(1376) 2017 PBCC FIRES OFF APRIL 30 & MAY 07 (TBN-May 01, 2017)

  2017 PALAU BLITZ CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP
         FIRES OFF APRIL 30 & MAY 7 

The 2nd tournament in Palau fires off on April 30 with the Palau Blitz Chess Championship with the following contestants according to their rating:
                1. Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel (1806), 2. Tito Cabunagan (1799), 3. me (Roberto Hernandez (1776), 4. Rustum Cabuso (1670)

5. Angelo Salvadora (1643)

 6. Jeff Balbalosa (1625)

 7. Gonzalo Escapatoria (1603)

 8. Angie Sisior (1590)

 9. Manuel Mahor, Jr. (1551)

 10. Destiny Sisior (1511)

 11. Neph Macasaet (1510)

 12. Bheng Codinera Mendoza (1490)

 13. Gladys Anne Francisco Paloma (1474)

 14. Joan Gemota (1433)

 15. Glen Glen M Navarroza (1392) 

16. Angelil Sisior (1359)

 17. Kyarii Sisior (1115) 

18. Angelica Morales Magno (1051).

                I have learned to use the Swiss Perfect by myself and if this list push through, the first round will be Cyril vs. Destiny, Tito vs. Neph, Roberto vs. Bheng, Rustum vs. Gladys, Angelo vs. Joan, Jeff vs. Glen, Jojo vs. Angelil, Angie vs. Kyarii and Jun vs. Angel (with the first mentioned name having the white pieces.)

                The 'NO PAY, NO PLAY POLICY WILL BE IMPLEMENTED SO PLEASE PAY YOUR REGISTRATION FEE AND 1-YEAR MEMBERSHIP FEE IF YOU'RE NOT PAID YET. Some players that can still make it are Rafael Paloma (1695), Nilo de Jesus (1615), James dela Cruz (1497), and Roxanne Parco Corro (1146). Dennis R Gonzales and Paquito Suringa Jr. will not make it due to varying reasons. 

                GOOD LUCK TO ALL PLAYERS/PARTICIPANTS!! 5 games will be played this Sunday and 4 games next Sunday in this 9-round Swiss system event. After the awarding, the next Board Meeting, with free dinner for everybody, will be served. As usual, I will add fresh fruits for balanced food intake.

                **(ANOTHER SHARED REPORT OF CM JOSELITO MARCOS) -- Although world’s No. 2 chess player Wesley So lost to defending champion Mamedyarov in the Gashimov Memorial in the first round, he drew with Michael Adams, Wojtaszek and former world champion Veselin Topalov. He lost the No. 2 spot to another former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, BUT, he regained it when he defeated Kramnik in an equal endgame where he refused a pawn on b7 that would put his knight temporarily out of action and decided to put more pressure on Kramnik.

                It was followed by another win on Sergey Karjakin, the challenger to Magnus Carlsen last year in New York, that has solidifies his hold on No. 2 at 2816. According to a report, his victory over Karjakin is like “squeezing blood from stone”. Fabiano Caruana is now No. 3 at 2803 and Kramnik at 2801. Hikaru Nakamura is now at No. 9 because of the rise of Mamedyarov to No. 7. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave is 5^th, Levon Aronian-6^th, Anand-8^th and Karjakin-10^th.

                I opined that maybe Wesley still has a chance for the title if Mamedyarov would lose even one of his remaining 3 games. Joselito’s opinion is solid—except he lost to Topalov (black) in the last round, that’s not unlikely to happen. All games in round 7 are fighting draws.

             Elite grandmasters, if they are leading, they just take it easy to protect their rating so that they will be invited to the elite tourneys. Look at what happened to Anish Giri, he’s not in the top 10 anymore that why he’s just joining the open events. Lucky for him he just won the Reykjavik Open but he gained few rating points.

            In Chess Piece column of Bobby Ang at Business World, he wrote that USA is world champions because of winning the Baku Olympiad, then Wesley is US Champion so Wesley So is champion of world champions!

            The top two in the world by average rating, after Carlsen, automatically qualify at Candidates Tournament where the winner will challenge Magnus in 2018. The chance of Wesley becomes greater even if he doesn’t win this event as long as he has defeated Kramnik. Added bonus was his win over Karjakin, who is very stingy. He almost defeated Carlsen in November. I’m sure Magnus is focusing his sights on games of Wesley. Overall, Wesley is trailing Magnus. It’s good Wesley is trailing now, and bounced back at world championship.

            Alekhine never win vs. Capablanca before their WCC match but the latter lost. It is the same with Fischer against Spassky. Before, Wesley can’t defeat Nakamura. In their last 4 games, Wesley wins 2 and draws 2. April is almost over so the top 10 players in the May 1 FIDE rating list would likely be the same after this Gashimov Memorial at Shamkir, Azerbaijan.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4409: 1. …Rh1+!! 2. Bxh1 Qxf2+ 3. Bg2 Qg1#

                This week’s puzzle No. 4410: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 26

               Issue 28

               May 01, 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--May 01, 2017

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002- May 01, 2017