(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) 



      

  

(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        

(593) CHESS OLYMPICS BOUND PLAYERS SEEK PRESS ACCREDITATION (Sept. 22-28, 2008)

TO GIVE certain advantages in all venues of the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, the Palau Chess Team is urged by its Delegate/Coach/Trainer to have press accreditation in submitting their final roster of players.

A Palauan Chess Newsletter will be created to be issued by Palau Chess Federation to its members. And all members can be contributors to all newspapers in Palau: Tia Belau, Palau Horizon and Island Times.

Since Roberto Hernandez is writing in Tia Belau since 2002, he will be contributing all his reports to Tia Belau.

Accreditation card holders are given free street-car rides in Dresden, to and from the venue/hotels and don't have to pay Euro 9.50/day to get entry in the venues.

Other members of the team are Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, a surveyor at Surangel's, will handle Board 1. Manny Nedic of PTC, is Board 2; Hernandez, the musician of Palau Royal Resort, will be assigned at Board 3; Board 4 will be Cyril Montel, Jr., landscaper at Palau Pacific Resort; and reserve player is Gene Pastrana, sales and marketing manager of Jean's Boutique and Store.

Dennis Lara, a cook at PRR, has arrange private accommodation in Dresden on his own and will participate first in Asian Chess Championship in Iran slated to start in October 22-29, 2008.

He is expected to participate in other European tournaments while waiting for the biennial Chess Olympiad where he is playing in collateral tournaments parallel to the Olympics. 

Jan Berglund is Palau's Team Captain/Delegate/FIDE Committee member (computer/Press FIDE Press card/USTV.

His wife, Bessie Rave is Councelor/Press (USTV) and has arranged her private accommodation in Dresden on her own.

She was also with Jan in the 2006 World Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy where Palau is already eligible to participate. But due to financial constraints they were not able to send a chess team.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 17
            September 22-28, 2008 


    

 

  

 

(589) LARA TO IRAN AND DRESDEN, GERMANY (TBN-Sept. 08-14, 2008)

WITH his determination, improved play and help from Mr. Jan Berglund, Dennis Lara will represent Palau in the 2008 Asian Chess Championship for men and women in the first week of November 2008 in Iran.

He will then proceed to participate in the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany that will start on November 12-25, 2008.

His participation is in the other tournaments parallel to the Olympiad as he is not included in the 5-player Palau team that includes Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, Manny Nedic, Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr. and reserve Gene Pastrana.

But Lara has to shoulder is airfare to Tehran, Iran and to Germany. The accommodation is free and Lara is now soliciting funds from his relatives in the Philippines to grab this once in a lifetime chance to compete internationally in the game of kings.

If there is a woman chess player who can shoulder also her airfare, it is still open. 

Chess is not much popular for women in Palau and most of those inactive players participate only when there is cash prizes involved like the inaugural Ambassador Marino Rapid Chess Tourney held in 2006 where Flor Hernandez, wife of Palau no. 4 Roberto Hernandez, won the trophy and $75.00 cash prize.

Anyone of the Palau Chess Team members can also compete in the Asian Chess Championship and if anyone of them has a budget for his airfare in Iran, there might be more than one representative of Palau to the ACC.

This offer will be referred to the team members, who are now in the process of getting Schengen visas from the Honorary Consul of the Federal Republic of Germany Mr. Thomas Schubert.

Mr. Berglund is coming to Palau soon to train the team members. He was the Delegate that represented USA in the Torino, Italy World Chess Olympiad in 2006.

He can train up to Grandmaster level and Palau top players can gain the necessary training from world class trainer.

He is looking for a place for his retirement and Hernandez offered him the paradise island of Palau.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18
               September 08-14, 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              

(168) CHESS MISCELLA"NEWS"

CHESS MISCELLA"NEWS"

PALAU ROYAL RESORT
     Its resident musician, Roberto Hernandez, plays music from 6-9 pm at Waves Restaurant and from 9-11 pm at Breeze Bar, on the upper right of this photo.
                                                                            (Photo by Jaime Guevarra)

*FIDE LAWS OF CHESS*

*1889 Game by Marco in Vienna, Asutria*

*INVITATION TO PLAY IN 2009 QUEENSTOWN CLASSIC

AND OCEANIA ZONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP*

THE PALAU Chess Federation received the World Chess Federation (FIDE) Laws of Chess through its Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez. The 18-page documents cover over-the-board play.

The English text is the authentic version of the Laws of Chess, which was adopted at the 77th FIDE Congress in Dresden, Germany that coincided with the World Chess Olympiad in November 2008.

It will be coming into force on July 01, 2009. In these Laws, the words "he", "him", and "his" include "she" and "her".

In the preface of the document, it started with: The Laws of Chess cannot cover all possible situations that may arise during a game, nor can they regulate all administrative questions. Where cases are not precisely regulated by an Article of the Laws, it should be possible to reach decision by studying analogous situations which are discussed in the Laws. The Laws assume that arbiters have the necessary competence, sound judgment and absolute objectivity. Too detailed a rule might deprived the arbiter of his freedom of judgment and thus prevent him from finding the solution to a problem dictated by fairness, logic and special factors. FIDE appeals to all chess players and federations to accept this view. A member federation is free to introduce more detailed rules provided they: (a) do not conflict in any way with the official FIDE Laws of Chess, and (b) are limited to the territory of the federation concerned, (c) are not valid for any FIDE match, championship or qualifying event, or for a FIDE title or rating tournament.

The BASIC RULES OF PLAY of the document will be published little by little next issues as some of them are already feaured in the "AN INTRODUCTION TO CHESS" last month.

In 1889, at Vienna, Austria, a strong chess player only known by the name of Marco, played an unknown player with the odd of a whole rook (on the a1 square) and the pawn on a2 moved to a3.

Here are the first 17 moves and the last 3 moves will be this week's puzzle: White to move and mates in 3. Marco had the white pieces:

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. e5 Ne4 8. Bd5 f5 9. 0-0 Ne7 10. Ba2 d5 11. exd6 nxd6 12. Ne5 h5 13. Bg5 g6 14. Nc3 c6 15. Re1 Ne4 16. Rxe4 fxe4 17. Qb3 Rf8 ....

In his email to Roberto Hernandez and Gene Pastrana on December 02, 2008, Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker asked if either of the two chess players of Palau can participate in the Queenstown Classic in New Zealand in January 2009 and/or Oceania Zonal Championship in June 20-26, 2009.

Mr. Bekker is sponsoring the accomodation and an airfare subsidy of $500.00. Hernandez asked Pastrana if he can make it and he refused due to financial constraints.

At Palau Royal Resort, if a worker completed 2 years, he is entitled to at least 17 days of paid leave and free roundtrip ticket to his/her country of origin.

Hernandez will be 2 years at PRR on June 01, 2009 and he filed for a 17-day leave on June 17-July 03, 2009. A fitting date to participate in the Oceania Zonal.

He will ask for the help of Ambassador Marino for a discount on Philippine Airlines flight to Brisbane. Currently, the airfare for Palau-Manila-Melbourne (roundtrip) is $1,700.00.

Source: Chessmade by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 13 and 15

Volume 18   Issue 12

March 22-29, 2009

(153) CHESS POLITICS (TBN-Feb. 09-15, 2009)

CHESS POLITICS



IN THE Turin, Italy Chess Olympiad in 2006, Palau became a victim of chess politics with the election of new World Chess Federation (FIDE) president coincide with the Olympiad.

Honorary lifetime president Florencio Campomanes came to Palau on May 11-14, 2006 to get the proxy vote of Palau. He is pushing for the re-election of incumbent president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov while Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker of Australia supports Mr. Kok of The Right Move party.

On the election date, both parties claimed the proxy of Palau and eventually it was awarded to Campomanes after Roberto Hernandez, the Permanent Delegate of Palau to FIDE, faxed the final letter that invalidated the previous two proxies.

The whole story of this incident was published in the July 21-28, 2006 issue of Chess Mate.

And in the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, Palau became a victim again of chess politics. This time, the stake is not that high as it is not an election year.

It happened on the eve of November 22, 2008 when Campomanes called Hernandez at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 asking for a proxy of Palau Chess Federation for the Asian Chess Federation Continental Meeting and FIDE General Assembly 22-26 November 2008 in Dresden, Germany.

The PCF has already assigned and hired Mr. Jan Olav-Berglund to be Palau's Delegate since January 2008 to the end of November 2008.

Before sending the proxy letter on PCF letterhead, Hernandez emailed Mr. Berglund about it . HIS REPLY IS AS FOLLOWS:

"Dear Mr. Hernandez, Have you already sent them your proxy? Who signed this proxy in that case? I was just about to deliver my paper to the FIDE office when I received this email from you. Could it be that your proxy has not gone through yet? To me the proxy is not important in itself, but it gives me more authority when discussing help and cooperation for us with chess friends all over the world. I have stayed here in Dresden all the time to try to fight for us. I could have left a week ago and save a lot of money for my trip to Palau, if I had known that you do not want me to represent you at the Congress.
It is because of chess politics that you did not get your visas and your sponsorships. It is because of this chess politics that we are not represented in this Olympiad in spite of actually having a team here, equally legitimate as many other teams, who are actually playing.
It is because of chess politics that four former professional teachers, now retired, who would like to spend a lot of future time in Palau, together with me, to impose chess in schools according to a well functioning chess program.
I am now hesitant to what to do myself. I have spent a lot of time to prepare for a pleasant chess future in Palau after I now have finished all my doctor's appointments, operations, treatments, I hope.
Instead of chess politics I would like to work on chess development. That is what I am good at. How do you want me to act? I am not the person who threaten or force anything. If anyone wants to cooperate with me, it must be out of mine and their own free will. Whatever you decide, I'll go along with. Best wishes, Jan

C H E S S P O L I T I C S,    anyone?



Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
February 09-15, 2009

(152) 3rd Amb. Marino Cup Cancelled; Part 2 of Mr. Berglund

HAVE BEEN TO TORINO AND RUSSIA OLYMPIAD
Robert Smith, left, was the Board 1 player of New Zealand in 2010 Russia Olympiad together with his wife in the NZ women's team. The couple have been to 2006 Torino, Italy Olympiad also and have this picture taken with Mr. Jan-Olav Berglund. They have a short reunion in Russia after 4 years. (Photo by Bessie Rave)



3RD AMB. MARINO CUP CANCELLED;
PART 2 OF MR. BERGLUND

MR. JAN Olav-Berglund have been an organizer/arbiter at many international tournaments, matches, invitationals, Swisses, and of course of national tournaments at all levels as well as coach at various international tournaments for juniors and for seniors, male and female, teams and individuals.

Hee was also in the chess mail order business, like Gary Bekker, for about 20 years. He was a major dealer in Northern Europe and was also represented with a booth at the Olympics in Thessaloniki, Greece both times, Dubai and Novi Sad.

He had written about 25 books published on his then chess book company and a couple published elsewhere.

In the mid-90's he was the headmaster of a state run chess college for national and international students in Sweden. Unfortunately, the Swedish economy went down then and about 360 sports schools were reduced to 36.

The two government chess colleges (The Chess Federation run one of them, he and former world champion Anatoly Karpov run the other one) had to shut down and have not reopened since.

He is continuing being in touch with some of his students by email since then. He still have in his possession a 16,000 volume chess library where the President of Asian Chess Federation is interested to have.

Some top players of Palau still don't believe that Mr. Berglund exists. For them, to see is to believe and seeing Mr. Berglund to come to Palau is the ultimate reason for them to believe.

The chairman of Palau Chess Federation Francis 'Sno' Temaungil was given a copy of all emails of Mr. Berglund (from September 27, 2007 - December 2008) by its Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez. Another copy was given to Gene Pastrana and he was requested to lend it to other unbelievers for referral.

Mr. Berglund also suggested to have a yearly election of officials of Palau Chess Federation.

Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino, the top chess supporter in Palau, has cancelled the 3rd Ambassador Marino Cup due to tight budget caused by world economic crisis.

In his conversation with Hernandez on Sunday evening and Monday morning, he said PCF should now concentrate in the Oceania Zonal Tournament in 2009 (the first international step to qualify for the World Champion title) to be held in Brisbane on the Australian Gold Coast on June 20-26, 2009.

The Ambassador promised to get a discount for players airfare from Philippine Airlines. The Australian Gary Bekker, President of Oceania Zone, has promised that one male and one female players from Palau will get full board and lodging and free entry to the Zonal.

The players need to shoulder their own air tickets and visas, which cost $75.00 and will take one month to process as the embassy here will forward it to Pohnpei and the applicants need to shoulder also the payment for its return.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             January 12-18, 2009