JEDDAH, 14 November 2003 — The two-month long series ten dubbed as Seaworld Resort chess tournament, organized by Community Chess Club and participated by chess loving Jeddah amateur players, culminated in a round robin to stepladder knockout final that started on Sept. 05 and ended Nov. 07 at the lobby of Al-Faf Hotel here.
The stepladder seeded players were the eight highest pointers in the phase one round robin
while the seven of the fifteen players were positioned in ladder 9 to 15 and were paired to the other seven who skipped the phase one or round robin event and applied their optiones to be chartered in the struggle bracket.
Jess Galang of Al-Faf Hotel welcomed both guests and participants and lauded them for their support of the noble pastime. After a short meaningful series ten awarding, acting Philippine Consul General Jose Jacob opened the one night evening affair of Blitz chess tournament in celebration to the victory of series ten champion Mike Sangalang. The short event went to a close until late midnight. Bong Marquez was the Blitz champion.
Series two champion Mike Sangalang of King Faisal Naval Base and series nine champion CCC Blue Amateur Club Master Dr. Motaz El-Fadil of King Abdul Aziz University Hospital began their series ten championship with a handshaked, as if linking their destinies in a pact of a mutually assured ambitions. However, it was ecstasies and only one would attain the summit.
The match was a tense one that went beyond the full distance of regular active chess games into accelerated time control. With the nautical calculation to the doctor defensivec moves, the best-of-two games ended 2-0. Sangalang thus claimed his second series title and earned the added distinction to be the second person to win two series title.
The first chess player to win two championship series was Philippine Acting Consul General Jacob, champion of series 6 and 8 with a title of CCC Amateur Red Club Master.
The Community Chess Club members’ hates being called amateur chess players because they play as hard and passionately as the professional.
They must program their time: only weekends and yet have all the joys and pains that the chess master experience.
Like the photos of sunsets that give a tender ache to the last series of the year 2003; the curtains now fall on Community Chess Club.
Yet after the rage of series CCC 2003 will mellow to sweet memories, comes the inevitably of renewal: CCC Series 2003’s crepuscular light still imbues the horizon with its magenta indolence to make way for CCC Series 2004.
For chess matter contact Willy Lumboy (051369829), Glenn Orlina (056368814), Bong Marquez (2750306), Ezedine Agili, Jess Galang.
