(957) CYRIL IS THE 2015 PALAU BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPION (TBN-May 25, 2015)

:   WINNERS ALL

                    The winners of the recently concluded 2015 Palau Blitz Chess Championship—(Left to right) Eugene Labarda (7^th), Angelica Parrado (Best Women), CM Bernardo Garcia (2^nd), Destiny Sisior (Best     Junior), Roberto Hernandez (3^rd), Cyril Montel, Jr. (Champion), Tito Cabunagan (5^th) and Rustum Cabuso (4^th).                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

                       CYRIL IS THE 2015 

PALAU BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

                             CHAMPION 

NATIONAL Master and defending Palau National Chess Championship titlist Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. added another feather in his cap by capturing the 2015 Palau Blitz Chess Championship held at Bethlehem Park on May 17, 2015.

                Going into the last 4 rounds of the event, he is sporting a 4-1 win-loss slate, with his only loss dealt to him by Roberto Hernandez. He swept his last 4 opponents –CM Bernardo Garcia, Jeffrey Balbalosa,  Rustum Cabuso and Dennis Gonzales to run away with $150.00 cash prize and a trophy.

                It was another very successful chess event held by Palau Chess Federation at Bethlehem Park from May 10, 2015- May 17, 2015.

              Final standings of the 15 participants:

                                                              Win     Loss         Total

1. Cyril Montel, Jr.                                8           1              8

2. Bernardo Garcia                               7           2              7

3. Roberto Hernandez                          6           3              6

4. Rustum Cabuso                                6           3              6

5. Tito Cabunagan                                6           3              6

6. Jeffrey Balbalosa                              6           3              6

7. Eugene Labarda                                5           4              5

8. Dennis Gonzales                               5           4              5

9. Angelica Parrado                              5           4              5
10. Gonzalo Escapatoria                      4          5              4

11. Rey Sanchez                                  4           5              4

12. Destiny Sisior                                 3            6             3

13. Baby Edna Mission                        3            6             3

14. Angelil Sisior                                  2            7             2

15. Robert Godwin Sola                      1            8             1

In the first 5 rounds, Roberto sweeps his opponents -- Jeffrey, Angie, Gonzalo, Dennis and Cyril. Rustum likewise scores 5 straight to set up the unbeaten match-up on the 2nd and final week -- May 17.

Rustum with the white pieces went ahead in position and material but Roberto was able to promote one of his pawns to a queen and Rustum has to give up his rook and now left with only a king and a pawn while Roberto has a king, queen, bishop and a pawn.

BUT ROBERTO COMMITTED AN ILLEGAL MOVE DUE TO TIME PRESSURE. HE’S GOT ONLY 16 SECONDS LEFT WHILE RUSTUM HAS 49 SECONDS.

Roberto's queen is on a white diagonal and he checked Rustum's king on a dark diagonal for an illegal move in which Rustum had noticed. Upon realizing his mistake, Roberto accepted the setback that really affected his play in the next 2 games as he bowed to Tito and Bernard. He won by default over Robert Godwin Sola because the boy is absent.

After his win over Roberto, Rustum lost all 3 of his remaining games and finished with the same 6-3 slate with Roberto. 

Tito, Jeff and Eugene Labarda all finished with the same 6-3 win-loss card but after the Swiss Perfect software computed the 3 tiebreak systems, Roberto emerged at 3rd spot.

Rustum is complaining about the outcome because he thought that the Direct Encounter (winner-over-the-other) tiebreak will be applied. He's expecting that since he has beaten Roberto, he might have a good chance to beat him in the tiebreak.

Roberto explained to Rustum that in the early days of Palau chess, one game playoff game will resolve the tiebreak. There are 3 occasions that Jose Omega has been declared the winner via tiebreak (Sonnebonn-Berger System) but his co-winners asked for one playoff game and he both won those--2003 Age Group Class B Championship against Mike Miguel, Jr. and 2005 Open against Bong Alipoon.

Omega won also his playoff match against Roberto in the inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess Tournament in July 2006. He's got the beautifully crafted glass trophy but they split the $300.00 cash prize ($200.00 for 1st place and $100.00 for 2nd place).

The tiebreakers that the Swiss Perfect and Swiss Manager have been applying are the same that are being used in the World Chess Olympiad since the 2008 Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.

Cyril swept his last 4 opponents after his loss to Roberto in the 5th round to emerge as champion to win the $150.00 cash prize and a trophy with an 8-1 win-loss record.

CM Bernardo Garcia, who participated for the first time in blitz competition, took the 2nd place plum with a 7-2 slate and got $125.00 cash prize and a trophy.

Roberto got $100.00 cash prize and a trophy. He donated 51% of his cash prize ($51.00) to the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ in the 4th Watch (Palau Locale) for the construction of 10-storey Shiloah building in Marikina City in the Philippines.

Rustum settled for 4th, a trophy and $75.00 cash while Tito got a trophy and $50.00 cash for finishing 5th. Jeff got a consolation prize of $20.00

Angie won the best women and $50.00 cash prize while her daughter Destiny Sisior won the best junior finisher and another $50.00 cash prize.

Certificates of participation were also given to Escapatoria, Jr., Rey Sanchez, Robert Sola, Baby Edna Mission and Angelil Sisior.

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3865: 1. Qh8+!! Bxh8 2. Rg8+ Ke7 3. Re8 mate.

This week’s puzzle No. 3866: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
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             Issue 42
             May 25, 2015