Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Philippine Star, July 30, 2009 12:00 AM
HO CHI MINH City, Vietnam – GMs Darwin Laylo and Wesley So capped another solid campaign by the Filipino bets in the Asian Zone 3.3 Chess Championships, finishing 1-2 and claiming the two berths in the World Cup.
Laylo toppled second seed GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore to rule the nine-round tournament with eight points at the First Hotel here Wednesday and secure his second stint in the World Cup slated in Russia late this year.
So drew with GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son of Vietnam to finish second with 6.5 points and capture the other World Cup berth staked in the tournament.
Laylo and So thus join GM Joey Antonio in the World Cup, marking the first time that three Filipinos will compete in the tough event featuring the world’s top players.
Antonio earlier clinched a World Cup slot with a strong finish in the Asian Individual Chess Championship in Subic earlier this year.
“This is another big achievement in chess. We have three players in the coming World Cup for the first time in history,” said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Butch Pichay.
In the eight round, Laylo defeated IM Duong The Anh and So whipped IM Nguyen Minh Huy.
Five players, led by Truong Son and another Filipino campaigner GM Mark Paragua, finished in a five-way tie for third with six points.
Paragua trounced CM Nguyen Hoang Nam of Vietnam while IM Richard Bitoon and IM Rolando Nolte wound up with five points and GM Eugene Torre had 4.5 points.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Filipino Chess Players League-UAE is pleased to invite you to another exciting afternoon of chess action through the FCPL Chess Clinic and Fun Blitz Tournament.The back-to-back events will be held at Reef Mall in Dubai, UAE on Friday, July 24, 2009.Kiddie chess players are especially welcome to attend the Chess Clinic, which will start at 2:30 pm.
Other enthusiasts, young and old, who want to expand their chess knowledge and improve their chess technique are also welcome to join the clinic.
The Fun Blitz Tournament will start at 4 pm, where clinic participants can put what they have learned into practice. Non-clinic participants are also welcome to join the tournament.
Minimal registration fees of Dh 10 for non-FCPL members and Dh 5 for FCPL members will be collected, inclusive of both events.We hope to see you there for another afternoon of fun and excitement!
I. INVITATION
The Filipino Chess Players League-UAE, in cooperation with Reef Mall, is pleased to invite all chess players in the UAE to the FCPL July Chess Clinic and Fun Blitz Chess Tournament 2009, which will be held at Reef Mall in Dubai, UAE on Friday, July 24, 2009, from 2 pm onwards.
II. ORGANIZER
The FCPL July Chess Clinic and Fun Blitz Chess Tournament 2009 is organized by the Filipino Chess Players League-UAE.
III. SCHEDULE
Starting time of tournament subject to change
2:30 pm - Chess Clinic
4 pm - Fun Blitz Chess Tournament
IV. VENUE
The tournament and chess clinic will be held at the lower ground level lobby of Reef Mall in Dubai, UAE.
V. PARTICIPATION
Chess clinic is open to kiddie players and other chess enthusiasts of all nationalities. The tournament is open to all nationalities.
VI. TOURNAMENT REGULATIONS
Tournament will follow the Fide Rules and the rules and regulations stipulated in this invitation.
*Tournament Format:
7 Rounds, Swiss System.
Time Control:
5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move starting from move one
7 minutes play to finish for clocks with no increment.
*Tie Breaks:
a. The result of their particular game, if applicable (only for players tied for the first prize)
b. Median Bucholz
c. Bucholz
d. Progressive
e. Drawing of lots
*Subject to change depending on number of participants
VII. PRIZES
- Cash prizes
- Top 3 winners
- Top Kiddie
- Other special prizes may also be awarded
Players eligible for multiple cash prizes can only claim the prize with higher value. Prizes will not be shared among tied players.
VII. REGISTRATION
Registration fee: Dh 10
FCPL Members: Dh 5
VIII. CONTACT DETAILS
Larry (050-7032796)Email: fcpluae@gmail.com
Online: http://fcplworld.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Wesley So to compete in big chess tilts abroad
abs-cbnnews.com
July 19, 2009
MANILA – Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So, the Filipino chess whiz kid, is set to embark on a series of tournaments abroad.
So, 15, will play in the Zone 3.3 Chess Championships 2009 from July 22 to July 30 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The Bacoor, Cavite native hopes to qualify for the World Chess Cup (World Chess Championships) in Khanty, Mansiyk, Russia from November 20 to December 15.
Other Filipinos entered in the Zone 3.3 Chess Eliminations are GMs Eugene Torre, Darwin Laylo, Mark Paragua, and International Master Richard Bitoon. So far, GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Jr. is the lone Filipino qualifier for the World Chess Cup.
So is also set to participate in the Susan Polgar’s Spice Chess Cup Open 2009 (Group A) beginning September 19 at the Texas Tech University, United States. The tournament runs until September 29.
So continues to dominate the national rankings with a record 2646 rating. He is currently ranked 94th overall in the world, based on the July ratings of the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
In addition, So is at the seventh spot among the highest rated juniors in the world.
So is fresh from his stint at the Chinese Chess League 2009 last week where he won his first game against Wang Chen (2400) and drew against Xiu Deshun (2515) in the second round.
The 15-year-old GM raised his total score to 4 points (+3 -1 =2), with an average opponents' rating of 2477. In the past installment of the league, So scored 2.5 points (+2 -1 =1).
Khaleej Times, 15 July 2009
ABU DHABI — Emiratis International Grand Master Salim Abdul Rahman, Abdullah Al Hassan, Ibrahim Ismail Muhairi and Abdullah Marzouki will be seen in action in the 18th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival which starts on August 12.
The event is being held under the patronage of Shaikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council (ADSC). The festival is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Chess and Culture Club (ADCCC) and Dh 200,000 will be awarded in prizes.
“The tournament will run from August 12 to 21 and this year’s festival will feature an open tournament, junior tournament, blitz competition and simultaneous competition,” Ibrahim Mohammed Al Marzouqi, Head of Business Developing and Marketing Committee of ADCCC said.
The Festival director Hussain A Khouri, who is also the finance director of ADCCC, said that chess prodigy Britain’s Nigel Short will play against 50 players at a time in the simultaneous competition.
“The annual event is expected to attract 300 players from different parts of the world and preparations for the event are on in full swing,” Hussain Khouri said.
The tournament will be held under the Swiss system of nine rounds and Arab and international players are also expected to be in the fray in the 10-day festival.
The event used to be held at the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation but this year, the Festival will be held at the Jazira Club.
Also present at the press briefing were Aref Ismail Al Khouri, executive manager, ADCCC, Salah Abdul Al Marzouqi, sports events co-ordinator ADSC, and Aref Ismail, technical director of the Festival.
Saif Nasser Al Suwaidi is the chairman of the Organising Committee which also has Aref Ismail Al Khouri, Hussain A Khouri, Mohammed Ibrahim Marzouki, Ismail Ibrahim Yousef, Hassan Ahmed Zuhair and Tareq Mohammed Abdullah.
“We have made some changes in the tournament and instead of the Masters tournament it will be an open event,” said Khouri.
Egyptian Basssem Sameer won the Masters title last year.
“It will be a good event for the local players to gain experience and compete with some of the best-known chess players in the world,” Aref Ismail Khouri said.
“We are happy to partner in such a big chess festival and we are determined to support the sporting activities of Abu Dhabi,” Salah Abdull Al Marzouqi said.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Filipino chess club in UAE
Irish Eden Belleza, Videographer Published: June 21, 2009, 23:07
The Filipino Chess Club, which meets at Al Reef Mall, is looking for the UAE's budding Kasparovs
Click here.
Khaleej Times
24 June 2009
DUBAI - Samer Mehdi completed a sweep of his last four assignments capped by a final-round victory over the tournament’s erstwhile unbeaten solo-leader to crown himself champion of the June edition of the FCPL Monthly Open Chess Tournament, which was held on Friday at Reef Mall in Dubai, a press release said.
The fifth-seeded Iranian held off the aggression of the Filipino player Rolenson Loyola in the ultimate seventh round to pick up the full point and wrest the overall title from the latter.
After winning all his games in the six previous rounds, Loyola, a pre-tournament favourite, distanced himself by a full point over the rest of the field going into the final round and needed just a quiet draw against Mehdi to rule the weekend blitz chess event organised by the Filipino Chess Players League-UAE and supported by Reef Mall.
But having the advantage of the first move with the white pieces against Mehdi, Loyola apparently could not resist the temptation to mix it up, which unfortunately backfired as Mehdi pounced hard when the deposed round-six leader uncharacteristically committed a slew of errors in the middlegame, allowing the Iranian to create a pair of powerful, game-deciding passed pawns and nail the victory in the endgame.
With the win, Mehdi matched Loyola’s six-point total and was awarded the championship by virtue of the winner-over-the-other rule, relegating Loyola to the runner-up spot.
“The exciting and entertaining matches and unpredictable results are typical of blitz chess tournaments wherein players are given just a few minutes to complete a game. It is quite nerve-wracking but is also very entertaining,” said Larry Dolor, the FCPL vice-president who served as the one-day tournament’s arbiter.
“It is very encouraging to see participants enjoying a weekend of fun and relaxation by playing in the chess events that we organise. We are really grateful that they continue to patronise our activities and we are also thankful to Reef Mall for allowing us to use their facilities and the venue.”
Taking third with 5.5 points was Jobannie C. Tabada, the second-seeded Filipino player who needed a win in the final round to tie the tournament winner’s six-point tally, but instead found himself being saved by a miracle draw in an otherwise losing position against India’s Santhosh.
Queen Sacrifice
P. Tabada made an inaccurate queen sacrifice for two minor pieces in the middlegame, but Santhosh reacted poorly in the ensuing play and even managed to blunder away
his own queen. The game subsequently drifted to a theoretically drawn endgame with opposite-coloured bishops.
Upsets also rocked the rest of the matches with 13th-seed Marcelo Payoket and 10th-seed Jumar Abo taking the fourth and fifth spots after defeating fourth-seed Rocky Pabalan and sixth-seed Johny P I respectively. Rounding out the top 10 players were Sumith K S, Santhosh, Ronald Pernez, Barry Repollo and Pabalan.
Special prizes were also awarded to top scorers in three rating categories — Hermie Cagatin (1900 below), Gerry Lababo (1800 below) and Edie Dural (1700 below) — and to Indian player Sudharsan Surya as the top scorer among kiddie participants.
Final Standing
Final Round
