(399) MORE CHESSBOARDS AND CLOCKS (TBN-Dec. 2-9, 2005)

OCEANIA Zone President Gary Bekker, from Australia, has sent 6 chessboards/pieces and 2 chess clocks (one mechanical and one digital) to Palau Chess Federation through Roberto Hernandez.

Last month, he sent 42 pieces of assorted chess books and magazines.
These chess materials can now be used for group teaching.

Knights and Rooks Chess Club PRO Flavin Andres has been working very hard to have the first chess class for kids of varying ages.

He already had 58 kids signed up for the once a week chess class. The date and time is yet to be finalized.

Hernandez can teach 26 students at once while the other top Palau players can start with lesser number.

All interested kids and adults alike are invited to start a chess career and hope that some of them might represent Palau in the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.

THE FOLLOWING IS MR. BEKKER'S EMAIL TO HERNANDEZ A MONTH AGO:

Dear Roberto,
Many chess players in the Oceania Zone have asked about Palau Chess Federation. Could you perhaps write a one-page article telling about the history of your chess club and the decision to join FIDE?
Please tell us about your leading players and plans to develop chess. Perhaps you could include a game or two from your leading players.
I would love to publish this in the Australian Chess Magazine if you don't mind. I look forward to your response.
Also, please send me the details of your FIDE membership invoice and I will arrange to make an initial payment to FIDE.

Warm regards,
Gary Bekker

RESULTS OF THE 6TH WEEK OF 2005 RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT HELD SUNDAY, NOV. 27 AND SPONSORED BY HELENA YOICHI AND GENE PASTRANA OF GENE'S BOUTIQUE:

Top seed Jose Omega defeated Dennis Gonzales but lost to Cyril Montel, Jr. later in the afternoon.

Pastrana drew with newcomer William Blasquino; Gonzales swept James dela Cruz; 2 more drawn games between Felix Lapitan and Jerry Sermeno and Montel, Jr. vs. frontrunner Menandro Manuel; Blasquino beat Pastrana.

Hernandez clobbered Gonzales in 42 moves of Sicilian Defence. Lapitan lost 2 more games against Manny Nedic and Hernandez in 28 moves of Danish Gambit in the last game of the day.

Manuel kept the lead after defeating Gonzales and Pastrana. Hernandez nipped Blasquino in 28 moves of another Danish Gambit. Blasquino bounced back from defeat and trounced Hernandez in more than 40 moves of Sicilian Defence and Nedic dealt dela Cruz his 4th loss of the day.

Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. ...Nd4+! 2. Kxd1 Ne3 3. Kc1 Ne2 mate.

This week's puzzles: Black to move and mates in 3
Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 48
December 02-09, 2005