(1578) ROUND 1 OF WCO (Sept. 24, 2018) -- PALAU OPEN AND WOMEN'S TEAMS SWEPT BY BANGLADESH AND ECUADOR

ROUND 1

2018 World Chess Olympiad

(Sept. 24, 2018)

Palau Open & Women's Team

Swept by Bangladesh & Ecuador

There's always chaos in the first day of every Olympiad that I have been -- 2010 Russia, 2012 Turkey, 2014 Norway, 2016 Azerbaijan and this year's Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. 

During the Captains' meeting, the Open Section Team Captain Tito Cabunagan is getting our accreditation cards while I am attending the meeting conducted by FIDE to brass including CEO Geoffrey Borg.

We were told to submit our Fixed Board Order 2 weeks earlier and we doesn't have time to go back to the Oasis Hotel to log in this 1st round roster of Palau Chess Teams (both Open and Women). 

I made a handwritten composition of both Palau teams from a paper lend to me by Guam's Team Captain Malcolm McFarland.

After submitting it, I proceed where Tito is getting the accreditation cards. He didn't get it because according to the records, we hadn't paid our dues of 100 euros each member for the accreditation, transportation, etc.

We go back at Oasis Hotel and told Joy Flores Whipps about it. I told her that I have the receipt for those and we print it at the lobby of the hotel.

But I told her that we still cannot get the accreditation cards if we will not pay 1,400 euros. Joy called Eric Whipps about it and it is confirmed that Palau didn't paid it. Eric thought that it was deducted from travel fund.

Me, Tito and Joy went back to the Accreditation Office and it's good that Joy brought enough cash and was able to pay it on time. If not, we can't play in the first round.

The gifts from the organizers were also given to us... notebook, pen, small/half bottle of white wine, pin... all for 13 of us. Eric got his different gifts as he is our FIDE Delegate.

When Eric came, we had some photo session at the front of Accreditation Office without Eric and Joy who are taking these photos.

At the entrance, the usual chaos of the 1st round of all Olympiads are normal.

 I saw Wesley So in front of me while in line for the first round. I know that they will not let cell phones, cameras, pens and watches inside the tournament hall so I just lift my cell phone high and take shots at Wesley before he goes inside. His teammates Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura and GM Shankland are wearing blue suits.

 I just learned that Tito didn't check his old email address where the organizers sent the password to the team captains for them to submit the Fixed Board Order (FBO) of Palau's Open Team. I submitted the Women's Team as this... Board 1 - Joan Gemota, 2-Baby Edna Mission 3- Angelil Sisior 4. Angelica Parrado and 5/Reserve Angelica Magno. This line-up is targeted to make Angie the best board position to get at least a Woman Candidate Master title.

During our text conversation, Tito and I agreed to have Rustum at 1, Angelo at 2, Bobot at 3, Cyril at 4 and Leif Toribiong at 5/Reserve.

But because Tito didn't submit this FBO, the line-up for Palau will be according to their rating, which is Cyril at 1, Bobot at 2, Angelo at 3, Rustum at 4 and Leif at 5/Reserve. Cyril is very disappointed with this line-up.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- October 01, 2018

               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 -- October 01, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- October 01, 2018

               www.fide.com