Moscow Chess Tourney

Hi there!

GM Mark Paragua and IM Ino Sadorra will be playing in the Aeroflot Open 2008 International Chess Festival set on February 13-23 at the Hotel Gamma-Delta (Tourist Complex of Ismailovo) in Moscow, Russia.

What happened to GM Wesley So? Will he be sent to participate in this tournament? Would be a very good one for him in preparation for the Dresden Olympiad.

In the local scene, the two arbiters' development group, CAAP and NAPCA are making themselves busy and productive thru:

THE Chess Arbiters Association of the Philippines (CAAP) will hold "Chess Arbiters Tournament", February 10, 2008, tomorrow, Sunday 10:00am at Ramon Magsaysay High School, infront of Nepa Q-Mart, Cubao, Quezon City.

The 5 rounds Swiss System 15/15min per players Blitz Chess Tournament is open to all Active/Inactive Club Arbiters, Regional Arbiters and National Arbiters in the Philippines. The Top 5 Players will receive trophies and gift items each which is sponsored by Mary Grace Asanion of the Royale Business Club. Entry Fee is P100.00 only...

And

2nd NCFP ARBITERS' SEMINAR
February 9-10, 2008 Baguio City

In cognizant to the just concluded FIDE Arbiters Seminar held September 21-24, 2007 at Cebu international Convention Center, Mandaue, Cebu City . It is important that some of the delegates of the prestigious International Seminar will share their skills and knowledge in the Laws of Chess to the participants of the NCFP Chess Arbiters Seminar.

This seminar is a fitting follow-up of the program to discover qualified Arbiters ready to officiate in CHESS activities nationwide. Our move is to support the program of NCFP under the leadership of President Prospero Butch Pichay and Secretary-General Abraham Bambol Tolentino.

A joint project of NCFP and NAPCA Arbiters Program cordially invites your representative to attend the NCFP CHESS ARBITERS? SEMINAR on February 9 ( 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ) to February 10 ( 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. ) 2007 at the Seminar Room-University of Baguio , Baguio City.

As always, the more choices we have (for the end user, consumers), the better the services we can choose from. Good luck to both groups!

And here is something about one of history's greatest irony (revered and lambasted!) Bobby Fischer!.

Another article which caught my attention, chess and death. There was one catholic priest, a Jesuit priest, asked me a question years back which until now has always been my favorite "When will our fears be our mover, motivation?"

Till then!