(451) ROBERTO IS 2013 RAPID CHESS CHAMPION (TBN-April 29, 2013)

*The actual photo that appears in Tia Belau was not saved to my USB. This is just temporry. It's the Group B finals -Cyril vs. Tito.

CLIMACTIC FINAL OF 2013 RAPID CHESS TILT
Tito Cabunagan, right, and Roberto Hernandez shake hands before the start of their climactic final game of 2013 Rapid Chess tournament held at Bethlehem Park. The 2 finalists have committed to be members of Palau Chess Team (Open) to the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway from August 01-14, 2014.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


ROBERTO IS 2013 RAPID CHESS
CHAMPION

IN THE 2012 Palau National Chess Championship, Tito Cabunagan was swept by Palau’s No. 1 chess player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia, both from Palau Pacific Resort, but he emerged as champion because he swept the other 5 contestants—2^ndseed Menandro Manuel, 3^rd seed Roberto Hernandez, 5^thseed Paquito Suringa, Jr., 6^th seed Gonzalo Escapatoria and 7^thseed Jose Celiz (one win and a draw).

This time in the 2013 Rapid Chess tournament, he defeated Cyril in the qualification round and lately in the Group B finals held on Sunday, April 21 at Bethlehem Park.

Roberto Hernandez didn’t want to let go the opportunity to record the moves of the finalists, with the winner to face him in the climactic final game.

THE MOVES:

GROUP B Finals

Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (White) vs. Tito Cabunagan (Black)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 e6 7. Nge2 Bb4 8. a3 Ba5 9. b4 Bc7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. c5 Nbd7 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qf3 h6 16. Rd1 a6 17. Bf4 Nd5 18. Bxc7 Qxc7 19. Rd3 a5 20. Rdd1? axb4 21. axb4 Nxb4 22. Qf4 Qxf4 23. Nxf4 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Rd8 25. Ne2 Nc2 26. Rd1 e5 27. Kf1 exd4 28. Rd2 d3 29. Nc1 Nb4 30. Ke1 Rd5 31. Nb3 Rg5 32. g3 h5 33. h4 Rg4 34. Na5 f5 35. Rb2 Re4+ 36. Kd1 Nc2 37. Nxb7 Re2 38. Na5 Rxf2 39. Nxc6 Ne3+ 40. Kc1 Rf1+ 41. Kd2 Nc4+ 42. Kxd3 Nxb2+ 43. Kd4 Rd1+ 44. Ke5 Na4 45. Ne7+ Kf7 46. Nxf5 Nxc5 47. Nd6+ Rxd6 48. Kxd6 Ne4+ 49. Ke5 Nxg3 50. Kf4 Ne4+ 51. Kg4 g6 52. Kh6 Nd4 53. Kg5 Nf3+ 54. Kh6 Nxh4 55. Kg5 Nf3+ 56. Kh6 Kf6 (White resigned)

This was finished at 5:15 pm. Roberto has to work at 6:00 pm so he asked Tito to hold their final game on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00 pm at the same venue.

April 28, 2013 2:00 pm at Bethlehem Park, Roberto is setting the chessboards, clock and score sheets when Tito came and they have a draw which player will have the white pieces… it is Roberto.

THE MOVES OF THE FINAL:

Roberto Hernandez (White) vs. Tito Cabunagan (Black)

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. E3 Bg4 4. Bb5 Qd6 5. 0-0 0-0-0 6. C4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 Nh6 8. Nc3 e5 9. D3 Na5 10. Fxe5 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Qxe5 12. D4 Qg5 13. Bxf7 Bd6 14. E4 Qh4 15. G3 Qe7 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Qf5+ Kb8 18. Qxa5 Bb4 19. Qe5 Qd7 20. Nd5 Bd6 21. Qe5 Qa4 22. Rfd1 Rhf8 23. E5 Bb4 24. B3 Qa5 25. Nxb4 Qxb4 26. Qc4 Qe7 27. Rf1 Qg5 28. Rf4 h5 29. Rc1 c6 30. Re1 h4 31. Rxh4 Qd2 32. Rhe4 h5 33. E6 b5 34. Qxc6 Rxd4 35. Qxb5+ Ka8 36. Qc5 Rxe4 37. Rxe4 Qd1+ 38. Kg2 Qd2+ 39. Kh3 Rxf7?? 40. Qc8 mate.

The battle for 3^rd and 4^th place will be played between Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Paquito Suringa, Jr. The results will be published next issue.

With still one year and 4 months before the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, the Palau Men’s (Open) Chess Team to this Olympiad is already intact—Roberto Hernandez, Head of Delegation; Jan Berglund (Sweden), Delegate; Jamie Kenmure (Australia), Team Captain; Board 1 Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.; Board 2 Menandro Manuel; Board 3 CM Bernardo Garcia and Board 4 Tito Cabunagan.

Hernandez is supposed to be the reserve (Board 5). In order to give way to the 3 players who committed to join the team, he sacrificed his slot for Mohammad Manik Hossain, Jeffrey Balbalosa and Paquito Suringa, Jr.

He assigned Jeff to be the captain of the women’s team but lately, he showed his intention to play. He can’t play if he is the captain of women’s team. Manik also don’t like to be captain of women’s team because of the same reason and he already missed his chance in 2012 Istanbul Olympiad.

Some players suggested that to be in the men’s team, a member must have enough international rating to be in the top 10 of Palau aside from his capability to buy his own airfare (estimated at $2,100.00 roundtrip (Palau-Manila-Oslo-Tromso).

If Manik, Jeff and Paquito have met these requirements, a possible playoff is suggested among them with the top 2 advancing – the top finisher will be the reserve and 2^nd place will be the captain of the women’s team.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qxe6+!! fxe6 2. Bh5+ Bg6 3. Bxg6 mate.

This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Volume 22

Issue 34

April 29, 2013

Nilo de Jesus, middle, participated in the Class B of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship. He scored 8 consecutive wins and lost his 9th game to Palau's top women player Angie Parrado. That minor setback somehow lost his 'appetite' for chess and didn't play the next remaining games but got his FIDE rating of 1520. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The first shot is a little darker (against the light) so another photo with Jeff Balbalosa at right. Nilo is also a basketball player and since the venue of 2013 Rapid Chess tournament was held at Bethlehem Part, a lot of chess players who play basketball also has time to unwind from physical game to mental game. Palau's top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. is one of them. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)