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Stocks drop on concerns over US-China trade war

By Arra B. Francia, Senior Reporter

LOCAL EQUITIES fell on Monday, moving with most Asian indices as investors grew more concerned about the United States’ trade war with China.

The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went down 0.51% or 40.15 points to close at 7,779.07 yesterday. The broader all-shares index likewise slumped 0.33% or 15.94 points to 4,712.87. With Monday’s close, the main index ends the month 2.51% lower.

“Shares ended the day and quarter lower after reports that the White House is considering limits on US investment into China, aggravating the protracted trade dispute between the globe’s two largest economies,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a mobile phone message.

US officials last week said they are discussing ways to limit US investors’ portfolio flows into China. Bloomberg reported that these limits may include the removing of Chinese firms from US stock exchanges and limiting Americans’ exposure to the Chinese market through government pension fund.

This could further aggravate the ongoing trade war between the two countries, even as Washington and Beijing officials negotiate a potential truce.

The PSEi joined other Asian indices who suffered losses at the start of the week.

Meanwhile, AAA Southeast Equities, Inc. Research Head Christopher John Mangun said the PSEi continues to weaken by the day.

“The main index continues lower as to be expected. Trading volumes picked up slightly today some investors repositioned themselves, as it was the last day of trading for the third quarter. However, the market is looking weaker and weaker by the day,” Mr. Mangun said in an e-mail.

Four sectoral indices ended with gains, led by the property counter which jumped 0.8% or 32.65 points to 4,101.27. Mining and oil edged up 0.47% or 42.29 points to 9,010.69; industrials went up 0.08% or 8.41 points to 10,565.13; while financials added 0.06% or 1.22 points to 1,804.77.

In contrast, holding firms plunged 1.65% or 128.11 points, while services fell 1.13% or 17.52 points to 1,526.50.

Turnover improved to P12.93 billion after some 1.99 billion issues switched hands, compared to the previous session’s P5.93 billion. However, excluding block sales mostly from Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc. (TIHGI), turnover would have been lower at P5.58 billion.

Foreign net outflows ballooned to P2.17 billion, more than four times the size of Friday’s P464.10 million. Without the block sale of TIHGI, foreign selling would have stood at only P255 million.

TIHGI on Monday crossed the shares it bought back from stockholders during its tender offer last week, in line with the casino operator’s plan to delist from the stock exchange by October.

Decliners beat advancers, 125 to 71, while 52 names were unchanged.

Peso up ahead of US-China talks

THE PESO gained against the dollar on hopes that the United States and China will resolve their trade dispute in talks scheduled this month.

The local currency ended at P51.83 against the greenback on Monday, appreciating by 4.5 centavos compared to the P51.875-per-dollar close on Friday.

The peso opened the session at P51.88 versus the dollar, which was its weakest point for the day. Meanwhile, its intraday best was at P51.73 against the greenback.

Dollars traded dropped to $991.27 million from $1.209 billion on Friday.

One trader said the peso continued to strengthen as it rode on momentum from the past few days.

“There was heavy selling during the morning session. We could see lower dollar to peso [exchange rate] for the past few days, with the breaking of the key support levels of P51.77 which is the recent low,” the trader said.

Meanwhile, another trader attributed the peso’s performance to developments in the trade war between the US and China.

“The peso strengthened after the Chinese government confirmed its scheduled trade discussions with the United States in Washington next week,” the second trader said.

China hopes Beijing and Washington will resolve their trade dispute “with a calm and rational attitude”, Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen said on Sunday, ahead of talks in two weeks between the two sides.

The United States and China have been locked in an escalating trade war for over a year. They have levied punitive duties on hundreds of billions of dollars of each other’s goods, roiling financial markets and threatening global growth.

A new round of high-level talks between the world’s two largest economies is expected in Washington on Oct. 10-11, led from the Chinese side by President Xi Jinping’s top economic adviser, Vice Premier Liu He.

Mr. Wang, who has been part of China’s negotiating team with the United States, told a news conference that Liu would go to Washington for the talks the week after China’s National Day holiday, which ends on Oct. 7.

He said he hoped both sides would find ways to resolve their differences. “We believe this will benefit both countries’ people and the world,” he added.

The Trump administration is considering radical new financial pressure tactics on Beijing, including the possibility of delisting Chinese companies from US stock exchanges.

Sources told Reuters on Friday that the move would be part of a broader effort to limit US investments into Chinese companies, in part because of growing security concerns about their activities.

The yuan was steady ahead of a week-long holiday. Chinese financial markets will be closed for the National Day holiday from Tuesday.

The South Korean won firmed marginally with gains capped by weak August factory data. The country’s industrial output dropped 2.9% from the previous year, compared with a 0.2% decline predicted by a Reuters poll, while its service sector output rose 1.2% from the previous month.

Financial markets in Taiwan were closed for a holiday.

For today, the first trader expects the local unit to move within the P51.75-P52 range against the dollar, while the second trader sees it playing around the P51.80-P52 band. — LWTN with Reuters

Pacquiao vs Spence? Should be an interesting matchup

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

WHILE it remains to be seen if Filipino boxing legend Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao gets to fight newly crowned IBF and WBC welterweight titleholder Errol “The Truth” Spence, Jr. of the United States, still it is going to be worth the wait and watching.

That was the assertion made by one local fight analyst in the aftermath of Mr. Spence’s performance at the weekend against compatriot Shawn “Showtime” Porter in their unification fight for the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Council welterweight titles at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday (Manila time).

Mr. Spence (26-0, 21 KO), the IBF champion, won by split decision over Mr. Porter to win the WBC belt that the latter held.

Former Olympian Spence struggled to dictate the fight against Mr. Porter but stayed the course, ground it out and held tough to win by split decision, 116-111, 116-111 and 112-115.

After the fight the idea of Spence fighting Pacquiao, which has been circling around for some time now, was once again brought to the fore.

Both fighters are seemingly open to exploring such path but nothing definite has been agreed upon.

Also, the name of former titleholder Danny “Swift” Garcia has been pushed to take on Mr. Spence next with the former even entering the ring and issuing a challenge to IBF and WBC champion after the fight on Sunday.

Nevertheless, if and when Mr. Spence, 29, becomes the opponent of 40-year-old Pacquiao (67-7-2), the World Boxing Association welterweight champ, in his planned early 2020 ring return, it would be an interesting fight that would challenge the Filipino greatly in this stage of his career, and, ditto, worth watching, said fight analyst Nissi Icasiano.

“On paper, Spence is too strong, skilled and young. In addition, he sports the length and size, which implies a bad night for a 40-year-old Manny Pacquiao if they fight next year. That’s why in my past interviews I didn’t advise the fighting senator to take on this challenge,” Mr. Icasiano said in an online interview.

“[But] If the Spence who showed up in the ring with Porter last weekend will be the one to duke it out with Pacquiao next year, he is in for a dogfight. He has flaws in his game that an ageing Pacquiao could capitalize on. Thanks to guys like Kell Brook and Shawn Porter, it proved that Spence, while a special fighter, has his own vulnerabilities in the ring,” he added.

Mr. Pacquiao last fought in July, beating by split decision American Keith Thurman to win the WBA title.

Who his next opponent will be is still being worked out, including a rematch with retired undefeated champion Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Chiefs win wild one in Detroit

LOS ANGELES — Darrel Williams scored from a yard out with 20 seconds left, his second touchdown of the game, and the Kansas City Chiefs remained unbeaten with a wild 34-30 win over the host Detroit Lions on Sunday.

That score capped a 13-play, 79-yard drive, highlighted by Patrick Mahomes’ 15-yard run on fourth-and-8. Mahomes passed for 315 yards but no touchdowns. LeSean McCoy gained 56 yards on 11 carries with a score, while Bashaud Breeland returned a fumble 100 yards for a third-quarter TD.

Travis Kelce added seven receptions for 85 yards for the Chiefs (4-0).

Matthew Stafford threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns for Detroit (2-1-1). Kenny Golladay caught five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Kerryon Johnson gained 125 yards on 26 carries but also lost the fumble that led to Breeland’s score.

SAINTS 12, COWBOYS 10
The defense slowed down Dallas’ high-scoring offense, and Wil Lutz kicked four field goals as New Orleans improved to 2-0 in the absence of injured quarterback Drew Brees.

The Cowboys had at least 31 points and 474 yards in winning each of their first three games for their best start in 11 years, but managed just 257 yards against the Saints (3-1), who hope to get Brees back in about a month.

Ezekiel Elliott, who had 100-plus yards in each of the last two games despite missing all of the preseason in a contract holdout, was held to 35 rushing yards on 18 carries, the second-lowest yards-per-carry average (1.9) of his career.

PATRIOTS 16, BILLS 10
J.C. Jackson recorded two interceptions and blocked a punt that led to a touchdown, as New England hung on against Buffalo in Orchard Park, New York.

The Patriots benefited from four interceptions and five sacks to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2015, remaining perfect despite mustering just 224 yards of total offense. Tom Brady completed 18 of 39 passes for 150 yards while throwing his first interception of the season.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen sustained a concussion early in the fourth quarter, having scored on a 1-yard run and thrown three interceptions.

BROWNS 40, RAVENS 25
Nick Chubb ran for 165 yards and three second-half touchdowns, highlighted by an 88-yard fourth-quarter score, as Cleveland snapped a three-game road losing streak to AFC North rival Baltimore.

With the ball on Cleveland’s 12-yard line after the Ravens (2-2) got within 24-18 with 9:51 left in the game, Chubb burst off right tackle and sprinted down the near sideline for the important touchdown. — Reuters

Santé Fitness Lab expands offering with OCR facilities and program

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

SANTÉ Fitness Lab — the premier one-stop fitness center that offers holistic training programs south of the metro — has expanded its offering with the recent launch of its obstacle course race (OCR) facilities and program.

Located at the Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite, Santé Fitness Lab said its new offering is in line with its thrust to encourage Filipinos to embrace a healthy and fit lifestyle by engaging in sports while giving them a chance to undergo the quality of training that professional athletes go through as well as allow them to enjoy the chance to experience the thrill of the emerging sport of OCR.

“We believe OCR is a good addition for us because it is a sport the involves conditioning, strength and running. And here in our facility you can train inside and outside. Through it we can also showcase our specialization with innovative recovery and sports rehabilitation programs,” said Clarize Lucindo, operations manager of Santé Fitness Lab, in an interview at the launch of their OCR facilities and program on Sept. 27.

“Apart from the basic facilities for OCR that we have, we also help design one’s program to help athletes in their development. We have a system to help you build the foundation to achieve a sustained program,” she added.

Ms. Lucindo went on to say that the OCR component now they have at Santé Fitness Lab should also enhance the center’s growth and further promote its mission and vision.

We’re almost a year here at Vermosa. We opened in December 2018 and I am happy to say that we are steadily making waves here considering the Sports Hub is still a developing feature of the Ayala estate, Vermosa. We share Ayala’s vision for Vermosa to be a world-class training facility, promoting sports tourism in the area and catering to the local community for a more active and healthier south,” the Santé Fitness Lab official said.

The OCR program of Santé Fitness Lab is available for members of the center for a founding membership fee of 18,000. But for those who just want to attend OCR classes they can do so for P700 per session. And those who just want to use the OCR facilities and do not want to attend classes they can do so for P500.

Santé Fitness Lab has been a recovery services provider for the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP).

The center is part of the Vermosa Sports Hub, touted as the country’s first premier and professionally managed sports facility situated within a 700-hectare space of Ayala Land Inc.’s mixed-use estate Vermosa in Imus, Cavite.

The Sports Hub is envisioned to be a complete destination designed specifically to provide an effective and complete training experience for the athletic lifestyle, offering a seamless integration of facilities and sports-related elements.

The facility boasts of an International Swimming Federation (FINA) standard, Olympic-size swimming pool equipped with the latest timing system by Omega and the Anti Wave Starting Blocks.

There is also nine-lane track oval built in accordance with International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) standards.

Lyceum, Mapua collide in battle of streaking teams

By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

THE Lyceum Pirates and Mapua Cardinals, two of the hottest teams right now in National Collegiate Athletic Association Season 95, battle today in league action at the FilOil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Winners of their last four games, both the Pirates and Cardinals stake their winning runs in their scheduled 4 p.m. encounter with an eye as well on fortifying their place in the top four of the race with the conclusion of the elimination round fast approaching.

Also playing today are tailending teams Perpetual Help Altas (3-9) and Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals (2-11) at 12 noon and the undefeated league-leaders and defending champions San Beda Red Lions (14-0) against rivals Letran Knights (9-5) at 2 p.m.

Tripped by back-to-back losses midway into the ongoing tournament, Lyceum has responded well since, winning four straight games, the most recent of which was against Letran, 97-90, on Sept. 27.

The Pirates had a battle with the Knights in said game but the former just had extra to give in the end on the lead of guard Jaycee Marcelino, whose performance enhanced his selection as NCAA player of the week.

Marcelino finished with a career-high 25 points, boosted by five triples. Also coming up big for the Pirates was Reymar Caduyac, who wound up with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Mike Nzeusseu, Niño Ibañez and Jayson David all scored 11 points or more for Lyceum, which is currently at second place in the race, behind San Beda.

“The players just played their hearts out. They just refused to lose,” said Lyceum coach Topex Robinson after their win.

In winning player of the week honors, given by media covering the league, Marcelino bested San Beda’s James Canlas, EAC’s Kriss Gurtiza, Arellano’s Justin Arana and Mapua’s Laurenz Victoria.

Meanwhile, Victoria and the rest of the Cardinals have been playing solid ball of late under coach Randy Alcantara.

After losing its first five games of the season, Mapua has turned things around, winning seven of their next eight games, including their last four.

The Cardinals are coming into today’s game off their 72-67 win over the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers on Sept. 26.

Victoria led a balanced attack by Mapua with 13 points, followed by Justin Serrano with 12 points.

JP Nieles and Christian Bunag had 11 each with Cyril Gonzales adding 10.

“I’m just happy with the performance of the players. We had a short turnaround from our last game but still they responded well,” said Mr. Alcantara, who took over from Mapua and Philippine Basketball Association legend Atoy Co as coach of the Cardinals in the off-season.

Chabi Yo, Kouame early leaders in MVP race

AN eventful first round of the eliminations of Season 82 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines came to an end on Sunday and on its heels the league released the partial results of the most valuable player race with University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers’ Soulemane Chabi Yo and Ateneo Blue Eagles’ Angelo Kouame leading the pack.

Beninese Chabi Yo, in his first year playing for UST, has piled up 82.71 statistical points midway into the ongoing tournament, followed closely by second-year player Kouame with 81.43 SPs.

Averaging 19.9 points and 15.3 rebounds, Chabi Yo has helped the Tigers to a position to compete despite having one of the younger squads in the league.

UST is currently at third place in the standings with a 4-3 record.

Kouame, last year’s rookie of the year, continues to make waves in the UAAP.

He has been rock solid for the defending champions Eagles on both ends of the court, averaging 14 points, 13.1 rebounds and a league-high 4.7 blocks per contest.

Kouame’s stellar play has been one of the key reasons why Ateneo is still undefeated in seven games to date and primed for a third straight UAAP title.

Third in the race is reigning MVP Bright Akhuetie (69 SPs) of the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons (5-2), riding on the strength of averages of 14.6 points and 12 boards.

Akhuetie’s teammate Kobe Paras (18.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.4 apg, and 1.4 bpg) is fourth in the running with 65.2 SPs and University of the East Red Warriors’ Alex Diakhite (15.3 ppg, 12.7 rpg and 1.7 bpg) at fifth with 64.83 SPs.

Rounding out the top 10 are UE’s Rey Suerte (62.29 SPs), La Salle’s Jamie Malonzo (61.5 SPs) and Justine Baltazar (58.57 SPs), Ateneo’s Thirdy Ravena (57.71SPs) and Adamson’s Lenda Douanga (56.86 SPs). — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

Clippers’ Paul George to miss off-season due to shoulder surgeries

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George will miss the start of the NBA season while recovering from off-season surgery on both shoulders, he told ESPN on Sunday.

George said he will be out until “November-ish,” which would see him miss the training camp as well as the team’s season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 22.

George, who was acquired in a trade by the Clippers during an off-season splash that also saw them sign free agent Kawhi Leonard, had surgery on his right shoulder in May and an operation on the left shoulder five weeks later. “I had my labrum done on my left shoulder and the rotator cuff done on my right,” George told NBA.com. “I’m not 100% but if I had to put a percentage on it, I think I’m about 85, 90ish,” he said.

“Not all the way there, still got a little bit of stuff — range to work through, strength to work through — but I’m close. I’m happy with where I am at.”

The Clippers made the playoffs last season without a single star player, and will enter the new campaign as one of the NBA’s favorites to win the league 2019-2020 Finals title.

George, 29, was an MVP finalist in the 2018–19 season when he posted career-best averages of 28 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.2 steals. — Reuters

Only four left standing

FIDE World Cup 2019
Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia
Sept. 9–Oct. 2, 2019

Results of Round 4 (winners)

Ding Liren CHN 2811 vs. Kirill Alekseenko RUS 2671 3-1

Alexander Grischuk RUS 2759 vs. Leinier Dominguez Perez USA 2763 2.5-1.5

Nikita Vitiugov RUS 2732 vs. Wesley So USA 2767 1.5-0.5

Ian Nepomniachtchi RUS 2776 vs. Yu Yangyi CHN 2763 0.5-1.5

Jan-Krzysztof Duda POL 2730 vs. Jeffery Xiong USA 2707 3.5-4.5

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2767 vs. Teimour Radjabov AZE 2758 2.5-3.5

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2774 vs. Peter Svidler RUS 2729, 1.5-0.5

Le Quang Liem VIE 2708 vs. Levon Aronian ARM 2758 2.5-3.5

Results of Round 5

Alexander Grischuk RUS 2759 vs. Ding Liren CHN 2811 0.5-1.5

Nikita Vitiugov RUS 2732 vs. Yu Yangyi CHN 2763 4-5

Jeffery Xiong USA 2707 vs. Teimour Radjabov AZE 2758 0.5-1.5

Levon Aronian ARM 2758 vs. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2774 1.5-2.5

7-round 128 player. Knockout event

Time Control: 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 minutes play-to-finish with 30 seconds added to your clock after every move, starting move 1

In the 4th and 5th rounds all the Russian and American players were knocked out and the four players left standing, the semifinalists, are:

Ding Liren CHN 2811

Yu Yangyi CHN 2763

Teimour Radjabov AZE 2758

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave FRA 2774

I was really happy in the third round when Vitiugov upset Sergey Karjakin. As our readers know Karjakin almost won his world title match against Magnus Carlsen in November 2016 — they drew 6-6 in the classical games and it was only in the rapid tie-breaks that Carlsen prevailed. He is equally deadly in any time control, having won the 2012 World Rapid and 2016 World Blitz Chess Championships.

Let’s be clear about this though, GM Nikita Vitiugov is no slouch. He is a member of the gold-medal winning Russian teams to the World Team Chess Championships in 2009 and 2013. Vitiugov is known to be an expert in the French Defense and is a mainstay of the St. Petersburg Chess Club, which a few years ago was renamed Mednyi Vsadnik, or “Bronze Horsemen,” a reference to one of the symbols of the city, the great status of Peter the Great in the Senate Square in Saint Petersburg.

It also turned out that Vitiugov is in the pink of his form. Wesley So ran into an inferior variation of the Petroff and could not hold the position.

Vitiugov, Nikita (2732) — So, Wesley (2767) [C43]
FIDE World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk (4.1), 20.09.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nxc3 8.bxc3

Overall this opening line does not have a good reputation. White always has Qh5, Bg5, 0–0, f2–f4, et cetc. Which explains Wesley’s next move, preventing Bg5 once and for all. This is a passive treatment though and Vitiugov plays masterfully to bring out the advantages of his position.

8…Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.f4 f5

This move is supposed to equalize according to some old analysis by Forintos and Haag. It has a bad scoring history though: it has come up 5 times in the tournament circuit and white won 3 times with 2 draws, no losses.

11.Be3 Be6 12.a4 Qd7 13.Qf3 Rfd8 14.Rfd1 c5 15.Kh1 g6 16.h3 Qc7 17.Qf2 b6 18.Qe1 Kh8 19.Be2 Rg8 20.Bf3 Rad8 21.a5 b5 22.a6! Rd7 23.Rdb1 Rb8 24.Bf2 Rdd8 25.Qe2 Qb6 26.Rb2 Rd7 27.Qf1 Rc7 28.Be2 Bd7 29.Qd1 Qe6 30.Ra5 Kg7 31.Qa1 g5 32.Bxb5 Rxb5 33.Raxb5 Bxb5 34.Rxb5 gxf4

I was following this game live on the internet with the sinking feeling that Black’s position is getting progressively worse. Now it finally looks like Wesley is getting attacking chances in the kingside — the e5 pawn is in danger and then he can follow-up by putting his bishop on the b8–h2 diagonal and threaten mate.

35.Qa5!

Vitiugov calmly continues his queenside action.

35…Qxe5 36.Rb7 Rxb7

It turns out that Wesley’s king is unfortunately placed. After 36…Bd6 37.Rxc7+ Bxc7 38.Qxc5 f3?? 39.Bd4 the end.

37.axb7 f3 38.gxf3 Bd6 39.Kg2 Qh2+ 40.Kf1 Qxh3+ 41.Ke2 Qh2

White’s b7 pawn will win the game for him.

42.Qxa7 Kf6 43.Qb6 Ke7 44.Qc6 Kd8 45.Qc8+ Ke7 46.Qxf5 Kd8 47.Kf1 Qh1+ 48.Bg1 Bh2 49.Qg4 Bd6 50.Ke2 Ke7 51.Bxc5 Qh2+ 52.Bf2 h5 53.Qf5 Kd8 54.Qc8+ Ke7 55.Qf5 Kd8 56.Qf7 h4 57.Qg8+ Kd7 58.Qg4+ Kc6 59.Qc8+ Kb5 60.b8Q+ [60.b8Q+ Bxb8 61.Qc5+ Ka4 62.Qb4#] 1–0

The 4th round ended the campaign of GM Kirill Alekseenko. He was the only player rated less than 2700 in the field. You will recall that he knocked out the tough Vietnamese Nguyen Ngoc Truongson (2638) in the first round, Norway’s Johan-Sebastian Christiansen (2558) in a thrilling tactics fest in the 2nd and the heavily-favored Indian no. 2 Penteala Harikrishna (2746) in the third.

Ding, Liren (2811) — Alekseenko, Kirill (2671) [A20]
FIDE World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk (4.3), 22.09.2019

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 d6 5.e3 Bg7 6.Nge2 h5 7.h4 Be6 8.b3 Nf6 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 Bg4 11.0–0 Qd7 12.Bg5 0–0 13.Qd2 Rae8 14.Rae1 a6 15.d5 <D>

POSITION AFTER 15.D5

15…Ne5?

I was really surprised to see that this is the losing move. Apparently the knight should have gone to e7.

16.Bxf6! Bxe2

It turns out that 16…Bxf6 17.f4 Bxe2 18.fxe5 Bxf1 19.exf6 Rxe1 20.Qh6 is mate.

17.Bxg7 Bxf1 18.Qh6

No salvation.

18…f6 19.Qh8+ Kf7 20.Bxf8 Nf3+

[20..Rxf8 21.Qh7+ Ke8 22.Qxg6+ Kd8 23.Qh6 Qf7 24.Rxf1 White remains up a piece]

21.Bxf3 Rxe1 22.Bh6 Bd3+ 23.Kh2 Qe7 24.c5! 1–0

After 24.c5 (the threat is 25.Qg7+ Ke8 26.Qg8+ Kd7 27.c6+ bxc6 28.dxc6#) Black is forced to play 24…dxc5 25.d6! Qxd6 26.Bd5+ Re6 27.Bf8! Qxf8 28.Bxe6+ Ke7 29.Nd5+ Ke8 30.Nxc7+ Ke7 31.Qh7+ White mates.

Teimour Radjabov won the battle of Azeris by prevailing over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 3.5-2.5 Radjabov (born March 12, 1987) is a former child prodigy who gained international attention at the age of 15 by defeating Garry Kasparov in the 2003 Linares tournament and then following it up with victories over Vishy Anand and Ruslan Ponomariov, both at the peak of their powers, later in the year. In recent years though he has not been very active and, despite his high rating, it was frankly a surprise that he has lasted this long in the World Cup. The decisive game featured a nice escape:

Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2767) — Radjabov, Teimour (2758) [D36]
FIDE World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk (4.6), 22.09.2019

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 0–0 7.Bd3 c6 8.Nge2 Nbd7 9.Qc2 Re8 10.0–0 Nf8 11.f3 g6 12.Bh4 Ne6 13.Kh1 b5 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.Nd1 Rc8 16.Qd2 a6 17.b4 Ne4 18.Bxe4 Bxh4 19.Bb1 a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 Qe7 22.f4 Nf8 23.Ng1 Nd7 24.Nf3 Bf6 25.Ne5 Nb6 26.Nb2 Nc4 27.Nbxc4 bxc4 28.e4 Bg7 29.Rce1 Qc7 30.h4 Ba6 31.Rf2 Rb8 32.h5 Qd6 33.Qd1 dxe4 34.Bxe4 Rxb4 35.Nxf7! Kxf7 36.f5 Bf6 37.fxg6+ Kg7 38.gxh7?

Turns the win into a loss. He should have gone 38.h6+! Kxh6 (38…Kg8 39.Bd5+; 38…Kh8 39.Rxf6 Qxf6 40.g7+ Kg8 41.Bd5+) 39.gxh7 Bg5 (39…Qg3?? 40.Rxf6+ Kg7 41.Rg6+ White wins) 40.Qf3 the attack is winning.

38…Qg3 39.Rf3 Qh4+ 40.Rh3 Rxe4! 41.Rf1

[41.Rxh4 Rxh4+ 42.Kg1 Bxd4+ 43.Kf1 c3+]

41…Rb3 42.Rxh4 Rxh4+ 43.Kg1 Bxd4+ 44.Rf2 Rb2 0–1

The leader of the Saint Petersburg School of Chess, Peter Svidler, also got eliminated in the 4th round. He thought he had a winning attack, but overlooked one small thing …

Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime (2774) — Svidler, Peter (2729) [C99]
FIDE World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk (4.1), 20.09.2019

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0–0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nb3 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nbd2 Bd7 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Bd3 Qb7 19.Qe2 h6 20.a3

[20.Bxb5? Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 exd4 23.Ba6 Qb6 24.Bf4 Qxb2 Black has an extra pawn with a better position.]

20…exd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 b4 24.Nc4

Svidler at this point decided to give up a pawn to free up his position.

24…bxa3 25.bxa3 Bb5 26.Nxd6! Bxd3 27.Qxd3 Bxd6 28.Bxf6 Bf4 29.Rb1 Qc7 30.Bc3 Rd8 31.Qf3 Rc8 32.Bb4 Qc1+ 33.Qd1 Qc4 34.g3 Qxe4?!

Part of his plan. Now after 35.gxf4 Rc6–g6 he would have a decisive attack.

35.gxf4 Rc6 36.f5!

Obviously overlooked by Svidler.

36…Qxf5 37.Bd6

Now the bishop gets to defend his king.

37…Qxh3 38.Rb4 Rc3 39.Rd4 Kh7 40.Qxa4 Qf3 41.Qd1 Qc6 42.Qf1 1–0

On Thursday we feature the very exciting Duda versus Xiong match!

 

Bobby Ang is a founding member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its first Executive Director. A Certified Public Accountant, 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

Sunday’s debacle

Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol was not immediately available for comment in the aftermath of his charges’ loss to the Blue Eagles the other day. No doubt, he needed more time to gather his thoughts; not quite halfway through the third quarter, he went through a wave of emotions that belied his usually calm self and led him to confront referee Jaime Rivano in the middle of the court. Two technical fouls and an ejection later, he became even more upset and had to be restrained and escorted to the locker room.

A chastened Perasol later appeared to issue profuse apologies, rightly arguing that “I have to think about my composure because that it what I preach. And I was the one who lost it.” He was triggered, to be sure; one minute and 57 seconds into the second half, he saw top player Bright Akhuetie called for a third foul he felt was undeserved. And to add insult to injury, a fourth one followed soon after off a technical Rivano called even though the reigning league Most Valuable Player was already walking away. “For me, you cannot provoke a player and follow him up to the end of the court.”

All the same, Perasol was wrong to charge at the official — a challenge to authority that, unfortunately, figures to hurt the Fighting Maroons even more. It was bad enough that his outburst prevented him from doing his job in the crunch the other day. As Akhuetie noted, “there was no leadership on the court because [the bench tactician] wasn’t there.” Worse still, he faces an automatic suspension of one game that could, upon review, be even longer depending on how the actions that led to his ejection — including sporting a seemingly hostile stance with closed fists — are assessed by the commissioner’s office.

Parenthetically, the Fighting Maroons’ problems don’t end there. For some reason, team officials allowed Akhuetie to face members of the media and, on camera, declare that “the referee was sh — y, f — ing stupid. Basta, the kalbo guy (the bald guy), he’s very stupid.” He went on to disclose that he “was gonna jump on him, but I had to keep myself together because I wanted to win.” As with Perasol’s case, how the league will handle his public undermining of authority is subject to debate; there is need to weigh the signal that needs to be sent against erosion of trust in the institution versus the virtual handicapping of the Season 81 runners-up in future contests.

Moving forward, Perasol and Akhuetie have promised to take to heart the lessons they learned from Sunday’s debacle. They better, because only then can they have a chance the next time they meet the Blue Eagles. There will be bad calls. There will be unfortunate breaks. And in a set-to conventional wisdom already pegs them to lose, keeping their composure is paramount if they aim to exceed themselves. Else, they will be left to wonder if their worst enemies are those they see in front of a mirror.

 

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.

Foreign Affairs told of Chinese ships near disputed South China Sea shoal

THE PHILIPPINE military has reported the unannounced entry of Chinese vessels near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea to the Foreign Affairs department for appropriate diplomatic action, its newly appointed chief said yesterday.

“The mere presence there if there is no request for passage prior to that will have to be reported,” Armed Forces Chief of Staff Noel S. Clement told reporters at the Senate.

“Whether it is a violation or not will be up to our Department of Foreign Affairs,” he added.

Mr. Clement said the report was made through the task force on the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for areas of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.

Last week, Washington-based think tank Center For Strategic and International Studies, through a brief released by the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, said China was sending larger but lightly armed coast guard vessels around Ayungin Shoal, Luconia shoals in the Spratlys and Panatag Shoal up north.

Ayungin is the Philippines name for Second Thomas Shoal and it calls the Scarborough Shoal Panatag.

More heavily armed vessels carrying 76 mm cannons have also patrolled the region but have been more frequently seen since last year in larger deployments such as those near the Philippine-occupied Thitu or Pagasa Island.

These large Chinese coast guard ships numbering as high as 14 have been broadcasting their presence using transponders while patrolling around these shoals. Other Chinese vessels deployed in the region but doing patrols in other areas have their transponders turned off, according to Asia Maritime Transparency.

Manila earlier criticized China after a coast guard ship in May allegedly blocked three Philippine vessels trying to bring supplies to a navy ship that was deliberately run aground at the Second Thomas Shoal in 1999.

The Chinese Coast Guard ship had blocked the Philippine ships on a resupply mission in May to BRP Sierra Madre at the South China Sea shoal, according to the Defense department.

Last month, the Armed Forces said at least five Chinese warships had passed through the Sibutu Strait in Tawi-Tawi province in southern Philippines without notice.

The Palace has said that authorities would “shoo away” unauthorized foreign vessels including Chinese warships that pass through the Philippine waters and use military force if necessary.

In his fifth visit to China, the President invoked a 2016 ruling by an international arbitration panel in the Hague that rebuffed Chinese claims over parts of the South China Sea.

The United Nations tribunal in July 2016 ruled China’s efforts to assert control over the South China Sea exceeded the law, rejecting its shared claims with Taiwan to more than 80% of the main waterway.

China rejected the decision of the international court, which has failed to halt its island-building activities in areas also claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

Jeepney strike forces Metro Manila cities to suspend classes

JEEPNEY drivers and operators held a nationwide transport strike yesterday to protest a government plan to modernize the country’s transport system.

The strike forced local governments in Metro Manila and nearby provinces to suspend classes.

Jun Magno, president of the Stop & GO Coalition, said 87% of drivers and operators in Metro Manila participated in the strike.

Mr. Magno said they were not against the modernization program but its enforcement should not be forced on them.

Metro Manila Development Authority spokesperson Pircelyn B. Pialago called the transport strike a failure because few commuters were affected. Many jeepney operators did not participate, she said by telephone.

Ms. Pialago also said class suspensions should be used to measure the strike’s success.

Police deployed buses, trucks and patrol vehicles to help stranded commuters, National Capital Region Police Office Regional Director Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar said. — Marc Wyxzel C. Dela Paz

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