So wins Dubai Chess Tournament

Philippine Chess has another good news just recently. Our very own GM Wesley So, the world's youngest Grandmaster presently at age 14, won the strong Dubai Chess Tournament! This feat will surely serve as an inspiration to all Filipino chess players. Congratulations GM Wesley So, we in Antique are proud of you!

The chess players in Antique has been steadily growing in strength. This was recently proven with the results of the Region VI regional elimination for the chess olympiad held in Aklan recently. The Antiqueño chess players has stood their ground and scored well against Master-level opponents. Miguelito Descalzo finished tied for 7th to 13th places just half a point behind the leaders. This showed that Antiqueños can battle it out with top chess players of other provinces.

The Antique Chess Society, for its part, will continue to sponsor monthly tournaments for interested chess players. For the past six months of sponsoring these tournaments, many chess players have noticeably improved their games. Many now have improved theoretical knowledge in chess. The Antique Chess Society also offers chess books as resource materials for those who wanted to learn more about chess.

The chess players in Antique nowadays are very very lucky. During our younger times, chess books, especially theoretical ones, are very rare. In fact, I could remember having one when I was already in college. Tournaments are very rare. Once a year is lucky enough. I was so hungry about chess that I would battle it out just for the prize of a ribbon! If the prize is a trophy, it will be the joy of my life! I would hunger for opponents.

I have to make it out on my own and I still qualified as a varsity player. I never lost playing for my school and drew only once. I played against the varsity players of other schools in Iloilo.

Now. I want to provide opportunities to the chess players here in Antique. Opportunities which I never had. I am providing chess materials, especially theoretical ones for the aspiring chess players. I am sponsoring monthly open, quarterly youth, and annual masters (for chess club members only) chess tournaments. Aspiring chess players should grab this opportunity.

My vision: producing a National Master player in the near future. Such dream may not be far to reach. Players like Jun Trayfalgar, Miguelito Descalzo, Leo Magbanua, Von Aquino, John Mark Grasparil, Edwin Leabriz et. al. are now capable of playing against Master level opponents.

Young players are also growing in strength monthly. With more practice, exposure and study, they will soon be a force to reckon with.

Jun Trayfalgar wins April 2008 Edition Tournament

Nelson Trayfalgar Jr. wins the April 2008 Edition of the Sibalom Open Chess Tournament. Nelson 'Jun' Trayfalgar Jr., also winner of the March Edition, defeated Miguelito Descalzo in the 5th (final) round to clinch the title. Coming in tied for second place are John Mark Grasparil and Apollonio Fadrigo. Five players were tied for 4th to 8th places namely Von Steven Aquino, Miguelito Descalzo, Danny Marañon, Leo Magbanua, and JR Magbanua. The May Edition will be held on May 10 - 11, 2008 at Alex and Al Cafe and Snackhouse.