Category: Games

He’s disrespected pretty much everybody in the chess world, calling other players idiots and stuff. And also beating the great Magnus… Everybody knows that Hans is probably the most disrespectful teenager in chess.

Wesley So

NBA League Pass in the Philippines

With the timezone difference, Filipinos in the Philippines can’t catch each and every game of the NBA. Normally, the games happen while we’re at work. Thus, we can only enjoy the games usually every weekend, and not all weekends are free day for everyone.

And thus, it’s not practical to fork out Php4,999 per year, Php650 per month, or Php99 per day to avail of the NBA League Pass.

If I were to suggest a reasonable price for NBA League Pass, it would be Php999 (~US$20) for a year, Php199 (~US$4) for a month, and Php49 (~$1) for a weekend (Saturday and Sunday, Philippine time). That is how Filipinos will find it reasonable, considering the standard of living and the volume of games they can freely watch anyway. And this is how NBA can sell the NBA League Pass in the Philippines.

Pokemon Gone

rattata

On Android Authority’s “Pokemon Go fever is dying off“:

Well, it was fun while it lasted, but the latest data seems to indicate that the latest poke-craze is already on its way out. A variety of app and market intelligence firms are reporting that Pokemon Go usership is starting to fade away.

That’s what happens when people already had enough Rattatas, Spearows, and Pidgeys.

The role of technology in chess and cheating

At the start of the 2015 World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, where security was tight so that watches and pens were not allowed in the playing hall, GM Hikaru Nakamura of USA tweeted:

[tweet https://twitter.com/GMHikaru/status/642007269387866112]

I beg to differ. The proliferation of cheating in chess tournaments was brought about by the level of sophistication in our technology today, so that watches (or smartwatches for that matter) and even pens can be used to cheat in chess games. Thus, it is not cheating per se that forced players to part with their watches and pens during games. Instead, it is advancements in technology that made cheating more accessible, thus thrust tournament organizers to be stricter about their rules.

Wesley So in Tata Steel Masters 2015 Chess Tournament

Eight rounds down, five more to go for the 2015 edition of Tata Steel Masters Chess Tournament, and Wesley So is planted on 2nd place (after tiebreaks are applied), and just half a point behind the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen. This happened after 3 wins and 5 draws (with 0 loss).

Standings after 8 rounds in Tata Steel Masters 2015

Standings after 8 rounds in Tata Steel Masters 2015

Wesley So vs. Levon Aronian in Round 3 of Tata Steel Masters 2015. Photo credit: Tata Steel Chess.

Wesley So vs. Levon Aronian in Round 3 of Tata Steel Masters 2015. Photo credit: Tata Steel Chess.

Wesley’s first win came from his game against Levon Aronian of Armenia in Round 3. Replay the game: Wesley So vs. Levon Aronian Rd. 3 Tata Steel 2015. Continue reading

Wesley So Officially in the Top 10 of the November 2014 FIDE Ratings List

It’s official, GM Wesley So made it to the Top 10 in the November 2014 FIDE Ratings List.

Wesley So Top 10

The sad news, however, is that Wesley So now officially bears the US flag, and not the Philippines. But we still cling to the fact that he’s still Filipino at heart:

I am a proud Filipino, always will be a Filipino at heart, and never forget where I came from. I am thankful for all the support in the past.

— Wesley So in Chessdom interview

Continue reading

Life of a King

Ex-felon, Eugene Brown, establishes a Chess Club for inner city teenagers in Washington, D.C.

Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., this has got to be a must-watch for all chess enthusiasts!