In his last blitz chess competition before his school break, Villa, a teacher at Palau Community College, won the 4-player blitz contest held on Sunday, May 27 at Jean's Boutique and Store.
He won undefeated again against Palau's first National Master Manny Nedic, Roberto Hernandez and venue host Gene Pastrana.
Villa swept his 3 opponents on his way to another unblemished record of his favorite format in chess.
The 2nd PICC will now be known as the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup after the generous Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino pledged the $1,000.00 prize pot for the international event.
With an additional 2 round trip tickets (Palau-Manila-Palau) as prize pot, this tournament will become the biggest ever in Palau's chess history.
USA and Philippines National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. and fellow NM and International Arbiter (IA) Erwin Carag confirmed their participation in the event.
The brainchild of the event, Australian Gary Bekker and Roberto Hernandez are finalizing the roster of other international players to be invited.
It will be a single round-robin event and Villa will have a chance to gain international rankings as the other top 6 players of Palau players have done last year after the first PICC.
Palau's top player Menandro Manuel emerged as the top local player in the inaugural PICC and got a 1942 World Chess Federation (FIDE) rating.
Cyril Montel, Jr., Jose Omega and Pastrana are tied with 1870 while Hernandez and Nedic have 1830.
Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich will also get a chance to have international ranking if he will accept the invitation to play in the Ambassador Marino Cup.
In the last tournament that he participated, Dittrich tied 2nd seed Omega at 5th place, ahead of 3rd seed Montel, Jr.
Villa, Hernandez and Nedic won the event with the same score of 7 points in 9 games.
Daewoo's Joel Azana took the 3rd runner-up plum.
Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
June 01-07, 2007
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