(1016) CHESS ON MONDAY, MUSIC ON THURSDAY (TBN- March 12, 2012)

UPSET IN THE MAKING
    Jeffrey Negrillo, right, snapped the 12-game winning streak of Roberto Hernandez, left, in the last few rounds of 3rd Pax Cup. Jonathan Sta. Ana, of PRR's Purchasing Department, watches the first few moves of the game.            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




          CHESS ON MONDAY, MUSIC ON THURSDAY

                TIA BELAU News will be published twice a week starting on the 2^nd week of this month. Chess columnist Roberto Hernandez will contribute also on Thursday, this time about music.

                In the resumption of 3^rd Pax Cup Rapid Chess Tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, Jeffrey Negrillo snapped the 12-game winning streak of Roberto Hernandez by giving him a dose of his own medicine—against his pet Danish Gambit.

                Jeff refused the gambit pawn on the very 2^nd move and brought out his queen early in the game. He pinned the knight of Hernandez that’s defending the e pawn.

                Negrillo has created a weakness on Hernandez’ queen side.  He forced the exchange of his dark-colored bishop for a knight. Hernandez was obligated to capture with a pawn to avoid losing his e pawn with check. That double pawns on c file become the target as weakness that proved to be the deciding factor of the game.

                In the endgame, Jeff is ahead by 3 pawns and didn’t bite to Hernandez’ last-ditch attempt to salvage at least a draw with the bishop of opposite color endgame.

                With that victory, Jeff almost clinched a spot to the semifinals that include Hernandez and Paquito, who has 4 more remaining games. The last and final slot is still being contested by Ronnie Capio, who played all his remaining games already, Ferdinand Gutierrez and Rudel Roxas. If Roxas and Gutierrez will win their last 2 games, they will tie Jeff at 10 points apiece. It will eliminate Capio, who only had 8.5 points. Rey Alenain and Joel Gabris still have an outside chance to make it depending on the results of the remaining games of Jeff, Rudel and Ferdinand.

                Other results of last week’s games: Jeff swept Mar Joel Gabris and extracted 1 point from Dan Roldan; Gutierrez kept his hopes alive for a semifinal berth by sweeping Jeffrey this time.

                Standings of players and their win-loss-draw record:  1. Roberto Hernandez (12-1-0) 2. Jeffrey Negrillo (10-4-0) 3. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (9-4-1) 4. Ronnie Capio (8-9-1) 5. Ferdinand Gutierrez (8-6-0) 6. Rey Alenain (7-9-0) 7. Rudel Roxas (6-8-0) 8. Mar Joel Gabris (3-7-0) 9. Dan Roldan (2-13-0) 10. Miguel Gancayco (0-4-0).

                Ernesto Domingo, a stranger yet to Hernandez, has called Hernandez on his cell phone (778-5392) and set up a visit/practice with available players on Sunday, March 11 at 11:00 am at Dormitory 1.

                Hernandez also invited Rick Miskiv for practice/socializing, who later declined the invitation citing it is peak season now and he very busy.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez 
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 13 & 15
              Volume 21  
              Issue 11 
             March 12, 2012