Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 9161

Mandaue gov’t to review PEZA-registered firms for tax holiday merit

COMPANIES IN Mandaue City registered with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) will be up for inspection to ensure that they have not shifted to other businesses that do not merit tax holidays. The Mandaue City council has passed a resolution authored by Councilor Jimy C. Lumapas requesting the local government to review all PEZA-registered establishments and recall the tax holiday of those that do not meet PEZA objectives. The resolution was passed after the city government received reports that some business establishments that have been granted PEZA accreditation and been enjoying tax holidays in Mandaue are shifting to other business ventures outside of the mandated export-oriented and information technology-related requirement. Under the Special Economic Zone Act, business establishments duly registered with PEZA are entitled to income and the local tax holiday. “The tax holidays made easily available to establishments within the ecozones prompted other business establishments to seek favorable consideration from this August Body, as a Resolution to that effect will form part to their PEZA application,” a portion of Mr. Lumapas’ resolution reads. — The Freeman

LABCO gets green-light for 1,000-ha banana farm in Lamitan

LAMITAN AGRI-BUSINESS Corp. (LABCO) is set to invest about P1.8 billion for a 1,000-hectare Cavendish banana farm in Lamitan City, Basilan. The company received its certificate of registration last week from the Regional Board of Investment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RBOI-BARMM). The BARMM government, in a statement, said the Filipino-owned company has been granted priority investment status, which would allow it to avail of incentives under the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987 contained in Executive Order No. 226.

RBOI-BARMM Executive Director Eshan Karl Mabang and BARMM Chief Minister Al Haj Murad Ebrahim led the registration certificate awarding ceremony that was attended by Lamitan City Vice-Mayor Roderick H. Furigay and Unifrutti Tropical Philippines Inc. President Alberto F. Bacani. The banana farm is expected to generate 1,467 jobs. Its produce will be exported to countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Nationwide round-up

Comelec cancels Cardema’s nomination as Duterte Youth representative

RONALD GIAN CARLO L. CARDEMA — PIA.GOV.PH

THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) has cancelled the nomination of former National Youth Commission chair Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema as Party-list Duterte Youth representative. “(T)his Commission reiterates its unmistakable conclusion based on facts, law, and jurisprudence, that Respondent Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema is not eligible for nomination to represent Duterte Youth in the House of Representatives,” Comelec said in its resolution issued on Monday. Thirty-four year old Cardema petitioned to replace his wife Ducielle Marie Suarez-Cardema, who was the first nominee of Duterte Youth. Under the law, youth sector representatives should be between 25 to 30 years old. Duterte Youth later campaigned as a partylist that represents “young professionals.” Election Lawyer Emil Marañon III, who filed the petition to cancel Mr. Cardema’s nomination, said in a Tweet: “We are happy to announce that with the vote of 2-0, the Comelec First Division has granted our Petition…” The Comelec commissioners who voted were Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon and Marlon T. Casquejo. — Gillian M. Cortez

‘Bikoy’ seeks witness protection

PETER JOEMEL Advincula — the self-confessed “Bikoy” in videos that tagged some members of the family of President Rodrigo R. Duterte as being involved in the illegal drug trade — has applied to be placed under the Witness Protection Program (WPP) in connection with the sedition complaint filed against Vice-President Maria Leonor G. Robredo and 35 others. Mr. Advincula filed his application for WPP through his lawyer, Lorenzo G. Gadon. In the letter addressed to Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra, he requested to be under protective custody of the Philippine National Police (PNP). “With the different prominent political figure and various influential personalities that I divulged and disclosed during the series of investigation conducted by the Philippine National Police particularly, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), my life and the life of my family and security is at risk,” he said. Mr. Advincula is named both as respondent and witness in the complaint filed by the PNP-CIDG last month, which covers sedition, inciting to sedition, cyberlibel, libel, estafa, harboring a criminal, and obstruction of justice. The others accused include prominent lawyers, politicians, and church leaders, who were allegedly involved in the so-called Project Sodoma. The Department of Justice is set to start the preliminary investigation on the complaint on Aug. 9. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Nation at a Glance — (08/06/19)

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

Nation at a Glance — (08/06/19)

NCAA: Blazers test mettle against streaking Knights

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

JOINT league leaders College of Saint Benilde Blazers stake their unbeaten record against the streaking Letran Knights with National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95 action resuming today at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan City.

The Blazers, holders of a 4-0 record in the ongoing season of the country’s oldest collegiate league, will try to stay unscathed in their 12 noon match versus the on-a-roll Knights (5-1), which is part of a scheduled triple-header.

Also seeing action today are the defending champions and still-unbeaten San Beda Red Lions (4-0) against the winless Mapua Cardinals (0-5) at 2 p.m. and the skidding San Sebastian Stags (2-3) versus season hosts Arellano Chiefs (1-4) at 4 p.m.

Incidentally, today’s matches will see the league return after games in the last play date on Aug. 2 were cancelled because of bad weather brought about by heavy monsoon rain.

Saint Benilde, which was supposed to battle San Beda last Friday, has been experiencing one of its best starts in the NCAA in recent years.

It last played on July 30 against San Sebastian and came away as a 77-72 winner despite playing sans top man Justin Gutang who was out because of knee injury.

Guard Unique Naboa paced CSB with 15 points, followed by Chris Flores with 14.

Jimboy Pasturan and Clement Leutcheu each had 12 points for the Blazers while veteran Yankie Haruna finally played his first game from injury and finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

“We just stuck together and found ways to win,” said CSB coach TY Tang after their win, which helped them keep their spot in the top two.

Out to stop the winning run of the Blazers are the Knights, who have been playing solid basketball of late and have racked up five straight wins.

The latest of the wins of Letran was over Mapua, 89-84, on July 30.

While they were greatly challenged by the Cardinals, the Knights managed to extricate themselves in the end to continue their ascent after opening the season with a loss.

Big man Larry Muyang led the Knights with 24 points and nine rebounds with Bonbon Batiller adding 15 markers, including a back-breaking triple in the closing seconds that put the game away for his team.

Jeo Ambohot finished with 14 points while veteran Jerrick Balanza had 11 markers.

Meanwhile, Perpetual Help Altas guard Edgar Charcos was named NCAA player of the week by the league press corps.

Charcos stepped up for the Las Piñas-based team in their last game, draining the game-winning floater with 3.4 seconds to go and hand his team the 75-73 win over Arellano on July 30.

The win halted for Perpetual Help a three-game losing streak and kept its position in the middle of the pack.

The game-winner capped Charcos’ solid game, which saw him finish with 15 points and five assists.

In winning the weekly award, Charcos edged out Letran’s Muyang, Saint Benilde’s Pasturan, and Jose Rizal University’s Chester Jungco.

Japan’s ‘Smiling Cinderella’ Shibuno claims stunning Women’s British Open triumph

MILTON KEYNES — ‘Smiling Cinderella’ Hinako Shibuno completed a fairy-tale week by winning the Women’s British Open in her first LPGA event at Milton Keynes on Sunday.

The 20-year-old Japanese rank outsider, who earned her nickname because of her radiant smile, rammed home a lengthy birdie putt of just under 20 feet at the final hole to edge out American Lizette Salas by one stroke.

Playing outside Japan for the first time as well as in her first major, Shibuno reacted with glee and astonishment, covering her mouth with her hand after the winning putt rattled in at Woburn for a closing four-under-par 68.

She finished on 18-under 270 to become the second Japanese woman to win a major, after Hisako “Chako” Higuchi in 1977.

Salas, two behind overnight, caught Shibuno on the front nine and thought she had done enough with a seven-under 65 final round.

But Shibuno, ranked 559 in the world at the start of the year, found five birdies on the way home.

“I still feel like I’m going to vomit,” Shibuno said moments after her victory.

“I was more nervous on the front nine but I was OK on the back nine. I felt like I was going to cry on the 18th but the tears didn’t come out.”

Shibuno, who started the day with a two-shot lead, double-bogeyed the third hole, which perhaps was a blessing in disguise in that it relieved the pressure of being the frontrunner.

“I don’t think many people, including me, like to be in a situation where you’re leading,” she said.

“I feel like it’s better to be behind than leading. That was true today and I was able to play easier when I was in that position.

“I was looking at the board all the time, and knew my position, where I stood in the tournament. That was also true before the putt on the 18th and I was also thinking about if I were to make this putt, how I was going to celebrate.”

Runner-up Salas rued a five-foot birdie putt at the final hole that lipped out.

“I’m not going to lie, I was nervous,” she said. “I haven’t been in that position in a long time. I gave it a good stroke. I controlled all my thoughts. It just didn’t drop, so congrats to our winner.”

South Korean Ko Jin-young (66) finished two shots behind in third place, completing a magnificent major campaign that included victories at the ANA Inspiration in April and last week’s Evian Championship.

“I had a little pressure, but I like that pressure,” world number one Ko said. — Reuters

PBA: Preparing well pays dividends for KaTropa vs Beermen in Game One

THE TNT KATROPA took early control of their best-of-seven Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup final series over the San Miguel Beermen following their 109-96 victory in Game One on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Texters said the win was something they take pride and delight in because they saw their preparation and hard work pay off in a huge way especially against a team like the Beermen.

Found themselves clicking from all cylinders in the opening half, the Texters used it to build much distance which the Beermen could not make up for the rest of the way, handing the win to TNT.

Import Terrence Jones led the charge for the KaTropa with 41 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists and three blocks with Jayson Castro finishing with 20 points.

Troy Rosario added 16 markers while Roger Pogoy and Don Trollano had 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Mr. Jones, who was named player of the game after, said key for them in the win in the series opener was the great game plan that they had that allowed them to dictate the contest on both ends of the court for much of the time.

“We had a great game plan and it worked,” said Mr. Jones, whose team turned a close game early in the first quarter to a rout the rest of the way.

Good preparation was also highlighted by Mr. Pogoy, who had a solid two-way game in the opener.

“We just played well in this game and came in ready. We’re playing this way all tournament long and we’re just continuing it,” the Gilas Pilipinas player said.

But while they are happy to go up 1-0 in the series, both Messrs. Jones and Pogoy recognize that there is still a lot of games to be played and that they have to maintain their go-getting mindset if they are to complete their mission of winning another title for the Texters after four long years.

“The team did great but it’s just one step in the journey and we have to win three more,” Mr. Jones said.

“We have not achieved anything yet. There is still a long way to go. This is a best-of-seven series and until you reach four wins the outcome is very open,” Mr. Pogoy, for his part, said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

NC native Poston wins Wyndham Championship without dropping shot

GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina native J.T. Poston became the first player in 45 years to win a PGA Tour event without dropping a shot when he beat Webb Simpson by one stroke at the Wyndham Championship on Sunday.

Not since Lee Trevino at New Orleans in 1974 had a player negotiated 72 holes without a bogey en route to victory.

Poston stormed out of the pack, claiming his first tour victory in style with an eight-under-par 62 at Sedgefield Country Club.

Born less than 100 miles away in Hickory, and buoyed by enthusiastic support, Poston finished at 22-under 258.

Fellow North Carolinian Simpson (65) birdied the last for second place, while South Korean An Byeong-hun (67) bogeyed the par-four 18th for third, two shots behind.

An had a 60-foot birdie putt that would have forced a playoff. He gave it a good run, his ball touching the edge of the cup but rolling 10 feet beyond. He missed the comeback attempt.

“Any win out here on tour is a dream come true but to do it here in Greensboro, an hour-and-a-half from where I grew up, is something I never could have imagined,” said 26-year-old Poston.

“I’ve got so many friends and family that are here, coming in from all over the place. The celebration’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Poston said a quick session with his instructor on Monday led to his blemish-free tournament.

“He gave me one little tip and it clicked right away. I mean, bogey free is great.

“The course was easy enough to where if you hit fairways you could attack some pins, and my iron play was really solid all week and today I made some puts and was able to get that low one in there.”

An also played bogey-free for 68 holes, before finally dropping a shot at the par-five 15th, where for the second day running his drive ended in long fescue rough, prompting him to take a penalty stroke.

“That 15 was very disappointing because I didn’t hit that bad of a drive,” said the 27-year-old Simpson who is still winless on the PGA Tour.

“I think there was too much adrenaline going on. It wasn’t a bad drive to end up where it was.

“I should have hit a two-iron maybe to stay in the fairway and to give myself a chance to go at the green but the bogey was definitely a killer. At the end I just ran out of juice I think.”

Simpson birdied four of the last five holes for second. — Reuters

Kyrgios fights off back spasms to win Citi Open title

WASHINGTON — Nick Kyrgios overcame early back spasms to get the better of Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in a pair of tiebreakers and win the Citi Open in Washington on Sunday.

The Australian won 7-6(6) 7-6(4) over a frustrated world number nine Medvedev for his sixth career ATP Tour victory. Kyrgios did not face a single break point and hit 18 aces, including two to close out the final.

Kyrgios, mixing baseline rallies with drop shots, came from 4-1 down in the opening tiebreak to win it and took a medical time-out after the set, which seemed to help relieve the back spasms that had him stretching on the court during changeovers.

He still had trouble with Medvedev’s serve, the Russian winning 80% of his service points for the match. Kyrgios eventually tied the second set at 6-6 and claimed the victory, his second of the year, in another tiebreak.

Before serving for the win, the Australian, as he had done twice previously in the match, went to a spectator to consult on where to serve.

Kyrgios then delivered a rocket for the win and fell on his back in relief. — Reuters

ONE Championship: Uphill battle for Danny Kingad against ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson but windfall is great

BOOKED a spot in ONE Championship’s world flyweight grand prix finals after emerging victorious in the semifinals last Friday of the promotion’s recent Manila event, Filipino fighter the Danny “The King” Kingad channels his attention on his next opponent in American Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson.

It is a pairing that local fight analyst Nissi Icasiano said is going to be tough for the Team Lakay stalwart but one that should benefit him in more ways than one.

Messrs. Kingad and Johnson were the two men left standing after flyweight grand prix semifinal action at “ONE: Dawn of Heroes” on Aug. 2 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Mr. Kingad was a split decision winner over Australian Reece “Lightning” McLaren while Mr. Johnson defeated Japanese Tatsumitsu “The Sweeper” Wada by unanimous decision.

The wins set up Messrs. Kingad and Johnson in a much-anticipated encounter in the finals which will happen in October in Tokyo, Japan, part of ONE’s 100th show since setting up shop in 2011.

For Mr. Icasiano, Mr. Johnson will be a tough proposition for Mr. Kingad but was quick to say that the latter has what it takes to win it all just as the fight would benefit the Filipino in growing his game and career.

“It will be an uphill battle for Danny Kingad. Of course, it is Demetrious Johnson,” said Mr. Icasiano in an interview with BusinessWorld, underscoring in Mr. Johnson one takes on a legend in mixed martial arts who has practically seen it all and won it all.

But the analyst said it should not stop Mr. Kingad from going for it and pitting his skills against the MMA superstar for a lot of positives could come out of it.

“Win or lose, he (Kingad) has everything to gain in that match. If he wins, can you imagine the magnitude and the impact of it on his career. If he loses, it is still a great takeaway for him and his brothers at Team Lakay. It gives them a full insight as how it is like to dance with one of the best to ever do it and prepare for other outstanding athletes in the sport. It is a win-win situation,” Mr. Icasiano said.

He went on to say that while facing a fighter like Johnson, a former Ultimate Fighting Championship champion and pound-for-pound top fighter, will be a daunting task, it is doable to beat him, more so since in ONE Championship so far the American has been “vulnerable.”

“Team Lakay should capitalize on it. In the last two fights of Demetrious Johnson, it showed that beating him is doable. It all boils down to as to how they will prepare for him and how Danny Kingad will react once he gets in there,” Mr. Icasiano said. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

The Paris Grand Chess Tour

Paris leg, Grand Chess Tour
Paris, France
July 27-August 2, 2019

Final Standings, Rapid

1. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2775, 6.5/9

2. Alexander Grischuk RUS 2766, 6.0/9

3-4. Ian Nepomniachtchi RUS 2775, Viswanathan Anand IND 2764, 5.0/9

5-6. Jan-Krzysztof Duda POL 2729, Fabiano Caruana USA 2819, 4.5/9

7. Hikaru Nakamura USA 2754, 4.0/9

8-9. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2765, Daniil Dubov RUS 2700, 3.5/9

10. Anish Giri NED 2779, 2.5/9

Time Control: 25 minutes play-to-finish with a 10-second delay (not increment) starting move 1

Final Standings, Blitz

1-3. Viswanathan Anand, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Hikaru Nakamura, 10.5/18

4-5. Ian Nepomniachtchi, Fabiano Caruana, 10.0/18

6-8. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Alexander Grischuk, 8.0/18

9. Anish Giri, 7.5/18

10. Daniil Dubov, 7.0/18

Time Control: Five minutes play-to-finish with a three-second delay (not increment) starting move 1

Combined Overall Standings (Rapid results count double)

1. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 21.0/36

2. Viswanathan Anand, 20.5/36

3-4. Alexander Grischuk, Ian Nepomniachtchi, 20.0/36

5. Jan-Krzysztof Duda, 19.5/36

6. Fabiano Caruana, 19.0/36

7. Hikaru Nakamura, 18.5/36

8. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, 15.0/36

9. Daniil Dubov, 14.0/36

10. Anish Giri, 12.5/36

The French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (or “MVL”) made full use of his homecourt advantage and won the Paris Rapid/Blitz Tournament, part of the 2019 Grand Chess Tour. Let me clear something up. The tournament I wrote about last week, the Riga Grand Prix, was part of the FIDE Grand Prix which in turn is one of the qualifying events to the world championship.

The Paris event, on the other hand, is part of a circuit of chess tournaments called the Grand Chess Tour designed to promote competitive chess by including all of the top players in a coordinated series of private tournaments with good prizes. It is not part of the world championship cycle.

The Grand Chess Tour has had four (4) overall winners so far:

2015 – Magnus Carlsen

2016 – Wesley So

2017 – Magnus Carlsen

2018 – Hikaru Nakamura

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave followed up his good performance in Riga, where he was the losing finalist, with an excellent rapid performance and, although his blitz play was not as good (4.5/9 on the first day and 3.5/9 on the second), his opponents were not able to take advantage and he was able to hold on for the overall victory. The tournament win was a bit bittersweet — sweet because the Frenchman took home the $37,500 first prize (roughly P1.9 million) and bitter because whereas he started this tournament as the world’s highest rated blitz player by the end he had tumbled down to fourth by shedding 102 (!) rating points in the blitz.

This was not the only negative surprise in Paris. Daniil Dubov, the reigning World Rapid Champion, finished next-to-last in the rapid and dead last in the Blitz.

Hikaru Nakamura was the top scorer on the first day of blitz with 6.5/9, but that was about the only good thing that he accomplished in Paris. His overall seventh place was way below expectations, after all he was the defending Grand Chess Tour Champion, and his victory last year was due to his terrific performance in the Rapid/blitz legs rather than on the classical tournaments.

Enough about negatives! Let us look at the winner’s games. The “Frenchman with two names” was his usual aggressive self with the “drop of poison.” If you are wondering what the last phrase meant then you will understand after seeing the 49th move in the following game.

Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2775) – Caruana, Fabiano (2819) [B56]
GCT Paris Rapid (5.1), 28.07.2019

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.g3

I don’t think MVL has ever played this before. Ten years ago his staple was 6.Bg5, the Richter-Rauzer line, and lately he has been experimenting with the English Attack after 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3. Anyway, from personal experience I can say that this White fianchetto system combined with N4e2 and Be3 is under-rated and actually quite dangerous.

6…Nxd4

The usual reply here is 6…g6, but obviously Caruana didn’t want the knight to retreat to e2.

7.Qxd4 g6 8.e5!?

MVL tries to punish Black for exchanging on d4. Usually this move is not good for White because Black has a knight which can go to c6, attacking both the queen and pawn, but since the Black knight is already off the board pushing the pawn to e5 is feasible.

8…dxe5 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg2 Kc7 11.0–0 Be6

Black is right — he should prevent White’s knight from getting to d5, which is what happens after 11…Bg7 12.Re1 Ne8 13.Nd5+ Kd7 14.Bd2 Nc7 15.Ba5! Nxd5 (15…b6? 16.Rad1!) 16.Rad1. The Black position is uncomfortable.

12.Re1 Nd7 13.Be3 a6 14.a4

MVL has a target — to go after b7.

14…Rc8 15.a5 Bg7 16.Ra4 Kb8 17.Rb4 Rc7 18.Rd1 Rhc8 19.Bf1 Ka8 20.Na4

MVL: “Objectively I might not be better, but it is difficult for him to untangle his pieces.”

20…f5

[20…Rxc2? 21.Rxd7! Bxd7 22.Nb6+ is winning for White]

21.c4 e4

Caruana’s plan is to give up the exchange but in return get the squares d3 and f3 for his knight to work with.

22.c5 Ne5 23.Nb6+ Kb8 24.Nxc8 Kxc8 25.Rb6 Bd7 26.b4 Ba4 27.Rb1

Idea is b4–b5.

27…Nd3 28.Be2 Bc6 29.f3

Forces the knight to retreat. Why? Well, after 30.fxe4 Bxe4 (30…fxe4 opens up a diagonal for White’s bishop: 31.Bg4+ Kb8 32.Be6 headed for c4) 31.c6! Black’s bishop cannot move because it is the only thing defending his d3–knight. 31…Rxc6 32.Rxc6+ bxc6 33.Rb3 Ne5 34.Bxa6+ White is getting a dangerous passed pawn.

29…Ne5 30.fxe4 Bxe4 31.Rd1 Bc6 32.Bf4 Bf6 33.h4 Rd7 34.Rxd7 Kxd7 35.b5! axb5 36.Bxb5 Bxb5 37.Rxb5 Kc8

[If 37…Kc6 38.Rb6+ Kxc5 39.Rxb7 is even worse]

38.Bxe5 Bxe5 39.c6! Bd4+ 40.Kg2 bxc6 41.Rb1 h6 42.a6 e5 43.Rb7 h5 44.Rg7 Kb8 45.Rxg6 c5 46.Kf3 c4 47.Ke2 e4 48.Rg5 Be5 <D>

POSITION AFTER 48…BE5

Now the finishing touch…

49.g4! hxg4 50.Rxf5 Bd4 51.Rg5 c3 52.Rxg4 Bf6 53.Rxe4 1–0

Tactics all around the board is the best description of the following game. Every time it seems that MVL has an easy mate Nakamura comes back and complicates the position. Finally Vachier-Lagrave manages to transpose to a clearly won endgame. Remember, this is blitz — 5 minutes for the entire game with a 3-second delay (the clock waits 3 seconds before starting — no time is added if you should move before the 3 seconds).

Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2799) – Nakamura, Hikaru (2806) [B07]
GCT Paris Blitz 2019 (13), 01.08.2019

1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Bd3 e5 5.c3 Nc6 6.0–0 Nf6 7.Re1 0–0 8.Nbd2 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.cxd4 c5 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Nf3 Be6 13.Qe2 Re8 14.Be3 Rc8 15.Rad1 Qc7 16.b3 h6 17.Rc1 b6 18.h3 Qe7 19.Bf4 Kh7 20.Qe3 Red8 21.Ba6 Ra8 22.Ne5 Nh5?!

As is his wont Nakamura takes a risk — he allows White’s threat of Nc6 in exchange for getting the beautiful d4 outpost for his bishop.

23.Nc6 Qh4 24.Nxd8 Rxd8 25.Bh2

[25.Bg3 Nxg3 26.Qxg3 Qxg3 27.fxg3 Bd4+ would only emphasize White’s dark-square weaknesses]

25…Bd4 26.Qf3 g5 27.Bc4!

Excellent move. As in King’s Indian formations, Black’s white-squared bishop is essential for his kingside attack.

27…g4 28.hxg4 Bxg4 29.Qxf7+ Bg7

Maybe 29…Ng7 is a harder nut to crack.

30.e5 Rf8 31.Bd3+ Kh8 32.Qg6

The mate threat on h7 forces resignation? Not yet, Nakamura still has some tactical tricks.

32…Qxf2+ 33.Kh1 Bf5 34.Qxh5 Bxd3 35.e6 Bb5 36.e7 Re8 37.Re6

The threat is 38.Rxh6+ Bxh6 39.Qxh6+ Kg8 40.Qg6+ Kh8 41.Be5+ with mate coming up.

37…Kg8 38.Rd1 Qf7 39.Qd5 Kh7 40.Rxh6+ Kg8

[40…Bxh6 41.Qxf7+]

41.Re6 Ba6 42.Qc6 Rxe7 43.Qa8+ Bf8 44.Rxe7 Qxe7 45.Bd6! Qf7

Black has his own threat of …Qh5+

46.Qxf8+ 1–0

We will continue with our coverage of the Paris Rapid/Blitz tournament on Thursday.

 

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 Chief Audit Executive of the Equicom Group of Companies.

bobby@cpamd.net

Sure thing

First things first: The $100-million extension that Draymond Green successfully negotiated with the Warriors represents the maximum-allowable amount he could have received under terms of the National Basketball Association’s collective bargaining agreement. Second things second: The $100-million extension likewise represents a bargain given the options he had. By agreeing to stay signed and keep donning royal blue and California golden yellow until 2024, he limited his earning capacity in favor of security. Clearly, he deems the one in his hand to be superior to the two in the bush.

Indeed, Green may well have played out his contract and tested free agency next year, during which a five-year, $202-million deal from the Warriors or a four-year, $155-million arrangement elsewhere becomes a possibility. Instead, he opted to affix his Hancock pronto, thus enabling the reigning league runners-up to generate direct savings of $102 million, not counting luxury tax payments. And that’s not even taking into consideration his potential payday were he to become the All-NBA selection or Defensive Player of the Year. In either case, he would be in line for the designated veteran windfall of $235 million for five years.

To be sure, Green isn’t motivated by magnanimity or generosity. Rather, he’s driven to grab hold of a sure thing. And, if nothing else, the fact that he has Rich Paul of Klutch Sports for an agent means his decision to go for the here and now vice the there and then was well thought out. He’s not like teammate Klay Thompson and former teammate Kevin Durant, who got injured during their contract year and still claimed a maximum deal. Were he to be in the same boat, he would likely face a far more uncertain future. Moreover, his style of play, which relies on savvy as much as skill, is highlighted with the Warriors but figures to be less effective elsewhere — again depressing his value.

Which, in a nutshell, makes Green an astute purveyor of the NBA landscape. Players often get blinded by upshots instead of certainty even at considerable risk, but not him. He’s happy with what he got, and with where he is. Parenthetically, he has determined exactly where he’s headed. Not bad for a 35th overall draft pick whose first contract, by comparison, had only $900,000 in guaranteed money.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and Human Resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

1...9,1609,1619,162...12,748Page 9,161 of 12,748
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin Twitter Youtube