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How should HR gain business acumen?

By Raju Mandhyan
I WOULD like to hit the ground running with this piece. I can do that because I am a former, hard core, businessperson who has moved into the field of people development.
The topic first, in my memory, came up with Professor Zayda Marquez at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde. The question was why should human resource personnel have business acumen? Twenty years later, the same question is still raised. And, I am thinking to myself because the easiest and the most prudent measure of success in any endeavor, any enterprise, or any social responsibility organization is money. I am not saying it is the only measure but it is the prime and the most prudent measure.
Let’s get on with this and accept it as fact, as stark reality, and let us not sugarcoat it any more. I understand and deeply respect the principles of people, planet and profits but recognize that these are deeply intertwined and almost inseparable.
I have heard President Gerry Plana of the People Management Association of the Philippines bring up the need to build business acumen competencies among HR personnel many times. And it amazes me to realize that 20 years have passed since I first heard it from Professor Zayda Marquez and last heard it from President Gerry Plana.
The idea brewing in my mind is that we can take a hundred percent of our advocacies and turn them into a hundred percent of action! Just that, one hundred percent action!
Out there in the world, institutions like SHRM, AHRM and ATD have been voicing out similar opinions for decades. Of the hundreds of suggestions put out by them and the rest of the world, here are three quick ones of my choosing:

• Move Sales and Marketing Champions into the HR Function: Throw those that claim that they can sell ice to Eskimos into the pit where they have to sell people development ideas to the C-suite. We know HR people care, now let us see them pitch the idea of human care.

• Move the Numbers obsessed Financial wizards into the HR Function: Along the continuum of tasks against relationships and care, the Numbers people are on one extreme while Peoples people are on the opposite end. Let the twain meet and let the sparks fly. Where there will be fire, the businesses can cook a pot of progress and profits.

• And, finally, let people from HR spend time at the customer and client interface fronts. Let them get a taste of what it is to be constantly thinking in numbers, in commitments and being accountable to people other than those that surround and support you. Let them try sell ice to Eskimos.

Surely the trends that take form in industry begin to trickle down into the academe. At a recent People Management Association of the Philippines there was talk about how the numbers of student enrollees have dropped in the people management courses. Getting people development people into the fore-front of all businesses will add engine and energy not just to the function but also to the future of all human progress.
 
Raju Mandhyan is an author, coach and speaker.
www.mandhyan.com

Fuel Masters remain upbeat despite absorbing first loss

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter
THE BEST start in the Philippine Basketball Association of the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters came to an end on Sunday after they absorbed their first defeat in the ongoing Philippine Cup at the hands of the streaking Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, 98-94, in overtime.
After racking up five straight victories to open their campaign, the Fuel Masters tried to extend their winning streak but just could not get the breaks in the end in the tightly fought contest against the Elasto Painters (6-1), who, with the win, dislodged Phoenix from the top of the leaderboard.
While admitting the loss was a tough one for them, Phoenix coach Louie Alas said at 5-1 they do not have much to complain about and that they are still in good standing moving forward.
“The loss stings but we are at 5-1 and we cannot complain about that. We just have to improve on the next game and avoid losing two straight to stay on track of a top two finish in the elimination,” said Mr. Alas as he met members of media on his way out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum following their game on Sunday.
Against Rain or Shine, the Fuel Masters were kept at bay for much of the contest but showed resilience throughout to put themselves in a position to win in the end.
But in overtime the Elasto Painters just got the leverage to go on top, including a basket from Mark Borboran off a broken play with 12 seconds to go to ensure Rain or Shine got the win.
Last season’s rookie of the year Jason Perkins had a career-high 27 points for Phoenix to go along with nine rebounds.
Matthew Wright had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists while Calvin Abueva also had 16 markers while pulling down 12 boards for the Fuel Masters.
Following last Sunday’s game, Phoenix and the league take a two-week break to give way to Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the sixth and final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
It is a time off that the Fuel Masters will try make to make the most of to better themselves and prepare for the tougher challenges ahead, said Mr. Alas.
“That (break) has its pros and cons. Coming off a loss, of course, you want to get back right away. But on the other hand, it affords us time to assess what happened in this game and correct our mistakes,” the Phoenix coach said.
“We just have to keep improving, especially on defense. To win against the heavyweights you have to rely on stop after stop after stop. We have to learn doing that consistently,” added Mr. Alas.
Phoenix next plays on Feb. 27, the first play date after the break, against the Northport Batang Pier.

Embiid nets 37 as Sixers scorch Lakers

LOS ANGELES — Joel Embiid scored 37 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the host Philadelphia 76ers to a 143-120 victory Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.
It was the 23rd game for Embiid this season with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds, the most such games by any Philadelphia player since Charles Barkley had 27 in 1987-88.
Tobias Harris added 22 points and JJ Redick had 21 for the Sixers, who won their second game in a row.
Kyle Kuzma led the Lakers with 39 points while JaVale McGee added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Brandon Ingram also had 19. LeBron James contributed 18 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists.
Kuzma was electrifying in the first quarter with 23 points as L.A. pulled ahead 40-39. It was the most points scored in a single quarter for Kuzma in his brief career, and the most by any Laker since Kobe Bryant also had 23 in the first against the Memphis Grizzlies in March 2008.
Harris kept the Sixers close by hitting his first six shots and finishing with 14 points in the opening period.
The Sixers reeled off a late 17-2 run to take a 76-67 lead into the locker room at halftime. Embiid poured in 25 points by halftime as the Sixers surged ahead by nine.
Philadelphia’s new-look offense stayed hot throughout the third quarter as it built a 15-point advantage. Backup point guard T.J. McConnell knocked down a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds remaining for a 109-94 lead.
Kuzma scored 10 straight L.A. points late in the third and was up to 37 for the game but the Lakers still trailed by 15.
Sixers reserve forward Mike Scott made back-to-back buckets early in the fourth as the Sixers moved ahead 116-96.
James hit a jumper and the Lakers got within 120-108 with 6:58 remaining.
Ben Simmons converted a pair of free throws, Furkan Korkmaz scored off an offensive rebound and a 7-0 spurt put the Sixers back ahead comfortably at 127-108.
It was more than enough of a cushion to win again at home.
DONCIC RALLIES MAVERICKS PAST TRAIL BLAZERS
Rookie sensation Luka Doncic is gaining the reputation as one of the league’s best clutch performers and he did it again Sunday with 28 points, five coming in the decisive final 2:27 to give the Dallas Mavericks a 102-101 comeback win against the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.
Doncic scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, a stanza in which Dallas trailed 96-81 with 10:43 to go in the game. Portland built that lead on Damian Lillard’s incredible 21-point third quarter, all of which came in the final 5:19 of the quarter after Dallas came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to tie the game at 67.
Lillard, who started the game two of 11 from the field but finished with 30 points on 10-of-23 shooting, made eight consecutive shots, including five 3-pointers for a 92-78 lead after three quarters, and it seemed the Trail Blazers were going to pick up a big road win with a date at Oklahoma City coming up Monday night.
But Doncic, who scored 13 of the final 19 points of the game, and his retooled Mavs consisting of three former bench role players in the starting lineup, had other plans.
Dallas increased its defensive intensity and held Portland scoreless for seven minutes of the fourth quarter and limited the Blazers to just nine points, marking the first time Portland lost this season in 34 games when it led after three quarters.
Newcomer Tim Hardaway Jr., acquired in the deal with the New York Knicks along Kristaps Porzingis, scored 24 points on nine-of-18 shooting. Dwight Powell had 13 points off the bench and Dorian Finney-Smith added 11 points and six rebounds.
Early on, the Trail Blazers’ bench sparked a 20-1 run and Jusuf Nurkic was having his way inside. He finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, but fouled out with about three minutes to go in the fourth quarter.
Portland got little else from its starting lineup with CJ McCollum finishing with 14 points on 6-of-17 shooting. Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu combined for just seven points on three-of-10 shooting.
MAGIC CRUISE PAST HAWKS FOR SECOND STRAIGHT ROAD WIN
Center Nikola Vucevic scored 19 points to lead seven Orlando players in double figures, and the Magic completed a back-to-back road sweep by drubbing the Atlanta Hawks 124-108 on Sunday.
Vucevic was eight of 13 from the field and added 12 rebounds. The Magic also got 18 points from Terrence Ross, 17 each from Jonathan Isaac and Evan Fournier, 14 points from D.J. Augustin and 12 from Aaron Gordon, who played despite a sore back, along with 10 from Wes Iwundu.
Augustin played a flawless floor game, handing out 10 assists and not committing a turnover.
The Magic, fresh from a 20-point win over the Eastern Conference-leading Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, showed no lack of energy in the runaway win. Orlando shot 47.3% from the floor, threw in 13 3-pointers and won their second straight, their fourth victory in five games.
Orlando is now 12-10 in back-to-back sets. The Magic are 8-3 on the first game and 4-7 on the second game. It’s the first time Orlando has won back-to-back road games since April 2014.
It was the third straight loss for Atlanta, the second straight on its seven-game homestand. Atlanta dropped to 4-10 on back-to-backs. Atlanta has lost five straight home games.
Atlanta’s John Collins played despite a sore right knee and finished with 15 points and four rebounds. The Hawks also got 16 points from Alex Len, 15 points from Kevin Huerter and 13 points and seven assists from Trae Young. — Reuters

Defending champions Petron Blaze Spikers gear up for tough Philippine Superliga Grand Prix grind

DEFENDING Philippine Superliga Grand Prix champions Petron Blaze Spikers begin their title defense on Saturday, in a tournament they view as not going to be easy with a very competitive field.
In the league’s fans’ day at the weekend, Petron coach Shaq Delos Santos said that while they are coming back with an intact core, work is still cut out for them if they are to repeat as champions in the Grand Prix.
“I tell the team that this is an entirely new battle. This is a very competitive field. We can’t be complacent. We have to be at our best every game if we want to retain our crown. We have to give our 100% game in and game out,” said Mr. Delos Santos, who also guided his team to the All-Filipino title last year.
Bannering Petron’s campaign in the about-to-start tournament is the seasoned core of Mika Reyes, Aiza Maizo-Pontillas, Frances Molina and Rhea Dimaculangan, backstopped by reinforcements Stephanie Niemer and Katherine Bell and new libero recruit Denden Lazaro.
Expected to give the Blaze Spikers a run for their money in the Grand Prix are rivals F2 Logistics Cargo Movers, who now have former Petron import Lindsay Stalzer playing in tandem with American-Italian Becky Perry.
Petron and F2 Logistics have been steady fixtures against each other in the finals in the last two seasons of the PSL.
Also out to make waves are United Volleyball Club, bannered by the solid core of Kalei Mau and new recruits Alohi Robins-Hardy, Amy Ahomiro, Bang Pineda with imports Tai Manu-Olevao and Yasmeen Bedart-Ghani; Generika-Ayala with Azerbaijan national team star Kseniya Kocyigit and Brazilian stalwart Nikolle del Rio; and Cignal featuring skipper Rachel Anne Daquis with Anastasia Artemeva of Azerbaijan and Erica Wilson of the United States as reinforcements.
Competing as well are Sta. Lucia, Foton and PLDT Fibr.
The Lady Realtors will display the scoring prowess of NCAA Division I standouts Molly Lohman and Casey Schoenlein while Foton, which will be missing the services of towering sisters Jaja Santiago and Dindin Manabat, will rely on former Turkish national team member Selime Ilyasoglu, and American Courtney Felinski.
PLDT, playing previously under Smart, will make a return with Grace Lazard and Kendra Dahlke as reinforcements.
“Everybody is a contender. This is going to be a wide open and competitive race so we have to prepare hard against everybody,” said Mr. Delos Santos.
The PSL Grand Prix kicks off on Feb. 16 at the Ynares Arena in Pasig City, Matches will be broadcast over ESPN5 and 5Plus. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Go For Gold PHL skateboarding team begins SEA Games buildup

FOCUSED on delivering the goods in the coming Southeast Asian Games, the Philippine skateboarding team under the Go For Gold program will embark on a series of regional tryouts to discover the finest skaters in the country.
Skateboarding and roller sports chief Monty Mendigoria announced yesterday that the search for the most talented Filipino skaters would kick off with the Luzon leg on March 16-17 in Iba, Zambales.
The best from the Visayas region will show up in Cebu City on April 6-7 where Asian Games gold medalist Margielyn Didal is expected to inspire the national team aspirants right in her hometown.
“We feel that Margie and the skateboarding team will become our bright lights in the 2020 Olympics, and hopefully they can bring home our first Olympic gold medal,” said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.
The National SEA Games qualifier is scheduled Aug. 24-25 in Sta. Rosa, Laguna after the most promising skaters from the south take centerstage in the Mindanao leg on May 25-26 in General Santos City.
Aside from targeting majority of the 16 gold medals at stake in skateboarding in the SEA Games that the Philippines is hosting on Nov. 30-Dec. 11 in Clark, the national skaters are also training their sights on the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“We will look for the best skaters in the regionals,” said Mendigoria, president of the Skateboarding and Roller Sports Association of the Philippines Inc.
“The top three participants from the regionals will get the chance to prove their worth in the national SEA Games qualifying championship,” added Mendigoria, whose team found a very supportive godfather in Go For Gold Philippines.
Mendigoria has also organized a skateboarding judges seminar and accreditation examination to be conducted by skateboarding icon Warren Stuart on Feb. 24 at Rufo’s Telus Building at Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City.
Skateboarding in the Philippines catapulted to instant fame when the 19-year-old Didal won the gold medal in the Asian Games last year in Indonesia. Didal is now busy preparing for a series of Olympic qualifying tournaments that will bring her to Tokyo.

Crucial MPBL Datu Cup matches in store in Valenzuela

BATAAN Risers tries to hold on to the solo lead in the MPBL Datu Cup even as host team Valenzuela hopes to catch the last bus to the quarterfinal round when it shoots for a win in the main game of Tuesday’s double header at the Valenzuela Astrodome.
The Risers of coach Jojo Lastimosa are already assured of a top four berth, but getting the No. 1 spot is what the future PBA Hall of Famer wants to secure.
Backed by Zetapro, the Risers will take on the Mandaluyong El Tigre in the first game at 7 p.m. as the pacesetting squad looks to gain more cushion over its pursuers. With a 19-2 win-loss record, Bataan is not far behind second placer Manila (19-4) and streaking Makati (18-4).
The Risers will be facing an El Tigre team that need a win to survive.
With an 8-13 card, Mandaluyong is in ninth spot and a win can put the team back in strong contention for a top eight berth.
Other teams which are in the mix are Valenzuela and Bulacan, which will square off in the main game at 9 p.m.
Bulacan is already out of the running for a top four berth and won’t enjoy home court advantage even if it has already secured a playoff spot. But the Mighty Sports-backed Kuyas don’t want to fall deeper in the tough northern division where they will be forced to play against the top teams.
The Kuyas are carrying a 13-9 win-loss slate.
Survival will be the name of the game for the Classic, who have a lot of catching up to do and need to win their remaining three games, including this one against the Kuyas. They are currently at the 11th spot in the tough northern division holding an 8-14 mark. — Rey Joble

My pet line

A few columns ago I was writing about the need to vary your chess style when playing under different time controls, i.e., standard, rapid or blitz conditions. Specifically, it is a good idea to have a more aggressive opening repertoire for the faster games. England’s GM Michael Adams, who won a big share of rapid tournaments in the 90s and early 2000s, has always preached that in quickplay your goal is not prophylaxis or solidity — the correct way is to keep your pieces active at all times. The mistakes are going to come, and to have a chance to finish on top your pieces have to have scope.
Back when we were learning the moves of chess one of the opening principles we were taught was that the queen shouldn’t be brought out too early as it might become the target of the enemy pieces, allowing your opponent to gain time by continuously attacking it. Under faster time controls that rule might not be valid — from my experience gained from tens of thousands of blitz and bullet games on the online servers bringing the queen out early is a good idea — it can harass the enemy forces and force your opponent to waste precious seconds facing up to the threats. Just make sure you don’t lose your queen in the process.
Now this is where I trot out my pet line 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5!?
POSITION AFTER 5.NG5
According to GM Krikor Mekhitarian this is “called the Sarratt Variation, that is located inside the Haxo Gambit, itself located inside the Scotch Gambit! What a mix! Jacob Henry Sarratt was a leading English player from the late 18th century and early 19th century, and the first professional player to teach in England. He used this move in 1818 against an unknown player and quickly won the game. Sarratt was also known for his studies in the Muzio Gambit (inside the King’s Gambit).”
I have a very healthy plus score with the “Sarratt” in fast time controls — and that includes victories over titled players including grandmasters. “Caveman” aggression can take down a lot of players in 1-minute games because they do not have the luxury of time, but you should think twice before using it in a standard time control game.
Most of my opponents on encountering the line for the first time would do a double-take and then, after a few seconds, play the most obvious defense 5…Ne5, but it is a mistake, and after 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 White has a big advantage, some would say even winning. Material is currently equal but Black’s king is exposed and his pieces undeveloped.
I looked up the position after 8.Qh5+ in the Chessbase Megabase, which supposedly includes all available tournament games since the beginning of time and saw that it has occurred 116 times and White scored 77% with 82 wins 16 draws and 18 losses, with most of the games ending in drastic fashion:

Ladanyi, Zsolt (2155) — Nemeth, Andras (1868) [C44]
HUN-chT2 Charousek 0809 Hungary (2), 02.11.2008

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Ne5 6.Bxf7+ Nxf7 7.Nxf7 Kxf7 8.Qh5+ Kf8 9.Qxc5+ Qe7 10.Qxd4 Nf6 11.Nc3 d6 12.Bg5 Be6 13.0–0–0 Kf7 14.f4 Rhb8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 c5 17.exf6 cxd4 18.fxe7 dxc3 19.Rd8 1–0
Of course, your opponents would have bruised egos from the bad loss and some of them might even do a little research and analysis, and next time you play they already know what is the best line of defense against the Sarratt Variation.

Chernov, Alexander — Oplackin [C44]
USSR 1972 USSR

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5?! Nh6!
The reason why this knight move is better than Ne5 is that after 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 the d4-pawn is covered and there is no knight on g8 blocking his rook.
6.Nxf7
If you are in a gambling move you can try 6.Qh5 hoping for 6…Ne5? (Correct is 6…Qe7 with a better game for Black) 7.Ne6!! dxe6 8.Qxe5 Bf8 9.Bxh6 and wins.
6…Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 d5!
Even better than 9…d6 10.Qb5 Re8! 11.Qb3+? (11.0–0) 11…d5 12.f3? (12.0–0) 12…Na5 13.Qd3 dxe4 14.fxe4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Rxe4+ 16.Kf2 Qe7 17.Nd2? (17.Bd2) 17…Re3! 18.Qb5 c6! 19.Qf1 (19.Qxa5 Re2+ 20.Kf3 (20.Kg1 Qe3+ 21.Kf1 Qf2#; 20.Kf1 Re1+ 21.Kg2 Qe2#) 20…Qe3#) 19…Bh3! 20.Qd1 Rf8 21.Nf3 Ke8 0–1 Meek, Alexander Beaufort-Morphy, Paul casual game, Mobile, 1855.
10.e5
White is better off just castling and giving up the pawn. See next game. Capturing the pawn is not a good move:
10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Kf1 (11.Kd1 Re5!) 11…b6! 12.Qxc6? Ba6+ 13.Kg1 Re1#, or
10.Qxd5+ Qxd5 11.exd5 Nb4 Black is doing well
10…Re8! 11.f4?
[11.0–0]
11…Nxe5! 12.fxe5 Qh4+ 13.Kf1 Rxe5 14.Qxc7+ Ke6! 15.Bd2 Bd7 16.Qc5 Bb5+! 0–1
White resigns, the point being that 17.Qxb5 [17.Kg1 Re1+ 18.Bxe1 Qxe1#] 17…Rf8+ 18.Kg1 Qf2# is checkmate.
And now comes the latest issue of “New in Chess” Yearbook. no. 129 (the 129th edition of a yearbook, you might say? Does that mean that “New in Chess” has been 129 years in existence? Well, not really — this is probably the only yearbook I know which comes out four times a year, but I digress). In it, the Dutch GM and openings expert Erwin l’Ami writes about this very line. It appears that in last year’s Dortmund Chess Classic (a tournament under classic time control) the Belarussian GM (Grandmaster) Vladislav Kovalev wielded it against no less than former world champion Vladimir Kramnik and could have gotten a good advantage on the 13th move.

Kovalev, Vladislav (2655) — Kramnik, Vladimir (2792) [C44]
Dortmund 46th (7), 22.07.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5 5.Ng5 Nh6 6.Nxf7 Nxf7 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qh5+ g6 9.Qxc5 d5 10.0–0!
For reasons given in the previous game White is just better off giving up a pawn and completing his development.
10…dxe4 11.c3! Re8
The most logical move. Grischuk played this twice in the 2018 St. Louis Blitz tournament. They continued:
Time control for the game was 5 minutes + 3 seconds delay (not increment), but that did not stop Dominguez from investing a full minute before playing 11…Qd6!? 12.cxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd6 cxd6 14.Nc3 Bg4! 15.Nxe4 Nc2 16.f3 (16.Rb1? Be2! wins the exchange under more favorable circumstances; I think best for White is 16.Nxd6+ Ke6 17.Bf4 Nxa1 18.Rxa1) 16…Nxa1 17.fxg4+ Ke6 18.Ng5+ Kd7 White is the exchange down but Dominguez managed to find a way to lose the game. Grischuk,A (2766)-Dominguez Perez, L (2739) Saint Louis 2018 1–0 43;
11…Be6 12.Bf4 Qd5 13.cxd4 Qxd4 14.Qc1! Black has to be careful here as his position is very loose. Grischuk,A (2766)-Karjakin,S (2773) Saint Louis 2018 1/2 69.]
12.cxd4 Nxd4
L’Ami: 12…Qxd4! 13.Qg5 “was played in the Shumov-Urusov game from 1853! This also gives White long-term compensation on the dark squares. The pawn deficit is barely felt and it can be regained at any moment.” 13…Bf5 14.Bd2 Ne5 15.Bc3 Qd6 16.Qh6 Ng4 17.Qxh7+ Ke6 18.Na3 Re7! 19.Qh4 Rd8? (The losing move. Instead, 19…g5! 20.Qg3 Qxg3 21.hxg3 Kf7 is equal) 20.Nc4 Qc5 21.h3! Nxf2 22.Rxf2 Rd5 23.g4+– 1–0 (28) Shumov, I-Urusov, D St. Petersburg 1853.
13.Nc3
L’Ami: 13.Be3!? “would have secured a small but lasting advantage. The key is to destabilize the black knight first. Here” 13…Nf5 14.Nc3 b6 15.Qc4+ Be6 16.Qxe4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 “may not look like much, but Black’s king is chronically weak.”
13…b6 14.Qc4+ Be6 15.Qa4 c5 16.Nxe4 Bd5 17.f3 Bxe4 18.fxe4+ Kg7 19.Qc4 Kh8 20.b4!
The main idea is to open the long diagonal against the Black king.
20…Rxe4 21.Bb2 Qg8 22.Rf7 Rf8! 23.Rxf8 Qxf8 24.bxc5 bxc5 25.Rf1 Qe7 26.Qd5 Kg7 27.h3 g5 28.Bc3 a6 29.Kh1 Kh6 30.Rb1 Nb5 Bf6! Qxf6 32.Qxe4 Nc3
This is the sting at the end but unfortunately for Kramnik White has a sting of his own.
33.Qf3! Qxf3 34.Rb6+! Kh5 35.gxf3
White is winning already but Kramnik manages to hold the ending.
35…Nxa2 36.Rc6! Nb4 37.Rxc5 Nd3 38.Ra5 Kh4 39.Kh2 Nf4 40.Rxa6 Kh5
Of course not 40…Nxh3?? 41.Rh6#
41.Rd6 Ne2 42.Rd2 Nf4 43.Kg3 Ng6 44.Rd7 h6 45.Rf7! Ne5
Kramnik does not fall for 45…Nf4? 46.Rxf4 gxf4+ 47.Kxf4 Kh4 48.Ke4 Kxh3 49.f4 Kg2 50.f5 h5 51.f6 h4 52.f7 h3 53.f8Q h2 54.Qf3+ Kg1 55.Ke3! h1Q 56.Qf2#
46.Rf5 Ng6 47.Ra5 Nf4 48.h4! Ne2+ 49.Kf2 Nf4 50.hxg5 hxg5 51.Ke3 Ng2+ 52.Kf2
Misses the win. The king should go forward rather than backward. After 52.Ke4! Kg6 53.Ra6+ Kh5 54.Ra2 Nf4 55.Kf5 Ng6 56.Rh2+ Nh4+ 57.Ke4 Kg6 58.f4! Kf6 59.f5! Kf7 60.Rh1 Kf6 61.Rg1!+ — Kramnik has to give up his last pawn, after which it is a relatively easy win for Kovalev.
52…Nf4 53.Ra8?
The last chance to win. 53.Ke3 would have gotten back to the right track
53…Kg6! 54.Ke3 Ng2+ 55.Ke4 Nh4!
This is important — Black has to control the f5–square in order to hold the draw.
56.Ra6+ Kf7 57.Ra2 Kf6 58.Ra1 Ke6 59.Rh1 Ng6 60.Rh6 Kf6 61.Rh7 Nh4 62.Ke3 Ng6 63.Ra7 Nh4 64.Ra6+ Kf5 65.Kf2 Ng6! 66.Kg3 Ne5 67.Ra8 Ng6 68.Rg8 Ne5 69.Rf8+ Ke6 70.Kf2 Ng6 71.Rb8 Kf5 72.Rb5+ Kf6 73.Ra5 Ne5 74.Ke2 Ng6 75.Ra6+ Kf5 76.Ke3 Nh4! 77.Ra5+ Kf6 78.Ke4 Kg6 79.Ra1 Kf6 80.Rg1 Nf5 81.Rg2 Nh4 82.Rh2 Ng6 83.Rh5 Nf4 84.Rh8 Ng6 85.Rb8 Nh4 86.Rg8 Ng6 87.Kd4 Kf5 88.Ke3 Kf6 89.Ke4 Kf7 90.Rb8 Nh4 91.Rc8 Kf6 92.Rc1 Ke6 93.Ke3 Kf5 94.Rc5+ Kf6 95.Rb5 Ng6 96.Ke4 Nh4 97.Rd5 Kg6 98.f4 gxf4 99.Kxf4 Kf7 100.Kg5 Nf3+ 101.Kf4 Nh4 102.Kg5 Nf3+ 103.Kg4 Ke6! 104.Kxf3 Kxd5 ½–½
The Dortmund tournament was held in July 2018. A month after that, in the St. Louis Rapid & Blitz Event (a part of the Grand Chess Tour) GM Alexander Grischuk used the line against former speed chess world champions Leinier Dominguez (Blitz Champion 2008) and Sergey Karjakin (Rapid Champion in 2012 and Blitz Champion in 2016). He beat Dominguez and drew with Karjakin.
Maybe we will start seeing more of this line? And maybe we should start calling this the “Sarratt-Ang” line? I can dream, can I?
 
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 for 25 years and is currently Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.
bobby@cpamd.net

Scary Sixers

Not a few quarters took the Sixers to task shortly after the trade deadline, arguing that they overpaid just to pry erstwhile journeyman turned vital cog Tobias Harris from the Clippers. And, given the tenor of other deals for similarly valued assets, the criticism had basis. After all, such notables as Marc Gasol, Harrison Barnes, Otto Porter JR., and Nikola Mirotic changed jerseys without a single first-round pick involved in the process. On the flipside, though, no one in the City of Brotherly Love seems to think the two that general manager Elton Brand gave up could have been put to better use.
Considering that Harris has played all of two games since he changed addresses, the sample size is still too small for any definitive conclusion to be drawn either way. Nonetheless, the Sixers already have eyes toward the playoffs, and beyond. If anything, it’s precisely why they didn’t think twice about forking over the draft options they hitherto hoarded for him. They’re bent on keeping him as part of their starting unit, viewing his pinpoint shooting from the three-point line as a decided plus. And they’re right, what with their roster short on the skill set he boasts of and, more importantly, top dog Joel Embiid slated to benefit from his mere presence.
In any case, the early signs are promising at worst. Against the highly regarded Nuggets last Friday, Harris was instrumental in breaking open an otherwise tight contest. And he continued his assault on nylon and net yesterday, going three of five from beyond the arc and nine of 14 overall to improve his aggregate clip to five of eight and 15 of 26, respectively, since he joined the Sixers. A product of good vibes? Perhaps. An offshoot of ideal spacing? No doubt. For all his supposed reliance on pick-and-roll sets, he looked right at home in the face of new head coach Brett Brown’s motion-offense predilections.
What Harris doesn’t address, and actually highlights: the Sixers’ lack of bench depth. Which is why they’ll likely stay active and on the lookout for players of value on the waiver wire. In the postseason, substitutes of worth are crucial in giving vital cogs the requisite short spells. All the same, he’s a definite plus, and fortifies a First Five that is arguably the best in the East. And there’s one word that aptly describes them as a consequence: scary.
 
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.

Peso briefly touches P51:$1 level

THE PESO declined against the dollar on Monday, even as it brushed the P51 to $1 level intraday, as investors flocked to safer currencies amid uncertainty in the trade negotiations between the United States and China.
The local currency ended yesterday’s session at P52.11 versus the greenback, four centavos weaker than the P52.07 finish last Friday.
The peso opened the session slightly weaker at P52.11 per dollar, slipping to as low as P52.125 intraday. Meanwhile, its best showing for the day stood at P51.91 against the US currency.
Trading volume thinned to $1.14 billion from the $1.233 billion tallied during the previous session.
A foreign exchange trader said the peso depreciated slightly against the greenback, even as it swung wildly intraday.
“Market players just reversed their short dollar-peso position, that’s why we saw a weaker close,” a trader said in a phone interview Monday.
He added that the dollar recovered in the afternoon session as investors keep a close eye on trade negotiations between the US and China.
President Donald J. Trump on Thursday denied he will meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping ahead of the March 1 deadline of its 90-day truce, reversing his previous statement that they will meet to resolve any final issues in the trade deal.
If no deal is reached before March 2, Mr. Trump will proceed with increasing tariffs to 25% from 10% on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.
“That, I think, should give a bit of support to the dollar in general,” the trader said. “That’s why we’re seeing the dollar strengthen versus other major currencies.”
However, he noted that the peso strengthened in the morning, touching the P51-per-dollar level, given that local yields were “kind of attractive.”
“The central bank decided to keep its rates steady, so yields were kind of attractive. That made the peso kind of attractive as well.”
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas decided to keep its borrowing costs steady during the policy meeting of the Monetary Board on Thursday, given that inflation is projected to return to below four percent in the coming months.
For today, two traders expect the peso to trade between P52 and P52.20. — Karl Angelo N. Vidal

Investors cautious as earnings reports trickle in

THE PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange index (PSEi) began the week lower for the second straight trading day, with investors staying cautious as fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 earnings reports begin to trickle in and amid nagging uncertainty in the trade row between the world’s two biggest economies.
PSEi lost 9.35 points or 0.11% to end Monday at 8,061.54, while the all-shares index gave up 3.84 points or 0.07% to finish at 4,892.48.
“Philippine shares quietly traded lower as investors monitored the Sino-US trade talks continuing in Beijing and the US government shutdown… nearing,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Managing Director Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile phone message on Monday when asked for his assessment.
Jervin S. de Celis, trader at Timson Securities, Inc., noted that US-China trade talks will likely be top-of-mind in the market until the March 1 deadline for a deal, saying: “I think investors may likely stay cautious this week as doubts on the trade talks creeps in back to the market.”
REPOSITIONING PORTFOLIOS
Noting that much of the market was trading with gains by noon — with the six sectoral indices equally divided between those that increased and those that were losing — Mr. De Celis said: “Investors are probably repositioning ahead of the earnings report of several blue-chip companies that will release their FS in the next coming days.”
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. on Monday reported that consolidated net income grew 17% to P32.2 billion last year from P27.6 billion in 2017, with net income increasing by 16% to P8.7 billion in last year’s fourth quarter alone from P7.5 billion in 2017’s final three months. Shares of the property developer increased by 1.68% to end P39.30 apiece.
Elsewhere in Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 and TOPIX indices were down 2.01% and 1.89%, respectively.
Other major Asian markets, however, gained with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index, Shanghai Composite and South Korea’s KOSPI going up 0.71%, 1.36%, and 0.17%, respectively.
FOREIGNERS STILL BUYING
Only two of the six sectoral indices back home ended the day with gains: holding firms which increased by 9.54 points or 0.11% to finish 8,042.54 and property which edged up by 34.25 points or 0.85% to close at 4,032.10.
The rest dropped: mining and oil by 131.29 points or 1.5% to 8,608.33, services by 17.23 points or 1.06% to 1,602.11, financials by 14.32 points or 0.77% to 1,833.07 and industrials by 59.77 points or 0.51% to 11,618.40.
Stocks that declined narrowly outnumbered those that gained 108 to 105, while 36 others ended flat.
Monday saw thinner trades of 3.37 billion shares worth P6 billion, compared to the 3.17 billion worth P7.81 billion recorded on Friday last week.
Net foreign buying persisted, but down 69.9% to P82.14 million from Friday’s 272.66 million. — Janina C. Lim

DoH flags vaccine hesitancy as measles cases rise

THE DEPARTMENT of Health (DoH) on Monday reported an estimated threefold rise in measles cases nationwide, with the death toll now at 70.
“Validated data from different regions of the country by the Epidemiology Bureau of DoH revealed that from 1 January to 9 February this year, a total of 4,302 measles cases have been reported, with 70 deaths,” DoH said in a statement on Monday, adding that 79% of the reported deaths were unvaccinated patients.
The National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest number of measles cases at 1,296 cases, with 18 deaths, followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon), with 1,086 cases and 25 deaths. The latest figures on measles cases were the estimated total nationwide from last week’s update. Monday’s update on DoH’s monitoring is now beyond Luzon where the initial cases were reported.
Region 3 (Central Luzon) has 481 cases and three deaths. Region 6 (Western Visayas) has 212 cases and four deaths, and Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) has 189 cases and two deaths.
Vaccine hesitancy is one of the top 10 public health risks this year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Vaccine hesitancy, DoH said in its statement, “refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services.”
WHO Representative in the Philippines Gundo Aurel Weiler said in an email last week, “While prior to the suspension of the dengue vaccination programme almost 100% of the population believed vaccines are safe and effective, this confidence has dropped to below 80%. As a result we see decreasing vaccination rates in the Philippines, which are now falling far below the necessary coverage to protect from outbreaks.”
The DoH statement also read, “The causes of measles outbreak involved a number of factors or elements. Loss of public confidence and trust in vaccines in the immunization program brought about by the Dengvaxia controversy has been documented as one of many factors that contributed to vaccine hesitancy in the country. This refers to mothers who became hesitant to have their children vaccinated with vaccines that were long proven to be effective.”
For his part, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said in the statement, “I appeal to the public to rebuild your trust and confidence in vaccines that were long proven to be effective, and I am quite sure that all of us sometime in our lives have been recipients of these vaccines which had protected us from various diseases.”
Also in a statement, president Dr. Anna Lisa T. Ong-Lim of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines said, “(W)e should take every opportunity to convince and reinforce the message that the vaccines available to prevent diseases are safe and highly effective, and that vaccination remains the main intervention in reducing morbidity and mortality against infectious diseases.” — Gillian M. Cortez

US, Japan commit support for PHL’s fight vs terrorism

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Reporter
THE UNITED STATES has committed over P300 million in “intelligence support” to the Philippines, Malacañang announced on Monday.
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo also said the Japanese government, through Foreign Minister Taro Kono, has expressed its commitment to assist the Philippines in “combating the scourge of terrorism.”
“There is a commitment by the United States of P300 million as intelligence support, and we of course, we welcome the United States’ commitment in this particular matter in fighting terrorism. It only shows that our military alliance with the United States remains very strong,” Mr. Panelo said.
Mr. Panelo said he was informed about this by Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana. “There’s no specific detail yet, because ano pa lang iyon, (it was just a) general commitment,” the spokesman said.
He also disclosed that President Rodrigo R. Duterte received Mr. Kono in Davao City on Feb. 9, and “the latter personally conveyed the warm wishes and message of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to the President, as well as Japan’s commitment to further deepen and expand cooperation with the Philippines.”
“FM Kono likewise conveyed PM Abe’s grave concern over the twin explosions in Jolo, Sulu, and expressed Japan’s condemnation of the terrorism and violent extremism and (its) commitment to assist the Philippines in combating the scourge of terrorism,” Mr. Panelo said.
Mr. Kono also reaffirmed Japan’s “sustained support for the Philippines’ quest for just and lasting peace and development in Mindanao, extended felicitations for the success of the holding of the Bangsamoro Organic Law plebiscite and expressed Japan’s commitment to rehabilitate and reconstruct Marawi and develop ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), including the funding of the Road Network Development Plan for ARMM.”
Mr. Duterte, in turn, “expressed his desire to meet PM Abe again to discuss developments in bilateral ties and assess ways of moving forward together on shared concerns,” Mr. Panelo said.
“We assure the nation that security for our people has been enhanced. We call our people to be vigilant and report to the authorities any suspicious act by any person or group of persons in their communities that may tend to endanger their lives, limbs and properties,” he added.

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