Philippines top chess player Grandmaster Wesley So celebrated his 18th birthday on Oct. 19 at Shakey's Timog, Quezon City.A lot of GMs and IMs were invited including GM Eugene Torre, GM Darwin Laylo, Congressman Pichay and Roberto Hernandez, left, of Palau who is on vacation for 22 days. (Photo by: Ma. Florida M. Hernandez)
Profile of Champions --
ROBERTO HERNANDEZ
IN JUNE 09, 2002, Roberto Hernandez organized the first ever chess tournament in Palau. The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) Vice President Sergio Alemania assigned him as arbiter/organizer/coordinator of the event. He was not allowed to participate but when the number of participants reached 17, the last contestant didn’t have an opponent.
Hernandez also insisted to have the late Lemuel Bacor, a very good
guitarist, participate so that the field will have 20 contestants. Hernandez asked
the permission of all contestants and all of them except one agreed to let him
participate. He lost his first 2 games, won the 3rd and lost again
the 4th one to one of the lady player—Remy Mingo. Known as a
comeback player, Hernandez won his 5 remaining games to finish the event as 2nd
runner-up.
In the recently concluded 2011 Palau National Chess Championship, Hernandez lost his 1st and 2nd game to co-champions Tito Cabunagan and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. respectively. He won his 3rd game over woman participant Angie Parrado and lost his 4th game again to Jeffrey Balbalosa. A string of 16 consecutive victories enable him to tie Tito and Cyril for the title. It was the first national title for Hernandez.
His other titles are 2003 Senior and Junior Chess tournament; co-champion with Jose Omega in the inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament in July 2006; champion of 2007 Palau Royal Resort Rating Chess tournament and Pax Cup Rapid Chess at PRR Dorm 1; won 3 straight 1st runner-up finishes in 2004-2005 and various runner-up finishes in all but 2 other chess tourneys in Palau.
Two
days after the conclusion of 2011 PNCC, Hernandez took a 22-day vacation to
Philippines. His first day of vacation in Hagonoy, Bulacan was cut short by
just a day when flood hit the area and they stayed for 10 days in Alabang. On
Oct. 09, he was invited to attend the 18th birthday celebration of
Philippines' top Grandmaster (GM) Wesley So at Shakey’s Tomas Morato in Timog,
Quezon City.
Hernandez attended the event with his wife Flor and sat on the
table where Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, So, Congressman Prospero ‘Butch’
Pichay and USA and Phil. Master Almario Marlon Bernardino were sitting. A lot
of other GM’s attended the event including GMs Darwin Laylo, Oliver Dimakiling
and other Masters. Wesley even signed 3 balloons for Flor.
A
lot of chess talks ensued between Hernandez and Congressman Pichay about the 3rd
Palau Invitational Chess Championship to be held in Dec. 14-22, 2011 at Palau
Royal Resort Conference Room or Ming’s Court. FIDE Arbiter Dr. Alfredo Paez is
sure to participate and will come to Palau with his wife to try and enjoy
Palau. Congressman Pichay, who is also the President/Chairman of National Chess
Federation of the Philippines, asked Hernandez that he will include 2 strong RP
players in the Palau Men’s Team to Istanbul, Turkey 2012 World Chess Olympiad.
Hernandez agreed but the 2 players must come to Palau at least once and must
also change federation. The fee for changing federation, according to Cong.
Pichay, is for GM only. He also added that with 2 strong players in Palau team,
it can finish in the top 60 among more than 150 teams.
The Philippines have 16 GMs
now and if it will have 20 GMs in the next few years, a separate Zonal Chess
Championship is possible so that Philippines can have at least one
representative in every World Cup of Chess.
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 20
Issue 43
October 17, 2011
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