(1028) PARTICIPANTS OF 2003 SENIOR AND JUNIOR CHESS TOURNAMENT (TBN-Sept. 12-19, 2003)

                            PARTICIPANTS OF 2003
          SENIOR AND JUNIOR CHESS TOURNAMENT

THERE are 3 newcomers in both Senior and Junior Division of the 3^rd and final tournament for the year 2003 – the Seniors and Juniors Chess Tournament, that will start on Sept. 21 at the new venue—C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services premises. The event will conclude on Dec. 14.

                Jess Toldoya, who is always an observer in the last tournaments, finally joined together with the other 2 newcomers Rolando Funa and 21-year-old Francis Cuenco, to complete the 21-player roster of the Senior Division.

                The 13-round Swiss system Senior Division is now complete with the top 3 human seeds Roberto Hernandez, Menandro Manuel and Cyril Montel, Jr. leading their division with an identical national approximate rating of 1740.

                The top seed is Ivan II Chess Computer with its USACF rating of 2000, followed by 5^th seed Eugene Koh (1690), 6^th Jimmy Valenzuela (1680), 7^th Jose Omega (1665), 8^th Mike Miguel, Jr. (1655), 9^th Bong Alipoon (1640), 10^th Mariano Agusitin, Jr. (1625), 11^th Danny Dandoy (1600), 12^th Mario Ramos (1595), 13^th Nilo de Jesus (1560), 14^th, 15^th, 16, and 17^th  Amante Caballero, Ben Ramos, Manuel Mahor, Jr. and Norbert Villanueva with identical 1515 rating.  No. 18, 19, 20 and 21 Tutii Joe Chilton, Toldoya, Funa and Cuenco will start with 1510 approximate rating. If Jon Lagumen and Genaro Manlaya will join in this event, they will also start with the same rating as the last 4 players at 1510.

                The Junior Division’s 3 newcomers are 12-year-old Charles Aquino, John Page and Jovani Adachi. It’s a double round-robin format for the junior with a rapid time control of 30 minutes for each player to finish the game. It time permits, it is also a best of 3 series to give more playing time for junior players. Ivan II Chess Computer will join in the Senior and Junior Divisions with its strength at H (Hard) for Senior and E (Easy) for Junior.

                The other junior players are defending champion Jayrome Soriano, Ricky ‘Jun-Jun’ Camacho, Christopher Domingo, Rodnnie Dizon, Kelvin Cuenco and Dmitri Kyle Villanueva.

                This is the first tournament that the Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) will ever hold as the first 4 tourneys ever held in Palau was sponsored/organized by The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) that produced 4 different champions. The 2002 All-Filipino Chess Tournament champion is Eddie Grefiel, followed by Consul General Julius Torres, who captured the 2002 Open. Menandro Manuel bagged the 2003 plum in his first try while Edgardo Enarsao is the latest champ by winning the 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament’s Class A championship.

                Enarsao will be leaving Palau for good and he will hold a simultaneous chess exhibition against any number of available players, especially those who hadn’t played against him yet, on the Opening day of the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament.

                His trophy will also be given to him in advance as he is leaving in 2 days after the opening day. GOOD LUCK AND GOODBYE TO A DESERVING CHAMPION!!!

                The trophies in this tournament will be provided by venue host Nilo de Jesus. He asked Hernandez to look for a different style of trophy this time. It’s a sort of storyboard- type of trophy, which is locally made. It doesn’t have to be chess pieces shaped trophies.



Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 12
             September 12-19, 2003

               

(948) TOUCH MOVE VIOLATION IN THE 10th ROUND (TBN-Nov. 27-Dec. 04, 2003)

HE PLAYS BETTER WITH BISHOPS THAN KNIGHTS
        The "Drunken Master" Jimmy Valenzuela poses at the handwritten bulletin board made by Roberto Hernandez for the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament. In his previous games against Palau's best chess players, he showed great potential in handling the bishops that knights. That's why in his first game with Roberto, he exchanged bishop for knight early in the game.            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

       TOUCH MOVE VIOLATION IN THE 10th ROUND
           (2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament)

The 10th round of the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament produced one touch move violation complain from Roberto Hernandez, who is leading the tournament with a 7-1-2 win-loss-draw slate.

In the first game of the day on Nov. 23, 2003 at C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services, Roberto is playing Jimmy Valenzuela.

On the 21st move, Valenzuela, who is analyzing the game with his fingers pointing at different direction, touched the h2 pawn. He later changed his mind and moved and g3 pawn instead. Roberto reminded him that he touched the h2 pawn first. Jimmy said, "It's accidental when I touched the h2 pawn."

Roberto suggested to him, "Then you should analyze your games with your mind and not with your fingers."

Despite the warning/citation of a touch move violation, Jimmy resumed playing the 21st move (g3), realizing that the h2 pawn move will put him in a passive position.

Roberto tolerated Jimmy's action but he had already a plan to protest the touch move violation if he would lose that game. AND HE DID LOSE!

And when he protested about the earlier touch move violation, a new game settled the issue.

 

ROUND 10

Nov. 23, 2003

White: Jimmy Valenzuela (1680)

Black: Roberto Hernandez (1740)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Bg5 e5 9. Qd3 Qb6 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. 0-0 Qxb2 12.  Rab1 Qa3  13. Nd2 Rg8 14. Nc4 Qc5 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Rg4 17. Ne3 e4 18. Qe2 Rh4 19. Rxb7 Bh6 20. Rb5 Qc8 21. g3 ***(Touch move violation. Jimmy touched the h2 pawn and moved the g pawn instead).

21. … Rh3 22. Nc4 Qa6 23. Rb2 f5 24. Kg2 Rc8 25. Rb4 Bd2 26. Qd2 Rc4 27. Qe2 ***

(Protested the touch move violation. New game settled the issue).

REPLAY GAME:  White: Jimmy Valenzuela   Black: Roberto Hernandez

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 a6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. a3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. Bd3 Qa5+ 9. Nbd2 Qb6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. h4 Bxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. e5 Nb5 15. Rc1 0-0 16. a4 Na7 17. Nd6 Qa5+ 18. Kf1 Qxe5 19. Qd2 f5 20. Nc4 Qf6 21. f4 b5 22. Nb6 Rb8 23. Qf2 bxa4 24. Nxa4 Nc6 25. Nb6 Qd4 26. Qxd4 Nxd4 27. Nc4 d5 28. Nd6 Bd7 29. Rh3 Rb6 30. Rd1 Rxd6 31. Bxa6 Bb5+ 32. Kf2 Bxa6 33. Rxd4 Rb6 34. b3 Rfb8 35. Ra4 Bc8 36. Ra3 Bd7 37. Ra7 Bc6 38. Rg3 g6 39. h5 Rxb3 40. Rg5 Rb2+ 41. Kg1 Be8 42. Re7 Kf8 43. hxg6 hxg6 44. Rxe6 Bxe6 45. Rxg6 Kf7 46. Rg5 Rg8              0-1


In a special game held on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003, Menandro Manuel kept his chance intact for the title with a win over teenager Francis Cuenco.

Meanwhile, Jose Omega subdued venue host and trophies sponsor Nilo de Jesus; Manuel Mahor, Jr. played in his best form to out-duel Jess Toldoya.

Cuenco suffered another setback from Danny Dandoy, and de Jesus bounced back from defeat to trounced Mike Miguel, Jr.

RESULTS OF THE 10th ROUND (SENIORS)

ROUND  10  SENIORS                                          November 23, 2003

1. Menandro Manuel vs. Francis Cuenco (1-0)*     (November 22, 2003) (Saturday)

2. Jose Omega vs. Nilo de Jesus (1-0)  3. Jess Toldoya vs. Jun Mahor (0-1)  4. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1)  5. Danny Dandoy vs. Francis Cuenco (1-0) 6. Nilo de Jesus vs. Mike Miguel, Jr. (1-0)  7. Norbert Villanueva vs. Cyril Montel, Jr.    (0-1)  8. Rolando Funa vs. Bong Alipoon (0-1)


RESULTS OF THE 10th ROUND (Juniors)

ROUND  10  JUNIORS                                          November 23, 2003

1. Chris Domingo vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (1-0)  2. Jayrome Soriano vs. Ivan II (1-0)

3. Kelvin Cuenco vs. Ivan II (1-0)  4. Dmitri Villanueva vs. Jayrome Soriano (0-1)

5. Rodnnie Dizon vs. Jovani Adachi (1-0)  6. Ivan II vs. Dmitri Villanueva (Draw)

  

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 12
             November 27- December 04, 2003




   

(941) MAHOR DEALT HERNANDEZ HIS FIRST LOSS IN ROUND 8 (TBN-Nov. 13-20, 2003)

    MAHOR DEALT HERNANDEZ HIS 1ST LOSS IN RD. 8
              (2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament)

CO-TOP SEED Roberto Hernandez' pursuit of a first chess title in Palau took a halt when he was upset by the surging Manuel 'Jun' Mahor, Jr. in a marathon 72-move Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) encounter on Nov. 09, 2003 at C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services premises.

Mahor, Jr. is just a pawn ahead in an ending of bishop of opposite color but Roberto made a crucial mistake on the 60th move that allowed Mahor's king to penetrate in the king side and gobbled up 2 pawns in the process.

The loss somehow stalled Roberto's chance for a first title in Palau. His closest pursuer, co-top seed Menandro Manuel, is idle in the 8th round as he has played as many rounds.

ROUND 8

Nov. 09, 2003

White: Manuel Mahor, Jr. (1515)

Black: Roberto Hernandez (1740)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 a6 6. h3 b5 7. b3 Bb7 8. Qe2 Qc7 9. Bb2 Nbd7 10. 0-0 e6 11. Nd2 Be7 12. c4 b4 13. N4f3 0-0 14. Nh2 Nc5 15. Bc2 d5 16. e5 Nfe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Rac1 Nc3 19. Bxc3 bxc3 20. Qd3 g6 21. Qxc3 dxc4 22. bxc4 f6 23. f4 Qc6 24. Qg3 f5 25. Kh1 Bf4 26. Qf3 Qc7 27. Qe3 Rad8 28. Nf3 Be7 29. Bb3 Qc5 30. Qe2 Be4 31. Rcd1 Qc6 32. Ng5 Rxd1 33. Rxd1 a5 34. Re1 Bb4 35. Nxe4 Bxe1 36. Nf6+ Rxf6 37. exf6 Qe5 38. Qxe5 fxe5 39. c5 Bg3 40. Bxe6+ Kf8 41. Kg1 Bxf4 42. Kf2 Be5 43. Ke3 Bxf6 44. Kxe4 Bd8 45. a4 Ke7 46. Kd5 h6 47. g4 g5 48. Bf5 Bc7 49. Kc6 Kd8 50. Kb7 Bf4 51. c6 Bc7 52. Ka6 Ke7 53. Kb7 Kd8 54. Ka6 Ke7 55. Kb5 Kd6 56. Bd7 Kd5 57. Ka6 Kd6 58. Kb5 Bd8 59. Kc4 Bc7 60. Kd4 Bd8 61. ke4 Kc5 62. Kf5 Kd6 63. Kg6 Ke5 64. Kxh6 Kf4 65. Kg6 Kg3 66. Kf7 Kxh3 67. Bf5 Kg3 68. Ke6 Kf3 69. Kd7 Bb6 70. c7 Bxc7 71. Kxc7 Ke3 72. Kb6              1-0

In the first game of the 8th round, Jose Omega (1665) played his 9th round game against co-top seed Cyril Montel, Jr. (1740) and lost in 36 moves of a Ruy Lopez.
  

White: Jose Omega (1665)                                               Nov. 09, 2003

Black: Cyril Montel, Jr. (1740)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. 0-0 d6 5. h3 f5 6. Re1 Nf6 7. exf5 0-0 8. d4 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. c3 Bb6 11. Nd2 c6 12. Ba4 Bxf5 13. Bb3+ Kh8 14. Nf1 Ne4 15. Be3 Nxf2 16. Bxf2 Bxf2+ 17. Kxf2 Bg4+ 18. Qf3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Qh4+ 20. Kg2 Rf6 21. Re4 Rg6+ 22. Rg4 Rxg4+ 23. hxg4 Rf8 24. Ng3 Qg5 25. Ne4 Qf4 26. Rf1 d5 27. Ng3 e4 28. fxe4 Qd2+ 29. Kh3 Rxf1 30. Nxf1 Qd3+ 31. Ng3 dxe4 32. Kh4 g5+ 33. Kh3 e3 34. Kg2 Qd2+ 35. Kh3 e2 36. Nxe2 Qxe2                0-1


Jess Toldoya drew with Ivan II Chess Computer while Bong Alipoon took the measure of Mike Miguel, Jr.

Mario Ramos subdued newcomer Francis Cuenco and venue host/trophies sponsor Nilo de Jesus drew with French Defence advocate Danny Dandoy.

Miguel, Jr. suffered another setback when he replayed his game against Jimmy Valenzuela and finally, Eugene Koh and Norbert Villanueva called it a truce.


In the Junior Division, Charles Aquino started to pull away from the field as he scored 3 victories against John Page, Ivan II Chess Computer and Jovani Adachi.

  Charles Aquino torching John Page, Ivan II Chess Computer and Jovani Adachi to pull away in the Junior Division of 2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament.               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



Other results of the Junior Division: 
     Defending Champion Jayrome Soriano trounced Kelvin Cuenco; Rodnnie Dizon drubbed John Page; Soriano collected his 2nd win over Jovani Adachi, who lost also to Ricky Camacho and Dizon; John Page touted Dmitri Kyle Villanueva in the last game of the day.

 

RESULTS OF ROUND 8 (SENIORS)
 

ROUND  8  SENIORS                                                November 09, 2003

1. Jose Omega  (9^th) vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (0-1)  2. Ivan II vs. Jess Toldoya (Draw)            3. Bong Alipoon vs. Mike Miguel, Jr. (1-0)  4. Manuel Mahor, Jr. vs. Roberto Hernandex (1-0)    5. Francis Cuenco vs. Mario Ramos (0-1)  6. Danny Dandoy vs. Nilo de Jesus (Draw)     7. Mike Miguel, Jr. vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (0-1) (Replay)   8. Eugene Koh vs. Norbert Villanueva (Draw)

RESULTS OF ROUND 8 (JUNIORS)

ROUND  8  JUNIORS                                               November 09, 2003

1. Jayrome Soriano vs. Kelvin Cuenco (1-0)  2. Rodnnie Dizon vs. John Page (1-0)            3. John Page vs. Charles Aquino (0-1)  4. Ivan II vs. Charles Aquino (0-1)  5. Jovani Adachi vs. Jayrome Soriano (0-1)  6. Ricky Camacho vs. Jovani Adachi (1-0)  7. Jovani Adachi vs. Rodnnie Dizon (0-1)  8. Dmitri Villanueva vs. John Page (0-1)     9. Charles Aquino vs. Jovani Adachi (1-0)



Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Page 9-10
             Volume 12
             November 13-20, 2003 

 

(932) HERNANDEZ NIPS OMEGA IN ROUND 6 (TBN-Oct. 30-Nov. 06, 2003)

              HERNANDEZ NIPS OMEGA IN ROUND 6
                       (2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament)

ONLY 7 games were played in the 6th round of the Senior Division of 2003 Senior and Junior Chess Tournament held on Sunday, October 25 at C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services premises. The Junior Division had 9 games played with 5 games in a best-of-three format to give the junior players more exposure games in shorter time control of 30 minutes for each player to finish the game.

Jose Omega (1665 National Rating) played against Ivan II in his 6th round game and prevailed in his adjourned game with the taunting and talking chess machine.

He played his 7th round game against co-top seed and still unbeaten Roberto Hernandez (1740) and lost in 44 moves of Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation). Omega deviated on his 6th move. Instead of a normal Bg5, he made a dubious g3 that created a weakness to his castled king at the king side after the exchange of light-colored bishops.

Materials are even with both having 3 pawns, a minor piece and a queen but Roberto has posted his knight on e3 and threaten mate on either f1 or g2. After running out of check, Omega made an illegal move to concede the game.

 

ROUND 6

Oct. 26, 2003

White: Jose Omega (1665)

Black: Roberto Hernandez (1740)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3?! b5  7. Bg2 Bb7 8. Nb3 e6 9. 0-0 b4 10. e5 Bxg2 11.  Kxg2 bxc3 12. exf6 Qxf6 13. Rb1 cxb2 14. Bxb2 Qg6 15. Qf3 d5 16. Nd4 Bc5 17. Rfe1 0-0 18. c4 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Nc6 20. Ba1 Rab8 21. Rbd1 Nb4 22. cxd5 Nxd5 23. Rd4 Rb4 24. Rxb4 Nxb4 25. Be5 Nxa2 26. Qa3 Qc2 27. Qxa6 Nb4 28. Qa1 Nd3 29. Rf1 Qc6 30. Kg1 f6 31. Bd4 Ra8 32. Qc3 Qe4 33. Bb6 Ne5 34. f4 Nc4 35. Re1 Qd5 36. Bf2 Ra2 37. Qd4 Qf3 38. Rxe6 Rd2 39. Qc5 Rd1+ 40. Re1 Rxe1+ 41. Bxe1 Ne3 42. Qc8+ Kf7 43. Qd7+ Kg6 44. f5+ Kh6              0-1

 In Round 6 of the Junior Division, Rodnnie Dizon, right, out-dueled Ivan II Chess Computer while Christopher Domingo, left, drubbed Kelvin Cuenco, middle, in a best-of-three series (2-0). Earlier in the afternoon, Cuenco blanked Ivan II Chess Computer in their best of 3 match (2-0).
                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

ROUND 6 (SENIORS)                                                   October 25, 2003

1. Jose Omega (7^th) vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1) 2. Danny Dandoy vs. Jess Toldoya (0-1) 3. Jun Mahor vs. Mario Ramos (1-0)  4. Amante Caballero vs. Mike Miguel, Jr. (0-1)     5. Rolando Funa vs. Francis Cuenco (0-1)  6. Eugene Koh vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (0-1)     7. Bong Alipoon vs. Norbert Villanueva (1-0)

ROUND 6 (JUNIORS)                                                  October 25, 2003

1. Charles Aquino vs. Ivan II Computer (0-1) Best of 3 (0-2)  2. Kelvin Cuenco vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (1-0) Best of 3 (2-0)  3. Jayrome Soriano vs. John Page (1-0) Best of 3 (2-0)  4. Rodnnie Dizon vs. Ivan II (1-0)  5. Kelvin Cuenco vs. Chris Domingo (0-1) Best of 3 (0-2)  6. Ricky Camacho vs. Ivan II (1-0) 7. Jovani Adachi vs. Dmitri Villanueva (1-0)   8. Charles Aquino vs. Ricky Camacho (1-0) Best of 3 (2-1)  9. Ricky Camacho vs. Dmitri Villanueva (1-0)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 12
             October 30-November 06, 2003