(786) HERNANDEZ WINS BLITZ TITLE, BRILLIANCY PRIZE (TBN-April 29-May 05, 2005)

SHY PALAUAN CHESS NEOPHYTE
     The Palauan guy in the middle requested Roberto Hernandez not to mention his name if ever this photo is published. He's practicing with Koichi Matsuda, an Honorary Member of Palau Chess Federation for his snack/dinner sponsorship to the players during the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament held at Privilege Family Store in Malakal. Cyril Montel, Jr., left, is reviewing his previous game by himself early in the evening.
                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



  HERNANDEZ WINS BLITZ TITLE, 
          BRILLIANCY PRIZE

IT'S the most busiest day of chess competition in 2nd seed Roberto Hernandez' chess career as he rules the one-day 2005 Blitz Chess Festival held at Long Island Park. It's only halfway finished and it's getting dark so they resumed the games at Privilege Family Store in Malakal.

Hernandez notched 10 wins, a loss and a draw in the double round-robin competition of speed chess. The time control is 10 minutes for each player to finish the game. You must say "check" when attacking your opponent's king. Touch move rules does not apply and you can't win by time forfeit if you don't have enough materials to checkmate your opponent.

The participants were top seed Menandro Manuel (3-7-2), Cyril Montel, Jr. (4-7-1), Jimmy Valenzuela (6-5-1), Lin de Guzman (3-9-0), Gene Pastrana (3-8-1) and Bong Alipoon (9-2-1), who gave Hernandez a very tough final game that can go either way as both players were going for the winner takes all cash prize. The champion keeps half of the prize and the other half were spent on drinks for all participants.

Top favorite Manuel, who won two blitz titles in September 2004, was not in his top form as he was swept by Hernandez and Valenzuela and even split the match with Montel, Jr. and Pastrana.

Alipoon, meanwhile, swept Pastrana, de Guzman, Montel, Jr. and Valenzuela and could have won the event if he didn't miss the capture of Hernandez' queen in their first game and a king retreat to g8 in their climactic final game.

The first match pairings fit number 1 vs. 6, 2 vs. 5 and 3 vs. 4. The Manuel-Hernandez first game ended with both players having 2 seconds left on their clock but the flag on Manuel's clock fell first and Hernandez won another game by a mere split second.

Former champion Jess Toldoya acted as arbiter and notified both players of the time forfeiture that Hernandez didn't see as they are scrambling to beat the clock and pieces literally flying.

It's a lucky day for Hernandez as he won also the brilliancy prize of $50.00 in the just concluded 2005 Regular Chess Tournament that was sponsored by the officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club, who will be awarding the trophies to all the winners this Sunday, May 1 at their headquarters near Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video.

Montel, Jr., Manuel and Hernandez are the top 3 seeds that reviewed the brilliancy game nominees: Ivan II Chess Computer vs.Pastrana (Four Knights Defence), Ronald Maomay vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (Sicilian Defence-Dragon Variation) and Ivan II vs. Hernandez (Queen's Gambit Accepted).

Manuel has chosen the Maomay-Ivan II game and Montel, Jr. picked Ivan II-Hernandez match and stated that the queen sacrifice to force mate was more deserving that the knight and rook sacrifice/exchange in the other 2 games.

And since Maomay is not back in Palau yet, Hernandez picked also his game against Ivan II as the winner. He happily informed his wife, who is sick with flu.

Boie Aguas, the President of The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP), asked Hernandez to look for trophy maker here in Palau for the winners of 2004 Rapid Chess tournament. If it will be done in time for the awarding this Sunday, the awarding will also be held at the headquarters of PPLC. Tutii Joe Chilton is Hernandez' first choice to make the wooden trophies (chess pieces-shaped). He will provide the wood (guava tree) and might even help him to make those.

Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Be6 (try to figure out the variations)



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13-14
               Volume 12
               April 29-May 05, 2005          
   

(205) THIRD ADJOURNED GAME

ADJOURNED GAME VS. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER
Jose Omega was involved in all 3 adjourned games in Palau chess history. This is due to his extra-ordinary job schedule --No day off in more than 8 years in Palau. His Japanese employer took it literally that since he is working only at night time (6pm-2 am), he is always off at day time. Omega's games in many tournaments were all secrets to his employer. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




THIRD ADJOURNED GAME

IN NINE tournaments held so far since 2002, only 3 games were adjourned and in all those three, 5th seed Jose Omega were all involved including the recent one in the 7th round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament held on Sunday, February 27 at Image Restaurant and sponsored by officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

Omega had to leave an equal position and material against newcomer Manuel Nedic due to job requirement at Ashibi Restaurant where he works as a cook.

He wrote his sealed move and gave it to the chairman-arbiter Roberto Hernandez, to be opened next Sunday for the resumption of his 3rd adjourned game in 6 tournaments.

His first adjourned game was against Ivan II Chess Computer in the 6th round of the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess tournament. The 2nd one was against Jess Toldoya in the 7th round of the 2004 Non-master chess tourney in which he won in both occasion.

Nedic later defeated Lin de Guzman to stay in 4th place with 6 points in 8 completed games.

In the first game of the day, Gene Pastrana employed the Four Knights Defence with the black pieces to crush the formidable machine in 32 moves.

He used the 17th move novelty of Omega where he gives back the knight to obtain an overwhelming advantage in development of his heavy artillery (queen and rooks). It's a result of a week study of Ivan II weaknesses as he borrowed Ivan for one week.

Newcomer Ronald Maomay dealt Ivan II his second straight loss by using the Dragon Variation of Sicilian Defence in 29 moves and got his first-ever tournament victory but lost later to de Guzman and Menandro 'Boy' Manuel (9-0-2 win-loss-draw record) in an exciting endgame of 2 minor pieces and 2 pawns against a King and 6 pawns. He can't believe that he was mated in the center by a knight!

Morton Sawaichi finally ends his string of losses by beating Pastrana but lost in his 2nd game to Cyril Montel, Jr. in 29 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defence (Classical Variation).

Manuel picked his 9th win by drubbing Jimmy Valenzuela to pull away from the pack and got time to watch the last game of the day between Montel, Jr. and Bong Alipoon, who played seated again for the 3rd straight time.

Their game lasted till 8:15 pm and Alipoon suffered his first setback while playing seated in a marathon 75 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence.

Ngchesar boys Mario Ramos and Marcial Rodriguez drew their special requested match in their workplace and relay the result to Hernandez as they didn't make it again because of car engine trouble.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 04-11, 2005

(160) Palau Horizon (Manuel Rules Regular Chess)

                      MANUEL RULES REGULAR CHESS
                                                                       By Nazario Rodriguez, Jr.
                                                                            Horizon News Staff


TOP SEED Roberto Hernandez dealt Menandro Manuel his lone defeat after 21 rounds but this did not stop the latter from taking the title in this Sunday's final day of competiton in the 2005 Regular Chess tournament at the Privilege Store in Malakal.

The third seeded Manuel blundered in the endgame for the loss but his three victories via defaults earned him his second title in two years following his capture of the 2003 Open when he was competing as a first timer.

Manuels' other three scheduled foes are Marcial Rodriguez, Mario Ramos and Tutii Joe Chilton, all three did not show up.

"I think that there must be more players. More prizes should be given to attract participants," said Manuel, who finished with an aggregate of 19 points built on 18 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws.

Manuel said there is a need for more information drive to attract local players. Adding that he wanted Palauan kids to be developed.

Hernandez placed second in three consecutive times after compiling 17.5 points (17-3-1).

The playing chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club said the title is really not his, still trying to figure out the impact of his loss to spoiler Mariano Agustin, Jr., who prevailed in 36 moves of an Irregular Opening.

Three players finished with a similar 15.5 total but 5th seed Jose Omega was third based on the Sonnenborn Berger system of tiebreak where he got 141 points.

Fourth seed Cyril Montel had 127 for fourth place while ninth seed Bong Alipoon had 121.5 for fifth place.

Dennis Gonzales became the winner of the Most Improved Player award following a tie on points with Gene Pastrana. They finished both with 12 points.

Rounding out the final standings were sixth Lin de Guzman (15 points); seventh Jimmy Valenzuela (13.5 pts); eighth Manuel Nedic (13); ninth Gonzales (12); 10th Pastrana (12); 11th Ivan II Chess Computer (10); 12th Mario Ramos (9.5); 13th Agustin, Jr. (8.5); 14th Rodriguez (8.5); 15th Morton Sawaichi (8); 16th Tutii Joe Chilton (7.5); 17th Joel Azana (6.5); 18th Ronald Maomay (5); 19th Eric Espartero (4.5); 20th Em-R de Vera (4.5); 21st Chris Domingo (3.5) and Liam Bornovski (3).

Source:

Palau Horizon

by Nazario Rodriguez, Jr.

Horizon News Staff

Vol. 7    No. 75

Tuesday

April 19-21, 2005