(611) INVITATION FROM NIGERIAN CHESS FEDERATION (TBN-Jan. 19-25, 2009)

THE Palau Chess team has received an invitation from Nigerian Chess Federation to come for one week in Nigeria for its National Team Training Camp.

The purpose of the invitation is to enhance the connection of both nations and give both teams international skills, experience and promotion so that both nations can perform
well in future upcoming events. 

All the necessary things like visas and luxury buses will be available till the end of the training camp.

Maximum security is also guaranteed for the team. But, the hotel bill shall be paid by the invited team and transcontinental flight tickets is not mentioned if free or not.

The Palau Chess Federation Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez referred this invitation to Mr. Jan Berglund, Palau official Delegate to FIDE (World Chess Federation) and he inquired as follows:
     Dear Mr. ACP, Sani Mohammad,
     I have tried to call you concerning this matter, but a recorded message says that there is no connection to your number in this network.
     I have tried both your land line and your cell phone. The same answer on both.
     How can I reach you, either on Skype, land line or cell? Preferably in that order. I need further information about your training camp: 
    First, it is unclear to me about the cost - You say hotel not included. Does that mean that we pay for our own hotel costs? If so, what's our estimated cost for hotel? Is the transcontinental flight included or not?
   Second, From which countries are you expecting participants? How many participants have you calculated?
   Third, What are the dates? Will there be any opportunity to play any tournament games in conjunction with this camp?
   Fourth, Who are the instructors? Hope to hear from you soon.   Jan Berglund, Palau Chess Federation
                                 Skype: berglund46

The Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Brisbane, Australia is a qualifying step for World Championship.

It is in the FIDE rules, that the organizer has to provide free board and lodging to at least one male and one female participant from each member federation.

PCF cannot expect any of those free accommodation for extra person. Mr. Gary Bekker, the Oceania Zone President, has got a separate budget from Asian Chess Federation that he can spend on chess within his zone.

PCF can ask for the same kind of sponsorship from that budget for one more player.

On top of that, one female player would be provided for, if there is someone interested to go.

This chance was offered to Hernandez' wife Flor, the women's division champion of the inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup.

She can go only if full airfare sponsorship can be obtained. Hernandez is already saving for this chance and a second player who can get or save for other cost, will be offered to Palau players, in the top 10 or not.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18
               Issue 04
               January 19-25, 2009      

     

(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
                

                 

(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