Earnings of Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI) jumped by a third during the first six months of 2018, lifted by higher sales from its residential business amid its ongoing expansion in the Visayas and Mindanao markets.
In a statement issued Monday, Aug. 13, the listed property developer said net income hit P826 million in the January to June period, higher than the P633 million it generated in the same period a year ago. This constitutes less than half of the P1.7 billion profit target.
Revenues surged 45% to P2.6 billion, or around half of its full-year target of P5.3 billion.
“With record-breaking sales accompanied by our fast turnaround development, we are confident that this momentum can be sustained,” CLI President and Chief Executive Officer Jose R. Soberano III was quoted as saying in a statement.
The Cebu-based firm also noted that it has already fully utilized the funds raised from its initial public offering last year amounting to P2.1 billion. A total of 94% of the IPO proceeds were used for the purchase of key land properties and for joint ventures. With this, CLI’s land bank now stands at 976,302 square meters, 55% higher than what it had at the time of the IPO. All of CLI’s properties are in the Visayas and Mindanao area.
CLI has recently raised P5 billion from the issuance of corporate notes to further finance its ongoing expansion. — Arra B. Francia
Supermarket operators reported mixed results for the first half of 2018, while posting higher same store sales growth (SSSG) for the period.
In a statement issued Monday, Aug. 13, Puregold Price Club, Inc. (PGOLD) said its net income grew by 25.6% in the first six months of 2018 to P3.08 billion, followed by a 13.2% jump in consolidated net sales to P64.03 billion.
SSSG of Puregold stores stood at 6.1%, while S&R stores had an SSSG of 5.9%. The company said it benefited from higher consumer spending due to higher levels of take-home pay after the implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
Meanwhile, Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (MRSGI) saw its net income drop by 17% to P254.2 million from P305.2 million in the second quarter of 2018, as revenues likewise dipped 5.8% to P8 billion.
This brought MRSGI’s net income 14% to P344 million in the first six months of the year, while revenues went down 8.8% to P14.9 billion. — Arra B. Francia
SM Investments Corp. said it is in the final stages of acquiring a 34% stake in Goldilocks Bakeshop, Inc., months after the deal to fully purchase the business fell through.
In a disclosure to the stock exchange on Monday, the holding firm of country’s richest man Henry Sy, Sr. confirmed reports of the deal. This will give the SM Group a significant minority interest in the company which currently operates more than 600 stores nationwide.
To recall, the listed conglomerate’s unit, SM Retail, Inc., backed out of the deal to acquire 100% of Goldilocks’ shareholdings back in February, citing changes in the general business environment.
The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) had already approved the P2-billion transaction at the time. Alongside the approval were some conditions to ensure that the deal will not hinder competition inside SM malls, which include giving Goldilocks’ competitors a “fair chance” to their positions in SM malls at all times.
Shares in SMIC lost 2.41% or P23 to close at P933 each at the stock exchange on Monday. — Arra B. Francia
BROOKS KOEPKA of the United States poses with the Wanamaker Trophy on the 18th green after winning the 2018 PGA Championship with a score of -16 at Bellerive Country Club on Aug. 12 in St Louis, Missouri. — AFP
ST. LOUIS — Brooks Koepka, holding his nerve to fight off dramatic challenges from Tiger Woods and Adam Scott, won a thrilling back-nine battle Sunday to capture the 100th PGA Championship.
The 28-year-old two-time US Open champion sealed his third major title by firing a four-under-par 66 to finish 72 holes on 16-under 264, edging Woods by two strokes at Bellerive Country Club with Australia’s Scott another shot adrift.
“To do this is truly incredible,” Koepka said.
As Woods electrified spectators by displaying the form that made him a 14-time major champion, American rival Koepka stayed calm and persevered under intense pressure to claim the Wanamaker Trophy and a top prize of $1.98 million (€1.73 million).
“I heard all the roars when Tiger made his run,” Koepka said. “It was the first time Tiger has been in contention and I’ve been in contention at the same time, so the fans definitely let you know what he was doing.
“Scotty played unbelievably well and so did Tiger. They definitely made me question it there for a bit, for sure.”
Koepka fired the lowest 72-hole score in tournament history, one shot under the old mark set by American David Toms in 2001 at Atlanta Athletic Club.
Deadlocked for the lead with Scott — who began the back nine with three birdies in four holes — and only one stroke ahead of Woods, Koepka sank a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-4 15th and a six-foot birdie putt at the par-3 16th then parred the last two holes to secure the victory.
“I missed putts on 14 and 15 and Brooks didn’t and my momentum was gone,” Scott said. “I’m definitely playing better and in the right direction and that’s a positive.”
Woods, who hasn’t won a major title since the 2008 US Open and hasn’t won any title in five years, proved he is a legitimate major title contender once again at age 42 with an epic 64, his low final round in a major, which he concluded with a 20-foot birdie putt at 18, the crowd roaring as he walked off.
“These fans were so positive all week,” Woods said. “I can’t thank them enough for what they were saying out there and what it meant to me coming back trying to win a major championship again.” ‘MIND-BLOWING’
Koepka, who defended his US Open crown in June at Shinnecock, became only the fifth player to win the US Open and PGA Championship in the same year, joining Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Gene Sarazen, and Ben Hogan.
And it came in a season where he missed the Masters with a left wrist injury.
“Going from that to even being able to play this year to this, it’s absolutely mind blowing,” Koepka said.
In his eighth month of a comeback season after spinal fusion surgery, Woods ground out four birdies against a lone bogey on both the front and back nines but could never draw level with Koepka, settling for his seventh career major runner-up finish.
“I played hard,” Woods said. “Bit of a struggle with my game. I was hanging in there, grinding it out trying to make as many birdies as possible.”
Crowds cheered the veteran through a thrilling round that saw him miss every front-nine fairway but take only 10 putts, scrambling from dirt, trees and bunkers to stay in the hunt.
Woods, who said he wants to be chosen as a captain’s pick for the US Ryder Cup team, was pleased he was able to contend at the PGA and lead in the last round of last month’s British Open.
“I would never have forseen that a year ago,” Woods said.
The impact was dramatic for rivals as well.
“The roars were pretty unbelievable,” second-ranked 2017 PGA winner Justin Thomas said. “Any birdie he made everyone went nuts. This was the first real Tiger effect I’ve experienced with that many people.”
Scott, the 2013 Masters champion, missed a short birdie putt at the par-5 17th and made bogey 18 to finish third but was pleased with his overall effort.
“I was feeling really good out there, especially as he back nine got going,” Scott said. “I didn’t play the last two holes very well.” — AFP
By Michael Angelo S. Murillo, Senior Reporter SUDDENLY on a strong charge back, the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (EAC) shoot for their third straight win when they face off with the College of St. Benilde Blazers in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 94 action today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.
Winners of their last two games after starting their campaign with four consecutive losses, the Generals (2-4) attempt to continue rising in their 2 p.m. collision with the middling Blazers.
The most recent of the victories of EAC came last Friday over the Mapua Cardinals, 89-85, where it leaned on key foul shots in the stretch to come away with the victory.
Jerome Garcia, Sean Neri and Renz Gonzales combined for five free throws in the last two minutes of the contest to help the Generals edge the Cardinals in the tightly fought contest.
Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou had a big game of 17 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks in the Generals’ win, showing that he is progressing well from the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury he suffered last season.
“I’m not 100%; my hamstring still hurts a bit. But there’s no excuse for us not to play better and I just need to play smart and help in defense because I know we have scorers in the team,” said Laminou, who is fourth in scoring in the league with 16.5 points, fifth in rebound with 9.8 boards, and third in blocks with 2.8 swats per game.
The win over Mapua was in follow-up to their overtime victory over the San Sebastian Stags previously. THE EAC GENERALS shoot for their third straight win in NCAA Season 94 when they take on the College of St. Benilde Blazers today at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City. — ALVIN S. GO ST. BENILDE
Trying to spoil the continued ascent of EAC is St. Benilde, which has hit rough waters of late with back-to-back losses entering today’s game.
The Blazers (2-4) bowed to the league-leading Lyceum Pirates in their last game, 77-65, on Aug. 7.
St. Benilde did a good job keeping in step with Lyceum for majority of the match but just could not sustain it all the way to the end to slump to its second straight defeat.
Edward Dixon and Justin Gutang each had 13 points for the Blazers, who are out to break a two-way tie for sixth place in the standings with the Generals in their scheduled tiff.
Playing in the second seniors game at 4 p.m. are the Perpetual Help Altas (3-2) and Jose Rizal University (JRU)Heavy Bombers (0-6).
Perpetual Help is fresh from a cardiac win over San Sebastian, 78-76, on Aug. 9 in an “NCAA on Tour” offering at its home in Las Piñas.
Prinze Eze played savior for the Altas, tipping in the game-winner with half a second left on the clock.
With the game knotted at 76-all with 3.3 seconds remaining, AJ Coronel fed Eze for the game-winning basket which the latter successfully converted to hand his team the win to improve to 3-2 in the standings, good for solo fourth.
The game-winner was the cherry on top for Eze, who finished with 22 points, 18 rebounds and six blocks.
The big play also helped earn for Eze the player of the week honors, besting CJ Perez of Lyceum, Robert Bolick of San Beda, Bong Quinto of Letran, and Alvin Capobres of San Sebastian.
JRU (0-6), meanwhile, is still in search for its first victory in what has been a tough season for the team.
PAST and present players of Yeng Guiao are cherishing the moment of playing for their old coach, this time on a bigger stage — the Asian Games — as the Rain or Shine-backed Philippine squad takes center stage starting Thursday in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“I never expected this to happen. When it came, I just told myself that it’s an honor to be reunited with Coach Yeng,” swingman James Yap told BusinessWorld. “It’s an honor to play for the national team and excited for Coach Yeng. He’s the only one who made things possible for my inclusion in the national team. I’m happy to reunite with him at the national team.”
Year 2009 was the only time the two-time Most Valuable Player was able to represent a PBA-backed national squad with Guiao calling the shots for the Philippine quintet during the FIBA Asia Cup in Tianjin, China.
Nine years later and now probably at the twilight of his career, Yap was once again given the opportunity, but Guiao sees the value of having a player of his caliber.
“Shooters are a must in international competitions,” added Guiao. “You’re going to see more zone defenses in the international game, which is why players like James are essential to the team.”
Yap’s 2009 teammate at the Philippine squad, Asi Taulava, also relished the opportunity of being recalled to serve the country.
Now the oldest player at 45, the 6-foot-9 Taulava is more than willing to provide his wealth of experience in the Rain or Shine-supported team.
“I can’t imagine I’d be given this opportunity, especially at the tail end of my career, to represent the country again. It’s a great feeling. I feel very grateful. Nothing much to say but go out there and play with these younger guys,” added Taulava. “To be trusted and given this opportunity, I will be forever, grateful to Coach Yeng.”
“It means the world to me. I would never thought that I would be recalled. When I played for FIBA Asia (2015), I thought that would be my last one.”
Taulava has represented an all-pro Philippine team since 2002, but has played in numerous national teams since then.
For Paul Lee, Beau Belga, Raymond Almazan and Maverick Ahanmisi, who had played for Guiao at Rain or Shine one time or another, being reunited with their old coach make them feel more excited and go out there to perform at the best way they could.
“I’m very happy and found out at how valuable I am to him. I hope to repay him with my brand of game,” said Lee.
Lee played for Guiao’s two championship teams. He was traded two years ago a few months after Guiao transferred to coach the NLEX Road Warriors.
Almazan honed his skills as a rookie under Guiao and admittedly looked forward to playing with his old coach in the future. He was surprised to see it happening with the national team.
“I was looking forward playing for him,” added Almazan. “He’s been a big part of my career. I’ll be making the most out of it for the next few weeks that we will be together. I miss being cursed by Coach Yeng, his way of motivating me.”
Belga is another player used to being cursed a lot by Guiao and hearing those words was like music to his ears.
“You’re going to miss him. A lot of people think Coach Yeng is so strict and more of a disciplinarian-type of coach. You will discipline yourself once you’re not doing the right things. I missed being cursed by Coach Yeng. It’s like music to my ears. It’s one way of motivation. Once he doesn’t call your attention, you’re useless to him,” added Belga.
Ahanmisi is like the greenest among the greenhorns playing for this batch of national squad and to be reunited with his old coach.
“It’s a blessing to be in this opportunity. I just go with the flow. I just hope I’ll be a coachable person. I’ve played with Coach Yeng my rookie year. It’s gonna be fun,” added Ahanmisi. “He’s definitely a big part of my playing career. He’ll give you a chance. When Paul [Lee] was down, he gave me the opportunity. Honestly, I really don’t know where I would be in this league if not for Coach Yeng. He’s a good dude. He doesn’t appear like one on TV, but he’s a cool dude. It’s a gonna be fun.” — Rey Joble
TIGER WOODS of the United States plays a shot on the 14th hole during the final round of the 2018 PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club on Aug. 12, in St Louis, Missouri. — AFP
ST. LOUIS — Tiger Woods didn’t get the victory he needed to qualify for the US Ryder Cup team on points on Sunday at the 100th PGA Championship.
But the 14-time major champion, unsure a year ago if he would ever play golf again, proved his point when it came to making his case to earn a captain’s pick from Jim Furyk to play for the Americans next month in France.
The 42-year-old former world number one fired a six-under-par 64 in the final round at Bellerive Country Club to finish second to two-time US Open champion Brooks Koepka by two shots.
Woods electrified the crowd with some superb shotmaking, bringing roars from spectators to rival anything he inspired during his prime.
Eight months in his comeback from spinal fusion surgery, Woods proved beyond any doubt he has the skill to contend for a major title.
“I’m just very pleased at what I’ve done so far and now to be part of the Ryder Cup conversation, going from where I’ve come from to now in the last year, it has been pretty cool,” Woods said.
Woods will be going to France when the US defends the trophy against Europe next month anyway. He’s a vice captain on the American squad. Now he hopes to be playing also.
“I do want to be on the team as a player,” Woods said. “I’m going to be there either way.”
Furyk said Wednesday he was open to the idea of Woods serving double duty as a player and vice captain but wanted to see what worked best for the team if that possibility arose.
“Our captain has some decisions to make after the first playoff events,” Woods said. “We will sit down and give him our input and what we think, who should be on the team. And hopefully my name will be part of that process.”
The US qualifying process ended Sunday with Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler and Webb Simpson taking the final four available spots, a list unchanged from the points leaders entering the week.
Four others — Koepka, 2017 PGA winner Justin Thomas, Masters winner Patrick Reed, and top-ranked Dustin Johnson, had already clinched berths no matter how they fared this week.
Furyk will officially confirm the first eight US players on Monday.
Top outsiders such as Phil Mickelson and Bryson De Chambeau missed the cut to doom their bids to break into the final list.
Simpson and Fowler, most vulnerable among the eight, did well enough to chase off any distant hopefuls. Fowler shared 12th on 272. Simpson shared 19th on 273. ‘IT WOULD BE GREAT’
Woods missed most of last year so his charge up the list just behind those two was impressive given home much less time he had to earn points, but it also made it all or nothing in terms of qualifying despite his impressive effort.
“It would be great if he’s (playing) on the team,” Thomas said. “I really look forward to it. He’s going to be on the team one way or the other, whether he’s a vice captain or a player and whichever role he is I’m looking forward to it and I know he is too.
“He moves the needle and he creates quite a buzz out there. You could hear it, for sure.” EUROPE QUALIFYING GOES ON
On the European side, qualifying runs for another three weeks before captain Thomas Bjorn makes his four picks in September.
British Open winner Francesco Molinari of Italy and England’s Justin Rose, Tyrrell Hatton and Tommy Fleetwood helped secure their lead in the European points spots with solid showings at the PGA, Molinari sharing sixth and Hatton sharing 10th.
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Spain’s Jon Rahm, Swede Alex Noren and England’s Ian Poulter top the world rankings points qualifiers as of now, Poulter sharing 31st to edge just in front of Casey, who missed the cut.
A likely fight to the last day between the two and Dane Thorbjorn Olesen was joined by Spaniard Rafa Cabrera Bello, who shared 10th. — AFP
TORONTO, Canada — Rafael Nadal held off a late surge from birthday boy Stefanos Tsitsipas to claim the 80th title of his career with victory at the Toronto Masters on Sunday.
Nadal overcame a second set fightback from Greek youngster Tsitsipas to claim a 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) victory in just under one hour 45 minutes.
The win gave the 32-year-old Spaniard a record-extending 33rd trophy at the elite Masters level as well as his 80th title.
However Nadal later raised doubts about he would be chasing an 81st title at next week’s event in Cincinnati, refusing to confirm that he would play the event as scheduled.
Earlier, a vocal crowd of local flag-waving Greek fans had sang Happy Birthday to the 20-year-old Tsitsipas as Nadal reflected on a successful campaign.
The loss concluded the tennis week of his life for Tsitsipas, who beat four Top 10 opponent in a row to reach the final.
“Rafa is amazing, he never cracks. He will always grab you like a bulldog and he will always make you suffer on the court.” — AFP
51st Biel GM 2018 Biel, Switzerland July 22-August 1, 2018
Final Standings (all GM)
1. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2801, 7.5/10
2. Magnus Carlsen NOR 2842, 6.0/10
3-4. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2779, Peter Svidler RUS 2753, 5.5/10
5. David Navara CZE 2741, 4.0/10
6. Nico Georgiadis SUI 2526, 1.5/10
Double Round-Robin Tournament with Ave ELO 2740 Category 20
Time Control: 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 50 minutes for the next 20 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the game. 30 seconds are added after every move starting move 1.
Last Thursday, I showed you the game Mamedyarov vs Magnus Carlsen where Shakh played very conservatively in the opening, managed to win a pawn in the middlegame and then brought it home with perfect technique. You might get the wrong impression that he is a dry player who likes grinding away at his opponent. That is far from the truth — the Azeri GM played “old man” chess because his opponent was the reigning world champion and a draw would have been a perfectly good outcome. In games against the rest of the field his play was aggressive, free-flowing and fun.
He even played the Dilworth Variation against the “Frenchman with two names” Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. It ended in a draw but there was quite a fight. Let us take a look at that.
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2779)
— Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2801)
[C82] 51st Biel GM 2018 SUI (8.1),
30.07.2018
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3
The old move. Nowadays White prefers either 9.Nbd2 or 9.Be3. And do you know the reason for that? GM Boris Alterman in his Video Series on the Internet Chess Club insists it is because of the Dilworth Variation, which you are about to see now. 9…Bc5 10.Nbd2 0–0 11.Bc2
A bad idea is 11.Nxe4 and here is why (by the way, take note of who the Black player is) 11…dxe4 12.Ng5 Bxb3 13.Qxb3 e3! 14.Ne4 exf2+ 15.Nxf2 Nxe5 16.Bf4 Ng4 17.Bg3 Ne3 18.Rfe1 Qf6 19.Ne4 Qc6 0–1 (19) Dolezal,R (2225)-Polgar,S (2450) Mlada Boleslav 1994. 11…Nxf2!?
The move which ushers in the Dilworth. 12.Rxf2 f6 13.Nf1
The main line goes 13.exf6 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 where theoretically White is doing well but in practice White’s king is vulnerable and he is behind on development and liable to fall for tricks and tactics which Black can throw at him. 13…Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 fxe5 15.Kg1 Qd6 16.Ng3 h6 17.Qe1 Bg4 18.Nh4 e4 19.h3
White might be tempted to play 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qxe4 with a double attack on h7 and the g4–bishop, but the idea is refuted by 19…Rae8! instead of 19…dxe4. 19…Bd7 20.Be3 Qf6
Black cannot win the knight with 20…g5 as there is the nasty tactic 21.Nxe4! dxe4 22.Rd1 and, surprisingly enough, Mamedyarov has to give up his bishop on d7 as 22…Qe6 is met by 23.Bb3 and 22…Qe7 by 23.Ng6. 21.Nh5 Qe5 22.Nf4 POSITION AFTER 22.NF4 22…Rxf4 23.Ng6 Rf1+! 24.Kxf1
24.Qxf1? Qg3 winning either the e3–bishop or g6–knight. 24…Qf5+ 25.Nf4 g5 26.Qg3 Kh7 27.Ke2 gxf4 28.Qxf4 Qxf4 29.Bxf4 Rg8! 30.Kf2
[30.g4 h5] 30…Rf8 31.Ke3 Ne7 32.Bxc7 Nf5+ 33.Ke2 b4!
Black’s idea is to play 34…Bb5+ 35.Kd2 e3+ 36.Kc1 Kg8 37.Bf4 d4! and his pieces and pawns advance. In fact, it looks to me like he would be winning already. 34.Bf4 bxc3
Now 34…Bb5+ is met by 35.Kf2. 35.bxc3 Nh4 36.g3 Ng2 37.c4 Nxf4+ 38.gxf4 Rc8!
One final winning attempt. 39.Rd1 Rxc4 40.Bb3 Ba4 41.Rxd5 Bxb3 42.axb3 Rc3 ½–½
Now I will explain to you why despite the draw outcome of the game was so interesting to me.
Do you still remember GM Nelson Mariano? He is no longer an active player (although only 44 years of age) but in the 1990s was one of the Philippines’ most promising players. When Nelson is hot he can really put together a string of wins, even against GM opposition.
In 1994 he was tapped to represent the Philippines in the World Junior Championships. He did quite well and three rounds before the end was among the leaders. Then he faced Sofia Polgar, one of the famous Polgar Sisters.
Mariano, Nelson (2345) – Polgar, Sofia (2450) [C82] Wch-U20 Matinhos, 1994
GM SOFIA POLGAR 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5 10.Bc2 0–0 11.Nbd2 Nxf2 12.Rxf2 f6 13.exf6 Bxf2+
Black should take on f2 first before Qxf6. If he inverts the moves then 13…Qxf6 14.Qf1 and White can now retake with the queen on f2. 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 15.Kg1
The other main branch here is 15.Nf1 which is probably better. White saves a tempo to activate his dark-squared bishop. After 15…Ne5 16.Be3 Rae8 17.Bc5 Nxf3 18.gxf3 Rf7 19.Kg1 (19.Kg2 is another option) 19…Qxf3 20.Qxf3 Rxf3 21.Re1 Kf7 we have a nice queenless middlegame ahead of us. Aseev, K (2519)-Mikhalevski, V (2531) St Petersburg 1999 1/2 55. 15…Rae8
The developer of this line, Vernon Dilworth, was a correspondence player who wrote extensively about his pet line. One of his games with it went 15…g5! (threatening to win a knight in broad daylight with …g5–g4) 16.Nb3 g4 17.Qd3 Rf7 18.Bg5 Qg7 19.Nfd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qxg5 21.Nxe6 Qf6 22.Qe3 Re7 23.Qg5+ Qxg5 24.Nxg5 h6 25.Nh7 Rxh7 26.Bxh7+ Kxh7 27.Re1 Kg6 28.Re6+ Kf5 29.Rxh6 Ke4 30.Kf2? (30.Rc6 right away is indicated) 30…Kd3 31.Rc6 Re8 32.b4 Re2+ 33.Kg3 Rc2 34.Rxc7 d4 35.Rc6 Rxc3 Black is clearly winning: Walther, E-Dilworth,V Wch M corr 1986 0–1 43. 16.Nf1 Ne5 17.Be3
Bobby Fischer himself had this position in the 1957 USA Open Championship. He couldn’t make headway either with White: 17.Ne3 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Rxf3 20.Bd1 Rf7 ½–½ Fischer,R-Stevens,W USA-op 1956. 17…Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Rxf3 20.Bd4 Bh3 21.Ng3 Re6 22.Rd1?!
This is aimless play. White should either play Bf2+Re1 to exchange off one pair of rooks or b2–b4 followed by a2–a4 to open up one file for his own rook, seeing that the black rooks control two files. But please not 22.Bd1?? Re1+ 23.Nf1 Rexf1 mate. 22…h5! 23.Bb3
[23.Nxh5? Re2 24.Bb1 Rg2+ 25.Kh1 Rxb2 with a rook on the 2nd rank Black has good chances.] 23…c6 24.Nxh5 Bg4! 25.Nxg7 Rg6 26.Kg2 Rf7 27.Re1 c5 28.Be5 c4 29.Bc2 Bf5+ 30.Bg3 Bxc2 31.Ne8 Be4+ 32.Kg1 Rf3 33.a3 Kf8 34.Nc7 Rf7 35.Rf1 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Ke7 0–1
After this loss Nelson couldn’t recover and at the end it was the representative from Iceland who won the title and the International Grandmaster title which went with it.
Wch Under-20 Matinhas, Brazil September 1994
Final Top Standings
1. Helgi Gretarsson ISL 2390, 9.5/13
2-4. Hugo Spangenberg ARG 2510, Sofia Polgar HUN 2490, Jonas Barkhagen SWE 2430, 9.0/13
5-7. Giovanni Vescovi BRA 2430, Nelson Mariano PHI 2345, Dharshan Kumaran ENG 2465, 8.5/13
8-11. Vladimir Georgiev BUL 2430, Michael Oratovsky ISDR 2485, Christian Gabriel GER 2530, Salvador Gabriel Del Rio ESP 2335, 8.0/13
Total of 52 Participants
After Nelson came back from the tournament we had coffee together in Starbucks and went through the Matinhas games together. At one point I asked if he was surprised by Polgar’s Dillworth Variation. No, not really, he said. You see … she had this dress with a plunging neckline …
Alas, against that there is no easy antidote.
Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he taught accounting in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) for 25 years and is currently the Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies. bobby@cpamd.net
THE roars came early and often at Bellerive. In fact, they were heard as soon as Tiger Woods arrived at the Country Club yesterday in his trademark red-and-black ensemble, but with shades and a cap worn backwards for good measure. Four strokes back and with seemingly no chance of snagging his first major title in 10 years, he clearly remained the sport’s biggest draw. And he thrived in the limelight, going about his business on the range and practice green, and then on the course, with purpose.
Indeed, there’s no better sight for casual fans and avid followers alike than that of Woods in contention at a Grand Slam event with 18 holes left to play. It’s one with the familiar six-deep crowds and rock-star atmosphere, with the boisterous yelling and hearty cheers, with the air of anticipation engulfing the competition. And, yet, even as yesterday’s fourth round of the PGA Championship exhibited the same old, same old, it ultimately proved to be a unique experience.
Granted, Woods made his expected surge from the get-go, and, late on the front nine, stood just one shot behind provisional leader Brooks Koepka. And, granted, he did it in a fashion only he was capable of doing; even as he battled his swing and came up with dreaded two-way misses, he managed to grind out save after save — from the rough, from the sand, under trees, close to the water. In short, he was being, well, himself, but better; in the midst of his determined march up the leaderboard, he chucked his “I am an island” stance when sniffing the hardware and actually interacted with those around him.
Concordantly, the version of Woods that showed up yesterday was — gasp — so easy to like between shots. He exchanged jokes with playing partner Gary Woodland and high-fived spectators as if he were just staking out the terrain on a leisurely stroll instead of trying to win a 15th major. Even at crucial stages in his comeback, he looked like he was enjoying himself, instances rarely seen since he took the pro ranks by storm in late 1996 and never — never ever — when he’s casting moist eyes on the hardware.
And guess what? Woods’ decidedly sunnier disposition worked for him yesterday. As playing partner Woodland noted, the score he carded seemed like a cakewalk and could have been much better. “Sixty-four, and it looked pretty easy, to be honest with you.” Well, it also just happens to be his best final-round score in a Grand Slam event. At an old 42, with four back surgeries and five monumental swing changes, he’s still breaking new ground.
Which is all well and good. If there’s anything Woods’ Cinderella finish over the weekend underscored, it’s that his time will come again. He may no longer dominate the field like he did for a decade after the turn of the century, but he will win anew, and plenty. And he will be better appreciated, what with his flawed self making way to his humbled self. Heck, he even stuck around on the scoring trailer to congratulate Koepka for the triumph.
Inside the ropes, Woods will no longer be as invincible as he once was, and not simply because two bones in his spine are fused. From the outside looking in, though, he has already won. For all his accomplishments as arguably the best ever to hold a club, he’s securing his legacy by being a decent human being. Imagine that.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports Section in 1994.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) advised police officers to “clean up their act” or leave the force.
DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año said in a statement on Monday “Clean up your act or leave. No one will be spared. Police officers who will be found culpable of any criminal involvement shall be removed from the service.”
Since 2016, more than 6000 police officers were either demoted, suspended or dismissed from service.
DILG also reported that as of this year, the base salary of a Police/Fire/Jail Officer 1 “was increased from P14,834.00 to P29,668.00 with a hazard pay of P540.00.” — Gillian M. Cortez
The Supreme Court (SC) has again delayed oral arguments to invalidate the Duterte administration’s move to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The High Court’s Public Information Office on Monday, Aug. 13, said in a release that the oral arguments “will be reset to August 28.” The oral arguments was originally scheduled on July 24 but was then moved to August 7 and then to August 14.
“Full resolution will come out after the en banc deliberations,” the SC added. The next en banc deliberation will be this Tuesday, August 14.
Last May, Minority Senators Francis Pangilinan, Franklin Drilon, Paolo Aquino, Leila De Lima, Risa Hontiveros and Antonio Trillanes IV filed a petition for certiorari to invalidate the country’s withdrawal from the ICC.
Last week, the SC denied Senator Leila De Lima’s request to personally appear in the oral arguments. — Gillian M. Cortez
