Sgt. Olea Mini Tournament and Lapu-Lapu's top 30 players

Report by Aldwin Daculan
Edited by Guy Chessman

A very tiny tournament was held in Lapu-Lapu, 2 weeks ago in Sgt. Amado Olea's neighborhood, in celebration of the baptism of Sgt. Olea's second child. The tournament was comprised of some CEPCA members and some top Lapu-Lapu players as well. They were, Aldwin Daculan, Mark Cimafranca, Jun Kidlat, Alvin Regodon and even Sgt. Olea himself. Former CEPCA presidents, Jun Olis and Jojo Muralla, also participated in the mini tournament. Winners of the said humble event were 1. Cimafranca, 2. Daculan, and 3. Olis (!). A very surprising comeback for the CEPCA player and Lapu-Lapu patron. Hehe.

By the way, Mr. Aldwin Daculan sent me a text comprising a list of the top 30 rated players in Lapu-Lapu. I will share these to you all, my fellow Cebuano players, because It is somehow interesting.

1. Joel Fernan 2243 NM
2. Bryle Arellano 2102
3. Allan Salientes 2093
4. Allan Pason 2051
5. Peterson Sia 1977
6. Mark Cimafranca 1932
7. Albert Rivera 1911
8. Henry Infante 1865
9. Jerish Velarde 1843
10. Kraig Quinain 1841
11. Jonathan Canque 1835
12. Aldwin Daculan 1831
13. Alvin Regodon 1813
14. Rigil Amacna 1808
15. Roxanne Tampus 1808
16. C. Lim 1796
17. Rolando Torres 1793
18. Raffy Bensi 1792
19. Amay Igot 1788
20. Josh Gocotano 1787
21. Adimar Toledo 1787
22. Ezekiel Limpot1785
23. Nilo Bonganciso 1774
24. Ariel Abellana 1770
25. Ian Pino 1756
26. Jerele Velarde 1751
27. Michael Gocotano 1738
28. Lefa Bensi 1727
29. Jose Gocotano 1691
30. Adelyn Bensi 1645

Along with the list, I will give some insight on the top 4 players rated in the list...

NM Joel Fernan(photo below), who is now currently rated no.1, now lives in Pagadian, Mindanao, and seldom comes back to Lapu-Lapu occasionally. He has a lot of accollades awarded to him, among them is the Region VII Championships of 2007, wherein, after a draw with the very strong player Jobannie Tabada, Fernan clinched the title. Fernan was also the Non-Master National Champion of 1999.

Rated No.2 is Brylle Arellano. A native of Negros, this relative newcomer to Cebu's chess scene has proven quite a lot in a very short period of time. He is already considered a serious contender for any Cebu tournament he participates. He is already known as a strong and relatively veteran player from his hometown by the way.

Allan Salientes(photo below), rated #3 in the list, is no new face in Cebu chess. He is a veteran player and has already won, or at least placed, on some of the local tournaments here in Cebu. Most of the tournaments he participated, were very strong in Cebu.  His most recent triumph was the Consolacion Open in SM Consolacion, last 2012.

The youngest in the top 4 is the teenage Allan Pason(photo below), who, at the tender age of 16, has proven a lot already in Cebu Chess. Nobody expected that such a tiny, midget young boy would be a "thorn" to Cebu's very best best! When he was still 14, he had already beaten a lot of the "old guards" of Cebu and rising star players as well. he attacks well, defends well, and has an immense talent for "danger". He is a CVIRAA player, Palaro player, Shell grand finalist and Cebu's Junior Champion. He also placed 3rd in one of those very strong E-Mall tournaments in Cebu a few years ago. It is speculated that he will play for the University of San-Jose Recoletos when he finally goes to college. In Cebu, he is considered as the main rival to the 14-year-old positional player, Rhenzi Khyle Sevillano.

So I think that's it! By the way, a FULL report would be coming soon on the VELARDE BIRTHDAY TOURNAMENT last week. Please stay tuned on this site. Hopefully, the full report will be readily available by the end of this week :)

And if you feel this post has been interesting or even helpful to you, please share us on Google+, by clicking th g+1 button at the top right of this page. By clicking the button, you are helping us reach out and inform other Cebuano chess players from around the world about Cebu's chess scene...

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FELLOW CHESS FRIENDS!!!

Abellana and Cimafranca: Upcoming Chess Talents from Lapu-Lapu

AJ ABELLANA

In his performance at a tournament in Cebu City on November last year, Ariel Joseph (a.k.a. "AJ") Abellana displayed his chess powers when he beat four of Cebu City's Class A players, of whom among them were Joel Pacuribot, Bonn Tibod, and NM Leonardo Alidani. Although Abellana was not able to get any of the prizes, he certainly shocked Cebu's chess community especially when he was in a winning streak from rounds 2 to 5! A few weeks later, he also had a small match with chess wonder Allan Pason and swept the match with a 4-0 score! 

Despite his great performance in the game, Abellana will not be able to play enough tournaments because of his priorities, and that is his studies. Hopefully, Cebu will see more of him this summer when he can divide his time between chess and studies :)

MARK CARL CIMAFRANCA

Another Lapu talent, Mark Carl Cimafranca, had a very strong showing recently in the latest PNG Cebu City Qualifyig Leg. Cimafranca drew with top seeds Carlos Moreno III and Felix Shaun Balbona in the penultimate rounds, but his chances were extremely narrow to qualify as he was beaten by Kidd Salazar in the early rounds. In the final round, Cimafranca was in a must-win situation with the Black pieces but was held to a draw by University of San Carlos player, Spencer De Guzman. That draw, sealed Cimafranca's fate for having any chance to qualify in the PNG. Yet this is not the end for Lapu-Lapu's Cimafranca, as he still has hopes to win the VMA tournament this Saturday.

Philippine National Games- Cebu Leg

The Philippine National Games' (PNG) Central Visayas Qualifying leg will kick off next week on February 1 and 2 at the Cebu City Sports Center, Cebu. Registration is only 50php and the top 3 winners will get a chance to go to Manila and play for the PNG finals. Contact FIDE arbiter Felix Poloyapoy for resevations!
Here's his number: 09336642958.

Cebuano Chess Prodigy Celebrates Birthday Tommorow

Lapu-Lapu Chess Club's  very own child prodigy Allan Pason will celebrate his birthday tommorow at BRGY. Abono, Lapu-Lapu, Cebu. Allan Pason is best known in Cebu as a "slayer" of local Cebuano masters and has won the Shell Youth Visayas (Kiddies division) twice. Recently, he is Cebu's 18-under Champion (Deep Blue Event November 2013). Some of the club's resident chess players are expected to attend the birthday bash tommorow at 1pm.

Allan Pason of Lapu-Lapu Chess Club, Cebu
@ the Guinness World Chess Record Event on 2011

2k13 Lapu-Lapu Chess Championships: THE FULL REPORT

The Lapu-Lapu Fiesta Tournament was held on November 16-17, at the newly opened Super Metro Opon. This time, the sponsor was the chess association, MICSA. The tournament format was a 5 round-Swiss in the Open Category, while a grueling 7 round-Swiss was assigned to the Kiddies Category. Time controls given were 15 minutes for each player.

OPEN CATEGORY
Negros chess talent, Brylle John Arellano dominated the recent "Lapu Lapu Chess Fiesta" held at Super Metro  Opon, Lapu-Lapu City. Arellano crushed the rising teenage chess star, Allan Pason in the last round, garnering a total of 5/5 points to take the championship crown. He was a clear point ahead of Henry Infante and Guy Chessman. Infante took the second place as he had the better tiebreaks over Chessman. So, Guy Chessman was third. Allan Pason only managed to gain 4th place as he was beaten by Arellano and was held to a draw by a strong yet unknown player. Meanwhile Mark "The Big Mouth" Cimafranca took 5th. Cimafranca is famously known in our chess club for his very talkative mouth but most importantly, his crushing victory over NM Rustum Tolentino in a 25-move brilliancy miniature, a long time ago.

Brylle John Arellano,  the newly crowned Lapu-Lapu city champion

Lapu-Lapu's teenage chess talent, Allan Pason took part in the Open category (!)
Sadly, he was beaten by Arellano and had to settle for 4th place.
Allan Pason is also notoriously known as Kyle Sevillano's
immortal nemesis.

Cebu's "Chinese GM", Peterson Sia, watches closely a game
between Lapu-Lapu players...

                       

Last year's champion, Ademar Toledo, was not able to regain his title,
as he was severely beaten and demoralised by...

Henry Infante, who ultimately clinched 2nd place in the event.

Chess patron, Jun Olis, visits the event and plays a game with one of
Lapu-Lapu's famous local hustlers...

Rolando "Lando" Torres
(1 d4 c5!?)

Asides from the cash prizes, trophies were given to the 1st to 3rd placers in the Open category.
Trophies were also given in the Kiddies Category bu t unfortunately,
I forgot to take some photos out of them :(

And well, behind these trophies was the arbiter of the event.
He also is one of the most famous arbiters in the Visayas...

Felix Poloyapoy
A.K.A. "NM Polyapov"

Best friend Edgar Tampus with official sponsor, Cobra. Hehe...

KIDDIES CATEGORY
The virtually unknown, Sidi Linus Abugan swept the kiddies category with a phenomenal 7/7 points! His closest rivals, the Velarde brothers  (Jerish and Jerele), only managed to collect 5.5 points each, since their dreams to become Lapu-Lapu Kiddies Champ was disrupted by Lyan Portes and John Lester Belano. Unfortunately, Belano was not able to continue his winning streak (5 points since rounds 1 to 5), as he faltered in the 6th and 7th round.
Here's the list of the kids who made it to the top 5:

1. ABUGAN, Sidi Linus
2. VELARDE, Jerele
3. PICONDO, Grant Daniel
4. VELARDE, Jerish
5. PORTES, Lyan

Sidi  Linus Abugan, the new Lapu-Lapu Kiddies Open Champion.

Here are some pics from the Kiddies category:

"Hmmm... I guess I'll just have to distract the opponent with my mole!"

The phenomenal Jerish  Dalde Velarde, fresh from his victory  from Thailand,
had to settle for 4th place as he was beaten by...

One of the surprise of the tournament, John Lester Belano,
who is supported by his gracious and loving father...

Ramil Belano

                             

 Brgy. Councilor, Galileo Roma, the man behind all of this and of 

course, to our local government of Lapu Lapu ;)

CARLSEN SCORES! /LAPU-LAPU TEAM TOURNAMENT TOMMOROW

World #1 Magnus Carlsen before the start of Game 5 at the ongoing World Chess Championship

The World Chess Championship is nearly halfway over, with the World's number one chess player snatching a full point in Game 5 from Vishy Anand, the reigning World Champion. 

UP-FRONT NOTICE: For the sake of necessary accuracy, I will be a little technical in the words I use today to give a complete and unbiased review of Game 5 of the World Chess Championship. Don't worry, this will be very quick.

In what seemed to be a drawish rook ending, the World Champion, Vishy Anand made a seemingly innocent and subtle error on move 45. In the actual game, Anand (Black), opted for 45...Rc1, giving Carlsen (White) the chance to play the easy 46 Kb2!, which forces Black to obey White's King and play 46...Rg1 instead. 

After 46...Rg1, the position was still drawable, but not anymore easy! Let's just say that a dead drawn game is easier to play than a drawish game with a slight advantage on one side. 

After the move 46...Rg1, Anand must have started to feel that frustrating and sinking feeling when it seemed to him that his position was slowly crumbling. I'm not saying that Anand was losing outright after that move, I'm just saying that it's already hard to play such position after such move. 

Looking back on move 45, in light of Black's difficulties, Black's "only" response was to play the "wais" 45... Ra1. This has the merit of making White's tempo gainer, 46 Kb2 impossible to play owing to 46...Ra2+, skewering the White king and his important g-pawn. When I checked the computer to make sure that 45...Ra1 was really a draw, a staggering eval of =0.00 was screaming throughout my monitor.

Anyways, a good game for Carlsen and good luck to Anand on the next game! 

LAPU-LAPU FIESTA TEAM TOURNAMENT
Good news for the locals of my club in Lapu Lapu! The annual Chess festival in Lapu-Lapu will kick off tomorrow! :) It will be a team tournament, with members of each team from Lapu-Lapu City only. The event starts at 10am, at the newly opened Gaisano Opon. The tournament is sponsored by the Lapu-Lapu City Government and Hon. Harry Radaza. Special thanks to one of our local chess patrons, Galileo Roma for the efforts! :)

Cebu's Roger Abella Memorial Tournament and the LRT Caloocan Mall Tournament

The late (but great) National Master, Roger Abella will finally have his own memorial tournament this Saturday, 1pm, at Cebu's famous Elizabeth Mall. The tournament is said to be of low budget though, so only players from Cebu are expected to come (forgive me for my racism :-P) Anyways, I think that the P6,000 prize for 1st place is very tempting for a lot of locals here in Cebu!

Anyone who is interested about this event, can simply google this page's title and find out more ;)

CLUB MATCH--

The Lapu Lapu Chess Club will battle it out against the CEPCA Chess Club on the first week of August in Cebu City. The organizer will be the proud chess enthusiast, Jun Olis. Sponsors are most likely to come from CEPCA. I hope sir Jun will provide me the names of the sponsors so that I can post them here! Anyways, snacks and small prizes will be given away for both teams. 15 players are only allowed to play for each team. Time controls? Well it's the Good ole' fashioned "long game"!

Hehe.

DEEP CONDOLENCES--

I would also like to extend my condolences to the friends and family of the young yet unfortunately now passed away, chess player James Uy of Cebu. James, you will be dearly missed.

LRT CALOOCAN MALL TOURNEY

By the way, there's a tournament  at the Caloocan NorthMall, this August 17 :) Anyone around the area can join the event and hopefully, those who join might earn some few bucks at day's end :)

Gatz Luz will be the Chief Arbiter for the event, while Noel Morales will act as TD (tournament director).

Here's a poster for details:

For More Info/Details please CALL/TEXT

Tournament Director CA Noel C. Morales

709-06-86 / 09098878395

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