Rapid Chess Tournament
Alpha land, South Gate Mall
Edsa cor Chino Roces Ave.

13 years Old and Below and 2050 and below

Nice game! It is also one of my favorite line against the English Opening. In the last round of JCA 2011 Summer Open in Tokyo (Japan), I employed it as I need a win and did -- I ended-up in a triple tie but declared Group B Champion due to higher tie-break points.

Although my game isn't akin to Reversed GPA, I still remember it as one of my best game.

Though there were some acts in chess events and by chess officials which were shared and I find despicable, ang pampalubag loob eh yung mga bata.

UE's Leeroi Palma of Siniloan Laguna was champ of that Dec 30 event at Alphaland, may story din etong boy na eto. And got a NY greeting from Jasper and wished him well in the UAAP and his studies.

With the Jan list, Phils still at 41st with average rating of its top 10 players at 2496.

Our TOP 10 still unchanged, wala pa yung results ng 2 intl events dito na PICC and PSC/Puregold, pero roughly GMs Ino and Oli, lost points, while GM JP should rise to #3 and Joey going to #4. Sila GMs Joey and Dar halos par for the course sa 2 events. Kasama pa sa TOP 10 sila GMs Banjo and Bong who rarely play in tournaments, which indicates walang sumisirit pataas na bata for the TOP 10

To RECAP the 2 tournaments :
PICC PSC / Puregold
GM Gomez 2510 + 11.1 + 11.1
GM Laylo 2500 + 6.5 - 1.6

GM Antonio 2503 + 5.1 - 4.2

GM Torre 2448 + 0.3 DNP

GM Bitoon 2413 + 6.9 + 0.7

GM Sadorra 2575 - 18.9 + 1.1

GM Barbosa 2533 - 8.8 - 14.3

Which means impact to the TOP players by FIDE Feb list would be :

1. GM Sadorra 2575 - 17 = 2558

2. GM Gomez 2510 + 22 = 2532

3. GM Barbosa 2533 - 23 = 2510

4. GM Antonio 2503 + 1 = 2504

5. GM Sanchez 2501 DNP

6. GM Laylo 2494 + 5 = 2499

7. GM Paragua 2492 DNP (US Based)

8. GM Barcenilla 2455 DNP

9. GM Villamayor 2454 DNP

10. GM Salvador 2450 DNP

11. GM Torre 2448 + 1 = 2449

DNP means didn't play in the 2 intl events here, but GM Bong played in the Penang Open in early Dec and emerged as Champ.

Most of our GMs are not in the peak of their ELOs which is quite alarming, in the absence of any other universal measure, ELO is our gauge.

Exception dyan AFGM since come Olympiad time eh his competitive juices flow again.

BUT isaalang alang din natin AFGM, ibig ba sabihin even beyond the 2016 Olympiad eh asahan pa sya maglaro, mga 66 yrs old na yata sya by the 2018 Olympiad.

First, you will lose your money there.

Second, they will say you are corrupt. Money you spend for chess from your own pocket they will say was not yours anyway but fruits of corruption.

Third, they will easily forget the good that you've done and will only remember whatever wrong it is which happened while you were there.

But then again, eonomics/income-wise being with USCF may not be pre-requisite to play in the Sinquefield Cup (since they base invitiations on HIGH ELO, like those in 2800s level), but in the case of the US Open I guess its exclusive to USCF members. So I figured around 2016 due to mainly PRO considerations, being with USCF would be best suited.

But then maybe come 2018 onwards, there's brighter possibilities. It just gained headwinds today when Nil posted in FB Groups what he heard from Pres Pichay during the Phil Cup awarding, and Joey Villar aired the same hope in his Philstar article today.