(1640) MANIK FINISHED IN THE MIDDLE OF 2019 TOKYO MARATHON (March 03, 2019)

 MANIK FINISHED IN THE MIDDLE 
     OF 2019 TOKYO MARATHON
               (March 03, 2019)

        In 2012, Mohammad Manik Hossain was supposed to be a team member (Board 2) of Palau Chess Team to the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. At that time, there is no qualification or selection of players who wants to play in that Olympiad. As long as you are committed and has money to buy for airfare, you can be a member even if you are not in the top 10 in Palau's FIDE rating list.

       Everything is ready with Istanbul's invitation for Palau's Team that was composed of me at Board 1, Manik at Board 2, CM Bernardo Garcia at 3, Menandro Manuel at 4 and his wife Elizabeth at Board 5/Reserve).

       Manik asked me to write a letter to his employer to allow him to participate in 2012 WCO but he was allowed to go with just 2 weeks before the Olympiad and 4 of us got our Turkish visa already. It will be too late for him to get Turkish visa so he was left behind and we have to play all 11 games in that Olympiad because there is no reserve. Elizabeth took the spot of Manik at Board 2 and didn't win or draw in those 11 games to have an initial FIDE rating.

      One of the reasons why Manik was not allowed earlier is that he wants to have a vacation in Bangladesh for 3 months after the Olympiad. He is hoping that because he hadn't had a vacation for 6 years, his employer might allow it as being done by many Bangladesh nationals when taking a vacation for that long because they didn't take it annually or every 2 years like in my case at Palau Royal Resort.

     Since then, Manik has become wax cold in participating in any Palau local tournaments UNTIL 2 years ago in a blitz practice game that ignite his desire again to play.

     He always find some extra time to play in standard, rapid or blitz tournaments.

     Originally, there are 33 players in Eric Ksau Whipps' list of those who will come to Guam for the 2019 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Feb. 17-24. But in the final tally, only 12 made it. I cancelled my participation because my wife Flor wants to save the money that I will spend there for our vacation in Sept.-Oct. in Philippines. She said I have already participated in 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia so cancel the Guam OZCC.

     In Manik's case, it's like 2 birds in one stone as he will proceed to Japan for the prestigious 2019 Tokyo Marathon on March 03. He won the lottery to be allowed to participate in that event. There are 370,000 applicants for that marathon and only 37,000 were invited through lottery. Manik said there are 73,000 participants with him finishing in the middle (14,000th finisher). 

     He said there are 11,000 volunteers and they are lined-up in the streets. Some of them are giving water. He specified some have peeled oranges for them to eat while running. The guy from Kenya finished first with a time of 2:25.00, a little short of the world record.

     Manik told me that the wind and rain and cold weather prevented him to finish better. He's already in his hotel and about half of the runners are still running. There's a 73-year-old man from Chicago that able to finish the marathon in more than 5 hours.

     Tokyo is one of the most expensive cities in the world and Manik said that taxi fare of about a kilometer costs $10.00. Because the roads signs are all in Japanese, there are lots of time that he lost his way to his hotel.

    All finishers were given a very nice gold-plated medals.


       Because of Manik's participation in the 2019 Tokyo Marathon, he lost his first 2 games by default. Upon his return, his first opponent in the 3rd round is a boy from Solomon Islands Carlos Santus Amo Sifix, left, whom he defeated.

While Jennifer Tubtub Angeles, left, is playing vs. Bruce Soriano, their sons Aome Angeles and Brandon Kyle Soriano are having kids' chat while waiting for the next round pairings. Aome plays Nobu Yano next while Kyle lost to Manik in the 4th round.

In the 4th round, Manik defeated my guitar/chess student Brandon Kyle Soriano, 2nd from right, who likewise went to Guam for Spring vacation with his dad Bruce Soriano and mom Violet Lagmay Soriano. Both the father and son lost their 5th and 6th round matches respectively vs. Angelito 'Jun' Mintar, Jr., left, and Mary Grace Capili, my 7th round opponent on March 24. Jun's opponent here is my other guitar/piano/chess/ukulele student Angelica Magno.

In the 6th round, Bruce lost by default to Destiny Sisior while Brandon Kyle is lucky to have a BYE for an automatic 1 point.

Manik won over Rommel Gulla in the 4th round for an even score of 2 wins and 2 losses.




Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- March 21, 2019

               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
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
               April 25, 2013 -- March 21, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau 
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- March 21, 2019

(1634) 36 PHOTOS OF 3rd and 4th ROUND OF 2019 PALAU RAPID CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (March 10 at Ernguul Park)

36 PHOTOS OF 3rd and 4th ROUND OF
   2019 P.R.C.C. (March 10 at Ernguul Park)

 Jhoan Gemota upended Wakako Sisior; 

Solomon Islands' Carlos Santus Amo Sifix bowed to Manik Hossain. 

 Manuel Mahor drubbed Michael Adette Gulla;

Bobot Tan, left, whipped Samuel Palingcod, right.

 The Chief Arbiter of this event Jennifer Tubtub lost to Soriano Bruce while their son Aome Jacob Angeles, middle, and Brandon Kyle Soriano are having kids talks.

 Five players were added in the resumption of 2019 PRCC --Manik Hossain, Paquito Suringa Jr., Jedidia Marinas, Nobu Yano and another newcomer Bin Robinson Luo Cabrera, middle.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- March 13, 2019

               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
               Tia Belau  Newspaper
                March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
               April 25, 2013 -- March 13, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- March 13, 2019

(1571) DARK GREY, YELLOW AND LIGHT BLUE TEAMS -- TOP 3 FINISHERS (TBN-Sept. 17, 2018)

GOLD MEDALISTS OF BOARD 1 AND 4 (YOUTH)

Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. has been Palau’s top chess player in the last 8 years and he will add another feather in his cap by capturing the gold medal of Board 1 in the just concluded 2018 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament while in the Youth (Board 4) section, my piano/chess student Nicholas Nehez will get his 2^nd medal of the year by clinching the Board 4 section with one round to spare.

                                       (Photos by Roberto Hernandez)

    DARK GREY, YELLOW AND LIGHT

     BLUE TEAMS -- TOP 3 FINISHERS

          (Cyril, Nick clinched gold medal in Board 1, 4)

The final round of 2018 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament on Sunday, Sept. 16 is a cliffhanger with 3 teams (Dark Grey, Light Blue and Yellow) fighting it out for the top 3 finishes. Navy Blue, Red and Royal Blue teams still have a realistic chance at top 3 depending on the final round results of Navy Blue and Red Teams as the Royal Blue team had a BYE for a 4-0 sweep score.

                Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. clinched the individual gold medal for Board 1 with an undefeated record of 6 wins and a draw despite missing one game. My chess/piano student Nicholas Nehez clinched the Board 4 (Youth) gold medal with an unblemished record of 5 wins, 2 draws and no loss, when his closest pursuer Michael Gulla lost his 7^th round game against Destiny Sisior. Even if Nick would lose his 8^th round game vs. Lenge Gibbons, his total of 6 points is not possible for Michael Gulla (4.5 points) to catch up even if he would win his last round match against his older brother Rommel.

                Joan Gemota is leading the Board 3 (Woman) medal hunt with 6-2 win-loss slate but Angelica Magno (5-2) would tie her if she would win her final game against Palau’s first WNM and top woman seed Angelica Parrado. The 3 are members of Palau Chess Team to 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia together will 11 other members. They will all fly via Manila-Istanbul on Sept. 22 at 9:45 pm for the 2-week biannual Olympiad.

                The Board 2 is the most intriguing last round match-up as both John Malinao and Manuel Mahor, Jr. are sporting an undefeated card of 6-0-0 and 5-0-0 respectively. But Eugene Labarda has 6.5 points after getting his last point via BYE. If Mahor would prevail over Malinao, both of them will be eliminated for the gold medal of Board 2. On the other hand, if Malinao would prevail in his game vs. Mahor, the former will clinch the Board 2 title.

                Angelo Salvadora’s Dark Grey Team is leading Rustum Cabuso’s Light Blue Team by a mere half point. All they need is a drawn match to clinch the title while my Yellow Team needs at least a 2.5-1.5 or a 3-1 victory over Dennis Gonzales’ Navy Blue Team to clinch 3^rd spot.

                The final round (Sept. 16, 2018): 1. Pax Team vs. Tito Team

Paquito Suringa, Jr. vs. Tito Cabunagan;  Elizalde Madrinan vs. Gabriell Garcia; Gladys Anne Paloma vs. Joy Flores Whipps;   Gian Paloma vs. Kyarii Sisior

2. Roberto Team vs. Dennis Team-- Roberto Hernandez vs. Dennis Gonzales; Glen, Morton or Manik vs. Joel Gemota; Angelil Sisior vs. Joan Gemota (1-0); Nicholas Nehez vs. Lenge Gibbons

3. Angelo Team vs. Rustum Team-- John Malinao vs. Manuel Mahor, Jr.; Albino Taksiau vs. Arnold Undecimo; Angelica Parrado vs. Angelica Magno; Rommel Gulla vs. Michael Gulla

4. Leif Team vs. Bobot Team-- Leif Toribiong vs. Bobot Tan (0-1); Ethan Naruo vs. Charley Patris; Tau’o Ngirmeriil vs. Baby Edna Mission; Shem Paulus vs. Gian Gabriel Claronino

Cyril Team --- BYE 1. Cyril Montel, Jr. 2. Eugene Labarda 3. Jennifer Angeles 4. Aome Angeles

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4426: 1. … Rxh2+! 2. Kxh2 Qxg3+ 3. Kh1 Qh3#

                This week’s puzzle No. 3762: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 27

               Issue 74

               September 17, 2018

              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

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 25, 2013 -- September 17, 2018

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- September 17, 2018

(1567) PHOTOS -- 6th ROUND OF 1st Surangel Chess Team Tournament (Sept. 02, 2018)

PHOTOS --

6th ROUND OF 1st

Surangel Chess Team Tournament

(Sept. 02, 2018)

      
     It is very rare for top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., right, to open 1. e4 with the white pieces in his games against me. He did it for the first time in the 6th round of SCTT. I replied with 1. ...c5, Sicilian Defense and won a knight in the middle game. I should have captured the 2nd knight after that to simplify the game. Cyril still carry on while I have a lot of distractions esp. from Baby Edna Mission. When I am looking at the laptop to see what color is Bobot Tan and Leif Toribiong in the 8th round game, she is still talking to me about a lot of things. I said to her, "I have a game going on, I am working on the color of this 8th round match. My youth teammate and music/chess student is also distracting me with..."It's already 30 minutes and Aome Angeles is not around. I will claim a win. Can I borrow your cell phone to call my mom to pick me up?" When I lend him my CP, I have to tell him the code/key to operate it.

With lots of things going on my mind, I made a blunder with a drawn position of perpetual check on Cyril's king and move my queen instead to f2 and I was mated.

Lenge Gibbons, middle, claimed his 3rd win is as many games by default when his opponent didn't come while Jello Augaras, right, started the clock of Elizalde Madrinan, who didn't show up as his schedule is finished at 3:30 pm.

Paquito Suringa, Jr., top right, was late again in his 6th round match against Dennis Gonzales' Navy Blue team. He didn't write his moves and his opponent, Joel Gemota, complain about it that it's unfair that Pax is not writing his moves like in the previous 2 rounds. I just informed both players that because Pax is not writing his moves, he cannot claim a draw even if the position is even at the later part of their game.

Red Team Captain Bobot Tan, right, played his 8th round match with Purple Team Captain Leif Toribion in the late afternoon's 6th round of 1st Surangel Chess Team Tournament in Sept. 02, 2018 at the venue (Mason's Do-it-Center premises.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- September 05, 2018

               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
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
               April 25, 2013 -- September 05, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau 
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- September 05, 2018