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Teener Bernie Regalario leads youth invasion at 2020 Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup tournament in Makati

YOUNG cue artist Bernie Regalario will lead the youth invasion in the Predator-Volturi 9-Ball Cup 2020 tournament on Saturday at the AMF-Puyat Makati Cinema Square, Makati City.

Regalario will be joining fellow Wilde Blu Junior teammates Rey Calanao, Elija B. De Mesa, Bastien Cyril Olanda, Francis Lompero, Kayla Herrera, Sophia Rosales and Dexter M. Barnido.

It is supported by sportsman/businessman Niño Lopez, of Wilde Blu Chalk in the Philippines and Indonesia as well Volturi Custom Cases in close cooperation with cue maker Angel Bautista.

“I hope to do well in this event,” said the 15-years-old Regalario, the reigning J&P 9-Ball Cup champion.

Organized by Makati Pool Players Association (MAPPA), the 9-ball tournament presented by Predator and Volturi, sponsored by The AnitoKid, Puyat Sports, Wilde Blu, Dubshop, Sunville Trading, Peri, Aria Pool Things, Stanson, MLA Trading, Fury and bilyarista.com offers P250,000 in cash and prizes at stakes.

The emerging champion in the tourney will get P40,000 plus Predator Roadline pool cue with 314-3 shaft plus Volturi Classic Brogue Cue Case plus Championship trophy while the runner-up will receive P20,000, the third and fourth placers will settle for P15,000 and P10,000, respectively. Fifth to eighth placers will bring claim P6,000 each while the ninth to 16th placers will receive P3,000 each.

Tournament registration fee at P1,300 (inclusive of uniform, food stub for first day, and raffle ticket), plus P500 MAPPA membership fee for calendar year 2020. — Marlon Bernardino

A disaster for Vidit

2nd Prague Masters
Prague, Czech Republic
Feb. 11-22, 2020

Final Standings

1-5. Vidit Santosh Gujrathi IND 2721, Alireza Firouzja FIDE 2726, Jan-Krzysztof Duda POL 2755, David Anton Guijarro ESP 2697, Samuel Shankland USA 2683, 5.0/9

6-7. Nikita Vitiugov RUS 2731, Penteala Harikrishna IND 2713, 4.5/9

8-9. Markus Ragger AUT 2670, David Navara CZE 2717, 4.0/9

10. Nils Grandelius SWE 2659, 3.0/9

Tie-Break for first Place

Alireza Firouzja defeated Vidit Santosh Gujrathi 2-0

Average Rating 2707 Category 19

Time Control: 90 minutes for first 40 moves followed by 30 minutes play-to-finish with a 30-second increment starting from move one.

Indian GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (born Oct. 24, 1994) is currently the second highest-rated player from India behind, of course, Viswanathan Anand. He has won a lot of regional and youth tournaments, but his first strong closed tournament win was at the Biel International Chess Festival. This was a category 16 (Average ELO of 2641) 8-man tournament against Abdusattorov, Shankland, Leko, Georgiadis, Cori, Bogner and Maghsoodloo.

The 2020 Prague Masters was a different animal completely. With an average ELO of 2707 it can be truly classified as a super GM tournament. Vidit showed good form and preparation by starting out with three wins and two draws (4/5). He is known as a player with very good positional sense but the sudden assault he whipped up in the following game against a player known for power play himself is really impressive.

Vidit, Santosh Gujrathi (2721) — Shankland,Samuel L (2683) [E52]
Prague Masters Prague (1.4), 12.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd2 b6 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 d5

Black had to rush his knight to the defense of his kingside with 15…Nbd7! Shankland probably had no inkling that the attack was already coming.

16.Qb1

16.e4! right away is even better, but let us not get into that. Vidit has already seen a straightforward way to an advantage and goes for it.

16…Bc8 <D>

POSITION AFTER 16…BC8

Now it starts.

17.e4! dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4

Attacking both h7 and c6.

19…h6 20.Rfd1! Ra7 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.h3 Qh4 23.Re1 Rce7 24.Bh7+! Kf8

[24…Kh8 25.Nxf7+ Rxf7 26.Rxe8+ Rf8 27.Rxf8+ Bxf8 28.Qe4 is an easy win for White]

25.Re4!

Shankland now realizes that his queen is lost after 25…Qh5 26.Bg6!! (wow!) fxg6 27.g4 Qxh3 28.Re3 so he thrashes around trying to get more material for it.

25…Qf6 26.Rf4!

[26.Bg6? no longer works because of 26…Bxe5! and the tables have turned]

26…Bxe5

Alas! Shankland has outsmarted himself. It turns out that 26…Qe6 27.Ng6+ loses the queen for even less than if he had played 25…Qh5.

27.Rxf6 Bxf6 28.Bf4! Bg5 29.Bd6 g6 30.Bxg6! fxg6 31.Qxg6 Nd7

[31…Bxc1 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Bxe7 followed by Qg6+]

32.Rc3 1–0

Yes, Vidit was really showing some powerful chess. He became undone though in the penultimate round.

Vidit,Santosh Gujrathi (2721) — Navara, David (2717) [E12]
Prague Masters Prague (8.5), 20.02.2020

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Bf4 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bg3 Nd7 8.e4! N5f6 9.e5 Nh5 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Bc4 a6!?

Navara could have castled here but with this move he is provoking 12.d5 which he thinks is unsound.

12.d5!

After the game Navara admitted that he had underestimated this move and that all his counterplay was a tempo short.

12…exd5 13.Bxd5 Nxg3

[13…Bxd5 14.Qxd5 looks dangerous for Black: 14…0–0 15.e6 Ndf6 16.exf7+ Rxf7 17.Qa2]

14.hxg3 c6?! 15.Bxf7+!

Vidit spent 20 minutes on this move. No doubt he was also debating with himself whether he should take this risk, given that he was a point ahead of the field in this penultimate round and a draw would almost assure himself of tournament victory. The sacrifice is completely sound though so he made the right choice.

15…Kxf7 16.e6+ Kxe6 17.Qe2+

Vidit spent another 20 minutes on this move.

17…Kf7

Navara initially planned to bring his king to c7, but when the position came up on the board realized that 17…Kd6 18.Rd1+ Kc7 19.Ne5! wins back the piece with the attack still in full blast. Take note that 19…Bd6 is met by 20.Rxd6 Kxd6 21.Nf7+ winning the black queen.

18.0–0–0 Bf6 19.Ne4 Qe7 20.Nd6+!?

Vidit decides to win back his sacrificed material right away. This is something I am always talking about — why do people sacrifice material and then follow-up by playing as if they lost the material? He should have continued the attack with 20.Qc4+! Kf8 (20…Qe6? 21.Rxd7+ Kg6 22.Qxe6 mate will follow) 21.Rhe1 Ne5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.Nd6 with an easy win.

20…Kf8 21.Qxe7+ Bxe7 22.Nxb7 Nf6 23.Ne5

Material is equal but White is still very much ahead.

23…Nd5 24.Kb1

[24.Nxc6 Rc8]

24…Rc8 25.Rhe1

[25.Ng6+? Kf7 26.Nxh8+ Rxh8 the white knight on b7 is lost]

25…Bxa3?! 26.Nxc6!

[26.bxa3 Nc3+ 27.Kc2 Nxd1 28.Kxd1 Rc7 29.Nd8 White is clearly better]

26…Bb4 27.Nxb4 Nxb4 28.Rd7 h5 29.Nd6 Ra8 30.Ree7 Rh7 31.Ne4

White’s position is overwhelming, but to his credit David Navara really digs in and finds resource after resource.

31…Rh6

[31…Re8 32.Rxe8+ Kxe8 33.Nf6+ gxf6 34.Rxh7]

32.Rxg7 Rd8!

There is a trap here. If the White d7–rook moves to, say, b7, then he is mated by …Rd1#. It does not help that Vidit was down to his last two minutes here.

33.b3?

He should have gotten his rooks into position first with 33.Rdf7+ Ke8 34.Re7+ Kf8 and now 35.b3.

33…Rxd7 34.Rxd7 a5

White is still better with a pawn plus, but his g-pawns are doubled, so the win is already problematic.

35.f3 Rc6 36.Rd2 Kf7 37.Kb2 Ke6 38.Nc3 Rd6 39.Re2+ Kf5 40.Ne4 Rd1 41.Nc3 Rd3 42.Nb1 Nd5 43.Kc2 Nb4+ 44.Kb2 Nd5

A tacit draw offer, which is refused. This is a danger sign. The position was already equal but we see that Vidit is unable to accept that there is no more win in sight and keeps forcing the position. His mindset is that the game is either a win or a draw and did not consider he might even lose it now.

45.Na3 45.Ne3 46.Nc4 Nxc4+ 47.bxc4 a4 48.Kc2 Rb3 49.Rd2 Rb4 50.Kc3 Rb3+ 51.Kc2 Rb4 52.Kc3 Rb3+

Again a tacit offer of a draw.

53.Kd4 a3 54.Ra2 Ke6 55.c5?

A blunder from trying too hard to win.

55…b5! 56.g4?

Another blunder. Simply 56.f4 holds.

56…hxg4 57.fxg4 b4 58.g5 Rb2 59.Ra1 a2 60.g6 b3

Black’s pawns are faster.

61.c6

[61.g7 Kf7 62.c6 Rc2]

61…Rc2 62.Rf1 b2 63.g7 Rxg2 64.c7 Kd7 0–1

Navara’s comment at the end of the game: “I was extremely lucky in this game, but it happens sometimes in chess when you don’t give up and try to search for your chances.”

This was a real disaster for Vidit. He also lost the last round game and was forced to play a tiebreak with Firouzja for 1st place and he lost both games as well. Four straight losses! We will continue the story on Tuesday.

 

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

Going small

The Rockets most definitely took a risk when they went all in on small ball at the trade deadline. True, they had advanced analytics to back up their contention that going for speed as opposed to size would lead to increased productivity. With All-Stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook requiring room to maneuver, they figured dealing starting center Clint Capela and, in the process, acquiring versatile Robert Covington would further prop up an already-potent offense. At the same time, however, there was reason to question the capacity of their new roster composition to take the measure of opponents on the other end of the floor.

No doubt, the Rockets’ resolve to go against the grain was strengthened by their performance without Capela through the first half of the 2019-20 season; for all his contributions, they went 10-1 in games he had to sit out because of an ailment or injury. It was likewise propped up by the potential of Covington to be a defensive anchor despite a relative lack of height. And, indeed, they have so far been proven right. Since going small at the turn of the month, they have gone a heady eight and two; they were blown off the court by the Suns on the second night of a back-to-back set, and then beaten by the Jazz on a last-second heartbreaker that was tightly guarded and had a mathematically minuscule chance of gong in.

To be sure, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has long been optimistic. In seeing just about every possible lineup permutation through two and a half years at the helm of the franchise, he has stayed upbeat regarding the title chances of the red and white. Of late, though, his positive demeanor appears more grounded in reality. Both Harden and Westbrook have thrived under the new setup, which maximizes head coach Mike D’Antoni’s pace-and-space predilections. Meanwhile, Covington has burned rubber exactly as advertised: a decided boon on either side of the court.

Whether or not the Rockets get to improve their standing in the West heading into the playoffs remains to be seen. What isn’t, though, is their utter belief that they’re near or at their best since Harden joined them in 2012, and that they can take on all comers, including the vaunted Clippers and Lakers, en route to claiming the hardware. Fact? Folly? The answer will depend on how they go the rest of the way, and determine where they aim to be thereafter.

 

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.

Travelers from virus-stricken Korean region banned

By Gillian M. Cortez, Reporter

THE Philippines on Wednesday barred travelers from South Korea’s coronavirus-stricken North Gyeongsang province as it tries to contain the outbreak.

The government will also prevent Filipinos from traveling to South Korea, where more than 1,000 people have been infected with the novel coronavirus strain, presidential spokesman Salvador S. Panelo told reporters. The ban also Jeju Island.

Filipino workers, students and permanent residents of South Korea are exempted from the travel ban provided they sign a declaration that they are aware of the risks of going there.

“The safety and security of Filipinos here and outside the Philippines remain our primary concern,” Mr. Panelo said.

“Our countrymen’s welfare is foremost in our minds as concerned officials discuss updates and recommendations on the management of coronavirus,” he added.

Mr. Panelo said Manila would assess the risks within 48 hours to determine if the travel ban needs to be expanded to other parts of South Korea.

South Korea reported 169 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, bringing the total tally to more than 1,000.

The nation added more than 700 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in less than a week since a cluster of infections emerged from a religious sect in the southern city of Daegu. The number is expected to rise as the government widens its tests.

“In the meantime, strict protocols with respect to travelers entering the country from these areas in South Korea will continue to be observed,” Mr. Panelo said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday raised the country’s coronavirus alert level to the highest after a sudden spike in infections.

The Korean government has extended nationwide school holidays by a week and plans to enforce tighter two-week monitoring of arrivals from China.

The outbreak also forced South Korean technology giant Samsung Electronics to suspend operations at its smartphone plant in Gumi, 200 kilometers southeast of Seoul, after one of its employees was infected at the weekend.

There have been three confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines, all of whom were Chinese nationals from Wuhan City, where the virus was first detected.

Also yesterday, Senator Imee Marcos said a direct flight from Daegu landed in Cebu in central Philippines before 11 p.m. on Tuesday.

Direct flights from Busan airport, only 85 kilometers southeast of Daegu airport, have also been landing in Manila, Cebu, Clark and Kalibo, she said in a statement.

Tickets were still being sold online by Air Asia, Air Busan, Jeju Air, Jin Air, Pan Pacific Airlines, Philippine Airlines and T’way Air, she added.

The senator noted that while the Philippine government had been focused on the return and quarantine of Filipinos from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Yokohama, it seems to have ignored the influx of tourists from South Korea.

“The World Health Organization had warned about the susceptibility of developing countries with poor healthcare systems,” Ms. Marcos said. “Quick action is our best defense.”

The lawmaker, who heads the Senate economic affairs committee, said the government might have to temporarily forego profits from the country’s largest tourist market “and make the hard choice of imposing a quarantine on flight passengers from Korea.”

More than 20 countries have either banned or imposed strict quarantine measures on travelers from South Korea, Ms. Marcos said, citing a report from the Korean Herald.

About two million South Koreans visited the Philippines in 2019, flying from Seoul, Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Gimpo, Jeju and Muan.

110 Pinays barred from leaving via Zamboanga port

IMMIGRATION officials barred more than 100 undocumented Filipinos from leaving the country through the Zamboanga International Seaport, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said they had intercepted 110 undocumented female passengers in three separate incidents.

First intercepted on Feb. 10 were 37 people who tried to go to Sandakan, Malaysia.

The passengers had given conflicting statements, while some presented altered passports and supporting documents, Usman Sabdani, head of the port’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit, said.

The bureau on Feb. 17 also stopped 17 Filipinas from leaving the port for Qatar and Dubai, where they were supposed to work as housemaids without employment permits, it said.

Meanwhile, the agency on Feb. 24 stopped 56 Filipinas from leaving the Zamboanga port for Malaysia. The passengers were headed from there to Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, Lebanon and Kuwait, it said.

Mr. Morente said workers attempting to go to Middle Eastern countries had been trying to use Malaysia as a jump-off point.

The Filipinas, who came from different parts of the country, had been recruited through Facebook, the bureau said, citing interviews with the passengers.

Mr. Morente said charges will be filed against the illegal recruiters, who had been trying to use other exit points to avoid strict inspections.

“This is clearly a case of human trafficking, and even those from the north travel all the way to Zamboanga in an attempt to depart illegally to work abroad,” he said. “These schemes will not pass, as we are intent in doing our mandate in protecting Filipinos from these syndicates,” he added.

The Filipinas were turned over to the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking for assistance and investigation. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

Senate approves changes to law against terrorism

THE Senate on Wednesday approved on final reading a bill that seeks to boost the government’s anti-terrorism thrust.

With 19 votes in favor, two against and zero abstention, Senate Bill 1083 or the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act will repeal the Human Security Act of 2007.

The bill will expand the coverage of terrorist acts and will now include attacks that cause death or serious injury, extensive damage to property, and manufacture, possession, acquisition, transport and supply of weapons or explosives.

The law only penalizes four terror acts — commission of the actual crime of terrorism, conspiracy to commit terrorism, being an accomplice and accessory to the crime.

Under the bill, violators face life imprisonment without parole. Violators also include any person who plans, trains, prepares and facilitates a terror act, conspires or recruits other people to a terrorist organization.

Those found guilty of threatening, proposing or inciting to commit terrorism will be penalized with 12 years in jail.

Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, one of two senators who voted against the bill, said the measure could be abused by police.

He said the new definition of terrorism is “vague and encompassing, making it open to abuse.”

He also opposed clauses allowing the military to access data and information, and intercept private communications of suspects under surveillance and detain them for 14 days without an arrest warrant. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Duterte defends VFA termination

PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. Duterte has defended his decision to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, saying the Philippines has the capability to handle internal security threats on its own.

Kailangan ba natin ang America (Do we need America), the might and power of the United States to fight our rebellion here, and the terrorists down south, and control drugs? We are doing it,” he said in a speech on Wednesday.

Kapag hindi natin kaya (If we canot do it), we have no business in being a Republic. We choose: We can be a territory of America or we can be a province of China,” Mr. Duterte added.

Mr. Duterte also said that one of the reasons why he ordered the cancellation of the VFA is the USA’s intrusion into local politics, particularly a provision in the 2020 US National Budget prohibiting Philippine officials allegedly responsible for Senator Leila M. De Lima’s detention from entering the US.

The notice of termination for the military cooperation agreement was sent to the US Embassy in Manila on February 11.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. earlier said in a Senate hearing that ending the VFA would make other defense pacts inoperative.

Lawmakers are planning to question the President’s authority to order the termination without congressional concurrence. — Gillian M. Cortez

Google offers to help small businesses

GOOGLE Philippines has offered to help increase the number of small businesses in the Philippines that have a website.

To do so, the company partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to link micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSME) to its online listing tool.

Yves Gonzales, Google Philippines government affairs and public policy head, told reporters on Wednesday that the company had trained 2,780 MSMEs in 20 cities and eight regions with digital tools since last year.

“The objective is really to help MSMEs digitize,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity for MSMEs to be able to be discoverable on (Google) search, on Maps.”

Google’s digital workshops and the use of its tools are free. Google My Business is the online listing tool that helps businesses create an online presence, including developing a free website. Primer is a mobile app that teaches business owners digital skills.

“The digital skilling program is through the DTI’s Negosyo Centers. The Negosyo Center is the one that actually invites the MSMEs to attend,” he said, adding that Google provides the trainers.

Mr. Gonzales said companies in city centers are more aware of digital tools.

“There’s a lot of opportunities in the more rural areas for us to be able to reach those MSMEs, to actually just inform them that there are available tools,” he said.

While the online listing and app are free, businesses pay for added features that boost searchability and target advertising. Google My Business does not feature transaction or e-commerce features.

“If an MSME wants to eventually graduate to some of Google’s additional tools and services na may bayad (that have cost), then that’s optional,” Mr. Gonzales said.

The project, he said, helps Google organize and present more information to users, including the list of available small restaurants in a given area.

“The consumer is changing nowadays. They’re more demanding,” he said. “The current consumers now have evolved so that they want [what they are searching for] instantaneously and they want it to be customized for them.”

DTI said in a statement that MSMEs employ 63% of the local workforce and generate 25% of the country’s revenue.

“We hope that our joint digital upskilling program will help MSMEs become more competitive,” DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said.

Google’s project to expand digital tools to MSMEs includes programs in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, among others. — Jenina P. Ibañez

Baguio Blooms extended to April 15

THE BAGUIO Blooms Exposition and Exhibition, one of the main activities of the Panagbenga Festival, will be open until April 15 at the Baguio Convention Center grounds. The local government, in a statement, said the city council approved the request of the Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. (BFFFI) for the extension to allow exhibitors to recover their investments following the postponement of Panagbenga’s major events amid the coronavirus threat. BFFFI Chief of Staff Evangeline Payno and Baguio Bloom Exposition and Exhibition committee chairman Frederico Alquiros said with the approved extension, “there is a possibility that the remaining exhibitors and landscapers will remain aside and the organizers may be able to convince some of those that backed out to come back.” The city government has also committed to help promote the fair, noting that the Baguio Convention Center will be reopened by March 9 as “there are numerous government agencies and private organizations interested in using the facility for their activities.” No additional charges will collected from the exhibitors during the extension, except for utilities “that could either be absorbed by the foundation or collected from the tenants depending on the appliances being used in their stalls.”

9 more Japanese wanted for telecom fraud deported

THE SECOND batch of nine Japanese nationals wanted for telecommunications fraud were deported on Wednesday, the Bureau of Immigration said. The first batch was deported on February 24. They are part of the 36 Japanese who were arrested in November last year for voice phishing operations that victimize Japanese citizens. They have duped their victims of more than 2 billion yen or more than US$18 million. The schedule for deportation of the remaining fraudsters have yet to be finalized, Commissioner Jaime H. Morente said. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas

New IP center in Iloilo is also a shopping stop

A NEW center for indigenous people (IP) in Barotac Viejo, Iloilo is now open to tourists, showcasing local goods such as the Kape Miru brand, handmade bags, accessories, and other handicraft made from buri, a palm tree variety. The IP Livelihood and Training Center can be a stop for those visiting Nagpana Falls. The P2.95-million center is among 56 multi-purpose buildings completed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Iloilo 3rd District Engineering Office. District Engineer Flordelis C. Enriquez, in a statement, said the center now serves the 900-hectare remote community where 85% of residents are IPs engaged mainly in small-scale farming. The 55 other public buildings include covered courts, social halls, barangay halls, school office, municipal gymnasium, cooperative building, and senior citizen building in various towns and cities within Iloilo province.

Iloilo cancels religious fun run event; tracks Koreans in town

THE ILOILO City government, in coordination with the provincial government, has canceled the international “Run for Jesus” event set Thursday and authorities are now tracking Koreans who have already arrived for the activity. South Korea has reported a surge in COVID-19 cases a week after the same event was held in Daegon City. “Due to the coronavirus outbreak in South Korea, we decided to cancel the permit we gave to the ‘Run for Jesus’ event scheduled on February 27,” Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said in a press briefing Tuesday. The event was expected to draw around 20,000 participants. He said several Koreans are already in town and more were expected to arrive through the Kalibo International Airport in Aklan before the cancellation of the event. “Given the origin of the expected guests from Korea and given the number of people that will be exposed to the danger, we highly encourage passengers to voluntarily submit themselves to self-quarantine,” the mayor said. The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council has also advised the provincial government of Aklan to temporarily hold all arriving guests from Korea at the designated Aklan Training Center for monitoring. — Emme Rose Santiagudo