Game Annotations on The Site?!

Our club's chief website, LapuLapuChess, plans to post annotations of chess games, straight from the club. The chess games posted may either be Grandmaster games and or, simply some intriguing games played from our club that might interest our readers. The criteria for the games to be posted are as follows:

1. Instructional value
2. Practical relevance
3. Artistry   

The third criterion (Artistry) isn't completely necessary but somehow, helpful in order to stimulate our readers' imagination and cognitive skills. The second criterion which is the "know how" side of the game, means the practical application of theoretical knowledge. For example: Player A has a space advantage but doesn't know how to convert his advantage to crush Player B. The second criterion solves this problem by demonstrating the "know how" to convert Player A's advantage. The first criterion is self explanatory.

The annotated games will be posted in two weeks. We will do our best to make the annotations as fun as possible while not diminishing the instructive value of the games.

For any suggestions, email us. Our very own Kraig Quinain reads all the messages. I'm not kidding.

Finally, God bless and T.Y.

Lapu Lapu September Tournament

Bryll John Arellano (Champion)

Among Bacolod's rising stars,  Bryll John Arellano(photo) who now lives in  Lapu Lapu City, has just won the September Chess Tournament last Saturday, Sept. 23, near the Barangay Gun-Ob Elementary School, Lapu Lapu City, Philippines. After an amazing streak of 4 wins, Arellano finally drew his game against Michael Henry Infante, to take the crown of the 5-round Swiss event. Perhaps Arellano's most notable feat in the tournament was his win against two-time Lapu Lapu Monthlies Champion, Ariel Joseph Abellana who had to be contented in 6th place, after the tournament. The tournament only required 1st to 6th places. In second place is Lemuel Montero, one of Lapu Lapu's most solid players ever produced, and in third place is Michael Henry Infante, another notable chess player in the city. The 4th and 5th places were taken by Neil Amores and J. Abrantes respectively. 

The September edition of the Lapu Lapu tournament was sponsored by the Lapu Lapu Chess Club and the Barangay Gun-Ob local government. Once again, the author of this blog would like to thank Jun Olis and to the "silent" heroes who have made this event possible

Finding NM Joel Fernan

Starting this month, I plan to interview chess National Master Joel Fernan, on the net. The interview may come via Skype, email, Facebook, or simply just by text. If I succeed in getting the interview, it would be very interesting and rich in ideas, especially within regards on the tips and advice the master could share to us, whether about tournament preparation, or foundational learning.

NM Joel Fernan

For those of you who don't know Mr Fernan, he is an NM hailing from Cebu. He is of International Master caliber. It is even well remembered that Grandmaster Richard Bitoon (who was still an IM back then),  only won a single game out of the 4 encounters he had with the NM. There was not a single peaceful draw during their encounters; every game concluded in blood. Moreover, he almost beat GM Eugene Torre once, if not only for his silly blunder during their game in the Fil-Way Tournament, some years ago. But blunders will always be blunders, right? 

Many regard Fernan as an attacking player, specializing in sharp positions, wherein attack and defence were the call of the day. But masters know, especially Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr, that Fernan is actually an original strategical player, who has a feel for the position and initiative. 

Some say that his calculations are long, but this is not entirely true. Like other strong masters in the Philippines, he has a fine judgement of the position, which cuts the bulk of long analysis to a minimum. 

Fernan excels in defensive positions too, exploiting his knowledge on prophylaxis, and is constantly alert, in taking advantage of the shifting of pieces that may alter the overall position. When in a cramped situation, he always tries to make it as difficult as possible for the opponent to penetrate. A tenacious player indeed. 

At times, he applies psychology on his opponents by deliberately playing an "unsound" opening. So long he feels the opening is playable, and offers some counter-chances, he is satisfied in playing such openings. 

Fernan once joked, "When I retire in chess, I want to write a book in chess. The title would be: 'How to Beat Joel Fernan' ". He usually refered this joke to his wage customers, who unsurprisingly, found him hard to beat. Maybe one day he could actually write the book he was joking, or maybe not. But one thing's for sure, its contents would be very helpful and most of all, instructional towards the readers, especially for learning players like me. 

Another thing we can learn from Fernan are his openings. He plays the Botvinnik System as White, and the Fianchetto defences as Black(KID, QID, Hippo, Hedgehog and etc.). Apparently, he loves flank openings. But may I remind you, that unlike the sharp Grunfeld Defence, Fernan prefers to begin a flank opening with a solid setup, and only after that, does he points his pieces towards the enemy King in a strategic manner. 

Bottom line, if you want a reliable repertoire which also offers energetic chances, I recommend studying his opening.

Videos of Fernan playing blitz chess are very interesting and can be seen on Youtube. Although a little outdated, his videos on the site are fun to watch again and again from time to time.

Mactan Chess Reborn

It's hometown favorite Allan Pason versus Peterson Sia

According to a friend of mine, there is another Mactan chess tournament 
coming, on the 2nd week of September. And I am very impressed, by what our Mactan comrades have done, to create monthly chess tournaments in our city. Such meteoric rise of back-to-back tournaments have never been heard of, since the dawn of Mactan chess. To tell you frankly, I've never expected such a thing coming from Mactan. The players here, are practically busy finding food, and paying their bills. They simply do not have time and money to organize chess tournaments. But thanks to the affectionate support of our zealous comrades, the tournaments will go on. Long live! :)

Sometimes I feel that there are some other Mactan chessers out there who think, that they haven't contributed anything, to support the existence of chess tournaments, in our city. But I tell them this: that 20 pesos you paid to register in the tourney, no matter how small, actually shows, that you are supporting Mactan chess.

And finally, I hope that the tournaments in Mactan have not only attracted regular patrons of our chess club, but also newcomers. Aron hybrid na pud. I have seen new faces though, from shared photos at Facebook.

Recent tournament in August 2012

Peterson wins 3rd Lapu Lapu Monthly Tourney

Peterson Sia, one of the respectable chess veterans of Cebu City, recently won the 3rd Lapu Lapu Monthly Chess Tournament after garnering 6.5 points out of 7 rounds in the 15-minute Rapid chess event. Behind him in second place was Lapu Lapu chess prodigy Allan Pason with an incredible 6/7 points. Last month's winner, Ariel Joseph Abellana, only managed to take 3rd place although still a commanding position.

The biggest disappointment in the event was NM caliber Romeo "Ramil" Resuera who only managed to collect 5/7 points and landed 4th place. Ramil is considered as an institution in Lapu Lapu Chess, particularly in the playing arena. Anyways, other participants who were able to catch the 5th-10 places were:
5th Aldwin Daculan-5.0 pts, 6th Norman Olayvar-4.5 pts, 7th Jovanie Borongan-4.5 pts, 8th Amado Olea-4.0 pts, 9th Ezekiel Limpot-4.0 pts, 10th Julius Tumulak-4.0 pts. Sadly missed in the tournament were Kraig Quinain, Alvin Regodon, and Nilo Bonganciso. Hoping to play chess with you guys later :) Guest sponsor for this month was the Church of God in Mactan.

And as always, I would like to personally thank Jun Olis and Norman Olayvar for their ever-loving support on Lapu Lapu Chess. 

Mabuhay ang Lapu Lapu! 

An Essay: Chess Players and Poverty

     Poverty is a condition usually not far from a chess player’s life. Chess, unlike some popular sports out there, has little sponsors and therefore has little players that regularly play the game. Worse, once one starts to play the game at a regular basis and at some point strives to be a “professional chess player”, he will only find it disappointing that such status isn't usually enough to earn a living.

     It’s not that hard to realize why chess has so many wonderful ideas and teachings yet offers only little sponsors to go to compared to other sports. Chess is not a spectator sport where the audience’s visual and emotional senses suddenly come to life. Rather, such anticipated spectacles (e.g. sacrifices; combinations) come only after once a positional advantage is gained or, if the opponent had made a very terrible move.

     If life as a professional chess player looks so bleak, then why are there still some people who look forward in making chess a part of their lives? In my honest opinion, there are two factors that are a reason for this. The first one is enthusiasm, which in layman's term means liking someone or something so much that you'll do almost everything just to hold on to it, and the other one is passion which means loving someone or something so much that you're also willing to go to extremes just to cling to it. Such attitudes are enough to boost the human will to go to what is beyond. 

     Without enthusiasm and passion, a chess player will not even have the energy to lift pieces from the board. He will not even sacrifice a financially stable life for an obscure one. He will not even dare to compromise his social relationships outside the chess community, in favor of tournament points, pot money, or pride. Boundaries like these have been crossed and are continually being crossed up to this day in the chess world, simply because of enthusiasm and passion.

     I guess, chess players have already just learned to live with the poverty as long as they are still able to support their passion. Some are less passionate, some fairly passionate, and some are just too passionate that they don't finish their academic studies or strive for financial independence just for the sake of a few thousand pesos. 

     But who are we to judge the limits of one's passion and desire? I know that impoverishment is something chess players around the world are quite familiar with. But it doesn't mean that we should just "go with it" and hope things will eventually turn out to be fine for us. It only takes common sense to know, that we chess players have responsibilities outside chess. These responsibilities may range from  paying the bills, punctuality at workplaces, buying milk for the new baby and so on. 

     Bottom line, if one wants to stabilize his financial responsibilities alongside with his chess, he must be a responsible chess player. And that means being responsible in the real world first then "having" chess afterwards.

Abellana Tops Air Force Chess Tournament

Play in session. Jodi Tamala(left) is pitted against one of his long time chess comrades.

Ariel Joseph Abellana of USC has just won the recent 'Air Force One' Chess Tournament last yesterday in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu. Abellana, an imaginative and talented junior player, scored 5 and a half points out of 7 rounds to take 1st place, leading merely half a point against his closest rivals. 

Meanwhile, Abellana's elder brother, Aniel Abellana beat the old guards, Ramil Resuera and Aldwin Daculan with surprising effect and took 2nd place. Aniel also beat Kraig Quinain, another strong player, when the latter blundered a rook after acquiring a strategically won game. 

In third place was the 2009 Lapu Lapu champion, Amado Olea while another club talent, Alvin Regodon came out fourth. The chess club's "Gambit Master" and Center Counter expert, Nilo Bonganciso took 5th place over veteran chess master Romeo Resuera when the former had the better on tiebreaks. 

Those who were able to catch the sixth to tenth places respectively were: Romeo Resuera, Weynard Labastida, Norman Olayvar, Jun Olis, and Jojo Muralla who is also now the CEPCA president.

The event became only possible when Air Force Sgt. Amado Olea, of the Benito Ebuen Air Base  alongside with his air force comrades, and chess philanthropist Jun Olis began the organisational work for the tournament just 2 days before schedule.