Athlete of the Year for six consecutive years!

Me and Rey are just smiling at each other as we watched other students go up on stage and almost took home all the medals: best in math, best in science, leadership award, award by alumni, awards by this and that... coz we know this boy by heart.

He is always almost out of school for one or two months when school is just starting coz he always competes abroad at that time.  He can excel in Academic, he is always on the top of his class when he is not yet into chess but still graduated  4th honor  in elementary when he started juggling between school and tournaments.  We had talked and convinced ourselves  that he might really have a hard time competing academically since he always attends to training every Saturday, tournaments almost every Sunday and training even after school  to be able to hold on to  his current status in the chess community.  Even with heavy schedules he still managed to maintain good grades and always belong to the star section.

And the bright side of it, as we explained it to Daryl, it actually open  the opportunity to other students who might have a possible scholarship since he is almost assured of his own scholarship when he got into college with God`s continuous grace.   -- (by: Dina Delos Reyes-Samantila)

1 Timothy 4:14
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.

FROM A ROOKIE TO MVP!, FROM A KIDDIE TO JUNIOR.

After my last post last May 2012 where I was given a notable award in my hometown, my life as a chess player and a student continues.  In 2012, I joined two international events.  The 13^th Asean Age Group Chess Championship held at Hue, Vietnam where I won Individual Gold Medal and Bronze in Blitz and Standard events respectively. And Team Bronze medals in Standard, Rapid and Blitz events.  I also joined the Philippine Junior Chess Team in the 2012 Asian Youth Chess Championship, held at Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka and did a very performance which increased my ratings.

2013, is a very good year as Chess brought me to more countries like Changmai, Thailand where we compete for the 14^th Asean Age Group Chess Championship and I won Individual Gold Medal in the Blitz event.  The 2013 Asian Youth Chess Championship held at Sari, Mazandran, Iran, I am also a Bronze Medalist. The 2^nd ASEAN vs. CHINA Junior Chess Classics 2013 held at Kumning City, Yunann, China.  My second time to join this event and with some problems encountered along the way, three of us who represented our country come home with each honours.  Silver medal for me, for my over-all performance among the boys.  And Overall team championship for the ASEAN team, with our Team Philippines contributing more points for the ASEAN Team.  The last one which actually coincide with one grand championship event that I am supposed to attend but rather choose to play in the Serangoon Inter-Team Chess Championship in Serangoon, Singapore.  It was an honor to be invited by Philippine Chess Grandmasters Nelson 'Jet' Mariano II and Buenaventura 'Bong' Villamayor to be a part of their team.  Though it is only some few days staying with the Chesskidz Singapore it was such an experience to remember.  Specially with the hospitality and generosity of GM Jet and GM Bong who been instrumental to my growth as a chess player.

And it is now 2014... I am already a Junior!!!  The Rookie is now an MVP!

My most recent achievement: Most Valuable Player – UAAP Season 76 Chess Junior.  The Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines, established in 1938, is a sports association of eight universities in the Philippines. Each year, teams from these universities play in 15 sports.

And because the kiddie is now a junior.  Soon I`ll call this as juniorchessplayer blog? :)

 

31ST GINTONG PARANGAL NG MALABON AWARDS NIGHT

The KALIPUNAN ng mga SAMAHAN SA MALABON and the CITY GOVERNMENT OF MALABON hereby confers this GAWAD NG PAGPAPAHALAGA to DARYL UNIX D. SAMANTILA for bringing honor, pride and recognition to the City of Malabon through his exemplary accomplishments and outstanding achievements in the filed of Sports.

 With Acting Vice Mayor LenLen Oreta

 With Malabon Congresswoman Jaye Lacson - Noel

 With Mama Dina

2012 National Age Group and National Juniors Chess Championship

CHIZ WIZARD (http://www.remate.ph/2012/04/chiz-wizard/)

Me and none other than guest of honor Senator Francis 'Chiz' Escudero doing the ceremonial move during the opening of the National Age Group and National Juniors Grandfinals being held at Tanauan Pavilion Event Center, Tanauan City, Batangas. Thanks to Mr. Marlon Bernardino and photo courtesy of INVENZO 'Thoy" MERERIA.  God bless everyone!

2012 NATIONAL AGE-GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

ATTY. RUEL V. CANOBAS GRAND FINALS

2012 NATIONAL AGE-GROUP CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

ORGANIZED BY      :     National Chess Federation of the Philippines

HOSTED BY             :     City of Tanauan, Batangas

OBJECTIVE              :    To select the youth chess players who will represent the Philippines in the     ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Hue, Vietnam and the 2012 Asian Youth championships to be held in Sri Lanka.

VENUE                      :    Tanauan Event Center, Tanauan City, Batangas   

TOURNAMENT RULES AND REGULATIONS

I.              ELIGIBILITY

The tournament is open to all qualifiers from the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Legs of the 2012 National Age Group Chess Championships, who are members in good standing of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

As mandated in Memorandum Circular 2012-04-03, all qualifiers in each age category are hereby instructed to play in the Grand Finals.

II.            REGISTRTATION

A.    All qualifiers must register on or before April 15, 2012, non-compliance to register after the deadline will mean forfeiture of slot in the Grand Finals.

B.    The Registration Fee is Two Hundred Pesos (P200.00)

III.           CATEGORIES :

A.    20 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 1992

B.    16 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 1996

C.   14 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 1998

D.   12 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 2000

E.    10 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 2002

F.      8 & Below (Boys & Girls) – born on or after January 1, 2004

IV.          TOURNAMENT FORMAT

A.    Single Round Robin format for each category.

B.    The Champions in each category will represent the Philippines in the 2012 Asian Youth Championships in Sri Lanka.

 

V.            TOURNAMENT RULES

A.    The tournament shall be governed by the FIDE Laws of Chess.

B.    The tournament shall be rated by FIDE.

C.   Time control shall be ninety (90) minutes (1½ hours) with 30 seconds increment for each player to make all the moves necessary to finish the game using the digital clocks or One Hundred Twenty (120) minutes (2 hours) using mechanical clocks.

D.   Recording of moves in Algebraic notation is mandatory.

E.    Penalty for illegal moves claimed by the opponent:

1.    1^st Offense – additional two (2) minutes thinking time for the claimant.

2.    2^nd Offense – additional two (2) minutes thinking time for the claimant.

3.    3^rd Offense – loss of the game by forfeiture.

F.    The use of cellphones and other electronic means of communication while the game is in progress is prohibited. A player who will violate this provision shall lose his/her game by forfeiture.

G.   The basis for the initial ranking of players shall be by drawing of lots, which will be held during the technical meeting.

H.   Pairings shall be generated by the Swiss Manager pairing program. NO PROTEST ON PAIRING shall be entertained.

VI.          SCHEDULE

April 22            -     Arrival

-       Technical Meeting                        19:00

April 23            -     Opening Ceremonies       09:00

-       Rd. 1                                 13:00

April 24            -     Rd. 2                                 08:00

-       Rd. 3                                 13:30

April 25            -     Rd. 4                                 08:00

-       Rd. 5                                 13:30

April 26            -     Rd. 6                                 08:00

-       Rd. 7                                 13:30

April 27            -     Rd. 8                                 08:00

-       Rd. 9                                 13:30

April 28            -     Rd. 10                               08:00

-       Rd. 11                               13:30

April 29            -     Rd. 12                               08:00

-       Rd. 13                               13:30

April 30            -     Rd. 14                               08:00

-       Rd. 15                               13:30

Closing Ceremonies

Awarding of Prizes

            May 1              -    Departure

VII.         TOURNAMENT OFFICIALS

Tournament Director  -           GM Jayson Gonzales

Chief Arbiter                -           IA Gene Poliarco

Deputy Chief Arbiter   -           IA Ilann Perez

Arbiter                         -           FA WIlfredo Neri

                                                FA Patrick Lee

                                                IM Yves Ranola

                                                NA Alex Dinoy

VIII.        APPEALS COMMITTEE

An appeals Committee shall be appointed during the technical meeting.

A.    The decision of the Chief Arbiter on a point of law is FINAL.

B.    Any appeal or protest on the Chief Arbiter’s decision on a point of fact must be submitted in writing to the Appeals Committee at least thirty (30) minutes after the conclusion of the game in question, together with a Protest Fee of P1,000.00 (refundable if the appeal or protest is upheld).

C.   The decision of the Appeals Committee on a point of fact is FINAL.

IX.          DEFAULTING TIME

Any player who arrives at the chessboard after the start of the session shall lose the game. Thus the default time is 0 minutes.

X.            TIE BREAKS

The following tie-break systems, in descending order of priority, shall be applied to determine the final ranking of players in each category.

1.    Direct encounter

2.    S.B. System

3.    KOYA System

4.    More number of won games

XI.          TRAVELLING EXPENSES

Travel expenses shall be borne by the participants.

XII.         ACCOMODATION

Accommodation for players and one accompanying person (per player) will be provided at the Tanauan National High School.

XIII.        PRIZES AND AWARDS

(Please see Distribution of Prizes)

XIV.        MISCELLANEOUS

A.    Proper dress code must be observed. Shorts, slippers and sleeveless shirts are not allowed.

B.    All participants shall be issued uniforms. These must be worn on the first and last playing days, players who will not comply will not be allowed to play.

C.   Players should wear their IDs during the games, NO ID – NO PLAY.

D.   Certificate of participations shall be issued to all participants.

E.    Chess sets will be given to all players in the Under 12, 10 and 8 categories.

XV.        The organizers reserve the right to amend or alter any provision of the afore-mentioned rules and regulations for the success and interest of the tournament.

SAMANTILA REIGNS IN NATIONAL OPEN CHESS

SAMANTILA REIGNS IN NATL OPEN CHESS

(http://www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=800201&publicationsubcategoryid=69)

(The Philippine Star) Updated April 24, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - Daryl Samantila defeated Jefferson Manzanero in the sixth round then drew with Franz Barreto in the final round to capture the men’s crown in the National Open Chess Championships at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence in Mindanao Ave., Quezon City recently.

The 12-year-old Samantila from Tonsuya, Malabon finished with six points as he edged Barreto and Jerad Docena for top honors in the event which also served as part of the elimination tournament for the squad vying in this year’s Olympiad.

Barreto nipped Docena in the tiebreak to clinch the runner-up honors. Both wound up with 5.5 points.

Andrew Casiano beat John Margarito while Charles Abuzo toppled Joshua Tan to place fourth and fifth, respectively, with five points.

The other qualifiers for the semifinals, to be held in Tagaytay City, were Jesus Lising, Jose Castro, Viergen Ruaya, Giovanni Mejia, Juancho Caunte, Ryan Magtabog, Ritchie Evangelista and Jefferson Mansanero.

In women’s play, Akiko Suede split the point with Shania Mendoza in the sixth round then beat Krissa Abasolo in the final round to clinch the title with 5.5 points.

Bernadette Galas actually ended up with 5.5 points after a final round draw but Suede took the crown with a superior tiebreak score.

Gladys Romero and Mikee Suede drew their last game to finish fourth and fifth, respectively, while Jacquilyn Sales and Mendoza took the last two spots in the semifinals.

Pace holds qualifiers for Russia

THE selection process for the composition of the Philippine teams to the 40th World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Masiysk in Russia will begin with the 2012 National Open Chess Championship on April 16 to 20 at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (Pace) headquarters in Quezon City.

The tournament, however, is only for players who are members of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) with good standing.

Non-NCFP members, however, must apply for membership before they will be allowed to play.
This will be a series of tournaments, where the top 30 percent of each elimination tournament will get to play in the semifinal round along with the seeded international masters (IMs), Fide Masters (FMs) and National Masters (NMs).

This also goes with the women’s division, but the top 40 percent will advance to the semifinal round to play against the seeded WIMs, WFMs and WNMs.

In the distaff side, the top 40 percent shall advance to the semifinal round together with seeded Woman International Masters (WIMs), Woman FIDE Masters (WFMs) and Woman National Masters (WNMs).
The Visayas elimination, however, is yet to be announced.

Adamson’s top chesser wins national tilt

Thanks God for another blessing.

Friday, 30 March, 2012 Written by Manila Standard Today

DARYL Unix Samantila of Tonsuya, Malabon won the 14-under boys’ level of the 2012 Gov. Oscar S. Moreno National Age Group Chess Championships at the Misamis Oriental Capitol Grounds in Cagayan de Oro City recently.

Samantila, the top player of Adamson University and the University Athletic Association of the Philippines’ Season 74 Rookie of the Year for chess, won the 14-under boys’ level with a perfect six points.

Samantila’s campaign was supported by Josephine Veronique “Jaye” Lacson-Noel (Representative of the Lone District of Malabon), Father Gregg Banaga, (CM President, Adamson University), Luisa Isip (Athletic Director, Adamson University) and Rey Samantila, his father, who accompanied him in Misamis Oriental.

Samantila will lead the country’s campaign in the 2012 ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Hue, Vietnam on June 10 to 20, 2012.

JBS CHESSFEST, PLAYING WITH THE VETERANS

March 17, 3rd floor, Sampaloc Public Market. JBS MANILA CHESSFEST BATTLE 2012 RAPID BELOW 200. Slowly getting into the troop of the veterans, I only aspire for being the best kiddy in the tournament but luckily and in good form I was able to make it on the top boards. I fought a good one and have landed 3rd place winning over the veterans and varsity chess men. Lower tie-break landed me on 3rd place instead of 2nd place. I was paired with another young player Hernandez (round 1) which did not scored much. But I am happier to be paired with Pangilinan (round 2), Nigel Galan (round 3), Chua (round 4), sir Cocjin (round 5) the tournament`s best senior player, Salvador (round 6) and Mansanero (round 7). The tension rushes up as I third round approaches. I was paired with Nigel Galan, a fellow UAAP player and very good chess player from De La Salle University. I had the advantage and control during the entire game and was able to win it. There was resistance from another veteran player Chua but he blundered and was not able to gain it.

My fifth round was full of tension since all eyes are already on me. The 12-year old boy is on rank 1, with a perfect 5 points, and clashing it now with another senior player, Mr. Cocjin. It was pretty tough since everybody whom I paired now is extra careful with every piece that they touched. I kept my composure and did not bother the ogling co-chess players whom I know are doing their own calculations in their minds. Before our clock ends, I won it again and everybody applauded! I feel some pride and got conscious when my co-players applauded me. Job well done, boy!!!, they said. It is such a happy moment for me and my papa.

I am now sure of the kiddie spot!!! : )

On round 6 I encounter another varsity, Salvador. During the entire games he was actually like acting so differently and it was annoying. He would frequently scratch his head, show disappointments, walked away in seconds and go back to his seat. Later did I know that it was really his style? , as other players later told me. But at least now I already knew it and next time I will prepare for it.
You lose some, you win some, but what is important is to keep your spirit high and keep on fighting.

Another fighting player from NU was my last round, Mansanero. It was a nice game which ended on a draw. He may not be aware of how to take the end-game but I knew it by theory and it helped me pass another ordeal.

I am happy because this is my first time to play on higher category after I officially play with the junior chess team of my school and I already make it as one of the top 3 best players. The sponsors of this kind of tournament should be applauded as well. The Smart Talk and Text, Mr. Rico Garcia, Ms. Mina Magno and Mr. Jovet Sta. Cruz and other staff, together with Mr. Richard Dela Cruz as the tournament organizer and the CAAP arbiters.

I never won all the games but what I won is everybody`s respect.

Thank you Lord for this win. To God be the Glory!

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!

Hello Everyone! I am back after two months of hibernation. But during that period I was actually playing in the UAAP Season 74 Chess Event, for the very first time. Number 1 rule during UAAP Season: no player is allowed to play in any tournaments especially without the UAAP Board`s permission.

UAAP chess tournament has a double round robin (all-play-all) event. And the team which accumulated the highest number of games points at the end of the tournament wins the championship and declared winner champion. Our team (Adamson Junior Chess Team) have 4 (four) regular and 2 (two) alternate players. On the very last round we shut the hopes of UE, NU and Ateneo by scoring 4-0 against UE.

Immediately after the last round was the announcement and awarding of winners. I won bronze on Board 2, bronze for Karen Enriquez on Board 5, and bronze for Stephen Matthew Miranda for Board 6. Even with 3 rookies on board playing we survived and land as 1st runner-up, next to the all veteran and powerful team of FEU. Together with our coach Christopher Rodriguez, we received the trophy and silver medals. And I was more joyful! Dreams do came true especially if you worked for it. And have proven that prayer and faith in God is mightier! I had the best award among the newbie.

I AM THE UAAP SEASON 74 CHESS EVENT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!