Thursday, January 22, 2015

(863) MICRONESIAN OPEN; PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY; INCREASED PCF MEMBERSHIP (TBN-Feb. 10, 2014)



KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES
                    Mr. Brian Jones, right, President of Oceania Chess Confederation, is coming to Palau for 7 days with his wife Margaret for talks for the promotion of chess in Oceania. The other Jones, Rupert was a roommate of Roberto Hernandez in the 2009 Oceania Chess Championship and 2009 Gold Coast Open in Australia.                                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



                MICRONESIAN OPEN,
         PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY,
           INCREASED PCF MEMBERSHIP


THERE is still a chance for the Micronesian Open to push through with FM/IO Brian Jones of Australia as the only foreign player to participate or act as supervising arbiter and Palau Chess Federation President Eric Ksau Whipps to be his assistant so that Eric can add a norm to his FIDE Arbiter Title aspiration as he passed the exam for it during the World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE.
                In a meeting with Board Members of PCF, it was agreed that a round-robin Micronesian Open will be held at Palau Royal Resort Conference Room on Feb. 19-24, 2014 with Mr. Jones against Palau players with 1600 ratings and above.
                A separate division will also be held with 1600 and below ratings so that unrated local players/newcomers will have a chance to try their savvy in a real chess tournament.
                Mr. Jones and his wife Margaret was booked by Roberto Hernandez at Palau Royal Resort for his 7-day stay (Feb. 18-25, 2014). If no tournament will be held during their stay, he’ll have a talk with PCF officials about chess development in Oceania, where he’s the president of Oceania Chess Confederation.
                THE NEW TENTATIVE LINE-UP OF PALAU CHESS TEAM TO NORWAY IS THE BEST EVER:
HEAD OF DELEGATION:  Frank Kyota or Baklai Temengil                  DELEGATE: Eric Ksau Whipps
MEN/OPEN TEAM:          Captain: Roberto Hernandez                      Board 1: Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.
                                                Board 2: Tito Cabunagan                               Board 3: CM Bernardo Garcia
     Board 4: Mohammad Manik Hossain               Reserve: Ksau Flores Whipps or Jeffrey Balbalosa
WOMEN’S TEAM:            Captain: Tutii Joe Chilton or Jeffrey Balbalosa or Ksau Flores Whipps
                                            Board 1: Angelica Parrado                            Board 2: Gladys Anne Paloma
                                            Board 3: Baby Edna Mission     Board 4: Destiny Sisior or Joy Flores  Whipps
                                            Reserve: Joy Flores Whipps or Kayah Flores Whipps
                Roberto praised this selection of Eric with an email:
                “I like your suggested line-up of Palau Chess Team! It's a dream come true to me! I've waited for 8 years for this moment to have Palauans in the team. I can't ask for more. By being the team captain, I can attend the International Arbiters seminar/training/exam like what Jamie did in Istanbul. That's where he got his IA title. He grabbed that opportunity. I'll get my chance this time.
    Thank God for having you as PCF President!”
                Eric is humble enough to reply with: “Thank you Roberto, I'm glad I could help anyway possible. Thanks again for including me in Palau Chess. Let's meet soon to discuss future of Chess in Palau.”
Here’s an inspired and grateful email of Eric to Mr. Geoffrey Borg and Mr. Ignatius Leong:
Hello Mr. Borg and Mr. Leong,
            I would like to thank FIDE and both of you for your continued support. This year looks to be a very bright year for the development of chess in Palau. Interest from within Palau has grown and can expect to add around 20 Palauan citizens as members to the Palau Chess Federation and another 30 Palau residents within this year.
Meetings with Palau National Olympic Committee and various government offices will also help with exposure and future development of chess. The interest in Palau from both FIDE and other FIDE members also may bring more opportunities for development and cooperation in the near future.
I am thankful that I was able to attend the WYCC in UAE last year as it helped to show how active chess is, as I did not realize how large and dedicated the chess community is today. The chess competitions give immeasurable benefits to those who can represent their countries in international competition. It was amazing to see young children play with such skill and become so emotional with every game.
During the event I was also fortunate enough to meet FIDE President Ilyumzhinov and Deputy President Makropoulos together with CEO Borg and ACF Gen. Sec. Abundo. Unfortunately I only learned upon departure that Mr. Kasparov was present at WYCC and that Mr. Berglund decided not to attend.
 I would like to thank Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo for their visit to Palau last week. Palau Chess thanks you all for your genuine interest to provide support and commitment to continue promotion and development of chess in Palau and the world.
Best Regards, Eric Ksau Whipps
The increase of PCF membership is the fastest in 9 years, garnering 36 new members and 2 honorary members (Mr. Geoffrey Borg of Malta and Mr. Graeme Gardiner of Australia).
The numbers will grow more after the conclusion of the ongoing Ksau Cup Blitz Chess Tournament. As suggested by Mr. Borg and Mr. Abundo, local chess tournament must be held constantly to reach all areas of Palau and to improve chess activities and levels of play.
Roberto won the Board of Directors seat (9th place) in the TFCP election and the oath taking ceremony will be held on Sunday, Feb. 09, 2014 at D’ Multi Purpose Convention Hall from 5-9pm with the Guest Speaker none other than Eric Ksau Whipps, who is also the Honorary Consul of the Philippines.
Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qh8+!! Kxh8 2. Nxf7++ Kg8 3. Nh6 mate.
This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)




Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Page 11-12
             Volume 23
             Issue 12
             February 10, 2014 


         






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