: TIGHT RACE FOR
2016 CHAMPIONSHIP
Although he is not around in the later part
of 2016 PNCC, Allan Alcid, left, gave defending champ Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.
all he can to squeeze a win in his last games after suffering his lone defeat
from me in the 4th round. True to his form, Cyril scored a perfect 5
wins in a row to defend his title. He deserves the Sportsperson of the Year
Award in the field of chess.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
***This photo was not published due to lack of space.
PCF "Sportsperson of the Year"
Award to Cyril
The World Chess Federation (FIDE) emailed to Palau Chess
Federation through me and 7 other officials of the PCF in Jan. 31, 2017 the
following:
“Dear
Sirs, Kindly advise if any chess player of your federation have won a
“Sportsperson of the Year” award in your country at any period. Thank you in
advance. Best regards, Elista FIDE Office.”
The
Board Members’ majority selected Palau’s top player in the last 8 years Cyril
Tomas Montel, Jr. as the Sportsperson of the Year 2016 in the field of chess.
His
illustrious chess career in Palau started in the 2002 TFCP Open Chess
Tournament from Sept. 15-Dec. 01, 2002 where he finished 10th among
28 participants. Since then, he never missed any major chess tourneys in Palau
including the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Palau Royal
Resort and Palasia Hotel in Aug. 31-Sept. 05 where he gained his initial FIDE
rating of 1870.
He
won his first National Chess Championship title in 2009 and seized the No. 1
spot from erstwhile top Palau player for 5 years Menandro ‘Boy’ Manuel and
became the 5th National Master of Palau. The first 4 NMs of Palau
are Manuel Nedic, Manuel, me, and Antonio Villa for winning the PNCC in 2006,
2007 and 2008.
Cyril’s
first participation in World Chess Olympiad happened in the 2014 WCO in Tromso,
Norway together with me at Board 1, him at Board 2, CM Bernardo Garcia (3),
first timer too, Dennis Gonzales (4) and another WCO neophyte Jeff Balbalosa at
Board 5/Reserve.
In
this Olympiad, Palau was able to field in its first women team composed by
Angie Parrado at Board 1, Baby Edna Mission (2), Gladys Anne Paloma (3),
Destiny Sisior (4) and Joy Flores Whipps at Board 5/Reserve. PCF President Eric
Ksau Surangel Whipps was the Delegate and Women’s team Team Captain. Australian
Jamie Kenmure was the Open section Team Captain for the 3rd time
(Russia, Turkey).
For
winning the 2016-2017 Palau National Chess Championship, Cyril gained an
outright slot for the 2018 WCO in Batumi, Georgia. This year’s PNCC’s top 4
finishers will join Cyril in that Olympiad.
Mission
also gained an automatic inclusion to the women’s team to Batumi, Georgia by
winning her division title and a Woman National Master (WNM) title.
And
speaking of World Chess Olympiad, in Baku, Azerbaijan 2016 WCO, nine other
countries including Palau, finished the way there are seeded: 7th
seed Poland, 8th seed France, 35th seed Moldova, 92nd
seed Zimbabwe, 93rd seed Iraq, 98th seed Morocco, 106th
seed El Salvador, 163rd seed Palau and 180th seed Central
African Republic.
My
guitar/chess student, 22-year-old Angelica Morales Magno will join the
Lightning/Bullet chess championship on Feb. 19, 2017 at Bethlehem Park that
will start at 3pm. Registration is free for this event but participants are
required to pay the 1-year membership fee to PCF to be able to join this tilt
and vote as well to the election of new officers of PCF together with the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) and awarding of prizes for the top 4 finishers of
Top 10 Division, top 3 finishers in the women and junior division. It will be
held on Feb. 26 at still undetermined venue.
This
is the first time that Ms. Magno will participate in a fast time control.
During our last guitar/chess lesson in Feb. 11, I gave her an extra hour and a
half free to develop her technique in opening, middle game and endgame. After
the lesson, her youngest sister said she also plays chess and good at it. I
said, “Really? Let’s play next Sunday and if you beat me, I’ll give you
$10.00.”
$10.00
is nothing if I can discover new chess talent in her. I have given 14 years of
my life writing chess articles at Tia Belau Newspaper for free to develop chess
in Palau. I have tried all kinds of promotions—Chess in Palau 2002-2004 Video,
Palau Horizon Newspaper chess features, Island Times Newspaper chess articles,
posters at Palau High School gym, giant chess board at Beken’s Store, Radio
interview in Australia, participation in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship
in Australia, WCO – Russia, Turkey, Norway and Azerbaijan, etc.
Solution
to this week’s puzzle No. 4435: 1. …Rxf5+! 2. Rxf5 Qxg3+ 3. Kxh5 Rh8#
This
week’s puzzle No. 4436: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 26
Issue 14
February 20, 2017
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013--February 20, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002--February 20, 2017
