(123) ROXAS SWEEPS PAX, LEADS TOURNEY

ONE SHOT, LOTS OF NEWS FLASH
This shot was taken by ABS-CBN photographer Mr. Mallari on Sept. 30, 2011 during the evacuation of Roberto Hernandez, his grandson Zach, daughter Karen and wife Flor from flooding in Hagonoy, Bulacan. It was televized in TV Patrol on the same day and has been in news flash many times.
 (More news flash recently for the 25th year anniversary of TV Patrol).
 (Video by Mr. Mallari of ABS-CBN)                                                                     (Photo by Karen Hernandez- taken from TV set)



ROXAS SWEEPS PAX, LEADS TOURNEY

RUDEL ROXAS took advantage of Paquito 'Pax' Suringa's uninspired play to sweep the latter in their 1st and 2nd encounter in the resumption of 2011 Pax Cup Rapid Chess tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dorm 1.

The first game of the event was a 1-1 record for Rey Alenain and Ronnie Capio. Rey should have won the first game had he seen the right sequence of moves while Pax outduelled Dan Roldan on the same night of the opening round.

Alenain split the match with Roxas to hold on for the 3rd spot in the early round with 2-2 win-loss slate.

Pax drew his match with Ronnie with the drawish endgame of pawns and bishop of opposite color but won in their second game and now trailing Roxas by just a mere half point.

On the month of November, Pax will get all the schedules of participants and will set a date and time of those available players. Those who will not show up on the specified schedule of match will lose their game by default.

Some players refused to play Pax simultaneously and preferred one-on-one encounter. Roberto Hernandez, being the top seed, can play up to 3
or 4 players at the same time on Sunday at 4:00 pm or on Friday at 2:00 pm or any day at 11:00 pm onwards.

A plan to have blitz tourney among the current participants next year was discussed to give players a rare chance to play blitz games in which the time control is 10 minutes for each player to finish the game will be applied.

An odd to weaker players is that Pax and Hernandez will have 5 minutes while the others will have 10 minutes.

A similar odd was given to Tony Villa, who ruled blitz chess in Palau in 2007-2008, by a Philippine National Master (Allan Saysot) during their practice sessions. Tony always have 5 minutes and the NM had only 2 minutes.

Being taught by a Master, Tony is almost unbeatable in blitz chess and won numerous titles in his short stint here in Palau as Instructor at Palau Community College.

During the 82nd FIDE Congress in Krakow, Poland from Oct. 15-22, 2011, Guam was accepted as Full Member of FIDE (World Chess Federation) and the Oceania Chess Confederation as Affiliate Member of FIDE.

With these developments, chess might be included in the next Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea if OCC can have at least 6 member countries (1. Papua New Guinea 2. Fiji 3. Palau 4. Solomon Islands 5. Guam 6. New Caledonia? Nauru? Tahiti? Cook Islands?) to be eligible to have chess as one of the sports in Pacific Games.

Chess is now one of the sports in Southeast Asian Games and recently in 2011 Asian Games in China where Palau was invited. The good thing about Palau is that it is both member of the Oceania Chess Confederation and Asian Chess Federation. That's why Palau can send representatives in ACF and OCC tournaments.

Financial constraints is the main reason why Palau chess players can't compete in those ACF and OCC tourneys. Things might have change now with the addition of George and Adele Anzawa in Palau chess scene.

The mother and son duo can be the solution as they can afford airfares in going to other countries to represent Palau in mostly junior championships.

Geroge is undergoing extensive preparations for future World Junior Championships, World Chess Olympiads and others. That's why as much as possible, Hernandez would like to invite him to all ongoing chess tournaments whether it's for senior, rated or non-rated like the 2011 Pax Cup.

Filipino-Australian Daniel Lapitan won the Under 12 years 2011 Australian Junior Chess Championship and will now represent Australia in the 2011 World Youth Chess Championship in Caldas Novas, Brazil in November 17-27.

He's going there with his father Raymond and coach Doug Williams. Daniel is the first Fil-Australian to represent Australia in WYCC. He has drawn against 2 Grandmasters in a simutaneous exhibition games.

GOOD LUCK, DANIEL!!! GO! GET YOU FIDE MASTER TITLE WHICH YOU WOULD LIKE TO OBTAIN AT THE AGE OF 12.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper 
           Volume 20 
           Issue 45
           Page 12-13
           October 31, 2011