Carlsen in TIME

Carlsen in TIME and the art of good journalism : ChessVibes

3rd Gathering of Knights and Kings

ChessHeroes: Impressions from 3rd Gathering of Knights and Kings

KINGS & KNIGHTS

K'S & N'S WINNERS

GM ANTONIO, BERSAMINA, MARRAS, REYES RULES INVITATIONAL CHESS
BY: MARLON BERNARDINO

MANILA, PHILIPPINES---GRANDMASTER (GM) Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., reigning RP Boy 12 and under champion Paulo Bersamina, Ray Marras and Narquinden Reyes emerged winners in Sunday's 3rd Gathering of Knights and Kings (Fianchetto Invitational Chess Tournament) at the Rooftop of Prince Gregory Condominium #105 12th Avenue along Pedro Tuazon in Cubao, Quezon City.


The twelve-time RP Open champion Antonio, a sergeant at the HSSG of the Philippine Army under Commanding Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit, defeated National Master Ali Branzuela in the finals (2-game match, seven minutes with three seconds increment), 1.5-0.5, to captured the Master division title and the top purse of P6,000 in the one-day event hosted by sportsman/ businessman Cesar Iligan, organized by Fianchetto Realty Development Corporation. Asia’s First Grandmaster Eugene Torre acts as the Project Director while International Arbiter Gene Poliarco serve as Chief Arbiter.

Earlier, the Sta. Mesa, Manila native Antonio, needed to beat fellow former University of Manila (UM) team mate IM Rolando Nolte for the last final berths using the advantageous white pieces in their Alekhine Skirmish to arrange a titular showdown with Branzuela, one of the mainstay of Philippine National Police (PNP). Branzuela, meantime booked his seat in the finals after topping the five round Swiss-system elimination round with 4.5 points.

Antonio, Nolte and GM Wesley So tallied identical 4.0 points each, after the tie break points was applied, Antonio landed over-all 2nd place in the elimination round followed by Nolte and So who failed to enter in the play-off match because of lower tie break.

Rounding up to the top 20 finishers were No.5 IM Petronio Roca, No.6 GM Darwin Laylo, No.7 IM Barlo Nadera, No.8 NM Roberto Suelo Jr., No.9 GM Jayson Gonzales, No.10 NM Allan Macalla, No.11 RP and US master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., No.12 NM Erwin Carag, No.13 NM Rudy Ibanez, No.14 NM Mirabeau Maga, No.15 FM Deniel Causo, No.16 NM Edgardo Garma, No.17 IM Ronald Bancod, No.18 NM Raymond Salcedo. No.19 IM Emmanuel Senador and No.20 IM Chito Garma in the event which attracted 35 woodpushers

Paulo Bersamina, on the other hand, the pride of Pasay City defeated Prince Kenneth Reyes, 2-0, in the finals to dominate the Women and Kiddies tiara. Stephen Rome Pangilinan, winner in this year’s Las Vegas International Chess Festival Susan Polgar under eight-year-old division settled over-all third.

In other final results, Ray Marras edged NCFP official Wilfredo “Willie” Abalos, 2-1, to pocket the Executive title while CSB top gunner Narquinden Reyes walloped Clement Valledor, 2-1, to rules the Non-Master title. LOVELY ICAO

GATHERING OF K's & N's: MY WIN

EXECUTIVE GROUP
R5 BD9
Time: 7 minutes with 3 second increment per move.
W: CANTA (?)
B: RJ SOL CRUZ



1... Nfe4 2.Rc2 Nf2 3.Bf1 Nxf1+ 4.Rxf1 Ne4 5.cxd5 Bxd5
Rybka gives 5... Nxd2 6.Nxd2 Bxd5 7.Rc7+ Rf7 8.Rfc1, and Black has the advantage.

6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Rc7+ Rf7 8.Rfc1 Ree7
Rybka points to 8... Rd8.

9.Rxe7 Rxe7 10.Nd2 Bd5 11.b3 a5
Rybka says that Rd7 is winning!

12.Rc8 h5
Still, better is Rd7, with an advantage.

13.Nc4= Bxc4 14.bxc4 Rd7??
Rybka: 14... g4 15.hxg4 hxg4=.

15.Rc6??
Rybka: Winning is 15.d5 Kg6 16.Rf8+-

15... Rxd4 16.Rxb6 Rxc4
Rybka gives 16... Kf7 as winning.

17.Rxe6 Rc2 18.Ra6??
Rybka: Better is 18.Rf6 h4 19.Rf5, with advantage for Black.

18... Rxa2
Rybka: Already winning is 18... f3 19.Kg3 f2 20.Rf6 Rxa2 21.Rf5 -+.

19.Rf6 a4
And with seconds left on our clock, I raced the a-pawn to its final destination and got my final fantasy; a win after 4 losses.

Result: 0-1

Soviet School of Chess

http://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2009/12/24/does-the-soviet-school-of-chess-still-rule/

ELEMENTARY PROPERTIES of the OPENING

Mastering the Chess Openings
John Watson
Gambit Publications Ltd 2006

The Center
The center is a primary concern in deciding how to proceed with your plans, not to mention your next move.

Development
This refers to moving pieces (not including pawns) off their initial squares and putting them "in play". Just counting counting the number of pieces that you have moved is the simplest measure of development. Of course, it's essential to consider the "quality" of development, that is, how well the pieces are placed.

King Safety
One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your king from harm. This elementary consideration is sometimes forgotten. It can strongly affect the proper conduct of the opening stage.

Space & Its Properties
When you control more territory, you can often move your pieces from one theater of action to another more quickly than your opponent can, and thus attack on that front before he can defend.

Piece Characteristics
Bishops like open diagonals and should usually be developed accordingly.Knights also need as much freedom of movement as possible, but only to the extent that they don't unduly interfere with the activity of other pieces.Rooks like to have open files, preferably ones that extend vertically as far as possible into the enemy camp.The queen tends to stay at home or to lurk behind her pawns and pieces in the early stages of the opening.

Activity and Initiative
Active pieces control more squares. Such pieces aren't necessarily involved in a direct attack but can serve to harass opposing forces, support a pawn advance, and generally accrue more territory.

1ST PLACE: JC ANDAN

2ND PLACE: RHAL SOL CRUZ, JR.

3RD PLACE: ALDRICH ALCAUSIN

Christmas Kiddies Tourney

c

SOL CRUZ vs ALCAUSIN

WORKSHOP GAMES
SICILIAN DEFENSE
W: Rhal SOL CRUZ, Jr.
B: Aldrich ALCAUSIN
MERALCO, Pasig City



RESULT: 1-0

ANALYSIS:
16. Rfd1
This move is a blunder but Aldrich missed the correct move which is 16... Qc5+, winning the unprotected B on g5.

Botvinnik's Law
One aspect of technique that is overlooked or under appreciated is attacking of unprotected enemy pieces.

Best Lessons of a Chess Coach
To strengthen an attack, bring in a new piece, preferably with a check.

Christmas Workshop by GM Villamayor

ARIANNE CAOILI

from Chessbase.com
By John Saunders

London: Arianne wins Women's Invitational by two points

19.12.2009 – A number of subsidiary events took place during the Chess Classic in London, one of the most attractive of which was the Women's Invitational. It was won by a "chess tourist", Arianne Caoili of Australia, who had planned to visit London with her boyfriend Levon Aronian to see the sights. When he did not obtain his visa Arienne decided to play in the Invitational.

A Women’s Invitational tournament was held as part of the main congress at the London Chess Classic at Olympia. The tournament was the brainchild of IM Lawrence Cooper, the English Chess Federation’s Director of International Chess and was the first of what he hopes will become a regular series of women’s competitions in England. The dates weren’t ideal for his purposes as a number of prospective players at school and university couldn’t take part but he still put together a very interesting and varied line-up.

The top seed and favourite was the highly experienced English IM Susan Lalic who, like her husband IM Graeme Buckley, is a busy chess teacher. She had to postpone her first round game until later in the tournament and started with a draw in round two. In round three, she met Arianne Caoili, the Philippine-born Australian woman IM who had got off to a great start with 2/2. The game started in a blur of tactics, with chances going begging for both players, but Susan emerged triumphant after 60 moves.

But defeat by Susan did not seem to bother Arianne one bit. In fact, it seemed to spur her on as she proceeded to ‘do a Fischer’, winning all six of her remaining games. Susan couldn’t keep up with her, losing to the talented Dutch WIM Arlette van Weersel in round six and to the 16-year-old Swiss player Camille De Seroux in round eight.

Arianne Caoili, 22, did what the Aussie men and women
cricketers couldn’t do this year – triumph in England

In the end Arianne won by a clear two points from Susan. Lawrence Cooper watched play closely and concluded that “Arianne showed her resourcefulness despite several difficult positions and time trouble.” It was a gutsy performance, registering an impressive 2421 in terms of rating performance.

Jerome SALTORIO

Christmas Simul
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: Jerome Saltorio of EARIST
B: GM Mark Paragua

1.e4 c5 2..Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
The Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian Defense.

6.a4
This move was also played in Anand vs Gelfand in World Cup 2000, Short vs Anand in Grand Prix 2002, and Kamsky vs Gelfand in World Championship Candidates 2007 among others.

6... e5 7.Nf3
Sasikiran vs Bologan in Spain 2006.

7... Be7 8.Bc4 O-O 9.O-O
One of the most important guidelines in chess is to protect your K from harm.
Mastering the Chess Openings

9... Be6 10.Bd5 Nc6 11.Re1
The Rs are best placed on the four center files, particularly if any should be opened.
The Right Way to Play Chess

11... Rc8 12.h3 Bxd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nb8 15.Bd2 Nd7 16.Bc3 f5 17.Qd2 h6 18.Bb4 Nc5 19.Bxc5 Rxc5 20.b3 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rac1 Rc7 23.Red1 Bf6 24.Ne1 Qe8 25.Qd3 e4 26.Qg3 Be5 27.Qg6 Qf7 28.Qxf7+ Rfxf7 29.f3 exf3 30.Nxf3 Bf6
The position is equal at this point but Jerome lost in the endgame.
Result: 0-1

GM PARAGUA in MERALCO CHRISTMAS SIMUL

GIL RUAYA

Gil Ruaya of Taytay National High School, who has recently won the Best High School Player Award in the Tahanan Walang Hagdanan Christmas Cup, was the lone winner in the 21-board simul by virtue if his draw by repetition of moves.

JC ANDAN

Christmas Simul
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: GM Mark Paragua
B: JC Andan

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Nbd7 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Bd3 b6 7.O-O O-O 8.e5 Ne8 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.e6 Bxf3 11.Rxf3 Bxd4+ 12.Be3 Bxe3+ 13.Qxe3 Ndf6 14.exf7+ Rxf7 15.f5

Meralco News: GM Paragua

MERALCO CHRISTMAS SIMUL

The MERALCO employees, through the MERALCO Chess Club, is sharing its blessings to the less fortunate chess players from public schools in the form of a chess simul exhibtion on Saturday December 19 (9:00 am) at the Lopez Bldg, MERALCO Center in Pasig City (along Ortigas Ave., near Robinson Galleria and in front of the SHELL Gas Station with a McDonald's).

Promising chess players will be given a chance to play in a simul vs Grandmaster Mark Paragua, our country's first SuperGM.

Just bring your tournament size chess set and wear a yellow shirt. Registration is free.

God bless.

Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo de Manila University

WORLD CUP: BORIS GELFAND

from Chessbase.com

World Cup final: Gelfand beats Ponomariov to win the Cup
14.12.2009 – After drawing the regular games Ruslan Ponomariov and Boris Gelfand and into the tiebreaks. They won a rapid chess game each and drew two to proceed to the blitz, where again each won a game. Game three and four went to the Israeli, who thus won the World Cup. Gelfand is now part of the eight-player tournament to find a challenger for the World Champion.

The FIDE World Chess Cup took place in Khanty-Mansiysk from November 20th to December 15th 2009. It was a seven-round knockout event with six rounds of matches comprising two games per round, with the winners progressing to the next round. The final seventh round consisted of four games. The time control was 90 minutes for the first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an addition of 30 seconds per move from move one. The World Chess Cup is an integral part of the World Championship Cycle 2009-2011.

Final, tiebreak

The three weeks marathon of the 2009 World Cup finished with 41-year-old Boris Gelfand of Israel beating Ruslan Ponomariov in the tiebreak on Monday. The organiser, FIDE, feel vindicated that the top seed won the event. "Who would dare to call the knock out format a lottery?" the official bulletin says. “Boris is the only participant of the World Cup who could avoid the obvious failures, the only one to play with quality and stability. Bravo, Boris!"

The start of the tiebreak round of the FIDE World Cup in Khanty Mansiysk

Gelfand vs Ponomariov – experience vs fighting spirit

PASKO para sa PARA TOURNEY

SOL CRUZ WINS

PASKO PARA SA PARA TEAM TOURNEY
MERALCO, Pasig City
W: RJ SOL CRUZ, MERALCO
B: NANOBRAIN, BRGY WESLEY



RESULT: 1-0

TWH Chess Results

TWH ROUND 1 to 6

TWH

http://www.tahanangwalanghagdanan.org/news_events_twh.htm

TAHANAN WALANG HAGDANAN CUP

Tahanang Walang Hagdanan Kiddies

ChessHeroes: Tahanang Walang Hagdan Kiddie Chess Tournament

WHITE TO MOVE

WHIZ KID WESLEY SO BOWS OUT

FILIPINO GRANDMASTER Wesley So failed to advance to the next round of the 2009 World Chess Cup as he bowed to Russian Super GM Vladimir Malakhov, 1-4, in the fourth round at the Khanty-Mansiysk Center of Arts in Russia, late Wednesday.

The 16-year-old So (ELO 2640), who twice held Malakhov (ELO 2706) to a draw during their classical time control, yielded to the Russian GM in three straight tie-break matches of rapid chess.

The 59^th-seed So bowed to the 22^nd-seeded Russian in 55 pushes handling the black pieces during their first tie-break match. This was followed by another win by Malakhov after 61 moves in the second match.

The Bacoor, Cavite pride So tried to fight back in the third game but Malakhov took advantage of the momentum to win in 32 moves.

Despite a shutout loss in the tie-break match, So will receive $30,000 (P1.41 million) prize money for reaching Round 4.

With the feat, Malakhov advanced to the fifth round or quarterfinals and will meet compatriot GM Peter Svidler (2754), who brought down last edition’s runner-up GM Alexei Shirov (2719) of Spain, 1.5-0.5, in their classical time control.

On the road to the fourth round or "Sweet 16," So stamped his class by booting out GMs Gadir Guseinov (2625) of Azerbaijan, Vassily Ivanchuk (2735, a perennial competitor in elite chess competitions) of Ukraine, and Gata Kamsky (2695, former World Championship challenger and WCC defending champion) of the United States, in that order.

So’s fourth-round finish is arguably the country’s best showing in World Chess Cup history, surpassing the efforts of his compatriots, GMs Rogelio Antonio Jr. , Darwin Laylo, Mark Paragua and Ronald Dableo who reached the second round of the competition.

GM Eugene Torre, Asia’s first GM, reached the quarterfinal stage under a different elimination format.

"I dream that sooner or later, I will come to the magical point 2700. I don’t know how much time I will need for that," he said.

In other fourth round results, GM Sergey Karjakin (2723) of Ukraine beat GM Nikita Vitiugov (2694) of Russia, 1.5-0.5; GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (2719) walloped GM Viktor Laznicka (2637) of Czech Republic, 1-5.0-5; GM Boris Gelfand (2758) of Israel trounced GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (2718) of France, 4.5-3.5; GM Dmitry Jakovenko (2736) of Russia defeated compatriot GM Alexander Grischuk (2736), 5-3; GM Vugar Gashimov (2758) of Azerbaijan nipped GM Fabiano Caruana (2652) of Italy, 3.5-1.5; and GM Ruslan Ponomariov (2739) of Ukraine edged GM Etienne Bacrot (2700) of France, 3.5-2.5. -- Marlon Bernardino

WCC R4: Youngsters out, experience rules

ChessBase.com

The three youngest players – the darlings of chess fans – were knocked out in the tiebreaks in Khanty-Mansiysk. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 19, lost to Boris Gelfand, 41; Fabiano Caruana, 17, was eliminated by Vugar Gashimov, 23; and Wesley So, 15, lost all three games to Vladimir Malakhov, 29. Jakovenko knocked out Grischuk, and Ponomariov Bacrot.

http://chessbase.com/news/2009/fide/khanty71.jpg