

RP Women’s Team is seeded No.51 (2134 Ave. Elo) while the Women Team of Spain is seeded No.22 (2296 Ave. Elo).

Time for “Maria Clara” and “Sisa” to remember history and fight for the freedom, honor, and dignity that eluded our ancestors during the time of conquest.

Let’s make it something personal in Round 1.

It’s time for revenge! Let’s pulverize the conquistadores!

Let’s pray for our girls. Mabuhay ang mga Pilipina!

Dresden 2008 official rules

Just in case you still don't know, here are the official rules and the schedules (particularly on the dates of official release of pairings) for the Dresden Olympiad:

Please click HERE

P5 million

The NCFP czar announced that the Philippine government allots P5 million to our chess development programs.

Vietnam, on the other hand, spends an amount equivalent to P150 million for its own chess agenda – according to him, too.

If you would look at the seedings in Dresden Olympiad, the Philippines is seeded No.38 and Vietnam, No.37.

I’m not sure if it’s the first time that Vietnam surpassed the Philippines in Olympiad seedings.

Hmmmnn . . . time to think and act about it.

Shell Corp. to stage international tournament?

In his speech during the awarding ceremonies of the just concluded 16th Shell National Youth Chess Championship, NCFP President Prospero Pichay said he is asking Shell Corp. to stage an international chess tournament.

Pichay said that since Shell is very active in supporting local chess events – in fact, sponsoring the Shell Active for 16 years – the oil company has the capability to stage a chess tournament that is global in scale.

Correct me if I’m wrong, we already have four international chess tournaments in the country. If Shell goes into it, then we would have five – a good development for our local chess players.

The proposal, PERSE, is good. We may no longer have GMA Cups or Pichay Cups in the future (it all depends on the tune of politics as you know).

But if Shell really goes into it, that would be the best contribution it would do to our country.

If Shell could spend millions and millions of pesos for a basketball team before, it could definitely spend millions, too, for chess – and that would be a sure win.