IT CANNOT BE!! Kenneth B ousted! 2010 Palarong Maynila(High School Boys)

Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar , NCR'S ,top bet for 2nd consecutive Palarong Pambansa title fails to make it to the 2011 Palarong NCR Regional Meet set in Febuary 2011.The five times Palarong NCR medalist and 2010 Palarong Pambansa gold medalist suffered back to back loses in Round 3 and 4. Timothy So Kua,4th year high school student of Adamson University toppled the top seed Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar in 80 moves of a Benoni defense in round 3. San Sebastian College top bet Paulo Cristobal won against Kenneth in a marathon 105 moves of a Budapest defense in round 4.

Women's World Chess Championship 2010: Lufei Ruan vs Yifan Hou in final

The finalist Lufei Ruan and Yifan Hou will play four Classical games from December 20-23,2010 at Hatay Turkey. The time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves + 30 minutes to finish the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move. In event of  draw a tie breaker will be held on Friday,December 24,2010. These will be a Rapid game  tiebreaker, followed by a blitz playoff in event of a draw  and finally Armageddon blitz game.Beginning 2011 the Women's World Chess Championship will be held annually.

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ROBERT CACHO vs MELWYN KENNETH BALTAZAR @ 2009 National Open Chess

The 2009 National Open Chess Championship was held in Victory Central Mall,Caloocan City from July2-9,2009. GM John Paul Gomez emerged winner ahead of GM Darwin Laylo and GM Rogelio Antonio Jr.The tournament saw the participation of 11 years old Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar in his first high level of competition. In the eight round he faced Robert Cacho, veteran of many national tournament. Melwyn Kenneth used only 50 minutes on this miniature. Kenneth found an interesting combination with a hidden sacrifice of the rook not only once but twice. Cacho tried  to complicate the game but to no avail.         Here is the score of the game           White: Robert Cacho  vs  Black: Melwyn Kenneth Baltazar       Round 8 2009 National Open.                             1.  d4  d5  2.  c4  e6  3.  Nc3  Nf6  4.  cxd5  exd5   5.  Bg5  Be7   6.  e3  c6   7. Bd3   Be6   8.  Qc2  h6   9.


Bh4  Nbd7   10.  Nf3   0-0   11.  0-0   Re8   12.  Rb1  a5   13.  a3  Bd6    14.  Na4   Qc7   15.  Rfc1  Bg4 16. Bg3  Bxf3   17.  gxf3  h5    18.  Nc5   Bxg3   19.  hxg3   Nxc5   20.  Qxc5   Rxe3   21.  Qc3  Re7 (...eat and run )  22.  Qd2   h4  23.  g4  Rae8  24.  Qg5   Re3   25.  Qf5  R(3) e5  26.  dxe5  R(3)xe5  27.  Re1    Rxf5   28.  Bxf5  Qf4     29.   Re3   d4    30.   Re7   g6    31.  Bd3  Qxf3    32.  Be2   Qf4   33.  f3  h3  34.  Kh1  d3  35. Resign     0:1

India rules 6th Asian Schools Chess Festival 2010

India bagged the overall championship in the 6th Asian Schools Chess Festival 2010 held in Colombo,Sri Lanka as it won five individuals and six team titles.Saina Salonika and Aravin Ram topped the under-7 girls and under-7 Open, respectively,with both scoring perfect 9/9 performance.AP Karthik ruled the under-11 Open categories while Aryan Chopra topped the under-9 Open category.Mohanty Smarahy delivered the fifth individual gold for India by winning the girls under-13 category. Host Sri Lanka won two individual category courtesy of P KUM  Jayasundara in the under-15 Open category and Natasha Sanali  in the Girls-under 15 category and four team titles. Iran won two courtesy of Mobina Alinasabalamdari in the girls under-11 and Arian Khorsandi in the Open under-13 category.Malaysia won the remaining individual gold through Teh De Zen in the Girls under-9 category.Malaysia sends only two players.

OVERALL   MEDAL TALLY

COUNTRY                                GOLD          SILVER    BRONZE    TOTAL
INDIA                                        11                 4               4                 19
SRI LANKA                               6                  8               7                  21
IRAN                                          2                  3               3                  8
MALAYSIA                               1                  0               0                  1
SRI LANKA "A"                        0                  3               3                  6                                          CHINA                                      0                   1               1                  2
AUSTRALIA                             0                   1               0                  1
UNITED ARAB EMIRATE       0                   0              2                   2

First Saturday Budapest IM Tourament: Singaporean shines !!

17 years-old Weiliang Tan of Singapore score 7 points out of 11 games to emerged winner of the final of First Saturday Budapest IM Tournament held in Hungary. The lowest rated among the 12 finalist, Tan won against FM Andrew Kislik of USA (2276);FM Juorgen Brustkern of Germany (2334);IM Emil Szalianczy of Hungary (2247); FM Mark Lyel of England (2210) and FM Alexander Bakin of Russia (2232).  He drew with IM Sandor Farago of Hungary(2284);FM Alexander Kholopov of Russia (2309);IM Tu Nhat Minh
(2400) and Csaba Tesik (2259) of Hungary. His loss came at the hands of untitled Nick Adam of the USA who finished last in the final standings and IM Lengyel Bela of Hungary and miss the IM norm by 1 point.

2010 Women's World Championship: ALL ASIAN SEMI-FINALS!!

Three Chinese players and one from India qualify to the semi-finals of the 2010 Women's World Championship held in Antakya,Hatay,Turkey.
The semi-final is a knock out competition comprising of two (2) classical games. In case of a drawn match, a two(2) games rapid tie-break match shall apply. In case of another drawn match then a two (2) game blitz match tie break and if drawn again, the Blitz Chess Sudden Death Rule shall apply.

THE DRAW FOR THE SEMI-FINAL

MATCH  1       KONERU , HUMPY  IND       GM    2600
                         HOU YIFAN              CHN      GM    2591


MATCH  2       ZHAO,XUE               CHN        GM    2474
                         RUAN,LUFEI           CHI         WGM  2480

Colindres captures 2nd Malabon Chess Association Rapid ChessTournament title

 Seventy nine players from Caloocan,Malabon,Navotas,Valenzuela (CAMANAVA) area participated in the 2nd Malabon Chess Association 2010 Chess Tournament held in Hulong Duhat covered court,Hulong Duhat,Malabon City. Emiliano Coindres of Longos,Navotas City drew with Alfredo Chay of San Jose del Monte to complete his excellent score of six wins and a draw earning 6.5 points.Jonathan Reniba of 10th Avenue Caloocan City and 14 year old Rowell Roque of Valenzuela City finished 2nd and 3rd respectively both recorded 5 wins and two draws for 6.0 points.Top seed Giovanni Dy,coach of La Salle Zobel finished in a three way tie for 4th with favourite Ritchie Evangelista and Alfredo Chay. Ed Chu vice president of the organizing Malabon Chess Association ,Armando Miranda and Kagawad Charlie Tan awarded the cash prizes and trophies to the winners. Club Arbiter Elmer Baltazar and assistant Dan Espiritu officiated the events.

Final Ranking
Rank	SNo.	Name	Rtg		FED	Pts	BH.
1	3	Colindres Emil	2050		PHI	6½	29½
2	20	Reniba Jonathan	1920		PHI	6	32½
3	33	Roque Rowell	1850		PHI	6	29½
4	2	Dy Giovanni	2190		PHI	5½	32
5	1	Evangelista Ritchie	2195		PHI	5½	28
6	14	Chay Alfredo	1965		PHI	5½	28
7	32	Roque Henry	1850		PHI	5	35
8	7	Lorenzo Edwin	2005		PHI	5	28
9	25	Evangelista Paul Robert	1885		PHI	5	27½
10	23	San Juan Penn	1890		PHI	5	27
11	22	Criste Jaime	1890		PHI	5	26
12	18	Serrano Jethro	1945		PHI	5	25½
13	11	Diaz Joel	1980		PHI	5	23½
14	10	Baltazar Michael Kevin	1990		PHI	5	23
15	19	Balmaceda Joseph	1930		PHI	5	23
16	15	Custodio Fernando	1960		PHI	5	17½
17	8	Sandoval Danilo	2000		PHI	4½	31
18	17	Sardowa Ricardo	1950		PHI	4½	29½
19	34	Alamo Adamson	1840		PHI	4½	27½
20	36	Centina Joey	1820		PHI	4½	26½
21	5	Asi Joselito	2015		PHI	4½	26
22	13	Teodoro Willy	1970		PHI	4½	22½
23	6	Ibanez Pio Kit	2010		PHI	4	31
24	4	Sadongdong Fred	2045		PHI	4	30½
25	76	Ferrer Dong	1795		PHI	4	30
26	24	Serna Marvin	1890		PHI	4	29
27	29	Chay Chessander	1875		PHI	4	28½
28	30	Mendoza Armand	1875		PHI	4	28
29	43	Batiencela Gary	1800		PHI	4	28
30	9	Victorio Marvin	2000		PHI	4	27½
31	65	Palma Bladymaire	1800		PHI	4	26
32	37	David Freddie	1810		PHI	4	23
33	40	Arconado Rey	1800		PHI	4	22½
34	26	Asi Emmanuel	1880		PHI	4	22
35	60	Mariano Roni	1800		PHI	3½	27½
36	16	Tabilog Loren	1955		PHI	3½	27½
37	27	Lorenzo Aaron	1880		PHI	3½	26½
38	64	Pacis Aileen	1800		PHI	3½	26½
39	53	Geolingo Gero	1800		PHI	3½	23
40	77	Domens Jose	1700		PHI	3½	22
41	45	Changco France Louis	1800		PHI	3½	21½
42	57	Lopez Romy	1800		PHI	3½	20½
43	21	Tan Charlie	1900		PHI	3½	19½
44	51	Gatdula Orlando	1800		PHI	3	28
45	31	Espiritu Jun	1850		PHI	3	27
46	44	Cabizares Richmond	1800		PHI	3	25
47	61	Menor Charles Kevin	1800		PHI	3	24½
48	47	De Leon Lucky	1800		PHI	3	24
49	74	Wijangco Bu	1800		PHI	3	23
50	48	Fran Marlon	1800		PHI	3	22½
51	54	Josef Carlo	1800		PHI	3	21½
52	52	Gatdula Randy	1800		PHI	3	20½
53	50	Gatbunton Allan	1800		PHI	3	20½
54	28	Medrano Christian	1880		PHI	2½	27
55	12	Dela Cruz Louie	1975		PHI	2½	25
56	63	Nadera Chessa Mae	1800		PHI	2½	22½
57	38	De Castro Joey	1805		PHI	2½	20
58	69	Santiago Fernando	1800		PHI	2	26½
59	49	Garcia George	1800		PHI	2	26
60	66	Perez Kyle Cedric	1800		PHI	2	24
61	75	Wijangco Jay	1800		PHI	2	23
62	41	Ariola Buddy	1800		PHI	2	23
63	70	Segovia Jun	1800		PHI	2	22½
64	35	Cacnio Willy	1825		PHI	2	18
65	39	Amora Vince	1800		PHI	1½	24
66	73	Tinio Alvin	1800		PHI	1	26½
67	58	Malabriga Oscar	1800		PHI	1	25½
68	67	Perez Larsen	1800		PHI	1	23
69	78	Domens Jose	1700		PHI	1	22
70	46	Co Davenson	1800		PHI	½	25
71	42	Ariola Jomar	1800		PHI	½	23
72	71	Sena Raphael	1800		PHI	½	21½
73	55	Lapak Richard	1800		PHI	½	19½
74	72	Tan Jayson	1800		PHI	0	24
75	59	Malana Irwin	1800		PHI	0	23
76	62	Mercado Mika	1800		PHI	0	20
77	56	Lara Joseph	1800		PHI	0	18½
78	68	Rendorio James	1800		PHI	0	18

George Marco: " Prince of Annotators "

George Marco,the great Viennese master who exerted a powerful influence on the game through his wonderful magazine the "Wiener Schachachzeitung" which he founded in 1898 and which was under his editorship until 1916 when its publication was interrupted until 1923. Marco's greatest contribution was in his superb annotations to which he applied his enormous energy and his sublime analytical activities are worth repeating:  "I HAVE ALWAYS SINCERELY ENDEAVOURED EVEN WITH DULL POSITIONS TO SEEK THE HIDDEN,AND I HAVE SCRUPULOUSLY INVESTIGATED EVERY QUESTION WHICH OCCURED TO ME.MANY TIMES MY CARE MAY HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED,INDEED APPEARED TO BE TEDIOUS,BUT I WOULD RATHER HEAR THIS REBUKE THAN THAT I DID NOT TRY TO JUSTIFY MY STATEMENTS SUFFICIENTLY.MY STRIVING TO EXPLAIN CHESSGAMES IN A WAY ADVANTAGEOUS TO THINKING BEINGS HAS FOUND APPROVAL."

2010 Penang Open Chess: 1-2 finish for the Philippines

IM Oliver Dimakiling drew with Luis Chiong and then edged IM Oliver  Barbosa in the tie-break to win the 2010 Penang Open Chess held in Penang City Hall,Penang,Malaysia.Second seed GM Murshed Niaz of Bangladesh won his last three games to finish 3rd ,half a point behind the winners.Niaz defeated 8th round co- leaders IM Yves Ranola. IM Ranola and Chiong finished tied for 4th-5th place both ith 6.5 points. Ten(10) players are tied for 6th - 15th places including five more Filipino players; FM Haridas Pascua(7th),Reggie Olay(9th); FM Julius de Ramos(10th); Ian Udani (11th) and FM Christopher Castellano(13th). 4 Malaysians makes it to the top 15 players with IM  Hafizulhelmi Mas as the highest place (6th place).Another Filipino Nelson Mariano III finished on 17th place with 5.5 points while national junior champio Paulo Bersamina scored 4.5 points good for 33rd place. Atotal of 71 players from 9 countries participated.

INCREDIBEAR wins 1st PhilCheK Rapid Chess Team Tournament

After a thrilling and hard fought game team Incredibear emerges champion of the 1st Philchek Rapid Chess Team Tournament held in Pavilon Mall,Binan,Laguna.                                                                                   NM Deniel Causo and Lourecel Hernandez won on Board 1 and 2 two salvage a draw against a tough College of Saint Benilde 2:2.The championship was decided when Makati Chess Club foiled the title bid of top seed First Pioneer Distribution with a 2.5: 1.5 upset wins.Makati Chess Club Joselito Alejano  and Ervil Villa won against Edsel Montoya and Gary Garcia,Emil Chua draw with Melvin Lumidao to secure the win.First Pioneer Board 1 David Elorta won against IM Chito Garma.  FEU-Men got an early X-mas gift when it faces Stolich in the final round ,and score an easy 4-0 victory. FEU finish 6th over-all. Binan's GM Paul Gomez scores his fifth consecutive victory to emerge Board 1 top scorer together with FM Roderick Nava and Emmanuel Senador of Gyptex all with 5/6 scores. GM Gomez lost to NM Alcon John Datu in the 1st round.

FINAL  STANDINGS  (Unofficials)

1.    INCREDIBEAR                                           10   match points
2.    First Pioneer Distribution                                 9
3.    College of Saint Benilde                                  9
4.    Dark Horse                                                    9
5.    Makati Chess Club                                         9
6.    FEU-Men                                                      8
7.    Bedalle                                                          8
8.    Hailey Storm                                                  8
9.    Gyptex                                                           8
10.  Dieco Engineering                                          8
11.  Antipolo                                                        7
12.  Binan - Elekrikas                                           7
13.  LOREN                                                        7
14.  PhilCheK                                                      6
15.  King & Queen EMS                                      6
16.  BYM                                                            6
17.  Dasmarinas                                                   6
18.  Don Galo                                                      6
19.  Stolich                                                          6
20.  DLSU-Women                                             6
21.  Blue Eagle Selection                                      5
22.  Los Banos                                                     5
23.  Maritima                                                        5
24.  Blue Eagles "A"                                              5
25.  Syslin Laundry                                               5            
26.  Spare Strike                                                  5
27.  DLSU-Men                                                   5
28.  Haring B "B"                                                  4
29.  Tanauan Jr                                                     4 
30.  Accenture ChessEnthusiast                             3
31.  Haring B "A"                                                  3
32.   Los Banos-Calamba                                     2
33.   FEU-Women                                                2
34.   Letran-Calamba                                            2

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
BOARD  1
1.      GOMEZ,JOHN PAUL (BINAN)                                           5/6      83.3%                         
2.      NAVA,RODERICK (KING & QUEEN)                               5/6      83.3
3.      SENADOR,EMMANUEL (GYPTEX)                                   5/6      83.3
4.      CAMACHO,CHERADEE (BLUE EAGLES-SEL.)               4.5/6    75%
5.      CAUSO,DENIEL  (INCREDIBEAR)                                    4.5/6    75
6.      ELORTA,DAVID (FIRST PIONEER)                                   4.5/6    75

BOARD   2
1.      LARGO,BENGT  (BYM)                                                      5.5/6     91.7%
2.      SALCEDO,RICHIELOU  (FEU)                                          5.5/6      91.7
3.      MORAZO,JOHN RANEL  (PHILCHEK)                            5/6         83.3
4.      TUBIANOSA,LIOLEN (DARK HORSE)                            5/6         83.3
5.      FERNANDEZ,ARIES (LOS BANOS)                                 4.5/6      75%
6.      ABELGAS,ROEL  (DIECO)                                                 4/6         66.7
7.      SUEDE,MIKEE (SPARE/STRIKE)                                      4/6         66.7

BOARD   3
1.      PIMENTEL,JOEL   (SAINT BENILDE)                              5/6          83.3
2.      VILLASERAN,RICHARD (BEDALLE)                              5/6          83.3
3.      VILLANUEVA,VICNEIL (                                                 4/5           80.0
4.      ULANDAY,JUDE (ANTIPOLO)                                        4.5/6        75
5.      SALGADO,LENNON HART (FEU)                                  4/6           66.7
6.      DE OCAMPO,MENNARD (ACCENTURE)                      4/6          66.7
7.      VISCA,JAYSON   (BINAN)                                              4/6           66.7
8.      ARGUELLES,EFREN (DARKHORSE)                             4/6            66.7
9.     OZARRAGA,GIOVANNI  (LOREN)                                  4/6          66.7


BOARD     4                            
1.      BIAG,IVAN GIL (HAILEY STORM)                             5/5               100%
2.      LUMIDAO,MELVIN (FIRST PIONEER)                      3.5/4              87.5
3.      DUNGCA,RYAN (INCREDIBEAR)                              5/6                 83.3
4.      REYES,NARQUINGEL (SAINT BENILDE)                  5/6                83.3