(1336) SO ZEROES IN ON TITLE (Manila Bulletin -- May 4, 2008)

So is wearing the same long sleeves shirt that I bought in Philippines after coming back from participating in the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan. Coincidence? I just notice it yesterday, January 16, 2017.












        SO ZEROES IN ON TITLE

Wesley So played with his usual swashbuckling style before settling for a fighting draw with NM Oliver Barbosa to move closer to the overall title in the 2008 "Battle of GMs" chess championship at the 11th floor, Bayside Hall, City State Hotel in Mabini St. cor. Padre Faura, Manila.

With the title and the P200,000 grand prize well within his reach, So halved the point with Barbosa after 52 moves of the Queen's Indian to stay a full point ahead of Asia's first GM Eugene Torre, with only one round remaining in this tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and sponsored by PAGCOR and City State Hotel.

Overall, So has eight points on six wins and four draws.

The 14-year-old high school student at St. Francis College (Bacoor), who made the headlines by winning the 10th Dubai Open chess championship last month, needs only to draw his 11th and final round assignment against three-time national junior champion John Paul Gomez to formalize his claim for the title.

"Basta laban lang po. (Just keep on fighting). Kung may winning line, I'll go for it. Kung wala, "I'll be happy with a draw," So referring to his final round match with Gomez.

But not to be outdone was Torre.

Torre, at 56 and the country's winningest chess player for almost four decades now, whipped GM candidate Julio Catalino Sadorra in 44 moves of the King's Indian to grab solo second place with seven points on four wins and six draws.

Like So, Torre is the only other undefeated player in the tournament.

Gomez outplayed NM Hamd Nouri in 68 moves of the Philidor while IM Richard Bitoon outduelled  NM Rolando Nolte in 50 moves of the Sicilian to share 3rd spot with 6.5 points.

Half-a-point behind in 5th with 6 points was GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who was ambushed by GM Jayson Gonzales in a marathon 78 moves of the French defense.

Antonio has 4 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses. Barbosa and Nolte share 6th with 4.5 points.

In the women's division, Catherine Perena split the point with Shercila Cua to keep her slim half-point lead. Perena has 7.5 points on 5 wins and 5 draws against Cua's 7 points on 4 wins and 6 draws.

Cheradee Camacho bested Cristy Lamiel Bernales in 52 moves of the Sicilian to join Sherily Cua in 3rd with 6.5 points. It was Camacho's 4th win in as many rounds in a belated effort to crash into the magic circle.

Sherily, the younger of two chess-playing Cua sisters from V. Luna Chess Club, drew with Kimberly Jane Cunanan in 43 moves of the Slav.

In other 10th round results, Asian Games campaigner Jedara Docena upset Yiem Jose in 37 moves of the Sicilian, Aices Salvador trounced Enersoe Magno in 35 moves of the Slav and Beverly Mendoza drew with Jenny Palomo in 34 moves of the Nimzo-Indian.    

         

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                 Tia Belau Newspaper
                 December 29, 2002 -- January 17, 2017

                 Manila Bulletin
                 Page S-3
                 Sunday, May 4, 2008

                 Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper
                 March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                April 25, 2013 -- January 17, 2017

                The History of Chess in Palau
                By Roberto Hernandez
                June 09, 2002 -- January 17, 2017
     

(845) THE ERMITA-MALATE OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT IN PHILIPPINES (March 19-27, 1990)

TOP 8 UNRATED PLAYERS
   Anthony Pelayo captured the Top Unrated Player category in the Ermita-Malate Open Chess Tournament in the Philippines held from March 19-27,1990. It's the handwritten report of Chief Arbiter Henry Sky.


    THE ERMITA-MALATE OPEN CHESS
       TOURNAMENT IN PHILIPPINES
             (March 19-27, 1990)

Participated in by Philippines top players (except GM Eugene Torre), it's nice to take a look at the participants:

1. Rodriguez, Ruben 2. Antonio, Jr., Rogelio 3. De Guzman, Ricky 4. Roca, Petronio 5. Chiong IV, Luis 6. Maga, Mirebeau 7. Garma, Chito 8. Alaan, Vince 9. Donguines, Fernie 10. Young, Angelo 11. Lao, Elias 12. Aguilar, Susano 13. Cain, Celestino 14. Villamayor, Buenaventura 15. Cabrido, Victor 16. Libre, Virgilio 17. Milagrosa, Alex 18. Badilles, Ponciano 19. Garma, Edgardo 20. Neri, Walter 21. Ortiz, Eduardo 22. Urbi, Emil 23. Sasot, Allan 24. Cabellon, Gerry 25. Bagamasbad, Efren 26. Gonzales, Jayson 27. Lorena, Carlo 28. Mariano, II, Nelson 29. Sanchez, Jess 30. Abriam, Luis 31. Soria, Rene 32. Martin, Ricardo 33. Gutierrez, Dennis 34. Salazar, Nelson 35. Ulanday, Jude 36. Arguelles, Efren 37. Gatus, Edmundo 38. Agagon, Eduardo 39. Lagua, Joseph Bende 40. Miguel, Reynaldo 41. Gomez, Danilo 42. Carag, Erwin 43. Duhaylunsod, Herminigildo 44. Dalura, Rodolfo 45. Esmane, Rogelio 46. Zapanta, Jr., Ernesto 47. Camposano Agripino 48. Nolte, Rolando 49. Legaspi, Joselito 50. Mayo, Charlie 51. Ranola, Yves 52. Reyes, Expedito 53. Vinas, Alexander 54. Estrella, Edgardo 55. Poliarco, Gene 56. Ibanez, Rudy 57. Parceco, Errol 58. Fineza, Jun 59. Garcia, Noel 60. Panelo, Rudy 61. Bautista, Roberto 62. Caunte, Juancho 63. Lorenzo, Edwin 64. Panopio, Rodolfo 65. Fontanilla, Raul 66. Cunanan, Homer 67. Barrios, Benjamin 68. Rabe, Jose 69. Chua, Cesar 70. Rabago, Celso 71. Cunanan, Crispin 72. Yu, Manuel 73. Pamatpat, Stephen 74. Abalos, Wilfredo 75. Castro, Orden 76. Chay, Alfredo 77. Palma, Michael 78. Munoz, Rommel 79. Fontanilla, Edgar 80. Manabilang, Jose 81. Acuran, Rafael 82. De Villa, Melchor 83. Edrada, Alex 84. Verdon, Norman 85. Clavo, Jess 86. Garcia, Juancho 87. Bolico, Joshwe 88. Penaredondo, Leo 89. Manongas, Jessie 90. Pena, Robert 91. Sopungco, Alvin 92. Bolico, Exfelicos 93. Pabuaya, Roger 94. Loyaga, Victor 95. Gopilan, Antonio 96. Catalan, Edwin 97. Liquicia, Art 98. Mariano, Christine Rose 99. Marcial, Johnny 100. Cruz, Renato 101. Del Agua, Armelito 102. Baltazar Jr., Ernesto 103. Ibra, Jamael 104. Gutierrez, Alfonso 105. De Leon, Carlos 106. Castro, Ronald 107. Yap, Danilo 108. Roldan, Ric 109. Roldan, Sheridan 110. Dawa, Alvin 111. Manlunas, Jay 112. Santos, Ed 113. Pagulong, Ronald 114. Castro, Ronald 115. Naling, Archie 116. Yulo, Gerry 117. Mariano, Robert Gene 118. Opano, Virgilio 119. Jose, Reginaldo 120. Almazan, Romeo 121. Aspril, Emil 122. Abakan, Jhonson 123. Mariano, Helen Grace 124. Mariano, Carmina Joy 125. Archimedes, Rafols 126. Baccay, Lester 127. Bocallos, Jose 128. Capiral, Rowel 129. Cayetano, Federico 130. Corpuz, Balden 131. Dawa, Avemelech 132. Fontanilla, Ed 133. Gandarosa, Ali 134. Gonzales, Jesus 135. Hernandez, Roberto 136. Jossi, Daniel 137. Lafuerza, Sebastian 138. Laurel, Rocky 139. Legarda, Joselito 140. Madia, Manuel 141. Malenas, Herman 142. Nasser, Sharif 143. Pelayo, Anthony 144. Reyes, Al 145. Reyes, Noel 146. Reyes, Norberto 147. Tilles, Bernardo 148. Salando, Gerardo 149. Tan, Montreo  


2nd seed Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio, Jr. became a Grandmaster 3 years after this event, which he won (1993) after a drought of 17 years since GM Rosendo Balinas became the 2nd GM of Philippines in 1976. Asia's first GM Eugene Torre got his GM title in 1974 at Nice, France World Chess Olympiad. 

14th seed Buenaventura 'Bong' Villamayor became the 4th GM of Philippines in 2000 followed by 28th seed Nelson Mariano II 4 years later (2004).

26th seed Jayson Gonzales became the 9th GM of the Philippines in 2008, the same year when child prodigy Wesley So became the youngest GM of the Philippines at the age of 13.

GM Gonzales was the team captain of Team Philippines in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey where they finished 4th in the Open Division (if the tiebreak system that was used is the same as the previous one prior to 2008 Dresden, Germany Olympiad). Roberto Hernandez met him there. Eventually, Philippines finished 21st using the new tiebreak system where the matches won prevails over the other tiebreaks.

GM Gonzales and Hernandez met again while getting their Schengen visa in Manila. GM Gonzales is also the playing Team Captain of the Philippines in 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. GM Wesley So became the Team Captain of USA Team as he is transferring federation. In his absence, GM Julio Catalino Sadorra is Board 1, GM John Paul Gomez at Board 2, GM Torre at 3, FM Paulo Bersamina at Board 4 and GM Gonzales as reserve. 

23rd seed NM Allan Sasot was the mentor of Palau blitz chess specialist Tony Villa, who became the 4th Palau National Master for winning the 2007 Palau National Chess Championship, tied with Hernandez and Manuel Nedic. 

42nd seed Erwin Carag was one of the invited players of both 2007 and 2011 Palau Invitational Chess Championship but didn't make it due to expensive airfare in going to Palau.  

48th seed Rolando Nolte is now an International Master (IM) with current rating of 2395 (Dec. 2014). Hernandez lost to him in a 1991 tournament in Quezon City, being held at the same building where billiards are also played.

56th seed Rudy Ibanez showed interest to participate in the 2013 Micronesian Cup/Palau Invitational Chess Championship in November. The event was postponed to Feb. 2014 because of Typhoon Haiyan and Ibanez was not interested anymore.

74th seed Wilfredo Abalos met Roberto Hernandez in the Asian Continental Meeting being held during the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Roberto regrets not having a photo taken with him at that time. Mr. Abalos passed away a few years later.

98th seed Christine Rose Mariano was offered to be the Team Captain of Palau Chess Team to 2010 Olympiad in Russia. The other choice is Jamie Kenmure of Australia and Palau Rating Officer. They have to buy their own airfare.
Eventually, the slot was given to Mr. Kenmure and he became Palau Team Captain for 3 consecutive World Chess Olympiads (2010 Russia, 2012 Istanbul, Turkey and 2014 Tromso, Norway Olympiads). 

Since Congressman Prospero 'Butch' Pichay took over as President of National Chess Federation of the Philippines in 2008, he produced 9 GMs. Philippines have only 7 GMs in the previous 40 years or more.

Those 9 GMs are Wesley So and Jayson Gonzales (2008); John Paul Gomez and Joseph Sanchez (2009); Rogelio Barcenilla and Roland Salvador (2010); Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon (2011).

To complete the list, Mark Paragua got his GM title in 2005 while Darwin Laylo earned it in 2007. 

At 74 years old, IM Renato Naranja is still listed at the Top 100 chess players of the Philippines at no. 63 with a rating of 2187. Another proven fact that in chess -- AGE DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS THE MATTER DOESN'T AGE!