CONGRATULATIONS TO PALAU CHESS TEAM TO BATUMI, GEORGIA
The most successful Palau Chess Team to any Olympiad posed for a group photo before the start of the 1st round of 2018 WCO in Batumi, Georgia. From left to right—Angelo Salvadora, Tito Cabunagan, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Rustum Cabuso, Angie Parrado, Leif Toribiong, Baby Edna Mission, Bobot Tan, Angelica Magno, Roberto Hernandez, Joan Gemota, Angelil Sisior.
(Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipos)
(Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipos)
2018 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD --
BEST EVER CHESS OLYMPIAD
FOR PALAU!
THE BEST ever participation to a Chess Olympiad of Palau happened in the just concluded 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia from Sept. 23-Oct. 06 with the 14 delegation of Palau ready to mettle their chess skills with the best of the world.
Despite the chaos in the opening round, normal in any Olympiad, the Palau Open team of Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bobot Tan, Angelo Salvadora, Rustum Cabuso and Leif Toribiong was fitted vs. the 2 GMs and 2 IMs team of Bangladesh with Cyril having a first round rest. The Palau women’s team, in which I am the Team Captain, is up against a tough Ecuador team with Joan Gemota, Baby Edna (Bheng) Mission, Angelil Sisior and Angelica Magno. My strategy to both teams is to rest the players with potential to gain at least a Candidate Master (CM) title in the first round, thus Angelica Parrado rested.
The strategy works! As early as 7th round, Angie already gained a Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title (Palau’s 2nd after CM Bernard Garcia got his in the 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey). There is also a possibility for Angie to gain Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title if she would win 2 of her last 3 remaining games. Another strategy here is to rest Angie after a win (esp. with a shutout win) by the team because they will be facing a very strong team in the next round then.
We cannot apply the same strategy in the Open team because of inability of their captain to submit the Fixed Board Order as early as Sept. 13 while still in Palau. Failing to do so means their FBO will be according to their FIDE rating—Cyril, Bobot, Angelo, Rustum and Leif. But even with this mess up, Cyril showed how really good he is and still got Palau’s 3rd CM title in the 9th round with also a probable FIDE Master (FM) title if he would win his last 3 games, a very tough task being at Board 1.
At least 2 more FIDE titles are up for grab among Bobot and Joan. I informed Bobot that there is a slim chance for him to get a CM title after their 2-2 tied match with Central African Republic. He needs to win his last 3 games, nothing else. He has to play also 10 games, the most among Palau players, to score 50% total on 5 wins and 5 losses slate. In Joan’s case, I did a different strategy—after her win vs. Togo in the 9th round. I have to rest her in the 10th round vs. Honduras to have a shot at CM title against Bermuda in the final round.
Bobot lost to a very strong player Andre Stratonowitsch (2138), who offered a draw by crossing his 2 index fingers, a sign that we didn’t know yet that it is a sign of offering a draw! It’s really a good learning experience in this Olympiad. Joan also lost her chance for a CM title at Board 1 when she succumbed to Zuzana Kovacova (2079) -- the winner of a WFM title with an incredible 8.5 points out of 9 games. But Angie won over Yasmin Flanagan at Board 4 to have herself a WFM title, too and Palau drew with Bermuda in the final round to finished 130th being seeded 124th.
Likewise, Palau Open team drew with Timor Leste to finished 178th being seeded 155. There are many 2-2 scores in the final round including Guam, PNG and USA vs. China that won China its 2nd Open title over top seed USA and 2nd seed Russia via higher tiebreak. It’s a double gold for China as their women team won the gold, Ukraine the silver and host Georgia, 3rd.
As per agreement in the Board Meeting in March 12, 2018, the 2018 Palau National Chess Championship will commence on Oct. 21 and will conclude on its 9th week on Dec. 16. There will be no more qualifying and the Top 10 (Round Robin) will be 1. Cyril 2. Bobot 3. Angelo 4. Rustum 5. Tito 6. Pax 7. Roberto 8. Jeff 9. Dennis 10. Jojo Escapatoria.
The Reserves might be 7 or 9 rounds Swiss system if there are at least 16 contestants. The possible entrees are 1. Neph Macasaet 2. Nilo de Jesus 3. Jun Mahor 4. Joel Gemota 5. Eugene Labarda 6. Leif Toribiong 7. Manik Hossain 8. Glen Navarroza 9. Morton Sawaichi 10. John Malinao 11. Pedro Parmisano 12. Lenge Gibbons 13. Elizalde Madrinan 14. Rafael Paloma 15. Lieslie Taksiau 16. Clarence Kitalong 17. Jello Aguaras 18. Albino Taksiau 19. David Yuen Wong 20. Bendel Daligdig 21. Arnold Undecimo and 22. Remrel Dizon, who showed interest to play in the 2019 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship on Feb. 17-24, 2019 in Tumon, Guam.
Round-robin women’s division participants are 1. Angie 2. Bheng 3. Joan 4. Angelica Magno 5. Jennifer Angeles 6. Gladys Anne Paloma 7. Benerica Daligdig 8. Glendalynn Ngirmengiil 9. Angelil Sisior 10. Destiny Sisior
The Junior (round-robin) players are 1. Gian Gabriel Claronino 2. Nicholas Nehez 3. Gian Paloma 4. Michael Gulla 5. Rommel Gulla 6. Kyarii Sisior 7. Aome Angeles 8. Reece Reklai
The time control to be used is the same as the Olympiad’s to familiarize the players with it. Registration fee is $20.00.
Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3766: 1. Qxd7+!! Rxd7 2. Rc8+ Rd8 3. Bb5#
This week’s puzzle No. 3791: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 27
Issue 82
October 15, 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 15, 2018
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- October 15, 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 15, 2018
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- October 15, 2018
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