(1051) FIRST ROUND SURPRISES (TBN-January 21-28, 2005)

MARIO RAMOS -- 3-1 WIN-LOSS RECORD VS. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER
     The 'Knight' of Palau chess Mario Ramos, left, has defeated Ivan II Chess Computer 3 times in their last 4 encounters. His latest victory is via a special telephone match organized by Roberto Hernandez on Monday, January 17, 2005 to save time and gas because he's living and working in a ranch which is 45 minutes travel to reach town. He outwitted Ivan II in 54 moves of Four Knights Defence. In the background of this photo (L-R) are Marcial Rodriguez, Jose Omega, Honorary PCF Member Susan Andres and Gene Pastrana at the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament in Malakal.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


             FIRST ROUND SURPRISES
THE FIRST round of the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament that was held on Sunday, Jan. 16, generated a few surprises with 15th seed Joel Azana leading the field with 2 straight wins over 19th seed Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 36 moves of a Bird's Opening and over 16th seed Morton Sawaichi in 29 moves of a Queen Pawn's Game where the latter blundered away his queen on the 18th move and never recovered.

Cyril Montel, Jr. outsmarted newcomer Eric Espartero in 32 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence. The talented Espartero displayed brilliance in the middle game when he put 2nd seed Roberto Hernandez on the brink of defeat but miscalculated the sequence of moves and allow Hernandez to equalize when he left his bishop unprotected and was mated by a pawn on the 48th move of Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation).

The first tourney of the year is being sponsored by officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club and being held every Sunday at their office premises beside Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video where the first contestant to arrive had paid for his registration fee of $10.00 but will play next Sunday.

Manuel Nedic, who resides in Ngeremlengui, is an avid reader of Chess Mate and solving the chess puzzles in the column is his only way to practice. He will play his first ever tournament game on Sunday against the first player available at 1pm.

Another 8 players didn't make it in the opening round and will play 2 games on the 2nd round. They are defending champion Eddie Grefiel, Jose Omega, Gene Pastrana, Mario Ramos, Dennis Gonzales, Den Canaria, Tutii Joe Chilton and Jimboy de Jesus, who showed up but didn't play.

The trophies for the winners of the 2004 Open Chess Tournament were awarded to Jimmy Valenzuela (2nd runner-up, Class A), Agustin, Jr. (1st runner-up, Class B), Hernandez (1st runner-up, Class A) and Canaria (2nd runner-up, Class B). The trophy were awarded at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

The Most Improved Player trophy was awarded also to Lin de Guzman, who clobbered Bong Alipoon in the last game of the day.

OTHER RESULTS OF THE 1ST AND SPECIAL 2ND ROUND:
     Valenzuela halved the point with Agustin, Jr. in a bishop-of-the-same-color endgame; former champion Menandro Manuel dealt Agustin, Jr. his 2nd loss of the day and 9th seed Valenzuela upset 5th seed Montel, Jr. in 74 moves of a French Defence.

In the kid's division, defending champion Em-R de Vera lost to Chris Domingo (2-0) in their best-of-3 series opener. They practiced with Valenzuela and Manuel in a handicap format to prepare in joining the seniors if the participants in the junior division will not reach at least 4.

A 9-year-old Israeli boy (Liam Bornovsky) will join the fray as his parents talked to the Chairman (Hernandez) to let their son to participate in his very first tournament game.
They said that he is already beating his father in practice.

Israel is a powerhouse in world chess as they are seeded 3rd in the 36th Chess Olympiad held in Mallorca, Spain in Oct. 14-31, 2004. They finished 5th behind eventual champion Ukraine and top seed Russia.  

In a special game through telephone on Monday, Jan. 17, Mario Ramos played against 3rd seed Ivan II Chess Computer and defeated the formidable machine in 54 moves of Four Knights Defence with the white pieces. Ramos informed the Chairman that he can't make it on the opening day and that he will play 2 games next Sunday. He resides in the very far end of Ngechsar state and it is 45 minutes trip by car to Koror. He now has a 3-1 win-loss record against Ivan II.


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 9-10
            Volume 15
            Issue 04
            January 21-28, 2005 

                

  

(271) CHANGE OF VENUE

GIANT CHESSBOARD IS ALSO BEING USED AS BULLETIN BOARD

Morton Sawaichi, right, and venue host Artemio Navarette, posed behind the giant chessboard made by Roberto Hernandez. It is also used to announce the change of venue. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



CHANGE OF VENUE

THE RAINY and windy 2nd round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament had a sudden change of venue due to the renovation of Palau Paradise Lions Club headquarters beside Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video Center.

Only in the last hours that the Chairman was informed about the change and the players were informed through phone calls and notice on the giant chessboard.

Still, half of the participants are at Image Restaurant, the temporary venue, and half are waiting at the Galaxy Video Center where there are 3 matches took place while waiting for the others.

Newcomer Marcial Rodriguez played his first 2 tournament games and lost both to Jose Omega and Gene Pastrana.

Another newcomer, Manuel Nedic, played his first tournament game against Mario Ramos.

Their game is such a cliffhanger that 8 persons are crowding the small table where they are playing to get a glimpse of the position where both players are playing good defence and positional play.

They are in the endgame part when the other players proceed at Image Restaurant where 3 other players are waiting: Tutii Joe Chilton, Dennis Gonzales and Morton Sawaichi.

As the players started their matches, Ramos called the Chairman to inform him that there is a clock violation committed by Nedic as they stop their game and reset it in original position where the violation was made.

Ramos said that Nedic press his clock without moving any of his pieces. Upon consultation with Menandro Manuel, the arbiter-chairman Roberto Hernandez decided to penalize Nedic with 10 minutes off his clock.

They resume the game and after some clever maneuver, Nedic won a drawish game in 68 moves of an Irregular Opening.

Having consumed much of their time in their first game, they don't have time to play a 2nd one as Nedic resides in Ngeremlengui while Ramos and Rodriguez in the very far end of Ngchesar.

Other results of 2nd round and special 3rd and 4th round:
Chilton drubbed Gonzales in 64 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defence where both players thought that the format is rapid and moved fast.

Chilton also dealt Sawaichi his 2nd straight loss in 34 moves of a Bishop Opening.

Earlier, Sawaichi lost to Ivan II Chess Computer in another 34 moves of a Sicilian Defence (Dragon Variation) where he missed the rook capture and giving up the exchange to keep a strong attack.

Gonzales suffered another loss from Manuel, who is now the solo leader after scoring one more win over 13-year old Chris Domingo without a rook on his a1 square.

Omega and Sawaichi defeated defending kiddie champ Em-R de Vera with a knight handicap.

Most Improved Player Lin de Guzman nipped Pastrana but lost to Jimmy Valenzuela, who is now in solo 2nd spot with 2.5 points after losing to Roberto Hernandez in 52 moves of Danish Gambit in the last game of the day.

Valenzuela deviated from 3 previous Danish Gambit variations on the 3rd move and won a knight on the 17th move.

Hernandez clawed back by playing precise endgame tactics. After both players got a new queen, Hernandez is up by a rook and threatens mate in 2 when Valenzuela resigned.

Bong Alipoon came late in the afternoon and didn't play while newcomer Eric Espartero came at the original venue and practiced blitz chess with Omega but unable to come at Image Restaurant for a regular match.

In a special game held at Image Restaurant on Friday, January 21, Chilton lost to Ivan II Chess Computer in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

The 9-year-old Israeli boy didn't come also as his parents were off island since January 14.

Israel's top 24 players are all Grandmasters with Boris Gelfand at the top.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 14
January 23-29, 2005