All About Chess...

                           2nd Negros Closed Invitational Chess Championship 2012                            Rd.9    NM Acaling vs. CM Montoyo    Sicilian Defense (B27) I would rather not mention in detail the controversy that happened before and during the game since everything turned out to be alright after it. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d5! Honestly, this is the first time I encountered this move, which means my opening reference is very old, but probably not yet obsolete :) There are many moves in this position 5..Nc6, 5..Qb6, 5..Qc7, 5..Bc5 but perhaps the most popular continuation here is 5..Bb4 while 5..d6 will transpose to Scheveningen type of position. ...

Whew, what a ride! A very tough tournament. Prior to the event, I thought (based on last years results) that to be able to win the event, you have to score not less than 7pts. If I’m not mistaken last years champ FIDE Master Sander Severino’s score is exactly 7pts. This benchmark may have been equaled or even surpassed had Ellan Asuela been able to play in the first two rounds. National Master Carlito Lavega ( incidentally his NM title was not included in the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ ratings list, I wonder why?!) snatched the lead in the first three rounds, but by the middle rounds he was caught up by FM Sander Severino. The blitz playoff of Lavega and Asuelan.* (Photo by James Toga) These two were involved in a neck to neck race down the wire up to the penultimate round, with the leads switching from one to the other with every rounds. After the eighth round was completed, it became apparent that there was a new co-leader, and it was none ot...