(602) GETTING READY FOR 3RD AMBASSADOR CUP (TBN-Nov. 24-Dec. 01, 2008)

AFTER the Palau women's team to 2008 Dresden World Chess Olympiad were also unable to play, the focus now of the disappointed chess players are on the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship and the 3rd Ambassador Marino Cup (formerly known as the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship).
     ***During the arguments about the Palau women's team, Mr. Jan Berglund emailed Roberto Hernandez -- asking him to send an email to Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong that the 4 women (retired teachers from British Virgin Islands) have been to Palau teaching chess in schools. Roberto send the email but lately, he found out that the organizers are looking for a Palau stamps on their passports that they've really been to Palau at least once. They said that all of their passports are new and they didn't bring the old ones.
         Eventually, the 4 women were denied participation. Their expensive airfares just to be there are not worth it. Roberto didn't know that Mr. Berglund will bring in those women.***

On Sunday evening, the much awaited match between Palau top player Menandro Manuel and no. 4 Roberto Hernandez finally materialized.

Fireworks occurred in their Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) game. 

On the 13th move, Hernandez sacrificed a whole knight for a pawn and obtain a strong attack. 

On his 16th turn to move, Manuel consumed 32 minutes for one move that proved to be critical as he thwarted the relentless attack and spent another 15 minutes for his 25th move and later seized the initiative with 2 rooks, 2 bishops and 2 pawns against Hernandez' queen, knight and 4 pawns.

Hernandez resigned on the 49th move after making a blunder.  

THE MOVES:
       

White: Roberto Hernandez (1830)        (109)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Qf3 Nbd7 9. 0-0-0 b5 10. g4 Bb7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. g5 f5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qh5+ Kd8 15. g6 b4 16. Rg1 Be7 17. gxh7 Nf6 18. Qf7 Rxh7 19. Qxe6 Rxh2 20. e5 Qd7 21. Rxd6 Bxd6 22. Qxf6+ Be7 23. Qb6+ Kc8 24. Rg8+ Bd8 25. Ne2 Bd5 26. Qc5+ Qc6 27. Qxc6+ Bxc6 28. e6 Ra7 29. Nd4 Bd5 30. Bxa6+ Rza6 31. e7 Bxg8 32. e8=Q Bd5 33. Qb5 Rg6 34. Qc5+ Bc7 35. b3 Be4 36. Qf8+ Kb7 37. Qxb4+ Rb6 38. Qe7 Rd6 39. Qg7 Rd5 40. Kb2 Rd2 41. Ne6 Rxc2+ 42. Ka3 Ra5+ 43. Kb4 Ra6 44. Nc5+ Rxc5 45. Kxc5 Rxa2 46. b4 Rc2 47. Kd4 Rf2 48. Qd7?? Rd2+                         0-1

A 5-player blitz chess contest was held right after their match and Hernandez redeemed himself by capturing the title against the original members of Palau Olympiad Chess team: Manuel, Manny Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., and venue host Gene Pastrana.

After the game, the 5 players talked about the future of chess in Palau and about Jan Berglund, who is coming to Palau after his stint as International Arbiter in Queenstown Classic Open Chess tournament in New Zealand on January 15-24, 2009.

He is currently negotiating for Palau to be a CACDEC member nation at the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany and he successfully done it. 

He will then obtain chess materials (chess boards, clocks, etc) but will be having a problem on overweight baggage.

He will also invite about a dozen chess players of different nationalities to participate in the 3rd Ambassador Marino Cup which is tentatively set after the Queenstown Classic.

He and the 3 women members of the Palau team are also arranging talks to Palau school officials about "Chess In Schools" meeting held during the Congress that coincide with the Olympiad.

They got really good input and also good arguments to use when approaching the government about chess in schools as well as some real good arguments to approach Palau National Olympic Committee.

Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino is currently in the Philippines and will be back next month.

Talks about the final date of the event where he is sponsoring the cash prize of $1,000.00 will be finalized.

Mr. Berglund is hoping to get a sponsorship for the same amount. There might be a second tournament parallel to it. 

The invited players can stay longer and their accommodation will be one of the primary concerns.

The second tournament might be a Swiss system and the Ambassdor Cup will be round-robin as the previous two where Palau players got their international rankings.





Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 17
               November 24-December 01, 2008
                

                 

(601) GOOD NEWS FOR KIDS CHESS IN PALAU (TBN-Nov. 17-23, 2008)

IN AN email to Jan Berglund, Palau Coach and Delegate of FIDE to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, six kids bring honor to Palau through chess.

THE FOLLOWING IS THEIR EMAIL TO HIM:

     From: Kerstin Nicolai@onlinehome.de
     To: berglund_jan@hotmail.com
     cc: stefantaudte@freenet.de
     Subject: Palau Dresden
     Date:Tue, 4 Nov 2008 22:53:54 +0100

     Dear Mr. Berglund, 
     We turn to you with a very special question. We are six children at the age of 10.
     Last year our team took part in a special chess tournament, the so called "Partnerschulen Turnier."
     Each team of this special tournament started for one foreign country. Our team started for Palau. Before the tournament we collected lots of information about Palau.
     We made posters, designed a flyer and painted a huge flag. We presented all these things during the tournament.
     But we were also successful in the games of chess. We won most of the games and so we qualified for the Chess Olympiad 2008 in Dresden.
     During the Opening Ceremony in the Eissporthalle Freiberger Arena on 12th November you will see two of us with the flag of Palau.
     We will be in Dresden for the Olympiad together with our coach Stefan Taudte from 12th November 2008 to 14th November 2008.
     It would be very great for us to play a game of chess with the real team of Palau. Is it possible for you to help us with organizing a meeting on Friday 14th November 2008?
     We are looking forward to hearing from you.
     Best wishes,
     Alexander, Katharina, Soren, Max, Florian, Alina, Tim 
     from Erfurt in Germany.

MR. BERGLUND RESPONDED WITH:
     Dear Ms. Kerstin Nicolai, Alexander, Katharina, Soren, Max, Florian, Alina, Tim and Mr. Stefan Taudte,
     We are very pleased to hear what you have accomplished for, and with, us.
     Of course, we must find some way of playing chess with each other during your stay in Dresden.
     We are playing our daily round in the tournament from 3pm. So, if you would want to play against all of us, it must be in the morning of one of those three days or after a round. 
     If you would like to play some kind of simultaneous exhibition, myself and the player not playing that round can play against all of you at the same time.
     But maybe you have much better ideas yourselves? Tell me, what you would like to do?
     I'm sure that our kids, in our schools in Palau, would be very curious to know of what you have done for us, and yourselves.
     So, if you can give us some information on paper, we can bring that home to our schools and maybe find some kids who would like to correspond with you from time to time.
     Our kids are very curious to know about life in Europe.
     Maybe you can sometime meet each other in Erfurt and/or Koror?
     Please tell us also the results of your performances when representing Palau and give us a small resume of what information on Palau you managed to gather.
     How many of you are in the group? You write six but sign with seven names?  
     We are looking forward to see you in Dresden. We will stay in Ramada Hotel Dresden-Wilhelm-Franke-Str. 90
     Jan Berglund
     National Coach
     FIDE Delegate, Palau Chess Federation
                             Koror, Republic of Palau

The two chess players Roberto Hernandez and Gene Pastrana are difficulties obtaining Schengen visa and their trip on Nov. 12 is still hanging in the balance.

It would be unfortunate and disappointing for these kids to miss the only 2 players from Palau in the team as the other members are one from Philippines and 2 from Sweden. 

The other original four members could not make it due to financial constraints and the world economic crisis. 

After talking to the Consul on Monday, November 10, Hernandez and Pastrana didn't make it in time.

 Hernandez will still get his annual leave and will stay in Palau Royal Resort and resume his work on the History of Chess in Palau to be completed.

The National Chess Championship will be resumed also and plans for the 3rd Ambassador Cup might be finalized after the Chess Olympiad.

There might be some invited players to participate. Mr. Berglund will also come to Palau after his role as International Arbiter in a New Zealand tournament is finished.

Mr. Diez didn't make it also to Dresden and he is still interested to play for Palau team in the next Chess Olympiad in Seberia in 2010 and he will participate also in New Zealand and Australia, with him paying his own airfare. 

THE LATEST NEWS:
     Palau withdrew its men's team due to visa problems of players. The substitute for Hernandez, Pastrana or Diez was denied.
     He is from British Virgin Islands.
     Now it's only the women's team (girls from Sweden and Australia) that will be representing Palau if their legitimacy of joining the Palau team will be resolved.
     
The first opponent of Palau women team is Germany.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 13 & 15
             Volume 17
             November 17-23, 2008
  
        

(599) CHESS OLYMPIAD LATEST DEVELOPMENTS (TBN-Nov. 03-09, 2008 -Nov. 10-16, 2008 Double Printing

TWO FIDE rated players from Palau, one from Philippines, and probably two from Sweden, might represent Palau in the World Chess Olympiad to be held in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.

Palau No. 4 Roberto Hernandez already completed his papers for Schengen visa application and if Gene Pastrana can complete his papers, he can also be included in the team and they will travel together on the 12th of Nov. from Koror to Manila, Manila to Amsterdam on Nov. 13 and will take an overnight train (Amsterdam-Dresden) that is included in the ticket.

Antonio Aladino Diez, the 3rd placer in the 2nd Palau Invitational Chess Championship, already been selected as Board 1. He will travel from Manila to Berlin via Cathay Pacific on Nov. 11 and will take a short train ride to Dresden on Nov. 12.

Travel insurance have been obtained for the players that covers the period of Nov. 12-29, 2008. It can be extended on a day-to-day basis.

The 2 extra players that Mr. Diez got from Davao, Philippines didn't make it because of the short deadline. 

They have just a couple of days to rush everything through and there are a couple of technicalities that could not be arranged.

It was not because of finances that they said no. They have money and the time. The two are Engineer Rico Vanta and lawyer Bernardo Cataluna.

The papers of Hernandez were given to the Pastor of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale as she is leaving on the eve of October 31, 2008 to attend the church's international conference in Manila.

She will go also to German Embassy in Manila to apply for Schengen visa, which she obtained a few years ago but were not able to use it because of an incident.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 17
            November 03-09, 2008
            November 10-16, 2008 (Double Printing) 



      

  

(598) OLYMPIAD PLAYERS REDUCTION, RESHUFFLE (TBN-Oct. 27-Nov. 02, 2009)

WITH the latest development of the Palau top players participation in the Dresden, Germany World Chess Olympiad, it has to be reduced dramatically due to financial constraints. 

The collaboration of Jan Berglund and Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker of Australia to get some funding for the players is still not enough to send 5 players to the Olympiad.

Mr. Bekker suggested to have players who played somehow in Palau and are residing in place closer to Europe to be back up players. But they have to shoulder their own airfares.

One option is to borrow the prize fund of $1,000.00 from the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship (The Ambassador Marino Cup) and chip-in together the $500.00 that the Palau Chess Federation has set aside for yearly membership fee to FIDE, and the $200.00 that Roberto Hernandez has pledged, then there would be almost enough to finance at least one ticket for him.

If Mr. Berglund will be playing and he will find 2 others (from Palau or from any other part of the world), then there will be a participating team for Palau.

Four people and no substitute is a common solution when federations are lacking funds.

A minimum of 2 people can be fielded by a country but that means they'll never win a match, a 2-2 draw would be the maximum.

Minimum of 3 players could be OK and if one gets sick, the team can still play with 2 players for a round or two, not having to forfeit.

Hernandez forwarded Mr. Berglund's email to 29 individuals and only Antonio Aladino Diez, the 3rd placer in the 2nd Palau Invitational Chess Championship responded quickly.

He was instructed to contact the German Embassy in Manila. And to apply for Schengen visa and other things related to travel in Europe.

He has to shoulder his own airfares and extra accommodation costs if he arrive one or 2 days early or depart late.

He is also asked to inquire of the cheapest ticket he can get hold of from Manila. 

His son, Boris Michael Diez and Palau no. 1 player Menandro Manuel won the tourney in Sept. last year.

He specified before that he and his son are willing to represent Palau in the Olympiad if given the opportunity. His son is not available for this Olympiad.

The deadline for Palau to change the line-up of players is in the middle of this week, a special request granted by Mr. Ignatius Leong.

Hernandez also forwarded an email of a Bulgarian who is also willing to represent Palau in the Olympiad.

Mr. Berglund don't know him as his record in the FIDE rating list is just his name and date of birth, 1971.

He will investigate more about him as he can save a lot because he is already in Europe.

This practice of getting players from anywhere is granted only to first time participating nation.

There is a rule that a player must reside in a country for 2 years before he can represent a country in Chess Olympiad.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper
           Pages 13 & 15
           Volume 17
           October 27-November 02, 2008
 


  

       

 

     

  

(596) TIME IS RUNNING OUT; LARA WITHDRAWS (TBN-Oct. 20-26, 2008)

WITH no chance to get financial support from his governor relative in Philippines, Dennis Lara withdrew his participation to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25 with the other 5 members still hoping for the best.

Lara's governor relative lost the election in 2007 and the chances of getting his sponsorship finally ended his chance to participate in Chess Olympics held every 2 years. He will try again on the next one with more preparation.

According to an email received by Jan Berglund from Mr. Modrozynski in Dresden, the German Embassy in Manila knows everything about the members of Palau Chess team and is just awaiting for the application as soon as possible. 

The finances of the airplane tickets is not yet finalize and Mr. Berglund is still hoping for his last try for a new sponsor from three sources.

The members of the team are Board 1 Menandro Manuel of Surangel and Sons Company, Board 2 Manuel Nedic of PTC, Board 3 Roberto Hernandez, musician of Palau Royal Resort, Board 4 Cyril Montel, Jr. of PPR and reserve Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique and Store.

The sponsorship of their airplane tickets will be the deciding factor of the first ever participation of Palau abroad.

If the airfares cannot be solved, there is no point in spending money on asking for visas and Mr. Berglund suggested to go on with the preparations for visas up to the point where money has to be spent to be fully prepared to act quickly if all of a sudden he gets an OK from somewhere.

In the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship, Manuel scored another full point after defeating Mohammad Manik Hossain in their game last Saturday, October 11 at Jean's Boutique.

THE MOVES:

White: Mohammad Manik Hossain                                                                              (108)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. d4 Nf3 2. f3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd2 c5 5. Ne2 Nc6 6. Bc3 Bd6 7. g3 c4 8. Bg2 c5 9. f4 b5 10. a3 Ne4 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. d5 Ne7 13. Qd4 Nf5 14. Qxe4 exd5 15. Qf3 Bc5 16. Nd4 Qe7 17. Re1 Re8 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Kg2 Bxc2 21. Qg4 f6 22. Bd4 a5 23. Nf2 Be4 24. Kf2 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 b4 26. h4 Rc8 27. h5 h6 28. axb4 axb4 29. f5 Ra8 30. Nc6 Qb7 31. Nd4 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Qe2 Qb2 34. Rac1 Bd3 35. Qxb2 cxb2 36. Rd1 Be4 37. Ne2 Rec8 38. g4 Rab8 39. Ng3 Rc2+ 40. Kf1 Bf3 41. Rb1 Rbc8 42. Rxb2 Rxb2 43. Ne2 Rcc2 44. Kf2 Bxe2 45. e4 dxe4 46. Kd3 Bxg4 47. Kxe4 Re2+ 48. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 49. Kf4 Bxh5 50. Kg3 Re5 51. Kf2 Be8                 0-1

The much-awaited of Manuel and Hernandez was postponed again due to schedule conflict. 

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 14
               Volume 17
               October 20-26, 2008        

(581) BOY MANUEL IS BACK (TBN-July 11-17, 2008)

MENANDRO 'Boy' Manuel has been Palau's top player in the last 3 years and missed the first 2 months of 2008 National Chess Championship due to his assignment in Yap twice.

He's now back and prove his stature as number 1 seed by outplaying 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. in 45 moves of Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation) last Sunday, July 06 at Jean's Boutique and Store.

It is the only game of the day as other top seeds have conflict with their schedules. 

THE MOVES: 

White: Cyril Montel, Jr. (1870)       (96)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. d5 exd5 10. Nxd5 0-0 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Bg5 Bg4 13. Re1 Rae8 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qb3 h6 17. Bh4 Rc8 18. Bd5 g5 19. Bg3 Rc7 20. f4 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Kh7 22. Rac1 Rfc8 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Rc1 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 Qc7 27. Qd2 Qc4 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 29. Qf4 Ng6 30. b3? Nxf4 31. bxc4 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 Nxc1 33. a4 Nd3+ 34. Ke3 Nb2 35. Kd4 Nxa4 36. Kd5 Nb6+ 37. Kxd6 Nxc4+ 38. Kc5 b5 39. g4 Nd2 40. e5 Ne4+ 41. Kd4 Nf2 42. h4 Nxg4 43. h5 Nh6 44. Kd5 Kf8 45. Kc5 Ke7            0-1

Second seed Jose Omega, 4th seed Roberto Hernandez, venue host and 7th seed Gene Pastrana and Palau first National Master Manny Nedic arrived at the tournament site in different time.

Even Jaime Guevarra, Palau Royal Resort's pastry chef, had missed the chance to play Manuel, who generously paid for Em-R de Vera's registration fee of $20.00.

It is still possible to send a Palau team to compete in the 2008 Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.

According to Jan Berglund in his latest email to Hernandez, the first step to be made is to have Hernandez choose the players in the team.

 If it's possible, the top 7 players of Palau (Manuel, Omega, Montel, Hernandez, Nedic, Pastrana, and even Tony Villa, who is now in Philippines) are eligible to compete in the Olympiad. 

Mr. Berglund will captain the team and on his way to Palau via Philippines, he is planning to play Villa and will decide how can Villa finish his other 2 remaining games against Manuel and Paquito Suringa, Jr., a cook at PRR.

The Organizing Committee of Dresden, Germany have given the participating countries the deadline of confirming their participation on July 12, 2008.

If one or 2 players can't make it, it is possible for Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich, Jimboy de Jesus, Dennis Lara, Guevarra and even Elizalde Madrinan to make it to the team.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18
            July 11-17, 2008       

(567) FORMAT OF 2008 NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHI (TBN-April 25-May 01, 2008)

ALL is set for the 2008 Palau National Chess Championship with 6 players from Palau Royal Resort participating to gain international rankings.

Palau's number 4 Roberto Hernandez, with FIDE rating of 1830 will lead the PRR players Jaime Guevarra, Dennis Lara, Arnel Pama, Eli Madrinan and Paquito Suringa, Jr. to greater opposition against Palau's top rated players.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FORMAT OF THE TOURNAMENT:

1. The time format is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 30 seconds increment per move.

2. Writing chess notations is mandatory in either Algebraic or English (descriptive) notation.

3. It will be a single round-robin event and players will handle the white and black pieces as even as possible. It will be a FIDE rated tournament and players are advised to finish their games without a single default as it will hinder the chances of unrated players to gain international ranking. The most flexible schedule in the world is offered to participants.

4. Palau Royal Resort players have different time schedules and day offs. Other players can with them at Dormitory 1 in an agreed time and date.

5. Jan Berglund, the International Arbiter (IA) and Organizer (IO), will join the tournament to test the weaknesses and strengths of possible team players to participate in the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany in November 2008. He will also be the Chief Arbiter and will captain the Palau team to the Chess Olympiad.

6. Registration fee is $20.00 with half of the collected fee to be given to Mr. Berglund as "appearance fee" and the other half for cash prizes of the top 3 finishers.

7. Registration is now going on. For more information, call Roberto Hernandez at PRR Dormitory1 at 488-2000 ext. 114 or 488-8052 (Thursday morning); or Gene Pastrana at 488-4640.

8. The venue of the tourney is Jean's Boutique and Store in front of Maris Stella School.

IN THE RESUMPTION OF PALAU ROYAL RESORT RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT:
    Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II took the leadership of Class A division with a sweep of Suringa and had 4 remaining games against Darwin Nisperos and Laurence Abuton.

He will join the NCC and will play a day earlier on Saturday, April 26 against anyone available in the afternoon.

He doesn't know how to write chess moves yet and Hernandez will teach him. 

In the Class B division, invited player Chat Miraflor informed the organizer that he will lose all of his games by default due to schedule conflict.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18
               April 25-May 01, 2008