MATLAB IN ACTION
The inaugural 2006 PICC participants—(Squatting –Left to
right) Manuel Nedic, PCF Chairman Francis ‘Sno’ Temaungil and Flavin Andres;
Standing (front row) L-R Eugenio Pastrana, Roberto Hernandez, USA and
Philippine Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jose Omega and Cyril Montel, Jr.
Standing (back row) IA Gary Bekker (AUS), CM Hilton
Bennett (NZ) and CM Paul Spiller (NZ). Not in the photo is Palau top player
Menandro Manuel. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
MATLAB WILL BE ACTIVE AGAIN
In 2006, Flavin ‘Matlab’ Andres was dubbed before by
Oceania Zonal President Gary Bekker as the next or future icon of Palau Chess.
Mr. Bekker said this during the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess
Championship held at Palau Royal Resort in its first 2 days and the rest at
Palasia Hotel.
The
PICC is billeted at PRR for 5 days (Aug. 31-Sept. 04) but due to the 1stTaiwan
Pacific Allies Summit was to take place there and that most of the hotel
facilities would be at the disposal of the Taiwanese President, his entourage
and the members of the delegations of the other 6 nations involved, the
tournament venue had to be shifted back to the center of town and to a
different hotel, namely the Palasia.
The
two invited players from New Zealand, Hilton Bennett and Paul Spiller, were
advised after the 2nd day of play as PRR became an amazing hub of
activity, buzzing with media including at least 5 or 6 film crews, newspapers
reporters (including the Reuters correspondent based in Taiwan), police
(including 2 police launch patrols), security guards and various delegates and
hangers on. The Taiwanese alone had chartered two passenger jets to fly in their
personnel!
In
the Opening Ceremony, Matlab and Palau Chess Federation Chairman Francis ‘Sno’
Temaungil were assigned as assistants to help in recording the games and assist
to the needs of 10 participants—Bennett, Spiller, Bekker, USA and Philippine
Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, locals Roberto Hernandez, Menandro Manuel,
Cyril Montel, Jr., Jose Omega, Manuel Nedic and Gene Pastrana.
After
the very successful event, the Awarding Ceremony was held at Palasia Hotel with
Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino awarding the prizes to the
winners – Champion, Bennett ($300.00 + storyboard trophy), 2nd
Bernardino ($200.00), 3rd Spiller ($100.00) and best local scorer
Manuel ($100.00).
Mr.
Bekker has given Matlab a book by chess world champion Gary Kasparov as a sign
of appreciation and in that moment that he said Matlab will be the future icon
of Palau chess.
Due
to his studies, Matlab has participated rarely in year round chess tournaments
in Palau until he became inactive for almost 10 years.
On
Aug. 06, 2016, Hernandez had a conversation with Matlab at Palau Community
College, in which Matlab showed interest to participate in this year’s Palau
National Chess Championship to be held after Palau Chess Team has come back from
participating in the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan from Sept.
01-14 most likely on Oct. 02—Dec. 04, 2016.
The
winner of 2016 PNCC will automatically qualify to Palau Chess Team to 2018
World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia.
There’s
confusion in the process of giving the 2016 Baku Olympiad participants their
electronic visas where the first visa forms to be filled up were requested to
resend to a different group of people assigned for the task. The Indonesian
team has complaint that they have followed the steps in the visa form and asked
why they have to resend the documents again of the 14-man delegation.
The
reply from them is: “There are 3,000 participants in this Olympiad and we
cannot check it one by one.” This means that Palau’s submitted visa forms is
okay. But to make sure, Roberto resend again the documents and photos (in white
background) of all members of Palau team.
A
day later, the reply is: “Dear Roberto, Thanks for the documents. Please resend
us fully scanned passport for Mr. Whipps Eric Ksau Surangel so that all the
numbers and letters are visible.”
After it was resent, everything is okay now with
Roberto and Allan Alcid continuing their training practices at PRR Dormitory 1
using longer time control and writing their moves. Their latest practice games
were held on Aug. 03, with Roberto winning their first game with the black
pieces and Allan won in their 2nd
game. THE MOVES:
Alcid, Allan (1750) - Hernandez, Roberto (1798) [B86] 2016
Olympians Prep (3), 03.08.2016
1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 e6 4.0–0 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6
6.a4 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 0–0 9.h3 Qc7 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Nce2 Nc5 12.Ng3 d5 13.Nh5
Nfxe4 14.Nxg7 Kxg7 15.Qh5 Nxd3 16.Bh6+ Kh8 17.Bxf8 Bxf8 18.cxd3 Nf6 19.Qh4 Bg7
20.Rac1 Qb6 21.Nf3 Bd7 22.Ne5 Be8 23.d4 Ne4 24.Qe7 Qxd4 25.Qxb7 Rd8 26.Qe7 Rb8
27.Qc7 Bxe5 28.Qxb8 Bxb8 29.Rc8 Kg7 0–1
Solution to last week’s
puzzle No. 3484: 1. f8=R!! Kd6 2. Rd8 mate. If the f pawn is promoted to
a queen, it’s a draw by
stalemate.
This week’s puzzle No. 3486: White to
move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 25
Issue 63
August 08, 2016
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
To be published as a book in the future
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012-- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- August 08, 2016
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- August 08, 2016
