A Remarkable Game Worth Sharing

Good day, everyone!

It’s been a while since my last post, but this one’s worth the wait.

Let me take you back to a thrilling battle I had a couple of weeks ago at Alphaland Southgate Mall in Makati City, Philippines, during the 36th Golden Minds Dalawahan Chess Tournament — a fierce and fun event for dynamic duos.

Each team consisted of two players. In our case, it was a family affair — my twin brother took charge of Board 1, while I held the line at Board 2. (Just a little fun fact: we’re both proud holders of the FIDE Arena International Master title.) BTW, I am an Arena Grandmaster now.

In Round 1, I wasted no time. We were paired against the formidable Lucion Chess Team — a seasoned duo known in the local scene. But as they say in chess and in life, you don’t back down from a strong opening — you meet it head-on. We did just that. The match ended 1.5 - 0.5 in our favor.

Now, let’s talk about my game — a clash against a tough opponent known locally as “Biscuit.” And no, he was no snack on the board.

This is where things got spicy.

Queen Sacrifice on Move 7?!

Yes, you read that right.

On the seventh move, I offered my Queen — not out of desperation, but pure calculated madness. A line I had prepared, sharpened, and hidden in my mental arsenal for moments exactly like this. But here’s the kicker: the Queen sacrifice never left the board — I kept offering her up, move after move, like a tempting poison, waiting for my opponent to bite.

It became a psychological dance. Would he take it? Could he resist it? Each move pushed us closer to chaos or glory.

Without giving too much away (chessboard replays coming soon), let’s just say: it was a game that reminds us why we love this 64-square battlefield. Drama, risk, creativity — all wrapped in a blitz of instinct and preparation.

Stay tuned — I’ll be posting the full PGN soon with annotations and commentary.

For now, just remember: Sometimes, the boldest move you can make is offering everything... and waiting for the world to blink first.

Until next move,

AIM Joselito Bandelaria Asi

What a finish.  I am so delighted with this game!