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1) Introduction
2) Etienne Bacrot on track for GM title?
3) Klooster Ter Apel Tournament
4) First Saturday March Tournaments
5) 31st Belgrade Women's Chess Tournament by Sinisa Joksic
6) News from Argentina by Roberto Alvarez
7) Toronto Closed 1997 by Vojin Vujosevic
8) 13th International Chess Festival Bad Wörishofen.
Victory for Viktor Kupreichnik.
9) XIII Magistral "Esucomex" Santiago, Chile by Pablo
Rodriguez
10) 1997 Far East Bank Open by Bobby Ang
11) New York Open
12) YEREVAN AND AFTER: THE WAY FORWARD (Conclusion of a
3-part series)
13) Theoretical Corner by Marco R. Martini (ITA))
Klooster, Ter Apel NED 1997 3 It, Enghien FRA 1997 7 Mermaid, Bermuda 1997 3 Open, Bad Woerishofen GER 1997 104 Open, Santiago CHI 1997 267 FEBTC Open, Greenhills PHI 1997 119 Closed, Toronto CAN 1997 66 Open, Villa Ballester ARG 1997 97
My thanks to Johann Hjartarson for the remaining games from the Mermaid Beach Club International, Mikal Ziane, Jeroen van den Berg, the organisers at the Ter Apel Tournament, W. Knebelfor, Bobby Ang, Pablo Rodriguez, Marco R. Martini, Ignatius Leong, Vojin Vujosevic, Roberto Alvarez, Sinisa Joksic and Laszlo Nagy.
A busy week with plenty of chess. The headlines will be taken by the players in the Ter Apel tournament and by Etienne Bacrot if he manages to get his final GM norm this week.
Hope you enjoy this issue.
Mark
Just when Etienne Bacrot looked like taking the GM title with no difficulty he had a major disaster in the opening in round 4 of the Engein tournament in France. He lost in only 18 moves against Igors Rausis after turning down a draw on move 9. Bacrot started with a very impressive 3/3 in the event including a victory against Viktor Korchnoi in round 1. Etienne Bacrot needs to score 6 out of 9 in the Enghien tournament in order to become the World's youngest ever grandmaster. The current record holder is Peter Leko of Hungary who was 14 years 6 months old when he got the title. Etienne Bacrot is 14 years one month old.
Round 1 (1997.03.14)
Korchnoi, Viktor - Bacrot, Etienne 0-1 42 A06 Reti (1.Nf3)
Spraggett, Kevin - Anic, Darko 1/2 33 C73 Ruy Lopez
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre - Chabanon, Jean-Luc 1-0 27 B06 Modern defence
Ivanov, Mikhail M - Rausis, Igors 1/2 13 D10 Slav defence
Fontaine, Robert - Dorfman, Josif D 0-1
Round 2 (1997.03.15)
Bacrot, Etienne - Anic, Darko 1-0 34 D38 Queen's gambit
Dorfman, Josif D - Nataf, Igor-Alexandre 1/2
Korchnoi, Viktor - Fontaine, Robert 1-0
Rausis, Igors - Spraggett, Kevin 1/2
Chabanon, Jean-Luc - Ivanov, Mikhail M 1-0
Round 3 (1997.03.16)
Spraggett, Kevin - Chabanon, Jean-Luc 1-0
Nataf, Igor-Alexandre - Korchnoi, Viktor 0-1
Anic, Darko - Rausis, Igors 1/2
Ivanov, Mikhail M - Dorfman, Josif D 0-1
Fontaine, Robert - Bacrot, Etienne 0-1 26 C60 Ruy Lopez
Round 4 (1997.03.17)
Bacrot, Etienne - Rausis, Igors 0-1 18 E12 Nimzo indian
Dorfman, Josif D - Spraggett, Kevin 1/2
Korchnoi, Viktor - Ivanov, Mikhail M 1-0
Chabanon, Jean-Luc - Anic, Darko 1-0
Fontaine, Robert - Nataf, Igor-Alexandre 1/2
Enghien FRA (), III 1997 cat. X (2491)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
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1 Bacrot, Etienne m FRA 2500 * . 1 . 0 . . 1 . 1 3.0 2666
2 Dorfman, Josif D g FRA 2585 . * . = . = . . 1 1 3.0 2645
3 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2635 0 . * . . 1 . . 1 1 3.0 2625
4 Spraggett, Kevin g CAN 2580 . = . * = . 1 = . . 2.5 2585
5 Rausis, Igors g LAT 2470 1 . . = * . . = = . 2.5 2607
6 Nataf, Igor-Alexandre m FRA 2410 . = 0 . . * 1 . . = 2.0 2493
7 Chabanon, Jean-Luc m FRA 2435 . . . 0 . 0 * 1 1 . 2.0 2490
8 Anic, Darko m FRA 2470 0 . . = = . 0 * . . 1.0 2303
9 Ivanov, Mikhail M g RUS 2500 . 0 0 . = . 0 . * . 0.5 2209
10 Fontaine, Robert FRA 2320 0 0 0 . . = . . . * 0.5 2210
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Information from Mikal Ziane.
Today saw the start of the Klooster Tournament in Ter Apel Netherlands. This Category 17 event will run from today until the 27th of March. Shirov and Andersson won their round 1 games to take the lead. My thanks to the organisers for the games.
Round 1 (1997.03.17)
Andersson, Ulf - Huebner, Robert 1-0 61 D14 Slav
Khalifman, Alexander - Jussupow, Artur 1/2 22 D58 QGD
Van Wely, Loek - Shirov, Alexei 0-1 42 E94 KID
Ter Apel (NED), III 1997 cat. XVII (2651)
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1 2 3 4 5 6
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1 Andersson, Ulf g SWE 2655 ** .. .. .. 1. .. 1.0
2 Shirov, Alexei g ESP 2690 .. ** .. .. .. 1. 1.0
3 Jussupow, Artur g GER 2665 .. .. ** =. .. .. 0.5 2650
4 Khalifman, Alexander g RUS 2650 .. .. =. ** .. .. 0.5 2665
5 Huebner, Robert g GER 2600 0. .. .. .. ** .. 0.0
6 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2645 .. 0. .. .. .. ** 0.0
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Iulia Mashinskaya scored her first women's IM norm in the IM A tournament which was won by IM Ramil Hasangatin. The IM B Tournament was won by Laszlo Eperjesi saw Thorsten-Michal Haub scored his third and final IM norm, with another women's IM norm for 14 year old Anita Gara.
The 13th of March sees the beginning of the 13th Budapest Spring Festival 9 rounds Swiss open.
6 IGM-s go to Cairo from the 24th of March until 5th of April.
They are: Csom (HUN), Cs Horvath (HUN), J. Horvath (HUN), Peter Szekely (HUN), G Timoshenko (UKR), I Novikov (UKR)
Reserves: Antunes (POR),S Kudrin (USA), Vadasz (HUN). The event is the Golden Cleopatra a product of the Eastern Tobaccoo Company. The Egyptian Chess Federation plans to arrange similar GM closed tournaments 4-5 more times this year. These events will be good for the Arab youth to make IM or GM-norms. This GM tournament will be the first in Egyptian Chess History. The main sponsor of the tournament the manager of the Eastern Tobaccoo Company, the president of the Egyptian Chess Federation, Mr. Hassan Mohsen, who is the member of the former king Farouk's family.
Budapest (HUN), III 1997 cat. III (2309)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
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1 Hasangatin, Ramil m RUS 2490 * 0 1 = 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 = 8.0 2467
2 Belotelov, Dmitri RUS 2225 1 * 1 0 0 1 = 1 0 1 1 = 7.0 2418
3 Pinski, Jan POL 2245 0 0 * = = = 1 1 1 = 1 1 7.0 2417
4 Somlai, Laszlo HUN 2360 = 1 = * 0 1 = = = = = = 6.0 2340
5 Szabo, Zsolt HUN 2355 0 1 = 1 * 1 = = 0 = 0 1 6.0 2341
6 Mashinskaya, Iulia wf RUS 2240 1 0 = 0 0 * 1 = 1 1 0 1 6.0 2351
7 Horvath, Adam HUN 2275 0 = 0 = = 0 * = 1 = 1 1 5.5 2312
8 Czebe, Attila m HUN 2325 0 0 0 = = = = * 1 = 1 1 5.5 2307
9 Schlusnik, Nandor HUN 2225 0 1 0 = 1 0 0 0 * = 1 = 4.5 2251
10 Vadasz, Laszlo g HUN 2365 0 0 = = = 0 = = = * = = 4.0 2202
11 Bock, Juergen GER 2220 0 0 0 = 1 1 0 0 0 = * = 3.5 2184
12 Zemerov, Vladimir m RUS 2385 = = 0 = 0 0 0 0 = = = * 3.0 2127
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First Saturday IM B Event
Budapest (HUN), III 1997 cat. II (2288)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
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1 Eperjesi, Laszlo m HUN 2340 * = = = 1 = = 1 1 1 1 1 8.5 2494
2 Ellers, Holger GER 2260 = * = 1 1 = = = 1 = 1 1 8.0 2465
3 Haub, Thorsten-Michael f GER 2365 = = * 0 1 = = 1 1 1 1 1 8.0 2456
4 Peredy, Ferenc HUN 2200 = 0 1 * = 1 = = 1 = = 1 7.0 2398
5 Gara, Anita HUN 2285 0 0 0 = * = 1 = = 1 1 1 6.0 2324
6 Farago, Sandor m HUN 2250 = = = 0 = * = 0 0 1 1 1 5.5 2291
7 Kahn, Evarth m HUN 2370 = = = = 0 = * = 1 = = 0 5.0 2244
8 Jovanovic, Sasa D f CRO 2385 0 = 0 = = 1 = * = 0 = = 4.5 2214
9 Ladanyi, Tibor HUN 2280 0 0 0 0 = 1 0 = * 1 = 1 4.5 2224
10 Bokros, Albert HUN 2260 0 = 0 = 0 0 = 1 0 * 1 = 4.0 2188
11 Wiechert, Hans GER 2210 0 0 0 = 0 0 = = = 0 * = 2.5 2084
12 De Santis, Alessio f ITA 2255 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 = 0 = = * 2.5 2080
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Some information about the 13th Budapest Spring Festival 9 rounds Swiss
Open chess tournament organized in Budapest from 13th until 21st of March.
At 13th of March we have started the tournament with 146 participants, 106 ELO-rated and 40 non-rated players.
There are 10 International masters and 16 FIDE masters playing here. The tournament hall is the TECHNIKA Foreign trade company's dining hall, Budapest, Xth district, Salgotarjani Str.20. The strongest players by FIDE
ELO-rating: IM Peter Ambrus (HUN 2455), Oleg Berezin (UKR 2445), Laszlo Krizsany (HUN 2435), Zoran Petronijevic (YUG 2430) and Oleg Gladyszew (RUS 2435)
There are more, than a half Hungarian players, 77 fighters.
The others nations: German 19, Russian 17, Ukrainian 8, Polish 4, Yugoslav 3, French 3, Romanian 2, Croatian 2, Italian 2, Slovenian 2, Slovak 1, United Arab Emirates 1, Switzerland 1, Luxemburg 1, Austria 1 player. The opening ceremony was at 14:30 today a speach made by Mr. AMBRUS, Zoltßn, the General Secretary of the Hungarian Chess Federation.
The standings after 4 rounds:
E MIROSHNICHENKO (RUS), S KUSTAR (HUN),D IONESCU lead with 4/4.
More games and details on my www pages later in the week.
News from Laszlo Nagy the organiser of the First Saturday events.
Tel-fax: '00-(361)-263-28-59
E-mail address: 100263.1700@compuserve.com
web site: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/chess_first_saturday_hu/
The tradition of strong women's chess tournaments in Belgrade continues. The event used to be known as the "8 March" tournament. All the best women players except the Polgar sisters. Later when the Belgrade Chess Federation became short of money the "Jugometal" company took over the organisation of the event. They tried to create a women's tournament of Category 16 or 17 every two years (the even numbered years) and in odd numbered years they tried for an event of medium strength (Category 11 or 12)
The surprise of this years event was the result of the youngest player Ana Benderac (20). She is Yugoslav junior champion, she is only a FIDE Master and was the lowest rated. Ana made plus three which was enough for first place and a GM-norm.
The organisation was good.
Beograd (JUG), III 1997 cat. XI (2309)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
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1 Benderac, Ana f JUG 2145 * = = = 1 1 = = = 1 6.0 25.25
2 Prudnikova, Svetlana g RUS 2380 = * = = = 1 1 = 1 = 6.0 25.00
3 Vasilevich, Tatjana m UKR 2425 = = * = = 1 0 1 1 1 6.0 24.75
4 Kozma, Elena g ROM 2360 = = = * 0 0 1 1 1 = 5.0
5 Zhukova, Natalia g UKR 2320 0 = = 1 * = 0 0 1 1 4.5
6 Petrovic, Marija m JUG 2300 0 0 0 1 = * 1 = 0 1 4.0
7 Vuksanovic, Sanja m JUG 2260 = 0 1 0 1 0 * = = 0 3.5 17.00
8 Nikolin, Zorica m JUG 2305 = = 0 0 1 = = * 0 = 3.5 15.75
9 Maric, Mirjana g JUG 2305 = 0 0 0 0 1 = 1 * = 3.5 13.75
10 Maksimovic, Suzana m JUG 2290 0 = 0 = 0 0 1 = = * 3.0
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g-norm 6 points m-norm 4 points
International Master Diego Valerga obtained his first "big" title in Villa Ballester. He was one of the most promising juniors some years ago, when he stop playing competitive chess to finish his medical studies. When came back, he obtained the IM title, and also a number of good performance in strong opens, including a GM norm. But finishing in first place in this traditional Argentinian chess open, ahead of 3 GM's and several IM's shows his continued efforts to improve.
The present edition (XLVII) of the Villa Ballester open was a complete success (as in former years), with 3 GM's, 7 IM's among 142 players, who played 9 rounds, under 1h 30' for 30 moves plus 1 hour for all moves. To organise such a big event, with prize money, and (this year) without the support of any sponsor, the Villa Ballester Chess Club put all the possible efforts, to produce a nice and strong event.
GM Pablo Ricardi, who finished in 4th place with 7 points does not seem to enjoy the best of luck in this event. He has been, IMHO, the strongest Argentinian chess player for the few last years, and has won the National Championships three times in a row. Despite his best efforts, victory at the Villa Ballester open seems to be something difficult to obtain.
XLVII Villa Ballester ARG op - January 14th to 26th
01. Valerga,Diego IM 8,0 /9 02. Sorokin,Maxim GM 7,5 03. Quinteros,Miguel GM 7,0 04. Ricardi,Pablo GM 7,0 05. De Dovitiis,Alejo FM 7,0 06. Dolezal,Christian FM 7,0 07. Moreno,Javier 6,5 08. Needleman,Alejandro 6,5 09. Tempone,Marcelo IM 6,5 10. Scarella,Enrique FM 6,5 11. Felgaer,Ruben 6,5 12. Fiorito,Fabian IM 6,5 13. Paglilla,Carlos IM 6,5 14. Fucek,Claudio FM 6,5 15. Schweber,Samuel IM 6,0 16. Belmonte,Diego 6,0 17. Recoulat,Eduardo 6,0 18. Sola,Ruben 6,0 19. Frank,Mario 6,0 20. Escandell,Juan C FM 6,0 21. Peralta,Fernando 6,0 22. Leskovar,Mario IM 6,0 23. Moreda,Lucas 6,0 24. Godoy,Carlos 6,0 25. Sakurai,Leonardo 6,0 ....142 players
Igor Zugic was a 15 year old surprise (joint) winner and the youngest winner in the history of this tournament going back more years than anyone remembers. IM Bryon Nickoloff was in good form which befits his talent and experience. IM Ron Livshits put in a solid performance while IM Lawrence Day who is slowly becoming "the grand old man" of Toronto chess was off his best form this time. FM Ian Findlay is playing himself back into a good shape after an absence from the chess scene. The heroes of the tournament were Igor Zugic and Paul Williams supplying plenty of excitement and a lot of trouble for the older and more experienced guys. "Our" IGM's Kevin Spraggett and Ivan Sokolov were of course in Europe. These biggies are always chasing prizes etc on the old continent. Both keep an address in Toronto and are frequent visitors here. Kevin has three brothers living in the city, including FM Grant Spraggett, while Sokolov's wife Angelina is a Canadian citizen and lives in Toronto's east end. The games were provided by Ian McGarrett.
Toronto (CAN), II 1997
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2
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1 Nickoloff, Bryon m CAN 2415 * 1 = 0 = 1 1 1 1 1 1 = 8.5 2428
2 Zugic, Igor CAN 2165 0 * 1 = 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 8.5 2402
3 Livshits, Ron m CAN 2370 = 0 * 1 1 = 0 1 1 1 1 1 8.0 2310
4 Williams, Paul CAN 2235 1 = 0 * = 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 8.0 2333
5 Findlay, Ian T f CAN 2355 = 1 0 = * = = 1 1 1 1 1 8.0 2313
6 Day, Lawrence A m CAN 2415 0 0 = 0 = * 1 1 1 = 1 1 6.5 2178
7 Ochkoos, Jura CAN 2280 0 0 1 1 = 0 * = 1 0 1 1 6.0 2268
8 McGarrett,Ian CAN ---- 0 0 0 0 0 0 = * 1 1 1 1 4.5 1897
9 Kret, Ted CAN ---- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 1 1 1 3.0
10 Frilles,Ruperto CAN ---- 0 0 0 0 0 = 1 0 0 * 0 1 2.5 2089
11 Fiedler, Brian CAN ---- 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 * = 1.5
12 Veltmann, Martin CAN ---- = 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 = * 1.0 1897
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My thanks to the organisers (in particular W. Knebelfor) sending news from the event.The event ran from 7th-15th March 1997.
Viktor Kupreichnik by virtue of an eighth round victory over Ludger Keitlinghaus and a final round draw took clear first in the main open of the Bad Wörishofen Chess Festival. There was a ten way tie for second place. Dr.Reinhard Zunker took clear first in the seniors section.
Main Section 223 participants (13 GMs and 13 IMs) Senior Section 84 players
Selection of games from the event.
1. Kupreichik Viktor GM Weissrussland 7.5 53.0 440.50 2. Mainka Romuald GM Porz Koeln 7.0 55.5 443.50 3. Wells Peter GM Passau 7.0 54.0 428.50 4. Dautov Rustem GM St.Ingbert 7.0 53.5 435.50 5. Eingorn Viacheslav GM Ukraine 7.0 53.0 440.00 6. Gabriel Christian GM Solingen 7.0 52.5 442.50 7. Keitlinghaus Ludger IM Duisburg 7.0 52.0 439.50 8. Miles Anthony GM England 7.0 52.0 424.00 9. Bischoff Klaus GM Solingen 7.0 51.0 438.50 10. Movsziszian Karen GM Hamburg 7.0 47.5 429.50 11. Siebrecht Sebastian IM Essen 7.0 44.5 401.50 12. Lerner Konstantin GM Ukraine 6.5 54.5 444.00 13. Milov Leonid IM NT Nuernberg 6.5 53.0 440.50 14. Tischbierek Raj GM Berlin 6.5 52.5 442.50 15. Romanishin Oleg GM Ukraine 6.5 52.0 432.50 16. Dumitrache Dragos IM Bukarest 6.5 52.0 430.50 17. Heinbuch Detlef IM Koenigswinter 6.5 48.5 410.50 18. Zahn Wolfgang FM Pasing Muenchen 6.5 47.0 405.00 19. Lau Udo Salzgitter 6.5 46.0 412.00 20. Roemer Ulrich FM Jedesheim 6.5 43.5 394.50 21. Rabiega Robert IM Berlin 6.0 54.5 425.50 22. Kohlweyer Bernd IM St.Ingbert 6.0 53.0 426.50 23. Espig Lutz GM Plauen 6.0 52.5 428.00 24. Roeder Matthias IM Aachen 6.0 52.0 402.00 25. Cladouras Panagiotis IM Luebeck 6.0 51.0 409.50 26. Roeder Frank FM Altensittenbach 6.0 49.0 418.50 27. Reefschlaeger Dr.Helm IM Delmenhorst 6.0 48.5 413.50 28. Dittmar Peter FM Sindelfingen 6.0 48.0 404.00 29. Vatter Hans-Joachim FM Zahringen 6.0 46.0 387.00 30. Low Gerald Bamberg 6.0 45.5 403.50 31. Rahls Peter Berlin 6.0 44.0 393.50 32. Reich Thomas IM Bayern Muenchen 6.0 42.5 392.50 33. Francesco Klaus de Pasing Muenchen 6.0 42.5 390.50 34. Lieb Harald FM Berlin 6.0 42.5 383.00 35. Nowka Oliver Rinteln 6.0 42.5 378.00 36. Fruhlich Peter Weilheim 6.0 42.0 364.50
IM Rodrigo Vasquez (2505) was the undefeated winner of the XIII Magistral "Esucomex", the strongest Chilean open, played once a year in Santiago, Chile. 160 players took part in this event, including 1 GM and several IMs. It was played from February 28th to March 9th in a 9-round Swiss System, under the direction of Carlos Molina with IA Lorenginis Berti as the main arbiter, assisted by Juan Carlos Echeverria, Cristian Moreno and Carlos Molina O.
Rodrigo Vasquez scored 7.5 points and was followed by eight players with 7.
These were: the Bolivian master Johnny Cute who also got the Brilliancy Prize for his 8th round game against IM Pablo Toloza, FM Marcelo Duarte, GM Roberto Cifuentes, a Netherlander, the Chilean Champion, Luis Rojas, who defeated Cifuentes in an excellent game, NM Daniel Barria, NM Eduardo Arancibia, NM David Godoy, who also got the prize for the best "senior", and NM Cesar Velasquez. 10th place prize was shared by IM Pablo Toloza, NMs Fernando Rosa y Eduardo Bombardiere, Rodrigo Zarzuri and Gustavo Mella, all on 6.5 points.
Among the 6 point-group finishers we find 13-years-old Miguel Lobos, best junior prize, WIM Giovanna Arbunic, best lady prize, and also IM Rene Letelier who days before the tournament celebrated his 82nd birthday.
1 Vasquez, Rodrigo m CHI 2505 7.5 2 Cueto, J BOL 2200 7.0 3 Duarte, Marcelo R f CHI 2375 7.0 4 Cifuentes Parada, Roberto g NED 2515 7.0 5 Rojas, Luis CHI 2385 7.0 6 Barria, Daniel CHI 2355 7.0 7 Arancibia, Eduardo CHI 2250 7.0 8 Godoy, David A CHI 2295 7.0 9 Velasquez, Cesar CHI 2365 7.0 10 Toloza, Pablo m CHI 2385 6.5 11 Cortes Moyano, Julio f CHI 2295 6.5 12 Rosa, Fernando CHI 2175 6.5 13 Bombardiere Rosas, Eduardo CHI 2250 6.5 14 Zarzuri,Rodrigo CHI ---- 6.5 15 Mella,Gustavo CHI ---- 6.5 16 San Martin, Epiro CHI 2155 6.0 17 Varas, Carlos CHI 2295 6.0 18 Michel Yunis, Christian D m CHI 2320 6.0 19 Leon, Rodrigo CHI 2115 6.0 20 Llorens, Marcelo CHI 2235 6.0 21 Araya, Ricardo CHI 2295 6.0 22 Romero, Claudio CHI 2135 6.0 23 Lobos, Miguel CHI 2075 6.0 24 Utman, Carlos CHI 2135 6.0 25 Baccelliere Pena, Mario E CHI 2270 6.0 26 Arbunic Castro, Giovanna B wm CHI 2120 6.0 27 Letelier, Rene m CHI 2205 6.0 28 Jorquera, Marcelo CHI 2160 6.0 29 Camousseigt,Ivan CHI ---- 6.0 30 Caceres Enrique CHI 2040 6.0 160 players
The Far East Bank open is actually a misnomer, because it is not an open -you have to qualify for it via several regional tournaments all over the Philippines. This year 5 GMs (Torre, Wojtkiewicz, Djuric, Antonio and Balinas) joined 6 IMs (Mariano, Barcenilla, De Guzman, Bancod, Nadera and Ramos) and all the top guns of Philippine chess plus the regional qualifiers to vie for the P200,000 first prize (around US $7,700). GM Eugenio Torre is the defending champion. The venue was the Greenhills Shopping Center. Bobby Ang sent the information.
The event ended with a fine victory for Rogelio Antonio jr who ended a five year wait for a tournament win with this smashing victory capped with a final round win against IM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. His final score was a record for the 11 round event.
"Kailangan na rin talagang manalo uli ako dahil matagal-tagal na rin akong walang titulo," (I had to win this because it has been sometime since my last title), said Antonio of his first victory since he shared the top honors with Wojtkiewicz in the 1991 edition of this event sponsored by Far East Bank and Trust Company."And this is the sweetest," added Antonio without undermining his memorable victory in the 1992 GrandMaster Classic in Baguio where he obtained his GM title.
Wojtkiewicz crushed Chito Garma's Sicilian defence to finish with nine points to share the second place with FIDE Master Luis Chiong IV worth P180,000. Chiong proved steadier than Arlan Cabe in their mad rush to beat the first time control, coming out with a one-pawn advantage which he nurtured until he eked out a 59-move win of their Queen's Gambit-Accepted game. Cabe, who earned his Master's title as early as the 10th round, settled for fourth to seventh place with NMs Eduardo Ortiz, and Richard Bitoon and IM Barlo Nadera, with 8.5 points apiece. Each took home P42,500. Ortiz defeated Fernie Donguines in 32 moves of a King's Indian Defense' while Nadera dismantled Bong Villamayor's King's Indian Defense to prevail after 34 moves. But it was Bitoon who provided the biggest spark at the close of the 12-day tournament staged by the Philippne Chess Federation when he stunned top seed GM Eugene Torre after 56 moves of a Sicilian-Scheveningen game.
New National Masters are Arlan Cabe, Geronomi Romarate, Homer Cunanan and Mark Paragua. Homer Cunanan is at present the chess coach of San Sebastian College, and has for a few years now always hovered on the border of master-hood. When asked as to what accounted for his "final push" to cross the finishing line, he replied that it was the internet. He had been visiting the Datelnet Internet Cafe in Angeles City where he could log-in to the Internet Chess Club and play against strong players including GMs and IMs all over the world at any time.Mark Paragua has become the youngest ever Filipino National Master at the age of 12. Actually, some people would say that even this is overdue, because last year Mark scored 6/9 in the Philippine National Games, defeating in the process 5 national masters.
Greenhills (PHI), II-III 1997
1 Antonio, Rogelio jr g PHI 2525 10.0 2 Wojtkiewicz, Aleksander g POL 2565 9.0 3 Chiong, Luiz f PHI 2390 9.0 4 Nadera, Barlo A m PHI 2445 8.5 5 Ortiz,Eduardo PHI ---- 8.5 6 Bitoon,Richard PHI ---- 8.5 7 Cabe,Arlan PHI ---- 8.5 8 Djuric, Stefan g YUG 2535 8.0 9 Barcenilla, Rogelio m PHI 2465 8.0 10 Bancod, Ronald m PHI 2405 8.0 11 De Guzman, Ricardo m PHI 2400 8.0 12 Garma, Chito f PHI 2400 8.0 13 Garma, Edgardo PHI 2375 8.0 13 Nolte, Rolando PHI 2365 8.0 14 Pialan,Fernandito PHI ---- 8.0 15 Paragua, Mark PHI 2150 8.0 16 Cunanon, Homer PHI ---- 8.0 17 Romarante, Geronimo PHI ---- 8.0 Some other placings 19-28 7.5 GM Eugenio Torre, FM Fernie Donguines, FM Jesse Noel Sales, NM Bong Villamayor, NM Adrian Pacis, NM Elias Lao Jr, NM Celestino Cain, NM Rolly Martinez, Rudy Ibanez, Rolando Andador 29-46 7.0 NM Mirabeau Maga, NM Petronio Roca, NM Yves Ranola, NM Idelfonso Datu, NM Ronald Llavanes, NM Onofre Espiritu, NM Jayson Gonzales, NM Dante Zuniga, NM Louie Pablo, NM Jonathan Tan, Eduardo Agagon, Mario Rebano, Jake dela Cruz, Roland Salvador, Danilo Lopez, Cesar Apalla, Danilo Bautista
The 1997 US Open promises to be the strongest Swiss Open in US chess history. Starting on April 2nd there are already 51 GMs entered. There will be full coverage with photos, games, results and standings on the web site
It promises to be an exciting event.
by Ignatius Leong (International Arbiter & Organiser) and Tang Kum-Foo (International Arbiter)
[Email: intchess@pacific.net.sg Fax: (65) 2355303]
After the publication of Part 2, we received positive and encouraging feedback from members of the chess fraternity in Asia, Europe and the Americas. FIDE is beyond hope, they agree; what is to be done now?
We have considered this question long and hard since the Yerevan Congress and have followed up on some ideas tossed up by some delegates during and after the Congress on the need for an alternative world chess body. We have done some background, exploratory and initiation work, including sounding out some parties' interest in supporting and joining such an organisation and are now ready to share some preliminary thoughts with the chess world.
Our proposal: a parallel organisation to FIDE, with the authority to organise world events and run on more business-oriented lines; i.e., a leaner, action-oriented world body that caters to chessplayers of a wide range of playing strengths, not just the elite players. This organisation shall live within its means. In short, more chess and less politics, especially the divisive, self-serving sort that has benighted FIDE. We have given this proto-organisation the working name World Chess Organisation (WCO).
WCO will have its own statutes, structure, title & rating regulations, world title matches/tournaments, international team and individual events, regional team events and regular team and individual events so that more chessplayers can play and perhaps win some prize money and more chessplayers can aspire to titles and improved ratings. Arbiters and organisers too will benefit from the increased opportunities. Having more and more accessible tournaments will mean the democratisation of the world chess movement: democracy through action, rather than empty talk, debate, politicisation.
Membership can be in several classes: e.g., corporate (i.e., national federations) and individual (titled players, organisers, arbiters, trainers, journalists), with a higher (but equal) weight of votes for corporate members. Would-be members could be members of other international chess bodies.
WCO will be funded through commercial sponsorships, donations from chess friends and well-wishers, and internally-generated income through tournament entry fees, membership and rating fees. Already there is expression of some financial and infrastructural support from some Asian quarters.
A draft of the statutes and calendar of main events for the next year or so has been drawn up. These and other proposals for membership, titles etc will be tabled at a Founders' Meeting to be called in the coming months.
We welcome comments, suggestions, ideas, specific proposals and criticisms on WCO from chess friends in the run-up to that meeting.
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