(1155) PASTRANA'S 1st AND ONLY BLITZ TITLE (TBN-March 03-10, 2006)

PASTRANA SUPERVISING THE 12 YEARS AND UNDER DIVISION OF 2005-2006 CHESS TILT
     Eugenio 'Gene' Pastrana, 2nd from right, is checking the equipment and time clock of the game between Xyron Singson and his youngest son Geaury Ken Pastrana during the middle rounds of the hectic 2005-2006 Palau Rapid Chess Championship being held at the premises of his Jean's Boutique and Store. In the middle is Jielton Cabierte and coming from crossing the road is Parinas. The elder Pastrana will host the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship that will start on March 19.
                                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



PASTRANA'S 1st AND ONLY BLITZ TITLE
 

THERE ARE a lot of blitz chess competition in Palau that Eugenio Pastrana had joined but he never finished at the top in any of them except in the pre-National Chess Championship (2006) Blitz Chess competition that was held in his Jean’s Boutique and Store on March 05, 2006.

                As usual, it’s a double round-robin format with 10 minutes time control (no increment because Palau Chess Federation is using mechanical clocks at that time).

 Registration fee is peg at $5.00 with the champion/s keeping the half of it and the other half will be spent for drinks of players. In some occasions, the drinks were already consumed and the tourney is not yet finished. Some players, like Manuel Nedic, Consul General Julius Torres, and Eddie Grefiel have spent their champions’ purse to buy another round of drinks for players or whatever the cost of the rest of the purse.

                The participants are Pastrana, Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., blitz chess specialist Edwin Eti and Jimmy ‘the Drunken Master’ Valenzuela. Because of the small purse for the champion ($12.50), it was decided no drinks will be given to the players while playing and the champion/s will keep all the cash prizes.

                Pastrana got his first ever chess title (in any time control) with a 5-1-2 win-loss-draw record. BUT, Hernandez tied him for top honor with a 6-2-0 slate. All blitz tourneys in Palau don’t use tie break with the tied players splitting the cash, which happened to Eugenio and Roberto.

                Eti finished the tilt with 3-5-0 card while Montel, Jr. and Valenzuela sported an identical 2-5-1 record. The blitz tourney was held 2 weeks prior to the opening round of 2006 PNCC.

PRE-CHAMPIONSHIP BLITZ TOURNEY

March 05, 2006

Double Round Robin

                   Players                                                               Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. GENE PASTRANA                                                   5        1         2              6
2. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                        6        2         0              6
3. EDWIN ETI                                                               3        5         0              3
4. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                               2        5         1            2.5
5. JIMMY VALENZUELA                                            2        5         1             2.5

 Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

                Tia Belau Newspaper

                Pages 9-10

                Volume 15

                Issue 10

                March 03-10, 2006

(1108) Looking Forward to 2006 World Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy (TBN-Jan. 06-13, 2006)

A LITTLE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
     Left to right, Jielton Cabierte, Xyron Singson and Geaury Ken Pastrana will have their own 12-years and under category in the ongoing 2005-2006 Palau Rapid Chess Championship if there is at least 4 contestants. Arnel Vingcoy is a possible addition aside from Ivan II Chess Computer which will be set to E (Easy) strength.
                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


                LOOKING FORWARD TO 
          2006 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD
                  IN TORINO, ITALY  



There is a two-week break from competitive chess in the resumption of 2005-2006 Palau Rapid Chess Championship. The Sundays (Dec. 25 and Jan. 01) are Christmas holidays and players are enjoying the break. Plays will resume on Jan. 08, 2006 where the 19^th and 20^th round will be played.

                In the meantime, all eyes are focus to the 2006 World Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy where Palau is eligible to play for the first time if the financial obligation would be met (the 2005 due to FIDE in the amount of $576.00 or 600 Swiss Francs).

                The total collection from various individuals is $418.00 including the $100.00 that Oceania Zonal President Gary Bekker had pledged.

ALMOST two years of persistence bears fruit as Palau's application for International Chess Federation (FIDE) membership was approved by the FIDE Executive Board at its meeting in Dresden, Germany from August 1.

In an email from FIDE Secretariat Elli Sperdokli, the membership is under the condition of fulfilling the financial obligations in a period not later than 3 months. And to contact the FIDE Treasurer, David Jarret for further information at david@fidechess.freeserve.co.uk

Knights and Rooks Chess Club chairman Roberto Hernandez immediately notify Tutii Joe Chilton and they will have a meeting soon about the good news where chess players from Palau can already participate in international competitions.

Many interested young and old players can now start training for World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.

In 2004, Chess Olympiad was held in Mallorca, Spain with 124 countries participated. Turin, Italy will host the 2006 Olympiad but it's too soon to prepare for it and Palau might be an observer first before it can participate in the biennial event.

Hernandez also notified the players about the development in the 13th round of the 2005 Open Chess tournament held Sunday, August 28 at Privilege Family Store and sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing Atbp.

Jose Omega is now the solo leader after defeating Joel Azana in 38 moves of Modern Defence. He also collected half point after Dennis Gonzales accepted his offer of draw of the said game. He will withdraw from the tournament due to his transportation problem as he resides in Ngchesar.

Omega's win-loss-draw record is 8-1-1 and will play against Bong Alipoon in a special game on Wednesday at Omega's residence. This is allowed because Alipoon had only 2 days off in a week, Wednesday and Thursday.

James dela Cruz, who resides in Airai View Hotel Annex and neighbor of Hernandez, is a late comer but still managed to play 3 games in semi-blitz format (15 minutes for each player to finish the game).

He lost to Jimmy Valenzuela, Alipoon and to Palauan bet Morton Sawaichi but won by default over Rodriguez and Chilton, who was very busy on Sunday and most of his games were losses or draws by default.

Manny Nedic (8-3-0) is now in solo 3rd spot after clobbering Azana in 33 moves of another Modern Defence game where Azana missed the right queen defence and was mated instantly.

Nedic lost to Alipoon later in the night and Alipoon is still the only remaining undefeated player.

Idle Cyril Montel, Jr. (8-1-0) collected 2 default wins over Rodriguez and Chilton to keep abreast with Omega at 2n place. Their anticipated match seemed to be the championship game and will be their first ever title.

Hernandez emailed Gary Bekker, the Oceania Zone 3.2b President and he responded with a very encouraging email.

He had made similar donation of chess sets and books to other Oceania nations such as Fiji and PNG, in an effort to further develop the chess community within the Oceania Zone.

He encouraged the Palau Chess Federation to stage an international event in the future. He said by joining FIDE, Palau will be able to stage international rating tournaments and send representatives to international competitions such as Oceania Zonal Chess Championships and the World Chess Olympiad.

All Oceania chess federation sent teams to the 2004 Chess Olympiad.

He also hopes to personally come over and help organize a FIDE-rated tournament in Palau sometime in the future.

His suggestion is to run a 10-player all-play-all (round robin) tournament, in which the top six players from Palau compete against four overseas players with relatively low international rankings.

He suggests playing 2 games per day, like at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm over a period of one week.

It would be necessary to provide a suitable tournament venue (a local hall or conference center), a reasonable prize fund, and discount accomodations for the international players.

He said that it would be important that all games are played, without any forfeits or withdrawals, and that each player scored a rating comparable to FIDE standard.

The 3 best Palau players could expect to gain an international ranking. Such an event was held in Fiji during 2003 and several Fijian players gained their international rating from the event.

He is sure to encourage 4 international chess players to take a chess-holiday in sunny Palau!

Solution to last week's puzzle: CONGRATULATIONS TO JOSE OMEGA for solving the puzzle in less than 15 minutes: 1. ... Ne3+  2. Kh2  Qxg3+ 3. Kxg3 Be5 mate.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Volume 19
             Page 14
             September 02-09, 2005

(879) CHESS MATE MARKS 3RD YEAR (TBN-Dec. 30. 2005- Jan. 06, 2006)

LONG CHESS TABLE DONATED BY NILO DE JESUS
     2-time Class B champion Jose Omega, left, playing against Manny Nedic in the 6th round of 2005 Open Chess Tournament on a long table donated by Nilo de Jesus to Knights and Rooks Chess Club on Jan. 11, 2004. Roberto Hernandez is playing against Ivan II Chess Computer using a wooden tournament size chessboard because Ivan II size is only 8".
                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


    CHESS MATE MARKS 3RD YEAR 


CHESS in Palau started in June 09, 2002 while Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez started in Dec. 29, 2002.

During the 3rd year of continuous chess tournaments in Palau, Jose Omega had been a 2-time Class B champion.

But in the 2005 Open Chess Tournament held at Privilege Store from May 22-Sept. 25, Jose emerged as champion at last via rapid format playoff against Bong Alipoon as they end up with the same score of 12 wins, 2 losses and 1 draw.

Omega also won a playoff against Mike Miguel, Jr. for the Class B championship of 2003 Age Group Chess Tourney for his first Class B plum.

The first tournament of 2005, the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament held from Jan. 16-April 17, marks the 2nd time that there is a multiple titled Palau player in Menandro 'Boy' Manuel. But the trend continues as Roberto Hernandez dealt Manuel his first and only loss at the final round. 

THE CHESS MATE LOGO IMPROVE TO THIS...

  

It is also in 2005 that Palau became a member of FIDE through the persistence of Roberto Hernandez and with the help from USA and Philippines Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr., Mr. Manny Benitez (who passed away a few weeks ago), IA Gary Bekker, the late Honorary Lifetime President of FIDE Florencio Campomanes and Casto 'Toti' Abundo.

Mr. Campomanes words to the Presidential Board Meeting in Dresden, Germany is inspiring to the small countries like Palau --- "If we will not accept Palau as FIDE member, the other small nations who would like to join FIDE will be discouraged."

The last tournament of 2005 is the Rapid Chess Championship where 29 players have participated in a double round-robin format. It means, a player must play 56 games! Only Roberto was able to write the moves of all his games.

2005-2006 RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT

October 23, 2005 – February 12, 2006

Double Round Robin

Venue: Jean’s Boutique and Store

FINAL STANDINGS

                    Players                                                                Win   Loss   Draw     Total

1. MENANDRO MANUEL                                            48        6          2          49  
2. EDWIN ETI                                                                 45        9          2          46
3. MANNY NEDIC                                                         45       11         0          45
4. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                                 39       11         6          42
5. BONG ALIPOON                                                       39       11         6          42
6. JIMMY VALENZUELA                                              40       13        3           41.5
7. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                          40       14         2          41
8. JOSE OMEGA                                                            39       14         3           40.5
9. JOSE MISAEL DE JESUS                                          40       15        1            40.5
10. FELIX LAPITAN                                                        30       18        8            34
11. JOEVEN DELOS SANTOS                                        33       21        2           34
12. JOEL AZANA                                                             29       20        7            32.5
13. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER                                    15         7       34           32
14. RODIANTE BALAGSO                                             30        23       3            31.5
15. JESS GOMEZ                                                             24        21      11            29.5
16. GENE PASTRANA                                                    23        22      11            28.5
17. JERRY SERMENO                                                     21        23      12           27
18. DENNIS GONZALES                                                20        27       9            24.5
19. MORTON SAWAICHI                                               19        34       3            20.5
20. WILLIAM BLASQUINO                                           14       31       11           19.5
21. FRANCIS TEMAUNGIL                                           19       37        0            19
22. TUTII JOE CHILTON                                                17       37       2             18
23. FLAVIN ANDRES                                                      12       36       8             16
24. ERNIE MIJARES                                                         8        37       11           13.5
25. ROGELIO MENOR                                                     9        39        8            13
26. EM-R DE VERA                                                          8         38       10           13
27. JOHN PASTRANA                                                      6         46        4           8
28. JAMES DELA CRUZ                                                   3         48         5          5.5
29. LITO SALAS                                                               3         49        4            5

The tournament started in Oct. 23, 2005 and will conclude on Feb. 12, 2006.  The 12 years and under category was not finished because only 3 contestants registered -- Arnel Vincoy, Jielton Cabierte, Ken Pastrana and Ivan II Chess Computer.


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 10 - 11
            Volume 14
            Issue 52
            December 30, 2005-January 06, 2006
 

   

(493) CHESS AND MUSIC (TBN-June 22-28, 2007)

IN THEIR own way, chess and music are considered art in different perspective.

If combined together, a good harmony to the mind and soul could develop.

What would you feel if you are playing chess against the top player of Palau while your son is piano music with another boy playing guitar?

That's what happened last Sunday, Father's Day, June 17 at Jean's Boutique and Store.


There is no ongoing at the time and National Master Menandro 'Boy' Manuel is playing blitz chess with many times venue host Gene Pastrana.

During Pastrana's son (Ken) music session, a boy with guitar (Jielton Cabierte), visited Ken and they jammed together some easy songs with Palau's 4th ranked player Roberto Hernandez, who is now the resident musician at Palau Royal Resort (PRR).

The trio's music somehow inspired the older Pastrana as he dominated Manuel in their games.

He even managed to draw a seemingly lost position by perpetual check.

At some point, the two are humming with the group when they played popular tunes like Jamaica Farewell, Leaving On A Jetplane, Jambalaya, Achy Breaky Heart, Green Green Grass of Home, Cotton Fields, Tom Dooley, Tiny Bubbles, the Mexican song La Cucaracha, Spanish song Rancho Grande and 2 of the most popular Filipino songs in Palau "Anak" (Son) and "Kumusta Ka" (How Are You).

Cabierte's father is playing guitar with the Sacred Heart Catholic church's choir.

He taught his son how to play guitar and he's done a good job as Hernandez saw great potential from Jielton, who participated in 3 chess tournaments last year.

He finished 2nd runner-up to Ken in those 3 outings and won $50.00 in the inaugural Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament held last year (June 25, July 02, July 09, 2006).

The Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino donated $1,000.00 prize pot to that tourney which was divided into 4 divisions: rated, beginners, juniors and women.

Hernandez and Jose Omega won the rated division while Vincent Vergara of Moylan's Insurance topped the beginner's section.

Ken emerged as the only unbeaten player of the tilt and pocketed $75.00 while Hernandez' wife Flor, subdued Ms. Juvy Bulan for the title in a cliffhanger tiebreak game.

In Hernandez' 2 weeks stay at PRR's Dormitory 1, he discovered some good chess players with potential to be a rated player.

One of them is Nino Flores, who almost defeated Hernandez in their first 2 games after the former missed endgame tactics.

Arnel Pama is seriously considering a chess career and Mr. Jaime Guevarra is surely one of the more experienced who can make it if he will take the game seriously.

This year's Ambassador Marino Cup will go international as 2 NM from Philippines and USA confirmed their participation in the event to be held from August 30-Septermber 03, 2007.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
June 22-28, 2007

(456) DMITRI IS TOP SEED IN KIDS' CHESS TILT (TBN-Dec. 08-15, 2006)

ONCE dubbed as the future of Palau's chess, 11-year-old Dmitri Villanueva will lead the Christmas break tournament this month as his mother Martha confirmed his participation in the inaugural event.

In early January of 2003 tournament held at Image Restaurant, Dmitri became the youngest participant and after the 5-round classification that determined the Class A and B group, he was in the bracket of 14, 17 and the oldest player at 58, Ben Ramos.

When he played Ramos in the 1st round of the double round-robin affair, it became the biggest age differential in Palau chess history that the organizers held a separate tourneys for kids in the preceeding tournaments.

The 2003 Age Group Chess tournament should have been a first for Dmitri to earned a chess trophy had he finished the triple round-robin event that saw the emergence of eventual champion Jayrome Soriano, who won $50.00 cash prize in the unrated division of Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament held on June 25, July 01 and July 09 at the Philippine Embassy Office.

Ken Pastrana, the 9-year-old son of Knights and Rooks Chess Club secretary/treasurer Gene Pastrana, is asking if he can join the tournament which is only for Palauan kids 15 years and below.

He was born in Palau and if that makes him eligible, some more players will join the field like Arnel Corona, who's father is married to a Palauan. Jielton Cabierte is also interested.

The officers and members of KRCC will have a meeting regarding this matter.

Meanwhile, registration is still going on for the kids' tournament which will be held everyday during Christmas break.

The final round of the 2006 Rapid Chess tournament will be held this Sunday, December 10 at Jean's Boutique and Store.

In the penultimate round held on Sunday, December 03, top seed Menandro Manuel dealt newcomer-veteran Tony Villa his 3rd loss of the tournament.

Villa nipped NM Manny Nedic to keep his hope intact for at least a tie at first place.

Nedic needs to win over Manuel and all of his remaining matches to forge a triple tie for the championship.

The touch move violation committed by Villa in his 2nd game against Roberto Hernandez was settled in favor of the latter.



Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 08-15, 2006

(403) KRCC CHRISTMAS PARTY DEC. 18

FIRST TROPHY IN 2 TRIES
Manny Nedic, right, receives his 3rd runner-up trophy from Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez. Nedic won his first-ever trophy in his 2nd try. He is currently in 4th place at the 2005 Rapid Chess tournament with a 12-2-0 win-loss-draw record and the only player to have beaten current leader Menandro Manuel.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE OFFICERS and members of Knights and Rooks Chess Club held another meeting Sunday, December 11 after the completion of all games in the 8th week of the 2005 Rapid Chess Tournament sponsored by Helena Yoichi and Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique.

They agreed to have a Christmas party on December 18 at 12:00 noon. Members were assigned a dish or two for the event that will also hold selected regular games and blitz chess festival later in the afternoon.

Roberto Hernandez will prepare tilapia fish and rice; Cyril Montel, Jr. -- lumpia shanghai; Dennis Gonzales -- pancit; Manny Nedic -- one big fish; Bong Alipoon -- assorted fruits; Menandro Manuel --fish kilawin; William Blasquino -- roast pig's head (2); and Pastrana -- one case of soda. $5.00 each will be collected for additional drinks.

Other players and members will be informed through this column and telephone calls.

A separate 12-under category was started when the required 4-player minimum registered. They are Jielton Cabierte, Zyron Singson, John Farinas and Ken Pastrana, the youngest son of Gene, who is now leading the division by winning over Singson and Cabierte.

He drew his 2nd game with Singson via 3-move repetition.

Farinas and Singson split their match (1-1) in the double round-robin format. The division also include Ivan II Chess Computer in its easy level.

Another division (16-under) will also be organized if former kiddie champion Em-R de Vera, 15, can get another 3 junior players to join.
He already played 5 games in the senior division, winning 2 and losing the first three.

RESULTS OF THE 8TH WEEK: (12 TOTAL GAMES PLAYED)
Pastrana drew with Hernandez in 61 moves of a bishop-of-the-same-color endgame; de Vera swept Francis 'Sno' Temaungil; 3 more sweeps followed as Ivan II Chess Computer drubbed Gonzales; Alipoon trounced Pastrana and Nedic dealt Gonzales his 2nd sweep of the day.
Nedic collected another point over Blasquino to dislodge Pastrana at 4th spot; Blasquino defeated Temaungil but lost to Alipoon in the last game of the day.

A young Chinese national would like to join the field on Sunday. He had to play as many games as he could to catch up.

The Chinese women's team won the World Chess Olympiad last year in Spain.


Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. ... Qxh2+! 2. Kxh2 hxg3+ 3. Kg2 Rh2 mate.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 50
December 16-23, 2005

(395) A LITTLE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

A LITTLE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

THREE young boys showed interest in participating in the ongoing 2005 Rapid Chess Tournament sponsored by Helena Yoichi and Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique.

Jielton Cabierte, 8, Xyron Songson, 10, and Ken Pastrana, 8, and the youngest son of Gene, has requested the Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez to have their own age group chess tournament since all of them are just learning the game.

Hernandez assured the boys that a 10 years and under tournament would be established if there are at least 4 participants, and Ivan II Chess Computer would act as the 5th contestant.

The tournament for the 10 years and under division will be a triple round-robin and Hernandez will put up the money for the first place and 2nd place trophies.

Nirblush Tmechtul showed in interest in taking the 4th spot, but maybe unable to attend. That would allow an opening for a beginner player(s) to enter the 10 years and under league.

The tournament will be held at Jean's Boutique on Sunday, November 13, 2005.

Invitation has also been extended to the Palau community to participate in the senior division, which has 7 new members participating in the rapid chess double-round robin tournament.

The league now has 23 players and each of them has played at least 44 games against participants with varying strategies and skill levels.

In the past weeks, newcomer Jess Gomez ended the 7-game winning streak of 2-time champion Menandro Manuel in an endgame of king and knight against his king, knight and a pawn.

This did not stop Manuel from extending his overall lead to 3.5 points advantage.

Top seed and defending champion Jose Omega clobbered Rogelio Menor in their Sicilian Defence game.

Cyril Montel, Jr. scored 2 easy victories over Menor and Flavin Andres. Jimmy Valenzuela swept Gene Pastrana and Menor and moved into the 9th spot after beating after beating both James dela Cruz and Em-R de Vera.

Menor, however, lost his match to Jerry Sermeno. Manny Nedic is now is 8th spot with his 4th straight wins.



Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Bc6 and any move by black will lead to mate in 2.
This week's puzzle: Black to move and mates in 3
(Solution next issue)

Solutions: *Puzzles studied by Flavin Andres and Roberto Hernandez.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 45
November 11-18, 2005