Jamie Kenmure, middle, is talking to International Organizer (IO) Graeme Gardiner during the awarding of blitz chess contest winners on the rest day of Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Jamie is applying to be the team captain of Palau Chess Team to World Chess Olympiad in Russia on Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2010. Behind Jamie is Australia's top GM Zhang-Yuan Zhao. In between them is teenager James Morris, 2nd place in Oceania. Behind Graeme is British GM Gawain Jones and Daniel Lapitan, who drew with 2 GMs in a simul in 2007 and 2009.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
AFTER SIX weeks of delay due to conflicts of schedule, the meeting of Palau Chess Federation's officers and members was held finally at Migrant Center beside Sacred Heart church.
On top of the agenda was the chance of PCF to finally send a team to the biannual World Chess Olympiad, this time to be held at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
PCF Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez was lucky to be offered free airfares for 5 players from Palau.
There will be an election of President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) that coincides with the Olympiad from Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2010.
Hernandez was able to bargained that the 3-year arrears of PCF to FIDE worth 1,240.64 euros be part of sponsorship because no teams can participate in the Olympiad if they are not fully paid with their dues to FIDE. (Or at least they are not in arrears for 2 years.)
The players who attended the meeting were Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., Jimboy de Jesus, Tito Cabunagan, Gene Pastrana, Andres Mestizo II and Masum Billah.
PCF Chairman Francis 'Sno' Temaungil didn't make it because their car was used by his wife Maryann. Bernard Garcia and Menandro Manuel didn't make it likewise.
The attendees were not convinced that the offer is real and bargained to have $500.00 each as allowance to pay airport taxes, visas and other expenses.
Also discussed is to wait for other sponsors and to have Sno as the team captain of the team.
In this coming Olympiad, 5 members + team captain have free accomodations. If Sno will not be available, he will choose his Palauan replacement. It's either Morton Sawaichi or Flavin Andres. Tutii Joe Chilton is not available on the Olympiad's date.
Australian journalist Jamie Kenmure offered to be the team captain. He was asked also to raise funds for his airfare and some financial funding for Palau Chess Team.
He was asked also by Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker to help in processing the cross-table of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship so that it will be rated.
Also discussed in the meeting was the next chess tournament in Palau, which will also be the training for the Olympiad-bound members.
Masum and Jimboy were given an 18-page copy of FIDE Laws of Chess. That piece of information will be the reference for every protest, especially touch move and illegal move.
The indifferences of some players were also resolved to make this meeting the most fruitful ever. More meetings are planned in the future.
At 10:26 am of April 26, Hernandez had a Facebook chat with the airfare sponsor regarding the meeting. It was also a fruitful chat although the offer remains the same.
Two hours later, Cabunagan informed Hernandez that he was permitted by his General Manager (another GM) to participate in this once in a lifetime chance.
At the same day at 11:57 pm, Hernandez had another chat with the sponsor and he said to him that he asked for another meeting on Wednesday for the Board.
And that Tito Cabunagan is satisfied with the offer. He and Hernandez will try to convince the others to accept it.
The sponsor said that, "It is going to be on the table until June 1st and it's guaranteed that it's not going to be raised. The offer is a generous one made in good faith and if the other guys want to be greedy, good luck to them. I am glad that you, at least, understand. I will repeat: we can sponsor $5,000.00 for airfares, plus pay the arrears. Anyway, I will wait for the news. Sorry if I sound a bit tough."
Roberto thanked him again for the offer and added that GM Gawain Jones accepted his offer to be friends on Facebook.
"Cheers." was the last word from the sponsor at 12:16 am.
BIBLE VERSES OF THE WEEK:
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tounges.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 19
Issue 16
April 19-25, 2010
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