Sibalom Chess Association - Solong 2008

The Sibalom Chess Association, headed by Mr. Agaton Grasparil, President, recently held its 12th yearly Edition of the Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom. Here are the details:

SIBALOM CHESS ASSOCIATION
Helping develop and harness the municipality’s intellectual capital
c/o SK Chairperson Benjamen B. Evardone Jr., Cubay Napultan, Sibalom, Antique http://profiles.friendster.com/sichessasso
sibalom_chess_association@yahoo.com 09196922379
8:12 p.m., December 29, 2008
REPORT

12th Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom held
SIBALOM, Antique – The twelfth yearly edition of the Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom, a tournament which is open to all Sibalomnon chess players, culminated a few hours ago with a long and tension-filled deciding game for first place between a veteran player in his fifties and a girl in her teens. The veteran eventually won.
The event, named Solong 2008 – Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom, began on December 27, 2008 at the Alex & Al Café and Snack House in District II, and continued today at the at the Solong Barangay Plaza..

Here are the results:

First Place – Edwin S. Leabriz of District II
Second Place – April Joyce S. Osunero of Esperanza III
Third Place – Rex A. Cordero of Iglanot
Fourth Place – Rodhel D. Trocio of Iglanot
Fifth Place – Lou Vincent B. Baculna of District I
Sixth Place – Eugenio A. Pasaquian of Solong
Seventh Place – Andrew N. Abagon of Biga-a
Eighth Place – Quin C. Cordon of Iglanot
Ninth Place – Rex Allan P. Galicia of Solong
Tenth Place – Jessie C. Balen Jr. of Cubay Sermon

Solong 2008 – Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom was a project of the Sibalom Chess Association, and was supported by the following: the Barangay Council of Solong under the leadership of Delicia A. Espares, the Sangguniang Kabataan of Solong under the leadership of Lorie Mae P. Otañes, and the Sibalom Tree-Planting Movement. The project manager was Mark Raymond M. Combong, and the assistant project manager was Jeffrey P. Mendavia.
The Sibalom Chess Association is a voluntary organization that was formed in 1997, and has been led since then by Agaton R. Grasparil III.

MARK RAYMOND M. COMBONG
Project Manager
Solong 2008 – Torneyo kang Chess sa Sibalom

January 2009 Chess Open and Youth Tournaments

The Open Chess Tournament, January 2009 Edition, is scheduled on January 10-11, 2009. The tournament is open to all interested. This will be played on a 5 -round Swiss system format, 1 hour play to finish. Tournament venue will still be the Alex and Al Cafe and Snackhouse, Sibalom, Antique. Play starts at 9:30 a.m. of January 10.

The first bi-monthly youth tournament for 2009 will be on January 24-25, 2009. This will be open to all chess players below 18 years old. This will also be played on a 5-round Swiss system, 1 hour play to finish format. For more details, please contact the Antique Chess Society at Alex and Al cafe and Snackhouse or this blog.

more pictures from the Dec 14 De Gracia Cup

December 14 De Gracia Cup in pictures

Leo Magbanua tops first Antique Masters Chess Tournament!

18 year old Leo Magbanua of San Jose tops the first Antique Masters Chess Tournament(De Gracia Memorial Cup) with 5.5 points after 7 rounds. Solo second place goes to Arnel Amar of Tibiao with 5 points. Four players shared third with 4.5 points apiece. They were Top seed Miguel Descalzo, John Mark Grasparil, Nick Contreras, and Von Steven Aquino.

Leo Magbanua received the Champion's trophy and P2,000.00 cash. Second placer Arnel Amar received P1,000.00. The four players tied for third place shared the cash prizes for 3rd, 4th, and 5th places. A special cash prize was also awarded to 12 year old Lou Vincent Baculna who finished with a respectable 3 points.

The cash prizes were donated by the De Gracia family in honor of the birthday of the late Mrs. Juanita Grasparil De Gracia. The trophy was donated by Mr. Deonato Petinglay.

In the awarding ceremony, the Antique Chess Society, for the first time, recognized and awarded certificate of Titles to its worthy chess players. The Antique Chess Society has deviced its own rating system using the ELO formula to seed and rank its players. Those who surpassed an ELO rating of 2400 by December 1, 2008 were awarded the Senior Master title. Those who surpassed the ELO rating of 2200 were awarded the title of Provincial Master. And those who surpassed an ELO rating of 2000 were awarded Municipal Master titles. The following players were awarded these respective titles.

SENIOR MASTER
1. Nelson L. Trayfalgar jr.
2. Miguel Descalzo

PROVINCIAL MASTER
1. Leo Magbanua
2. John Mark Grasparil
3. Von Steven Aquino
4. Joselito Castro
5. Edwin Leabriz

MUNICIPAL MASTER
1. Rex Daguinotan
2. Nick Contreras
3. Apolonio Fadrigo

The next tournament of the Antique Chess Society will be on January where the regular monthly open chess tournament and the bi-monthly youth chess tournament will begin for 2009. all interested players are invited to join!

Antique chess rejoice over Pacquiao's victory

The whole nation stopped for a while to watch pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao maul Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya into submission. The Antique Chess Society intentionally made sure that its ongoing tournament schedule would not be in conflict with this historic event. The streets were relatively empty as people cheered for our National Hero won convincingly over de la Hoya.

What is humbling about Manny Pacquiao is that every start and finish of the fight, he never forgets to kneel down and pray. His declaration after each victory is that he is very grateful to God and dedicates his victory to the Filipino people. He is the only person today who can unite all of us in whatever persuasions of life we might be.

CONGRATULATIONS MANNY PACQUIAO!!!!!!

Seeded players take early lead

Top seeded Miguel Descalzo, second seed Leo Magbanua, Edwin leabriz, and Nick Contreras takes the early lead with 2 points apiece after two rounds of the ongoing Antique Masters Chess Tournament.

Miguel Descalzo ----- 2
Leo Magbanua ------ 2
Edwin Leabriz ------ 2
Nick Contreras ----- 2
John Mark grasparil - 1
Von Steven Aquino --1
Rex Daguinotan ---- 1
JR Magbanua ------- 1
Deonato Petinglay --- 1
Lou vincent Baculna - 1
Raymund Cepeda --- 1
Jevie Go ------------- 1

18 players joined this 7 round event. The next 5 rounds will be on December 13 and 14, 2008. A Christams party and awarding program will be the culminating activities.

The Antique version of a masters' tournament will be held on December 6, 13 and 14, 2008 at Alex and Al Cafe and Snackhouse. This tournament will pit the best players in the province of Antique. Registration fee will be P100.00. Regular playing members are free from registration. For more details, please contact the Antique Chess Society at Alex and Al cafe and Snackhouse.

Prizes will be:

Champion ------- P2,000.00 plus trophy
second ---------- 1,000.00 plus certificate
third ------------ 500.00 plus certificate
fourth ----------- 300.00 plus certificate
fifth ------------- 200.00 plus certificate

other consolation prizes


"Don't take drugs, play chess"

12 Year olds rule Under 18 Youth Chess

12 Year olds Lou Vincent Baculna and Mon Aldrin Farren ruled the recent Under 18 Youth chess tournament held at the Alex and Al Cafe and Snackhouse last November 22-23, 2008. Baculna, Antique's version of Wesley So, played confidently and easily defeated all his opponents to finish with 5 points in this 5 round swiss system event. Mon Aldrin Farren finished second with 4 points losing only to Baculna in the third round. four players finished tied for 3rd place. Among them is 13 year old Jesse Queen Villaflor.

Baculna and Villaflor will be representing their Districts (Sibalom and Patnongon respectively) in the upcoming provincial meet.