(252) TOP SEEDS PREVAIL, MERCADO ESCAPES WITH A DRAW

ALL BUT ONE

Group picture of all participants (except one observer) in the qualifying round of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship. From left, Romeo Caballes, Mohammad Manik Hossain, Mario Ramos (partly hidden), Gene Pastrana, Val Vidar, Ken Pastrana, Bernard Garcia, observer, Jun Mahor, Panfilo Pepito, Jr. and Jimboy de Jesus.

I N S E T :

JOEL FLOR -- Will be invited to Pax Cup (Class A)

Elizalde Madrinan -- Still rusty

ANDRES 'AYING' MESTIZO II -- Class B Favorite

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

TOP SEEDS PREVAIL;

MERCADO ESCAPES WITH A DRAW

THE FIRST game of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship finals was between Jun Mahor and Michael Mercado, the only unbeaten player in the qualifying round.

On his 30th move, Mahor spent 12 minutes but still missed a forced mate in 5 moves with a neat rook sacrifice.

Instead, he gobbled a pawn on d6 that allowed Mercado to counter with a rook sacrifice of his own to escape with a draw after 34 moves of Bishop Opening and stayed undefeated.

The 4 top seeds of Palau NCC were present in the opening day of the finals but only 2 of them played.

Top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel (FIDE rating 1942) outlasted Romeo Caballes in 56 moves of Sicilian Defence.

Manuel hang on to his one-pawn advantage and skillfully outmaneuvered Caballes in a bishop-of-the-same-color endgame.

Fourth seed Roberto Hernandez clobbered Elpidio Manaligod in 58 moves of Pirc Defence in the 3rd game on Sunday, October 04 at D. J. Cruz General Merchandise premises.

Hernandez used his skills and cautious play to avoid a repeat of his first encounter with Elpi last year at the 2008 Palau National Chess Championship where he luckily salvaged a draw.

Their last 7 moves were not written with Hernandez barely making it on time to work as musician of Palau Royal Resort starting at 6:00 pm.

Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. and 3rd seed Gene Pastrana didn't play with Cyril practicing chess with Class B player Panfilo Pepito, Jr., who refused to play against Mario Ramos.

He said that because of schedule conflict, he's withdrawing from the tournament. Hernandez explained to him that Palau has the most flexible chess schedule in the world to accomodate ALL players regardless of their schedules.

He lost by default to Ramos but won 2 betting games against Cyril (2 soda). It's possible that Pepito will be replaced by Gene's youngest son, Ken, who volunteered to take the place of Val Vidar for 3 weeks.

Vidar's house in the Philippines was burned during typhoon Ketsana, (locally named 'Ondoy' in Philippines).

Another finalist showed up on Sunday but didn't play a game likewise. Craig Dittrich just practiced blitz chess with Pastrana and sized up the other finalists.

The lone female participant Kristen Senajon didn't make it despite the assurance from her mother that she will play at least one game.

Palau Royal Resort's pastry chef Jaime Guevarra went to the tournament site on Saturday afternoon for a possible showdown with anybody at Class B.

The only available player was Jose Misael de Jesus but they just practiced speed chess.

Guevarra don't have a Sunday off the whole year. Class B players are requested to play with him at PRR or at the tournament site on different days.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 13 & 15

Volume 18

Issue 41

October 12-18, 2009