Outdoor Chess Tournament in Luneta Chess Plaza

PCCO (Pinoy Chess Club Online) a popular Chess Group in Facebook, never run out of Chess activities, aside from their regular Online Chess Tournaments that they pioneer in the Philippines, they also venture into over the board tournaments this time the Luneta Blitz Chess Tournament, an outdoor chess tournament, details below: 

This event will now be on its 4^th staging sponsored by former Olympian US based WNM Susan Itaas, with the help of Luneta Chess Club officers led by another Olympiad veteran IM Chito Garma as their President, NA Boyet Tardecilla, Luneta Chess Plaza Officer in charge Ate Perla and Sir Eugene, and of course Dr. Jenny Mayor Dental Clinic.  

PCCO co organize this event to give their online participants a venue to meet and play each other personally, make friends with everyone not just in Facebook and encourage healthy competition among each other, the prizes is just a bonus.

Luneta Chess Plaza is a relaxing place aside from the fact that it is located in the heart of Manila, it is in the center of Rizal Park one of the most visited place in the Philippines, the Chess Plaza itself was covered by trees that serve as it’s shade from scorching heat and the pollution brought about by vehicle emissions around Metro Manila.

PCCO made a great event and venue for its Chess activities in this Luneta challenge, they are the first to introduce Online Chess Tournaments in the Philippines, now an outdoor Chess tournament, it is also worth mentioning here that they are also the first Online Chess Club to be affiliated in the NCFP (National Chess Federation of the Philippines) a feat that only Sir Noel Morales did for the love of Chess, for the readers information PCCO has now almost 9,000 members and most sponsors came from its members.

For interested sponsors they need to inform Sir Noel in advance so that a sponsorship can be possible in their desired date as there are also considerations like the NCFP events and other important tournaments and holidays, so if you wish an event to be played on your birthday as the practice now you need to arrange it to Sir Noel Morales as early as possible.

So mark the date its May 17, 2015 in the famous Luneta Chess Plaza, unfortunately it is limited to only 40 participants on a first come first serve basis.

For more details visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/surigaocitychessclub/

Note: 

PCCO: Pinoy Chess Club Online: https://www.facebook.com/groups/surigaocitychessclub/

NCFP: National Chess Federation of the Philippines

WNM: Women National Master

IM: International Master

NA: National Arbiter

Online Chess Tournaments in the Philippines

Online Chess Tournaments in the Philippines

Online Chess Tournament is gaining popularity in the Philippines, introduced by Mr. Noel Morales in his Facebook Group, “Pinoy Chess Club Online” using the platform of Chess.com, it has now conducted numerous Online Chess Tournaments offering Cash Prizes, Chess Materials or even Cellphone load to the winners, there are even incoming tournament that offer Dental Service as it’s prize, it has become so popular that Chess Players, Enthusiasts, and other sponsor have to line up their event for Mr. Noel Morales to calendar it in a way that does not conflict with important Chess event in the country and of course with significant event like the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight, to ensure maximum participation and minimal withdrawal during the event.

It is also become a useful way to celebrate one’s birthday as they were able to share their blessings by sponsoring Online Tournament in the name of the celebrant, the just concluded online tournament last April 30, 2015 is a Team and Individual tournament similar to the ASEAN format wherein there are Team Event and individual winners in one event, sponsored by WIM Cristine Mariano for her sons 1^st birthday;

This event turn out to be an exciting event attracting some Masters to join the event and in the end the team of Visaya emerged as the Team winner followed by Team Air and Team Chunk secure the 3^rd place. 

The individual winners are:

INDIVIDUAL:

Champion.... P500 - Bhell Ortiz (Team Visaya)

2nd Place.... P300 - Luffe Magdalaga (Team Air)

3rd Place..... P200 - Jimmy Dano (No Team)

Inspired by the success of this event Sir Jorgen Wagman the  father of Logan Wågman who works as a logistkcs manager in IKEA Borlange in Sweden,  made a quick follow up event, this time in the name of Mr. Jorge Wagman himself for his upcoming birthday on May 06, 2015 details are as follows:

Truly this event has become so popular and quite interesting even some GM’s are joining the event if their schedule allows them to play, that is why I give credit to the energetic Mr. Noel Morales for finding time to promote chess in his own extraordinary way, squeezing it in his tight schedule (He also officiates in NCFP Tournaments) he also has family business, but still this does not stop him from doing what he love most, playing and organizing Chess. So Chess players we now have an alternative way to play chess aside from over the board and Online platforms like Chess.com and Chesscube we now have the Online tournaments of PCCO (Pinoy Chess Club Online) for now it is only open for Filipino players, but in time I believe it will soon be open to everyone, as long as there are capable sponsor’s that will prefer this kind of event. So Chess players, enthusiasts and sponsors continue to support this noble undertaking it is well worth it and quite satisfying both to play in the event and sponsor one.

Note:

NCFP - National Chess Federation of the Philippines

PCCO - Pinoy Chess Club Online : https://www.facebook.com/groups/surigaocitychessclub/

WIM – Women International Master

FI – Fide Instructor

The US Chess Championship 2015 and GM Wesley SO

The US Chess Championship 2015 and GM Wesley SO

After nine rounds in the US Chess Championship of 2015, Super Grandmaster Wesley So continue to encounter problem after problem in his first appearance in the prestigious US Chess event, first it was rumored that someone tried to sabotage his first venture into the US Chess championship by financing some of GM Wesley’s close relative to be booked right into the venue of the event, the relatives turned out harass GM Wesley right in the first day of the event to the point of making a scene in the venue, for whatever reason, I will no longer discuss it here, but their actions are strong enough to prohibit them near the venue and for GM Wesley to be escorted in and out of the venue.

As an avid fan of Wesley starting when he was then a promising kid, we were then both participant in the Philippine National Open Chess Championship he was then starting to carve a name for himself, I believe he was not even a master then, when suddenly he started taking every strong players on his way to finally earn his place in the Philippine elite of Chess, this dominance was so prominent that he did not give any of his opponent an easy draw until the last round he fight for every point possible in that tournament that earn my respect and made me predict that someday Wesley will be a force to reckon with not only in the Philippines.

True enough he seem to improve in every event that he join and continue his fight for every point style even losing some that are winning or can be easily drawn, except in one tournament where his fans both internationally and in the Philippines questioned his quick draw with a Grandmaster who eventually won the event and Wesley as co-Champion, but his fans did not understand Wesley motive then, as aside from being co-champion he also made another milestone in his Chess career by breaching the 2700 mark considered as the elite level in Chess to date. This because of Wesley’s tremendous fighting character and will to win in every game.  

This caught the attention of highly touted former World Woman Chess Champion GM Susan Polgar to recruit Wesley as Webster University Chess Scholar under her SPICE training program that further enhance Wesley’s Chess career and catapulted him to as high as number 6 in the Fide ratings list after winning the First Millionaire Chess though, he decided to forego his studies and give up a lucrative Chess scholarships in Webster University to turn full time Chess Professional.

Now barely few months after turning pro, he is now in his most difficult times of his Chess career in the present tournament that he is playing the US Chess Championship of 2015 he already suffered 4 setbacks the last is a forfeited game against GM Akobian allegedly for writing reminders for himself, that cost him the point and the game, defending on the result of the last 2 games of this tournament, this may turn as Wesley’s worst tournament performance after breaching the 2700 mark, at one point in his career there was this unbeaten streak that Wesley holds as his credential to gain more invitation and maintain his steady rise in the Fide rating list.

If ever there really was a plot to sabotage Wesley’s first venture into the US Chess Championship, it is by far successful by making a dent in Wesley’s sterling Chess career at least in this tournament, but knowing Wesley since his younger days and as an avid fan, I sincerely believe that Wesley will recover in no time, and bounce back from his usual form that would erase the stigma out of this disastrous event.

There is no doubt in my mind that minus distractions Wesley could have win the event or in a better position right now, he is 4.5/9 the tournament leader is 6.5 points just imagine if Wesley could at least draw all the 4 lost games, and let me remind you that when Wesley is in his true element he hardly concede a draw.

http://www.chess.com/news/breaking-wesley-so-forfeited-in-round-9-9186
http://en.chessbase.com/post/us-champ-r9-forfeit