Top seed Tony Villa remains the favorite as he had only one loss and his closest pursuer, Manny Nedic, had also a loss but he had 2 draws which might affect his tiebreaking total if things end up with a triple tie at the top.
Roberto Hernandez needs a victory over Villa to force a tie at the top while a draw will ensure Villa in clinching the title.
In a special game held on Saturday, April 14, Hernandez kept his chance for the championship intact with a victory over 8th seed and venue host Gene Pastrana in 54 moves of French Defence.
Pastrana mishandled the opening and lost a pawn on the 10th move and another one on the 21st move.
Hernandez also won the exchange on the 26th move and although Pastrana won the exchange back on the 35th move, his position became hopeless after the exchange of queens on the 43rd move.
Villa seized the lead in the standings after a masterful conquest of 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. in the only game of the day, Sunday, April 15, 2007 at Jean's Boutique and Store.
Their Pirc Defence encounter lasted 42 moves that showed the lethality in Villa's game after game.
His penultimate clash with Hernandez will have to be played on either Saturday or Monday as Hernandez' day off now is Monday.
The last 2 weeks of the tournament will go on as scheduled and absent players will lose by default.
Anselmo Idol, who paid his registration fee already but had not played a single game, will lose half of his games on Sunday and the other half on the final day by default if he will not show up.
The same thing will happen to Emmie Buyacao. His last 6 remaining games need to be played within 2 weeks.
The prize money of $100.00 is from registration fee of players ($20.00). The other half will become fund for Knights and Rooks Chess Club, Palau.
The awarding of prize money will be held on the last day of the tourney.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
April 20-26, 2007
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