(1182) TITO UPSETS CYRIL (TBN-Dec. 06-12, 2010)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 19
             Issue 49
             December 06-12, 2010

(1016) CHESS ON MONDAY, MUSIC ON THURSDAY (TBN- March 12, 2012)

UPSET IN THE MAKING
    Jeffrey Negrillo, right, snapped the 12-game winning streak of Roberto Hernandez, left, in the last few rounds of 3rd Pax Cup. Jonathan Sta. Ana, of PRR's Purchasing Department, watches the first few moves of the game.            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




          CHESS ON MONDAY, MUSIC ON THURSDAY

                TIA BELAU News will be published twice a week starting on the 2^nd week of this month. Chess columnist Roberto Hernandez will contribute also on Thursday, this time about music.

                In the resumption of 3^rd Pax Cup Rapid Chess Tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, Jeffrey Negrillo snapped the 12-game winning streak of Roberto Hernandez by giving him a dose of his own medicine—against his pet Danish Gambit.

                Jeff refused the gambit pawn on the very 2^nd move and brought out his queen early in the game. He pinned the knight of Hernandez that’s defending the e pawn.

                Negrillo has created a weakness on Hernandez’ queen side.  He forced the exchange of his dark-colored bishop for a knight. Hernandez was obligated to capture with a pawn to avoid losing his e pawn with check. That double pawns on c file become the target as weakness that proved to be the deciding factor of the game.

                In the endgame, Jeff is ahead by 3 pawns and didn’t bite to Hernandez’ last-ditch attempt to salvage at least a draw with the bishop of opposite color endgame.

                With that victory, Jeff almost clinched a spot to the semifinals that include Hernandez and Paquito, who has 4 more remaining games. The last and final slot is still being contested by Ronnie Capio, who played all his remaining games already, Ferdinand Gutierrez and Rudel Roxas. If Roxas and Gutierrez will win their last 2 games, they will tie Jeff at 10 points apiece. It will eliminate Capio, who only had 8.5 points. Rey Alenain and Joel Gabris still have an outside chance to make it depending on the results of the remaining games of Jeff, Rudel and Ferdinand.

                Other results of last week’s games: Jeff swept Mar Joel Gabris and extracted 1 point from Dan Roldan; Gutierrez kept his hopes alive for a semifinal berth by sweeping Jeffrey this time.

                Standings of players and their win-loss-draw record:  1. Roberto Hernandez (12-1-0) 2. Jeffrey Negrillo (10-4-0) 3. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (9-4-1) 4. Ronnie Capio (8-9-1) 5. Ferdinand Gutierrez (8-6-0) 6. Rey Alenain (7-9-0) 7. Rudel Roxas (6-8-0) 8. Mar Joel Gabris (3-7-0) 9. Dan Roldan (2-13-0) 10. Miguel Gancayco (0-4-0).

                Ernesto Domingo, a stranger yet to Hernandez, has called Hernandez on his cell phone (778-5392) and set up a visit/practice with available players on Sunday, March 11 at 11:00 am at Dormitory 1.

                Hernandez also invited Rick Miskiv for practice/socializing, who later declined the invitation citing it is peak season now and he very busy.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez 
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 13 & 15
              Volume 21  
              Issue 11 
             March 12, 2012

(1015) JEFF WON 4, LOST 2; RONNIE IS 8-7-1

JEFF ON THE MOVE
    Jeffrey Negrillo, right, finally played in the 3rd Pax Cup by winning 4 straight before bowing twice to Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., 2nd from right. Roberto Hernandez, who won 12 straight, shakes hands with Pax before the start of their game. Ronel Gutierrez, 2nd from left, withdrew from the tourney due to schedule conflict.
                                                                                                                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


       JEFF WON 4, LOST 2, RONNIE IS 8-7-1

AS WRITTEN in the last issue of Chessmate, Jeffrey Negrillo, Edwin Acuyan and Ferdie Altea are the 3 remaining players who have yet to play a game in the 3^rd Paquito Suringa Cup Rapid Chess Tournament being held at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. This tournament is exclusively for PRR employees only and to give equal chances to less experienced participants, top seeds Roberto Hernandez and Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. are required to play 2-4 players at the same time.

                Pax has yet to play against 2 or more players but Hernandez played 2 at the same time last month, against Ronnie Capio and Dan Roldan and against Joel Gabris, Ferdinand Gutierrez, Miguel Gancayco and Rey Alenain last week. Hernandez played one-on-one against Pax and against Rudel Roxas as there is no one available for at least 2-player being played against simultaneously.

                Finally, Jeffrey Negrillo played his first games of the event scoring a perfect 4 out of 4. He swept Capio, nipped Roxas, and then clobbered Gabris in succession. His 4-game winning streak was snapped when he was swept this time by birthday celebrant Pax on Friday, March 02, 2012.

                Meanwhile, Joel scored his 2^nd and 3^rd points at the expense of Dan Roldan when he swept the latter the other day. Jeff bounced back from defeat and swept Rey Alenain to have a respectable 6-2-0 win-loss-draw slate. Capio is making his move to make it to the semifinal with another sweeps of Joel and Dan to trail Hernandez and Pax at the forefront with an 8-7-1 card.

                The top 4 finishers of this event will play in the semifinals with the No. 1 to play No. 4 and No. 2 to play No. 3 in maybe best of 3 series. The registration fee is $5.00 which will be the prize for the top 2 finishers.

                The Palau Chess Federation, Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) and King Royal Chess Club of PRR welcomes a new addition to the club/federation—Mr. Rick Miskiv, a dive instructor at Fish N’ Fins. He’s a friend of Blaire and he loves chess and is interested in playing or visiting the chess clubs for practice and meeting new people. He can’t participate in the ongoing event at PRR but he can visit the Dorm 1 and practice with available or day off chess players.

                He was offered by Hernandez the slot of team captain for Palau Women’s Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey but he politely declined the offer citing he don’t have experience yet being team captain or do tournaments.  He’s looking for a more casual chess club experience to find other people who like chess, to learn skills and to meet new people.

                Hernandez also suggested to him to check the Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com to learn more about chess in Palau. The website is becoming popular especially to Europeans since its inception in Dec. 26, 2011 with the help of Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos, Hernandez’ best friend. As of March 03, 2012 at 4:22 pm (Palau time), the site have 2,109 page views and 63 posts mostly by Hernandez. The latest post is by Joselito entitled “March 2012 International Ratings of Palau Chess Players”. Hundreds of Chessmate articles have yet to be posted by Hernandez in the future. He accidentally created another website “Palau Chessmate” where he is posting the first issues of Chess Mate by Robert Hernandez in Tia Belau since Dec. 29, 2002. Currently it has 76 page views and 34 posts.
***As of April 02, 2015 (10:00am Palau Time), there are 138,386 page views, 965 posts and more than 89 countries who viewed this website (Palau Chess).
     With exactly 50 lesser posts, Palau Chessmate has 915 posts currently. 

Source:
Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez 
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 21  
Issue 10  
Page 12  
March 05, 2012

(1007) FORMAT-- 2011 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (TBN-June 06, 2011)

        

1.    The event will be held from June 26-Sept. 25, 2011 at Beken’s Store and General Merchandise premises or at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. Playing days are mostly Saturdays and Sundays depending on the available time of participants.

2.    It will be a single round robin event limited to 18 players. The names have been drawn as follows: 1. Eugenio Pastrana (1754) 2. Karen Lee 3. Menandro Manuel (1910) 4. Jeff Balbalosa 5. Roberto Hernandez (1846) 6. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (1941) 7. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (1602) 8. Jeffrey Negrillo 9. Dennis Gonzales 10. Elizalde Madrinan 11. Jose Celiz 12. Mohammad Manik Hossain 13. Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr.  14. Angie Parrado 15. Tito Cabunagan 16. Elpidio Manaligod (1540) 17. Rudel Roxas 18. Edwin Acuyan

3.    The number of participants can increase to 21 if Manuel Mahor, Jr.  will join and up to 24 if Bernard Garcia will also join.

4.    The time control is 90 minutes to make 40 moves and 30 minutes more to finish the game +30 seconds increment starting from move 1.

5.    Registration fee is $10.00. Half of it will be for cash prize of the top 5 finishers and the other half is for the Palau Chess Team Fund to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

6.    When playing at Palau Royal Resort, players are asked to get a visitor ID before entering the venue. The third venue is the Bethlehem Park near Palau National Gymnasium. Players are asked to set a date and time so that chess materials can be supplied.

7.    This is a FIDE rated event. The players without international ratings yet must finish at least 9 games and should have played at least 3 FIDE rated players to get an international ranking.

8.    The FIDE Laws of Chess will be displayed at the tournament sites for referral in case of a protest or dispute. The official arbiters of the events are Roberto Hernandez and Gene Pastrana, who are both participating. If they are playing while a protest is made, their time clock will be temporarily stopped and will only be resumed after the dispute is settled.

9.    Score sheets will be provided and players are required to write in Algebraic chess notations. Aside from small cash prizes, the top 5 finishers will receive trophies in the shape of King for the champion, Queen for the 1^st runner-up, Rook for the 2^nd runner-up, Bishop for the 3^rd runner-up and Knight for the 4^th runner-up courtesy of Roberto Hernandez.

10. The 2 woman contestants are eligible to be members of Palau Women’s Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. They have more than a year to save for buying their own airfare.

11. The basis of the composition of Palau Chess Team to the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey was the final standings of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship. If Bernard Garcia is joining this year's PNCC and he finished in the top 5 AND he commits first than Cyril and Dennis Gonzales, then he can qualify as long as he is willing to buy his own airfare like the 4 who committed to the men's team (Manuel, Hernandez, Cabunagan and Mohammad Manik Hossain) and 2 to the women's team (Menandro's wife Elizabeth and Angie Parrado).

12. The Palau Chess Team Fund that were collected from registration fees and donations will be added to last year's fund to buy a laptop for Palau Chess Federation or to pay for the yearly due of PCF to FIDE (480 euros) for 2011 to be allowed to play in 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul. Countries with 2-year arrears in their payment are not allowed to participate in an Olympiad.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 9-10
              Volume 20
              Issue 23
              June 06, 2011 

(993) Profile of Champions -- CYRIL TOMAS MONTEL, JR. (TBN-Oct. 10, 2011)

ANOTHER CONTROVERSIAL GAME
     2011 PNCC co-champion Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., left, watches a controversial game between Gene Pastrana and Angie Parrado. Cyril had one vs. Gene in 2009-2010 PNCC. Watching also are 3 employees of Palau Royal Resort Lee Lozano, Jeffrey Negrillo, Paquito Suringa, Jr. and the 3 daughters of Angie.
                                                                                                                          (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

      Profile of Champions --
     CYRIL TOMAS MONTEL, JR. 


THE 2009-2010 Palau National Chess Championship was the turning point of Cyril’s chess career in Palau. Not only that he captured his first chess title in Palau but he also became the first champion in any tournament in Palau that didn’t lose a single game. He swept the opposition like a storm in all of his games.

 At the end of the tournament, he cited the chess software “Chessmaster 9000 Grandmaster Edition” as his secret weapon in winning his first title and national championship. His match against Manuel in Jan. 23, showed a sign of playing with maturity as he sacrificed his queen on the 29^th move, recovered it with interest (a pawn and a bishop) 2 moves later and prevailed over Manuel in 38 moves of Sicilian Defence.

Thus, he dislodged erstwhile top player of Palau Menandro ‘Boy’ Manuel and assumed the top FIDE ranking of 1942, the same rating of Manuel in 2006.

Cyril participated in all but one major chess tournaments in Palau since Sept. 2002 and won numerous runner-up finishes but never been a champion. He was involved in a touch move controversial game against venue host Gene Pastrana in the 2009-2010 PNCC that resulted in Gene’s withdrawal from the tournament after his refusal to follow FIDE Laws of Chess.

 He struggled at the 2010-2011 PNCC and finished 4^th behind champ Manuel, Jerry Sermeno and Roberto Hernandez. 

At the recently concluded 2011 PNCC, Cyril’s last games again involved Manuel, who defeated him handily. This set up a possible 4-way tie for the championship between eventual champions Tito Cabunagan, Cyril, Hernandez and Manuel.

An upset of Dennis Gonzales over Manuel on the last day of the tourney ousted the latter and settled for 4^th spot. The result is: 2011 PNCC have 3 deserving co-champions.

IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE FACTS ABOUT THE 3 CHAMPIONS:

1.The winner-over-the-other tiebreak gives the title to Tito and Cyril as they drew their game.

2. If the Sonneborn Berger system of tiebreak will be used, Hernandez will be the champion with 168.5 points to Cyril’s 152 and to Tito’s 146 tiebreak points derived from adding the player’s points and the points of the opponents that they have beaten.

3. If the Median tiebreak system is applied, Tito will be leading the other 2 with 172 points, Hernandez stays at 168.5 and Cyril will have 167.8 tiebreak points. Median is adding half points of the players that they drew and whole point from the opponents that they have beaten.

 It’s better to leave the results as it is published than saying “Hernandez is 2011 PNCC champ via Sonneborn Berger system and Tito via Median and winner-over-the-other”. There’s beauty in simplicity.

Source:   Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Volume 20              Issue 42  
             October 10, 2011

(992) GUTIERREZ IS PRR RAPID CHESS CHAMP (TBN-Sept. 12, 2011)

1st win at PNCC, 1st title at PRR in his first year in Palau
     A lot of first for Ferdinand 'Bong' Gutierrez, left, as he scored his first win in 2011 PNCC against Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria, Jr.,right. He defeated Rudel Roxas in the final of PRR Rapid Chess Tourney for his first chess title in his first year of working in Palau.                                                          (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

GUTIERREZ IS PRR RAPID CHESS CHAMP

AFTER SIX months of delay, the Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess Tournament finally concluded after a simple mistake decided the outcome of the game. Rudel Roxas, a cook at PRR, committed the first mistake in his final game against Ferdinand ‘Bong’ Gutierrez, Laundry Attendant, and never recover from it to settle for 1^st runner-up.

Their final game was held on Tuesday, Sept. 06 at PRR Dormitory 1 Lounge.

In the rated division of the tilt, Menandro ‘Boy’ Manuel of Surangel & Sons, took the title while Roberto Hernandez, musician of PRR, got the 1^st runner-up honor.

On Sunday, Sept. 04, Tito Cabunagan and Jose Celiz went to Beken’s Store and General Merchandise to play official games vs. venue host Gene Pastrana but the latter refused to play again. Hernandez explained to Gene his suggestions to speed up the tournament. Now he’s ready to play on Sunday, Sept. 11 vs. anybody available.

Tito and Jose bided their time and played blitz chess with Jose winning the last 2 games. And when it’s Hernandez turn to play against Tito, Hernandez won all his games against him (6 or more games). They stopped when it’s getting dark.

Hernandez got a phone call on Wed. Sept. 07 from Ms. Adele Anzawa, who’s been to Palau for just a few months with her Japanese husband and 11-year old son George, who’s a good chess player in school in Hong Kong. Her husband works as Counselor at Japanese Embassy.

 She is looking for some exposure for her son to chess practice or competition. Her conversation with Hernandez is focus on chess and music and to the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey where they stayed for 3 years. George has a diplomatic visa.

Hernandez had set a practice session for George on Sunday, Sept. 11 at Beken’s Store. Tito and Jose will be there to play official games against Gene. Jeffrey Negrillo of PRR is also coming with Hernandez and Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa to the site. Jeffrey will play as many games as he can to catch up to the last 15 days of 2011 Palau National Chess Championship..

With the possibility of George being with Palau men’s team to Istanbul and his mom’s inclusion to the women’s team, there might be a husband and wife and mother and son team members of Palau Chess Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad.

Ms. Adele can afford to buy their own airfare and take advantage of the opportunity and full accommodations for 16 days in Turkey. After their conversation, Hernandez thought of an idea to ask Elizalde Madrinan, a cook at Japanese section of PRR, if he can play all his remaining 17 games with him having a very hectic schedule.

 When Eli says he can’t, Hernandez will now offer George his slot. The 3 losses of Eli to Hernandez, Pax and Bernard Garcia will be carried over and the practice of George might be followed by official games against any available players. They will use the rapid chess time control to play as many games as they can.

There is also a possibility that George will take music lessons. Chess and music might have its part 4.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau  Newspaper
               Volume 20 
               Issue 37 
               September 12, 2011

(746) A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

THE 3 CHESS PLAYING DAUGHTERS OF ANGIE PARRADO
    WNM Angie Parrado, left, has been inactive for 9 years due to pregnancy. When she becomes active again, she used to play with her 3 daughters around. In the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship being held at Dormitory 1 of Palau Royal Resort, one of her daughter was seen roaming around the Dorm 1 by General Manager Isao Tahakashi that resulted in the issuance of this announcement.
                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) 

   A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
 

To: Bernard Garcia <bernardbgarcia@yahoo.com>; Menandro Manuel <boyge73@yahoo.com>; Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel <bhong_montil@yahoo.com>; Gene Pastrana <genepastrana@yahoo.com>; Tito Cabunagan <t2@ppuc.com>; Jeff Balbalosa <cyjeffb@yahoo.com>; Paquito Pax Suringa Jr <paquitosuringajr@yahoo.com>; Jeffrey Negrillo <jdl_negr@yahoo.com>; Dennis Gonzales <denz_153@yahoo.com>; Elizalde Madrinan <elizaldemadrinan@yahoo.com>; "manikmohammad75@yahoo.com" <manikmohammad75@yahoo.com>; Jojo Escapatoria <gescapatoriajr@yahoo.com>; "gigi_parrado@yahoo.com" <gigi_parrado@yahoo.com>; "jose@ppuc.com" <jose@ppuc.com>; "edwin_acuyan71@yahoo.com" <edwin_acuyan71@yahoo.com>; "potpot_426@yahoo.com" <potpot_426@yahoo.com>; "bongbong_17@yahoo.com" <bongbong_17@yahoo.com>; Ferdie Altea <ferdie_ust92@yahoo.com>
Cc: Tito Cabunagan <cabunagantito@yahoo.com>; Tutii Joe Chilton <tutiic@gmail.com>; Andres Mestizo II <aying_palau@yahoo.com>; "manny_nedic@yahoo.com" <manny_nedic@yahoo.com>; Jerry Sermeno <black_hawk_desolate@yahoo.com>; Amante Caballero <amanteccaballero@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, August 12, 2011 3:23 AM
Subject: A VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Chess Friends,

    This is a Memorandum issued today, Aug. 12, 2011 for your referral:

To: All Departments       Date: Aug. 12, 2011

From: Human Resources Office       REF. No. ADM 11-08-.6

Subject: Dormitory Safety and Security Concerns

     Please by informed that we are strictly imposing hotel safety and security concerns, it's Top Management responsibilities to protect our guests, employees and properties from any danger, accidents and damage due to any unforeseeable incidents that might occur. IN RELATION TO THIS VISITORS/CHESS PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER EMPLOYEES LOUNGE FROM 14:00 -16:00 PM ONLY AND AT AUGUST 31, 2011 NO MORE OUTSIDE CHESS PLAYERS ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER DORMITORIES LOUNGE.

     These matters have been raised by some staff that their concerns are dormitories security, safety and their place to rest, watching TV while on-break or day-off but this lounge become a public place. There are times lounge is too crowded by visitors with children and no place to sit down, looks messy, smells awful and employees' privacy had been violated.

     Top Management permitted to have a Chess Tournament exclusively to PRR employees only. Any organized tournament that is participated in by outsiders is no longer allowed to be held inside hotel premises to avoid any problem in the future.

     Thank you for your usual cooperation.

Prepared by: Gracie Alenain

 (HR Asst. Manager)                                                         

Approved by: Michelle Liao   

(Comptroller/Adm. Director)

    In view of this new memorandum, I suggest that we use the rapid time control of 30 minutes for each player to finish the game so that 4 games can be played by one player in one day to have them finish their games in PRR before the end of this month.

    Although the quality of games will suffer, this is just temporary as we can play the regular time at Beken's Store and Gen. Merchandise.

    Bernard's game vs. Eli is to be held at Beken's Store from 12:00 - 2:00 and Bernard's game vs. Angie is at PRR from 2:00-3:00. Bernard can play 2 more games by using the 30 minutes (rapid) time control. Paquito can play with Eli at PRR using whatever time control they choose. I will suggest to Eli that all his games should be played in rapid time control because he has played only one game so far.

    We can still finish this tournament even with this obstacle. I have already prepared a plan of the results/final standings even if Ann Acebron and Karen Lee can’t finish their remaining games. Even also if Edwin Acuyan and Elpidio Manaligod can't play even a single game and some 'lazy' contestants can't finish all their remaining games. That idea is the last resort. In the meantime, let's get the most of what we have!!!

   Good luck to all and all the best.

Roberto

Source: History of Chess In Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             August 2011

             To be published as a book in the future 

(343) SMILE AND SAY CHESS (Oct. 2012 Issue) The International Filipino

FILIPINO-PALAUAN GIRLS
L-R Angie Parrado and her daughters -- 8-year-old Destiny Sisior, 9-year-old Angelil Sisior and the youngest one against Jeffrey Negrillo of Palau Royal Resort before the start of their game in the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Angie Parrado with his girls and Filipino Jeffrey Negrillo.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

PINAY'S DAUGHTERS JOIN
PALAU TOURNEY

MY WIFE, another Filipina mother and her daughters, and a Palauan woman (Paz Ngiratechekii), and Filipina Mary Frances Lopez make up the ladies of the ongoing 2012 Palau National Chess Championship.

Florida Hernandez, Angie Parrado and her 2 girls -- 8-year-old Destiny Sisior and 9-year-old Angelil Sisior--, Mary Frances Lopez and Paz Ngiratechekii, will battle it out among themselves and 17 other rated and unrated men (boys) in the single round-robin of 1650 and below category to get their international rankings.

The category's men are Filipinos Jeff Balbalosa, Luciano Sibayan, Jon Manuel Reyes, Dennis Gonzales, Jaime dela Cruz, Dan Roldan , Elpidio Manaligod, Nilo de Jesus, Freddie Gloria (who replaced my wife Flor), Ferdinand Gutierrez and Manuel Mahor, Jr.

Palauan kids Ksau Anthony Whipps, his cousin Zachary Techall Whipps, Geoff Martin, Lenge Gibbons and Bangladeshi Mohammad Manik Hossain completed the cast of 21 players in the Class B division.

The top 8 chessers of Palau composed another group and they will figure in a double round-robin in the annual tournament running from Oct. 13 - Dec. 02, 2012 at the Palau Royal Resort (PRR).

They are Jose Celiz, Gonzalo Escapatoria, Menandro Manuel, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Paquito Suringa, Jr., Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia, me, and Tito Cabunagan.

Each player have 90 minutes to finish the game with 30 seconds increment that will start from the first move.

Prizes will be offered to 5 winners of each category. The champion in the rated players group will get a free one-night stay at Palau Pacific Resort.

The 1st runner-up will get a free one-night stay at PRR. Other winners will have a brunch at the two hotels.

In the under 1650 category, the champion and 1st runner-up will get a free dinner for two at the 2 hotels.



Source: Smile and Say Chess By Roberto Hernandez
The International Filipino Magazine
Volume 3
Number 7
October 2012 Issue

(315) FINAL ROSTER -2012 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS, HUSBAND AND WIFE AT 2012 PNCC
Angie Parrado, left, confirmed the participation of her 2 daughters -- 6-year-old Destiny Sisior (2nd from left) and 9-year-old Angelil Sisior. The 3 are playing in the 1600 and below category. Jeffrey Negrillo, right, will miss this PNCC as he left for good to Philippines on Tuesday, Oct. 09, 2012. Roberto Hernandez is participating in the top 8 of Palau category while his wife Flor is competing against Angie & kids.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



FINAL ROSTER OF 2012 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Dear Participants,

With the confirmation of 2 Palauan girls (6-year-old Destiny Sisior and 9-year-old Angelil Sisior) to join this tournament, the final roster of participants is as follows:

In the top 8 players of Palau, this is the numbering -- 1. Jose Celiz 2. Gonzalo Escapatoria 3. Menandro Manuel 4. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 5. Paquito Suringa, Jr. 6. CM Bernardo Garcia 7. Roberto Hernandez 8. Tito Cabunagan. This will be a double round-robin format with the time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment.

The 1600 and below category are as follows: 1. Paz Ngiratechekii 2. Jeff Balbalosa 3. Luciano Sibayan 4. Jon Manuel Reyes 5. Dennis Gonzales 6. Dan Roldan 7. Scott Hess 8. Mohammad Manik Hossain 9. Ksau Anthony Whipps 10. Jaime dela Cruz 11. Angie Parrado 12. Elpidio Manaligod 13. Ma. Florida Hernandez 14. Destiny Sisior 15. Angelil Sisior. This will be a single round-robin and the time control is 75 minutes + sec. increment.

AVAILABLE PLAYERS TO PLAY ON OCT. 13 (SATURDAY) -- Menandro Manuel is off and can play 2 games starting at 2pm. Jose Celiz is also available on Saturday. Paquito Suringa, Jr. will be off at 2:00 pm. Roberto Hernandez is on duty but his office is just adjacent to the Conference room and will be available up to 6pm.

In the 1600 and below category, James dela Cruz and Ma. Florida Hernandez will play at 2:00pm. Luciano Sibayan is available everyday from 2pm onwards.

Jeff Balbalosa is available on Sat. and Sunday from 1-5pm while Ksau Anthony Whipps is available on weekdays from 5-7pm. Jon Manuel Reyes is only available on Sunday from 1-5pm.

Whoever are available to play, please take a look at what color you will be having before starting to play. This is not applied to the double round-robin format of the top 8, who will have both colors.

Please inform Roberto Hernandez your time and day that you're available for arrangements of games. Roberto is off this Sunday Oct. 14 and will be available to play anybody in the top 8 who have time for official game -- 2pm and onwards.

LET'S HAVE FUN!!! AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL!

Roberto

(181) LOW TURNOUT ON OPENING DAY

CHESS NEOPHYTE GOT HIS BAPTISM OF FIRE
Jeffrey Negrillo, left, played his first tournament game in Palau on Nov. 17 against Mohammad Manik Hossain, 2nd from right. Jeff got his baptism of fire and lost in 42 moves of King's Pawn Opening. Before their game, Manik practiced with George Gabris, right, while macho man Erick Ventinilla poses and watched the game in the sideline. Next Wednesday, Ferdie Altea will play Manik in the dashing game of wits.
                                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

DUE TO Manny Pacquiao - Antonio Margarito boxing bout on Sunday, Nov. 14, a very low turnout of players participated on the opening of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship.

Some newcomers have come to Beken's Store and General Merchandise as early as 10 am.

The one-sided fight ended with Pacquiao winning by unanimous decision and ended at about 2:30 pm (Palau time).

After attending the 4th Watchers service at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), Roberto Hernandez waited for players at Beken's Store.

While setting the chess table, Mohammad Manik Hossain came and they practiced one rapid chess game.

They draw the number of players before playing their official game at 4:00 pm.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE NUMBERING OF PLAYERS: 1. Dennis Gonzales 2. Bernardo Garcia 3. Mohammad Manik Hossain (he drew his own name), 4. Roberto Hernandez (strangely, he drew his own name also), 5. Menandro Manuel 6. Jeffrey Negrillo 7. Andres Mestizo II 8. Tito Cabunagan 9. Elizlade Madrinan 10. Ferdi Altea 11. Jose Misael de Jesus 12. Masum Billah 13. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 14. Amante Caballero and 15. Manuel Mahor, Jr.

Elpidio Manaligod, Mario Ramos and Romeo Caballes were not included in the list of 15 players because they cannot be contacted through their telephone numbers.

Caballes' return to Palau return to Palau is not yet certain but he will difinitely be accepted as late comer.

The two invited Palauans will miss this edition of PNCC due to schedule conflict of Tutii Joe Chilton and health reason for Flavin Andres.

Before their practice and official game, Hernandez borrowed 6 chairs from PMCC and set up another chess table in case some players will come to play.

In their official game, Manik blundered away a bishop on the 18th move and Hernandez prevailed in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

No other players came until 6:30 pm and the two call it a night as Manik has to work at 7:00 pm at Airai KB Shell Gas Station.

Roberto and Manik have the same day off (Wednesday) and they set up a match at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 on Wed. Nov. 17 at 7pm. Manik will play Jeffrey Negrillo, who's been to Palau for just 2 months.

Manik practices with Hernandez, George Gabris and to the new security personnel of PRR. Hernandez offered to train him for a possible slot to Palau Chess Team at 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hernandez has all the materials to train a player like chess clocks, chess software, books, puzzles, Laws of Chess, ChessBase9 (where over 4 million games since year 1600 can be studied) and free time.

During their game, Jeffrey experienced for the first time to write his moves in Algebraic notation. He committed consecutive blunders on move 27th and 29th and was mated by a bishop on the 42nd move.

Before their game, Manik and Hernandez have started talks about saving once a month $50.00 for buying their own airfare for the Istanbul, Turkey World Chess Olympiad.

There is no election of president of World Chess Federation in 2012 and it will be hard to find airfare sponsor in a non-election Olympiad.

While talking about that, an email from Mr. Gary Bekker, former Oceania Zone President and the sponsor of Hernandez' airfare to Australia last year, noted his response to Hernandez' email: "Hi Gary, it's been a while since I have communication with you. Me and Tito Cabunagan are trying to go to New Zealand for 2011 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Brian Jones and Paul Spiller are trying to get me an airfare subsidy like you gave me last year. Could you please advise them on how you were able to get it? It is the only way that I could go there. If I will have to spend for the whole airfare, I cannot make it. I thought that you will come to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia. I will forward to you the questionnaire sent to me by FIDE and Geoffrey Borg. In this way, you will know Palau and me better. I hope you're doing fine. Best regards, Roberto."

Mr. Bekker's response is good news: "Hi Roberto. Thank you for your email. I subsidized your airfare with my own personal money. Hopefully Brian and Paul will be able to find a corporate sponsor or arrange a discount with the airlines to assist you with your travel costs this time. Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy with my IT work and was unable to go to the 2010 Olympiad and sadly, will be unable to attend the 2011 Oceania Zonal either. Thank you for keeping in touch and for sending me the Palau questionnaire to keep updated on chess developments in Palau. All the best wishes for you, Tito and all of the Palau players. Gary Bekker."

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 12-13

Volume 19

Issue 47

November 22-28, 2010