(503) KA ABE NIPS IVAN; LOSES TO LARA (TBN-Aug. 31-Sept. 06, 2007)

ABRAHAM 'Abe' Francisco failed to get the best record in the resumption of Palau Royal Resort Rating Chess tournament held this week at Dormitory 1 when he lost to newcomer Dennis Lara with a whole piece (bishop) advantage.

He sacrificed his queen hoping that Lara will capture with a back rank rook that will result in mate to Lara's king.

But Lara cleverly captured with the other rook and all things went wrong as he cannot avert Lara's own mating threats.

A day later, he won the replay game against 2nd seed Ivan II Chess Computer in 29 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence.

It put Ivan to the bottom of the standings with 6 setbacks against 0 win as it was beaten also by the elected chairman of King Royal Chess Club Arnel Pama in 30 moves of Sicilian Defence (Dragon Variation) where Pama sacrificed a rook for a pawn to weave a mating net.

In other completed games, Manny Dulay overestimated the strength of the other computer and lost in 36 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

Laurence Abuton checkmated Robert Tubice on the 40th move of Bishop Opening.

Paquito Suringa, Jr. dropped another close game to Tubice in 36 moves of Irregular Opening.

Randy Sioson proudly and boastfully scored his 2nd win by outwitting Dulay in 45 moves of another KPO.

First round leader Jaime Guevarra won 3 straight over Dulay in 56 moves of another Bishop Opening; in 32 moves of Two Knights Defence over Lara and by default over Sioson and grabbed 2nd spot from Lara and Nino Flores touted Erick Ventinilla to gain his 4th victory.

On Saturday night, the officers and members of KRCC held a meeting to address the reluctance of some players to play even on their day off.

It was agreed that a player will lose by default if he refuse to play without valid reason that is work-related.

Sioson was the first to lose when he refused to play without valid reason (work-related).

The strict scheduling was set to finish the first round of the tourney within 2 weeks.

Seven players are also asked to pay their registration fee of $5.00 as 2 paydays have already passed.

They are Zaldy Ranopa, Tony Penas, Dulay, Sioson, Suringa, Jr., Tubice and lone lady entrant Zuenie Mirabueno.

STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:
1. Roberto Hernandez (10-2-0) 2. Jaime Guevarra (8-3-3) 3. Arnel Pama (9-5-0) 4. Dennis Lara (8-3-0) 5. Roberto Tubice (6-4-2) 6. Laurence Abuton (6-4-1) 7. Abe Francisco (5-2-1) 8. Paul Garcia (5-3-0) 9. Erick Ventinilla (4-8-1) 10. Nino Flores (4-2-0) 11. Zaldy Ranopa (3-1-1) 12. Tony Penas (3-2-0) 13. Excalibur (2-5-1) 14. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (2-8-0) 15. Randy Sioson (2-8-0) 16. Manny Dulay (2-10-0) 17. Zuenie Mirabueno (0-2-0) 18. Ivan II (0-6-0).

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
August 31-September 06, 2007