(1253) PASTRANA TO MISS 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD (TBN-July 19-25, 2010)

BOTH WILL MISS THE 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD
                        WITH VARYING REASONS
Eugenio Pastrana, left, and Menandro Manuel both skipped the once-in-a-lifetime-chance to play in an Olympiad due to varying reasons. Here, Manuel is receiving one of his numerous chess championships in Palau.


           PASTRANA TO MISS THE 2010
             WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD 

Since the last Palau Chess Federation’s Board Meeting in April 28, 2010 that chose Jamie Kenmure as Team Captain of Palau Chess Team to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Gene Pastrana’s passport is still in the process of renewing. It is with the Immigration Division and it will take 45 days in Palau to renew a 2-year contract.

                Passport and working permit are the 2 main documents needed to come and participate in the 2010 Olympiad. It looks dim now for Pastrana to make it the team that includes Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bernardo Garcia and Tito Cabunagan.

                Menandro Manuel doesn’t like to sacrifice 2 weeks of unpaid vacation because he already spent his annual leave earlier. Although the airfare is not a problem, he’s still hesitant to come and finally will skip this Olympiad.

                In the April 26-May 02, 2010 edition of Chess Mate, the invitation to participate to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad was sent to Palau Chess Federation. In that invitation, the weather in Khanty-jamieMansiysk in Sept. is +18  -0. It is situated in the Western Siberia.

                With 2 months to go before the Olympiad (Sept. 20—Oct. 04), the only 2 players that are determined to go are Hernandez and Cabunagan.

                Cyril will have a vacation with his family in Philippines and will come back to Palau a few days before departure for Russia. It will be tight to his budget for pocket money and Khanty-Mansiysk airport tax to deal with.

                Garcia has a 2^nd option to this trip: If he will not make it to Russia, he will go instead to Bali, Indonesia with his Indonesian wife for vacation.

                Getting Russian visa in Philippines is also rigid as you have to get it personally when it is given on the same day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am onward.

                The flight of Continental Airlines to Manila is Wed. and Saturday. Jamie will get his Russian visa in Australia while Joselito Marcos will have to get it also in Philippines as he is a holder of a Philippine passport.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

            Pages 9-10

            Volume 19

           Issue 29

           July 19-25, 2010