(1479) CARLSEN--3-TIME STANDARD AND BLITZ WORLD CHAMPION (TBN-Feb. 12, 2018)

30 MINUTES CHESS, 30 MINUTES PIANO FOR GRAY

                    My latest chess/piano student Gray, who is only 6 years old, is very enthusiastic in both chess and piano. Kids’ brain is like a new computer, that whatever input you put in it, it will be absorbed easily. Unlike old people who need constant repetitions, as what Geoffrey Borg told us when he conducted a FIDE Trainers’ Seminar in April 2014. I topped that seminar and gained a FIDE Instructor (FI) title (Palau’s first). Among my chess/music students, Nick Nehez has the potential to be the next Palau Junior Champion while Angelica Magno (chess/guitar) is now a member of Palau team to 2018 WCO.         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

    CARLSEN-- 3-TIME STANDARD

    AND BLITZ WORLD CHAMPION

          The King Salman World Blitz Chess Championship concluded on Fri. Dec. 29, 2017 in Riyadh with Magnus Carlsen (Norway) and Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia) emerging convincing champions of their respective section.

          After the first day of the championship Magnus Carlsen trailed full two points behind the leader and 2016 champion Sergey Karjakin. However, the impressive winning streak on the second day, where he conceded only two draws in ten games, put Carlsen ahead of the field and he secured the title with a round to spare. His total score in the end is 16/21 points.

          Point and a half behind the champion are Sergey Karjakin and World Rapid Champion Viswanathan Anand. Karjakin took the silver medal on better tie-break, but the prize money will be shared. This is Carlsen's third world blitz title, having previously won in Moscow 2009 and Dubai 2014. He is also a 3-time Standard world champion having dethroned Anand in 2012 in India and again in Soci, Russia in 2014. In the 2016 World Chess Championship against Karjakin of Russia in New York, Carlsen defended his standard title again convincingly.

          Carlsen stated in an interview with FIDE press officer: "Obviously, I am extremely happy. Yesterday was a difficult day for me, but today everything went beyond expectations. This title means a lot to me, especially after losing that last game from the leading position in the Rapid Championship. So it's a massive win."        President of the Saudi Arabia Chess Federation Al Sulaiman Mottaz Abdulrahman made the ceremonial first move in the game between Levon Aronian and Magnus Carlsen in the presence of FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos

        In the closing ceremony HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki AlFaisal, deputy chairman of the General Sports Authority, awarded the trophies to the winners of the King Salman World Chess Championships.

         The 2017 King Salman World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships were held from 26-30th December in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with 238 world's top players competing for the prestigious titles and 2,000,000 USD prize fund.

         These are the possible contestants of the 2018 Palau Blitz Chess Championship to be held at Ernguul Park on Sunday, Feb. 18 from 2pm onward:

1.Santiago Jr. Tan–1823 (S) (1978) 2. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.—1806 (1970) 3. Tito Cabunagan – 1799 (1959) 4. Roberto Hernandez – 1776 (1956) 5. Angelo Salvadora –1772 (S) (1968) 6. Rafael Paloma –1695 (1974) 7. Dennis Gonzales--1671 (1978) 8. Rustum Cabuso – 1670 (1984) 9. Eugene Labarda –1648 (1967) 10. Paquito Suringa, Jr. – 1625 (1973) 11. Jeff Balbalosa --1625 (1979) 12. John Joseph Pabiona –1616 (1984) 13. Nilo de Jesus --1615 (1962) 14. Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. -- 1603 (1967) 15. Remrel Dizon – 1596 (1980) 16. Angie Parrado – 1590 (1968) 17. Eugenio Pastrana – 1584 (1955) 18. Herbert Galiza – 1562 (1985) 19. Mohammad Manik Hossain – 1558 (1981) 20. Neph Macasaet--1555 (S) (1974) 21. Manuel Mahor –1551 (1970) 22. Destiny Sisior –1500 (2004) 23. Baby Edna Mission --1500 (1967) 24. James dela Cruz –1497 (1975) 25. Jon Manuel Reyes –1497 (R) (1980) 26. Gladys Anne Paloma -- 1474 (1982) 27. Ksau Anthony Whipps –1450 (2001) 28. Sofronio Mahor –1447 (1959) 29. Arnold Undecimo –1435 (1978) 30. Joan Gemota –1433 (1985) 31. Luciano Sibayan –1427 (R) (1975) 32. Wilson Barrameda –1404 (1976) 33. Christopher Kitalong -- 1401 (R) (1980) 34. Crisarjo Mel John Banaga Ulap --1401 (1983) 35. Glen Navarroza –1382 (1978) 36. Angelil Sisior –1371 (2003) 37. Zachary Techall Whipps—1371 (2001) 38. Ma. Florida Hernandez—1342 (S) (1962) 39. Robert Godwin Sola -- 1341 (S) (2003) 40. Jo-Arl Cris Banaga Ulap--1341 (1990) 41. Joel Gemota –1327 (1990) 42. Elizalde Madrinan –1326 (R) (1957) 43. Leif Toribiong –1323 (S) (1984) 44. Tuloy Rengiil --1318 (S) (1986) 45. Joy Flores Whipps --1292 (S) (1978) 46. Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps –1281 (1977) 47. Charley Patris—1274 (S) (1966) 48. John Mark Tamayo--1266 (1985) 49. Ultei Surangel –1249 (S) (2005) 50. Jennifer Angeles –1187 (S) (1982) 51. Roxanne Parco -- 1146 (S) (1992) 52. Joey Jaime Balute—1143 (1972) 53. Kyarii Sisior –1126 (2008) 54. Ronald Mission –1119 (1997) 55. Angelica Magno –1066 (R) (1994) 56. Nelson Sablan --1063 (S) (1962) 57. Nasser Onyango—1024 (1983) 58. Nelson Sisior--1018 (1956) 59. Eryn Reklai --1004 (1990) 60. Francois Millimono—1001 (1986)

                I am requesting those players who borrowed chess sets and clocks to please bring those on Sun. Feb. 18 for the 2018 PBCC including those used in the Awarding at Eric’s house. We are expecting big turnout of participants. There’s a need to use the medium size chess sets donated by ACF/Paul Spiller.

                The top seed in this event is my discovery Bobot Tan, who won the 7-player Blitz Chess contest held after the penultimate round of 2017 Palau National Chess Championship on Dec. 10. He scored 5 victories against 1 loss (to Jeff Balbalosa). Tito Cabunagan is 2^nd with 4 wins, a draw and a loss; Jeff is 3^rd with 4-2 slate; I am 4^th with 3-3 card; Cyril is 5^th at 2-4; Rustum Cabuso had a win, a draw and 4 losses for 6^th place and at 7^th is Angelo Salvadora with a win and 5 losses.

                Angelo was edged by Rustum as the 4^th member of Palau Open team to 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia in the tiebreak at the conclusion of 2017 PNCC. Champ Bobot, Cyril, Tito and reserve Leif Toribiong is the composition of the Open team. An email from Tito: he is volunteering to be the Team Captain of the Open team so that Angelo will be included in the team. He is asking this matter to be tackled in the next PCF Board Meeting. His last words “I wanted to have everybody on the Top Rank experience the international tournament” is something that doesn’t do judgment when he and Cyril withdraw from the 2016 Baku Olympiad. The Top 10 players to be selected for that Olympiad (excluding them) were Jeff, Allan Alcid, Paquito Suringa, Jr., me, Manuel Mahor, Jr., Angelo, Dennis Gonzales and CM Bernardo Garcia.

                If the “Top Rank” that Tito is talking about will be followed here, Mahor and Angelo were ahead of Dennis. But Dennis made it to Baku because Mahor and Angelo were not asked if they are willing to go and commit to the team for $500.00 bond for each member that they paid and was refunded.

                Cyril said that Team Captain will have to be decided by Board Members. Angelo can’t be team captain because he doesn’t have a FIDE trainer title (FI, NI or DI at least). Next in line to him is Paquito, who has a DI title but doesn’t have a laptop, which is a very powerful tool a serious chess player must have. Even though you have a laptop but doesn’t have Chessbase installed in it, it’s impossible to prepare a team against future opponents. Next to Paquito is Dennis, that I recommend to be the Women’s team captain as I will be the Open team captain and Delegate as Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps suggested and him being the Head of Delegation.

                In the 2012 Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, there is a possibility that Mohammad Manik Hossein will be the team captain of Palau women’s team. But he strongly rejected it because he doesn’t like to spend almost $2,000.00 of his own money and not being able to play. For this reason, Dennis might not accept the suggested position as the bond for this Olympiad is $1k (half will be shouldered by PCF).

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4408: 1. …Qg2+!! 2. Bxg2 hxg2++ 3. Kg1 Rh1#

                                                                 (Nick Nehez solved this puzzle. Unfortunately, there's no

                                                                  cash prize for this unlike in special anniversary puzzles)

                This week’s puzzle No. 3797: 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 12

               February 12, 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 -- February 12, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              June 09, 2002 -- February 12, 2018

(1374) First They Ignore You, Laugh at You, Fight You, Then You Win--by Mahatma Gandhi (TBN-April 24, 2017)

: JAMIE KENMURE—ARBITERS’ SEMINAR LECTURER?

                    Palau will host the FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar on May 17-19, 2017. Jamie Kenmure, right, Palau Rating Officer, will probably conduct the Seminar if Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Toti Abundo will not be available. This photo was taken during the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey with GM Wesley So, middle and the current USA champion, with Roberto Hernandez, CM Bernardo Garcia, 2^nd from left, and Menandro Manuel, left.     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

    "FIRST THEY IGNORE YOU,

    THEN THEY LAUGH AT YOU, 

       THEN THEY FIGHT YOU,

            THEN YOU WIN"

                    -By Mahatma Ghandi- 

 

These words from one of the greatest minds and wisdom in the world from India, Mahatma Ghandi, were applied to what is happening now to the chess career of the newly-crowned USA champion Wesley So.

                 Although Wesley has won international tournaments and has been a Top 10 GM for two years, he has not really been reckoned as a serious threat by other super-GMs ("first they ignore you") in 2015 and 2016. The Top 10 super-GMs (and the emcees and commentators) started to take note of Wesley when he won (with some "luck") the Sinquefield, London and over-all 2016 GCT titles.

Henceforth, they cannot ignore Wesley no more, but they mock ("they laugh at you") his risk-free style of play.

                Even with the presence of three Top 10 elite GMs, the 2017 USA Chess Championship remain in the national championship category, that is, it's not on the level of the closed super-tournaments like Bilbao and Shamkir.

 However, the coronation of Wesley as US Champion has completed (the first part was 2017 Wijk Aan-zee (Tata Steel Masters) his elevation as the man to watch and prepare for in the subsequent tournaments.

                To illustrate a point, Wesley arrived in Baku for the 2017 Gashimov Memorial. His arrival was heralded in Azerbaijan press!! Azeri media paint Wesley as the man to beat ("then they fight you") in this tournament.

                **(Shared report from CM Joselito Marcos)…Wesley So’s 67-game unbeaten streak ended in the opening round of Gashimov Memorial. Playing Black, defending champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov rebuffed So’s rare Scotch Opening as the latter blundered right on the time control. (0-1 in 39 moves).

                The other participants which So will be meeting in Rd. 2 is Michael Adams; Rd. 3-Wojtaszek; Rd. 4-Veselin Topalov; Rd. 5-Vladimir Kramnik; Rd. 6-Sergey Karjakin; Rd. 7-Pavel Eljanov; Rd. 8-Radjabov and Rd. 9-Harikrishna.

                Palau’s first Woman National Master (WNM) Angelica Parrado-Sisior attended the wedding of Mark Pusong and Beverly Joy Isida as secondary sponsor at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. While I’m on my way to set the keyboard, she talked to me that it will be Palau Rating Officer Jamie Kenmure that will be the one to conduct the Arbiters’ Seminar slated on May 17-19, 2017. I will email Toti Abundo to confirm this so that when I draft my May 2017 monthly working schedule, I will adjust to these 3 days.

                Angie also asked me to come at Engull Park (former Bethlehem Park) on April 23 and bring chess boards and clocks so that the potential participants can practice for the April 30 and May 07 Palau Blitz Chess Championship. Palau’s 2^nd WNM Baby Edna Mission attended also the wedding as guest. Angie confirmed that Gonzalo ‘Jojo’ Escapatoria, Jr. will be joining the seminar as well as Mission and possibly Gladys Anne Palome and her husband Rafael.

 Other confirmed participants are Angie, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Paquito Suringa, Jr., Dennis Gonzales, Angelo Salvadora and me, of course for a total of 10. A maximum of 20 participants will be accommodated. Players from Guam are interested to attend the seminar as well as CM Joselito Marcos of Papua New Guinea but the school schedule is quite busy on that date where he is the Academic Director of The National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3862: 1. Qxg6+!! hxg6 2. Bxg6+ Ke7 3. Nf5#

                This week’s puzzle No. 4409: 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 26

                April 24, 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
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013--April 24, 2017

             The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 09, 2002--April 24, 2017

       

(1342) WESLEY SO WIN 79th TATA STEEL MASTERS CHESS TOURNAMENT (TBN-Feb. 06, 2017)

WESLEY SO IN 2010 W.C.O. IN KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA

                      (L-R) GM Darwin Laylo, CM Joselito Marcos, GM John Paul Gomez, WIM Catherine Perena, GM Wesley So, FI Roberto Hernandez, Sherylin Cua, Charedee Camacho, Ms. Docena and Rwhy Reyes during the final round of 2010 WCO in Russia. So, who is ranked 48^th in the world in 2013, is now in 2^nd after a very impressive winning of 3 consecutive tournaments with the world’s best chess players. 

                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

WESLEY SO WINS 79th TATA STEEL

   MASTERS CHESS TOURNAMENT

    

IN THE LAST week’s edition of Chess Mate, the update of 79^th Tata Steel Chess Tournament is up to the 11^th round only of this 13-round event that includes current world chess champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway and his challenger Sergey Karjakin in New York 2016 World Chess Championship.

                Wesley So beat Ian Nepomniachtchi straight from the opening, avoided a playoff and became the winner of the 79th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in Wijk aan Zee today. Gawain Jones won the challengers and will play the top guns in next year's tournament.

                All potential drama was silenced in a moment. In the final round, which started 1.5 hours earlier, Nepomniachtchi used an offbeat line to treat So's French Defense. It backfired completely.

The Russian player was lost right out of the opening, a most unwelcome development for Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian and Wei Yi. These three players still had a chance to catch So in first place, thus forcing the first playoff in Wijk aan Zee, at least in modern history. The tournament organizers had introduced this rule for the masters for this year, but didn't get to use it.

                On move 28 "Nepo" threw in the towel, and suddenly everything was decided—after less than three hours of play. With the other six games still going, So started accepting the congratulations of the organizers, officials and guests, including Anatoly Karpov, who is visiting the tournament today.

                Karpov, today: "Carlsen has a very similar style as me. In fact, he plays even simpler than I did."

Wesley also defeated Nepomniachtchi at the Baku Olympiad, after the Russian GM had started with 7/7. "He's a great fighter and it's pleasure playing him," So said afterward.

                After winning this tournament, So now has a streak of not losing 56 games in a row. He won the Sinquefield Cup in August last year, then Olympic team gold and individual gold in Baku, then the London Chess Classic and now Wijk aan Zee. Being the hottest man in chess would be an understatement.

                The win in Wijk aan Zee meant a lot to So: "Winning this tournament is huge, with the world champion in it. It's a wonderful start of the year."If this all wasn't enough, So also became the world No. 2 at the end of the day, after Fabiano Caruana lost to Nigel Short in round six of the Gibraltar Masters.

                And so, after three hours of play, all other players were out of contention. For example, the clash between Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin, initially billed as one of the key games in this tournament, was just for the history books. Nonetheless it was a game to watch obviously, as the first classical encounter between these players since their 2016 world championship in New York.

                In a surprisingly bloody final round, a total of five games ended decisively. Levon Aronian had only lost one game thus far, but was unlucky enough to face Dmitry Andreikin just when the Russian would play his best game of the tournament.

                Carlsen finished in clear second place because Wei Yi also went down today. It looks like the Chinese player was trying too hard to beat Radek Wojtaszek.

                Baskaran Adhiban qualified from the 2016 challengers, and couldn't have wished for a better tournament. To finish in third place in the masters, with plus-two, is just fantastic. Today he beat Richard Rapport, and despite having done more than enough as far as contractual obligations are concerned, he joined the live show once again.             

                Tata Steel Masters | Final Standings

#	Fed	Name	Rtg	Perf	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	Pts	SB
1		So	2808	2887		½	½	½	½	½	½	½	1	½	1	1	1	1	9.0/13
2		Carlsen	2840	2826	½		½	½	1	½	1	½	½	½	1	½	0	1	8.0/13
3		Adhiban	2653	2812	½	½		½	½	1	0	½	0	1	1	½	1	½	7.5/13	47.00
4		Aronian	2780	2802	½	½	½		½	0	1	1	½	0	½	½	1	1	7.5/13	46.00
5		Wei Yi	2706	2808	½	0	½	½		1	½	½	½	½	0	1	1	1	7.5/13	44.75
6		Karjakin	2785	2776	½	½	0	1	0		½	½	½	1	½	½	½	1	7.0/13	43.00
7		Eljanov	2755	2777	½	0	1	0	½	½		½	½	½	½	½	1	1	7.0/13	42.00
8		Giri	2773	2750	½	½	½	0	½	½	½		½	½	½	1	½	½	6.5/13
9		Harikrishna	2766	2724	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	½	½	0	6.0/13	40.00
10		Andreikin	2736	2726	½	½	0	1	½	0	½	½	½		½	½	½	½	6.0/13	39.00
11		Wojtaszek	2750	2725	0	0	0	½	1	½	½	½	½	½		½	½	1	6.0/13	35.75
12		Nepomniachtchi	2767	2669	0	½	½	½	0	½	½	0	½	½	½		½	½	5.0/13
13		Rapport	2702	2645	0	1	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	½	½	½		½	4.5/13
14		Van Wely	2695	2582	0	0	½	0	0	0	0	½	1	½	0	½	½		3.5/13

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 15 by CM Joselito Marcos: 1. Bh1 Kxh1 2. Ne2 Kh2 3. Nc3 Kh1 4. Ne4 Kh2 5. Nd2 Kh1 6. Nf1 h2 7. Ng3#. Published in Today, Philippines (Aug. 25, 1996)

This week’s puzzle No. 16: White to move and mates in 25 moves (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 9-10

             Volume 26

             Issue 10

             February 06, 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

           Tia Belau Newspaper

           March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

           http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

           April 25, 2013 -- February 06, 2017

          Memoirs of a Chess Amatuer

          My Memorable Games and Compositions

          By CM Joselito Marcos

          Page 429

          The History of Chess in Palau

          By Roberto Hernandez

          June 09, 2002 -- February 06, 2017