Tuesday, April 18, 2017

(1369) 2017 Palau Blitz Chess Championship on April 30 & May 7 (TBN-April 17, 2017)



THE PALAU CHESS TEAM IN THE 1st ROUND OF 2016 WCO IN BAKU, AZERBAIJAN
                L-R: Dennis Gonzales (Board 5/Reserve), Roberto Hernandez (Team Capt./Bd. 4), Jeff Balbalosa (Bd. 3), Allan Alcid(Bd. 2), CM Joselito Marcos (Head of Delegation and Team Captain when I’m playing) and Paquito Suringa, Jr. (Bd. 1) with PCF President Eric Ksau Whipps (Delegate) taking this photo.                       (Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps)


        2017 PALAU BLITZ CHESS 
     CHAMPIONSHIP ON APRIL 30
                AND MAY 07
 
During the 2nd Board Members meeting of Palau Chess Federation on April 10, 2017, it was decided to hold the 2nd tourney of the year on April 30 and May 07—the 2017 Palau Blitz Chess Championship. This two-week Blitz Chess Championship will be held for 2 Sundays only (Nov. 30 and May 7) at Ernguul Park (formerly Bethlehem Park).

                Registration fee is peg at $10.00 for those players who have paid their 1-year membership fee--$20.00. Every participant must be fully paid with their 1-year membership fee to be able to participate. The “No Pay, No Play” policy of PCF will be implemented.
                The time format is 5 minutes for each player to finish the game with 3 seconds increment. It will be a round-robin format if the participants are only 10 and Swiss System if it is 14 or more.
                Three medals will be awarded to the Top 3 finishers wherein the next PCF Board Meeting will be held after the awarding ceremony.
                This is the 2nd tourney to be held by PCF after the very successful Lightning/Bullet Chess Tilt in February 26 where 16 players (old and new) participated.
                Those players are all invited in this longer time control event: Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr., Angelica Magno, Rustum Cabuso, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Angelo Salvadora, Francois, Thomas, Angie Parrado, Tito Cabunagan, Jeff Balbalosa, Manuel Mahor, Jr., Destiny Sisior, Angelil Sisior, Baby Edna Mission, Glen Navarroza, Gladys Anne Paloma, Joan Gemota, etc.
                  Dennis Gonzales and Paquito Suringa, Jr. will not be available because of varying reasons. New member player like Wilson Barrameda, inactive Neph Macasaet and other interested players are also invited. Elizalde Madrinan of Palau Royal Resort will be having a 21-day vacation this month and will not be available for this event.
                This year’s USA Chess Championship has been the toughest ever in history. Caruana and Nakamura still have mathematical chances of topping the event should ‘fate’ conspired with both winning their last round game and the 3 co-leaders So, Akobian and Onischuk all loses. This is highly probable but likely possible (whatever that means).
                Crazy or what? Wesley consented to a draw by repetition with Narodisky in just 14 moves in just a little over 10 minutes of play! This leaves the fate of the title in the hands of Akobian and Onischuk. Akobian may pull it off if Nakamura blunders in a position that suited him best.
                Wesley will surely receive a lot of criticism after this. He was willing to end up 3rd. He chose to preserve his unbeaten streak, never mind if he will be called chicken. His decision will put pressure on Akobian and Onischuk to play all out for a win if they wish to win the title outright. So remains No. 2 in the live rating as he lost 6.6 points. Kramnik is now No. 3 with just 4.4 behind.
                IT’S A PLAYOFF BETWEEN SO AND ONISCHUK AS AKOBIAN LOST TO NAKAMURA!
Wesley, white, had just won the first rapid game playoff vs. Onischuk in 31 moves of English Opening. He needed only a draw to win the USA Championship—and he did!
                Wesley So is the new USA Champion! After a tough draw in the 2nd rapid playoff in 62 moves of Reti/Catalan Opening, wherein So is down by 2 pawns in the endgame. After an inaccurate 54th move by Onischuk, So played like a machine demonstrating the draw that made his victory sweeter.
                CM Joselito Marcos is hoping that So will not become over-cautious because of his rating. If he does, his game will stagnate and his results will suffer. Should he top the forthcoming Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir, Azerbaijan starting April 20, it will truly raise his chess stocks.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3861: 1. Qc8+!! Rxc8 2. Rxc8+ Nb8 3. Rxb8#

                This week’s puzzle No. 3862: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)


Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 9 & 11
               Volume 26
               Issue 30
               April 17, 2017

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
              The Beginning of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012--April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013--April 17, 2017

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- April 17, 2017 

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