Battle of the Champions

Hi there!

Two more nights of waiting and anticipating before the big day comes. On Monday, June 18, Battle of the Champions begins! More news from my inbox courtesy of Pinoy chessers who in one way or another I have crossed paths with.

I was surprised to receive an email from one of our chess friends, a National Master and one of the chess coaches of Xavier School, Mr. Erwin Carag. Here's what he sent for all of us fans and addicts of chess:

15TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF
SHELL NATIONAL YOUTH ACTIVE CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (SNYACC) (1992 – PRESENT )

Shell National Active Chess Battle of Champions
June 18 – 20 , 2007
SM Megamall Atrium A

List of National Champions

Name Title FIDE Ratings


1. Wesley So International Master (2519)
2. Oliver Dimakiling International Master (2491)
3. Idelfonso Datu International Master (2457)
4. Ronald Dableo International Master (2453)
5. Oliver Barbosa National Master (2421)
6. Sander Severino FIDE Master (2405)
7. Julius de Ramos FIDE Master (2315)
8. Rustum Tolentino National Master (2261)
9. Kim Steven Yap (2246)
10. Jan Emmanuel Garcia (2241)
11. Rodel Alsado
12. Ivan Gil Biag
13. Deniel Causo
14. Jake Dela Cruz National Master
15. Bryan Jose
16. Victor Lluch National Master
17. Cedric Magno National Master
18. Edsel Montoya
19. Sheider Nebato
20. Karl Viktor Ochoa
21. Edgar Reggie Olay National Master

NOTE:

SHELL CHAMPIONS GM MARK C. PARAGUA,SINGAPORE – BASED GM NELSON MARIANO II AND FIDE MASTER JULIO CATALINO SADORRA,AND EUROPE – BASED FM ROLAND SALVADOR ARE NOT JOINING.

THE EVENT WILL BE OFFICIATED BY

4 FILIPINO INTERNATIONAL ARBITERS (IA):

IA GENE POLIARCO
IA ERWIN L. CARAG
IA ROLLY F. YUTUC
IA JOEY P. MOSEROS

TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR:

ALEX DINOY

Thank you so much Erwin!

And from US and RP NM Marlon Bernardino:

Pascua still unbeaten; RP in close fight vs Vietnam for team honors


Haridas Pascua hacked out a stunning escape act against his Singaporean opponent
to remain as the only unbeaten Filipino campaigner after three rounds, even as the 27-man Philippine team continues to slug it out for top team honors against the 88-player strong Vietnamese team in the 8th Asean + Age Group Chess Championship at the Jomtien Thani Hotel in Pattaya, Thailand.

The 13-year old Pascua, this year's Palarong Pambansa champion for the National Capital Region and the country's top bet in the U-14 division, recovered from
a losing position after mishandling the opening moves of the Sicilian-Pelican when Chan Yin-Ren Daniel of Singapore got overconfident and failed to defend against the Filipinos' looming, last-ditch attack.

With his clock down to only three minutes against the Singaporean's 1 hour and 15 minute clocking, Pascua launched an allout attack with his rook, two knights
and two bishops that negated Daniel's two-pawn edge. Before the Singaporean realized it, Pascua was threatening mate, forcing his stunned opponent to quit after the 34th move.

"Losing na po talaga ako. Kaya lang parang nagkumpiyansa siya kasi, patingin-tingin na lang ako sa kabilang board. Akala siguro niya suko na ako," said Pascua, a native of Mangatarem, Pangasinan.

Earlier in round 2, Pascua outplayed Nguyen Hoai Nam of Vietnam that set up the match against the Singaporean. The no. 14 Pascua faces surprise leader and 21st seed Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam, who also had three points.

Under-18 Filipino lone bet Paolo Florendo of Zamboanga and under-10 bidder Jerad Docena, who both had two points going into yesterday's third round, both lost
their matches and remained with two points each. Florendo bowed to Vietnam's Tranh Tanh Tu, while the nine-year old Docena lost to another Vietnamese, Tran
Tuan Minh. Docena's teammate in the under-10, Alder Baldwin Jallorina also fell against Indonesian Aston Taminsjah.

Overall, though, the Filipinos had an above-average performance that kept them in the thick of the fight for the overall championship against the powerhouse
Vietnamese squad.

Victories by Joel Pimentel and Emmanuel Eumir Songcuya in the boys' Under-16, Miguel Lahoz in the Under-14,Chardine Cheradee Camacho and Judith Pineda in the girls' U-14, Brena Membrere and Ma. Leonora Daylo in the U-12; Mira Mirano in the U-10 and Marie Antoinette San Diego and Samantha Glo Revita in the U-8 gave the
Filipino kids, whose trip here was sponsored by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines led by its president, Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay and the
Philippine Sports Commission headed by Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez, put the entire Team Philippine at the heels of the Vietnamese team.

"The Vietnamese are trying to overwhelm us by their sheer number, but we're still there fighting for our country," said NCFP Director Willie Abalos, also the
head of delegation here.

Pimentel, La Salle-Greenhills' recruit from La Salle-Bacolod, recovered from his opening-day loss to hack out two straight wins, including yesterday's 43-move win against Muhammad Arif Afifi Bin Sabli of Brunei . Songcuya topped compatriot Angelo Joshua Nuestro in 42 moves of a King's Indian Defense for his second win, while
Lahoz outplayed Nuttapong Ploythanachai of Thailand in 25 moves of a Sicilian for only his first win.

Camacho smashed Dewi Aa Citra of Indonesia using the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian in 35 moves while Pineda downed Er Si-Hui of Vietnam. Membrere, a 1st
year student of the Notre Dame Institute of Aringay, La Union, whacked Nguyen Tran Ngoc Thuy in 60 moves of a Two Knights Game even as Daylo, a student of Sto.
Nino Parachial School in Quezon City, made short work of Korea's Kim Hyoyoung in their Center Counter Game.

Mirano, meanwhile, walloped Nguyen Thao Luong of Vietnam, San Diego topped another Vietnamese in Hoang Minh Thuy and Revita downed Vu Thu Huong.

In other results, 18-under bet Aices Salvador settled for a draw against WFM Lin Yang of Singapore, while compatriots Generose Razo and Kimberly Cunanan also
halved the point in their 16-under match. Kristine Mariano, another 16-under bet, also drew with Siti Nur Fatimah Al-Zuhra of Brunei. In the boys' side, Emmanuel Elijah Songcuya, Angelo Ezekiel Nuestro, Vince Angelo Medina also drew their matches. The tournament resumes with Round 4 of hostilities today.

1ST PANTALAN-ADUANA EXECUTIVE CHESS TOURNAMENT

Executive Chess Aficionados were all invited to join the 1st Pantalan-Executive Chess Tournament on June 23, 2007 Saturday 10:00am at Pantalan Restaurant near grandstand of Luneta, Manila. Re-elected Hon. Senator Gregorio Honasan and NCFP President Congressman Prospero "Butch" Pichay will be guests of honor and grace the occassion by officially inducting the Officers of Pantalan-Aduana Executive Chess Club.

Attractive Prizes will be at stake by the champion receiving the 12 inches Colored TV ACL, 2nd Place Standard Floor Fan 16", 3rd Place is the Standard Rice Cooker while the Category Prizes is the Best Senior (50 above) Carribean Airpot and a surprise item for the Monaliza Games (Brilliancy).

Club President Loren Tabilog cited that the new group will strive to support the chess development program now that what is doing by NCFP and especially this is a redux! for all chess executives to join and come out to play with their peers to the club's venue (Pantalan). In the oathtaking ceremony, other prominent personalities that are invited in the event are Congressman Mat Defensor who is also the current Chairman of NCFP-National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the NCFP Directors Dr. Jenny Mayor, Willy Abalos and Atty. Edmundo Legaspi. Grandmaster Eugene Torre and GM Candidate Jayson Gonzales are also included in this undertaking.

Registration fee is only Php 700 inclusive of food and a membership to PAECCI-Pantalan-Aduana Executive Chess Club, Inc. and for inquiries please contact Pres. Tabilog at 2433392 or 09208273610.

There's a lot of happenings here and there so you feel free to send me so we can post it here!

Happy father's day to all the fathers around the world tomorrow!