(820) 2 LETTERS FOR AMBASSADOR MARINO DATED SEPT. 04, 2007

WOMAN'S CHAMPION OF INAUGURAL AMBASSADOR MARINO RAPID CHESS TILT
     Ma. Florida Miranda Hernandez captured her first chess title in Palau by defeating Juvy Bulan in the women's division of 2006 Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament held at Philippine Embassy office. She received $75.00 cash prize and a nicely crafted glass trophy donated by Pinoy Express Remittance through its manager Manny Kimpo.                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


Two letters were written by Roberto Hernandez to Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino on September 04, 2007 regarding the 2007 Palau Invitational Chess Championship now to be known as the 2nd edition of Ambassador Marino Cup.

The following are the two letters:

September 04, 2007

Ambassador Ramoncito Marino
Embassy of the Philippines
2nd Floor, M. Ueki Building
Iyebukel Hamlet 
Koror, Palau 96940
P. O. Box 1447

Dear Mr. Ambassador,
     We thank you very much for sponsoring the 2007 Palau Invitational Chess Championship which will now be known as the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup to be held on September 15-20, 2007 at your office at daytime and at Jean's Boutique at nighttime.
     This tournament will be the biggest in the history of chess in Palau because of your generosity to sponsor the $1,000.00 cash prize and two round-trip tickets (Palau-Manila-Palau) as additional prizes.
     The invited players are USA and Philippines Chess Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., National Master and International Arbiter Erwin Carag, National Arbiter and Director of Region XI of National Chess Federation of the Philippines James Infiesto and Boris Michael Diez, both from Davao City, Philippines.
     They will be competing against the top 9 players of Palau: Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, Jose Omega, Cyril Montel, Jr., Roberto Hernandez, Manny Nedic, Gene Pastrana, Tony Villa, Craig Dittrich and Mortin Sawaichi.
     The last 3 will try to gain their international rankings while the first 6 already have their FIDE ratings.  Mr. Carag and Mr. Infiesto will try also to get their FIDE rating.
     We are now hereby requesting your generous sponsorship to the grand total of $1,000.00 to be awarded by Your Highness on the awarding of prizes at your office.
     Thank you so much once again and may God Bless You Always!


Francis 'Sno' Temaungil
Chairman
Palau Chess Federation


Roberto Hernandez
Secretary/Treasurer
Palau Chess Federation 


                THE SECOND LETTER:

September 04, 2007

Ambassador Ramocito Marino
Embassy of the Philippines
2nd Floor, M. Ueki Building
Iyebukel Hamlet
Koror, Palau 96940
P. O. Box 1447

Dear Mr. Ambassador,
     We are very grateful for your sponsorship of the 2007 Palau Invitational Chess Championship which will now be known as the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup.
     There is an unforeseen obstacle that put the event to a 3-week postponement because the round-trip ticket of one of the invited player, National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr., was not given to him yet by Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker of Australia, who also sponsored last year's ticket of Mr. Bernardino.
     We are now asking for your assistance to help Mr.Bernardino so that the tournament can proceed on September 15, 2007.
     Thank you very much once again and more power to you.


Roberto Hernandez
Secretary/Treasurer
Palau Chess Federation


Source: History of Chess In Palau
            By Roberto Hernandez
            September 2007
     

(605) INVITATION TO PLAY IN NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA (TBN-Dec. 08-14, 2008)

THE President of Oceania Zone Mr. Gary Bekker of Australia has sent an invitation to Palau Chess Federation Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez and Gene Pastrana to play in Queenstown Classic chess tournament in New Zealand (January 15-24, 2009) and in the Oceania Zonal tournament in Gold Coast Australia in July 2009.

Mr. Bekker is willing to give free accommodation for these two prestigious chess events and an airfare subsidy of $500.00.

He is trying to get some more sponsorship from Asian Chess Federation President Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan for the rest of the airfare.

Upon consulting Mr. Pastrana, he can't go to these tournaments unless a full airfare sponsorship is provided.

The same thing to Hernandez as he has already taken his annual leave during the 2008 World Chess Olympiad date (Nov. 12-25), where their visa a week late and were unable to play for team Palau.

Mr. Bekker also extended the invitation to other top players of Palau Menandro Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jr., Dennis Lara, Craig Dittrich and even to Arnel Pama and Tony Villa, who are not in Palau anymore.

Hernandez forwarded the invitation to Allan Diez, who placed 3rd in the 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup (Palau Invitational Chess Championship) in 2007.

He is capable of buying his own airfare to the said events.

During the Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, Mr. Bekker already promised to help out with at least free board and lodging and $500.00 as a contribution to Hernandez if he decided to go to Queenstown.

He'll share his room with Hernandez but didn't mention about the food.

Mr. Bekker also promised Mr. Jan Berglund, Palau Delegate to the Chess Olympiad, to be one of the arbiters at the Queenstown and Zonal but when Mr. Berglund talked to the main organizer, Grandmaster Murray Chandler, there is no budget for any more arbiters and Mr. Bekker said that he doesn't need any more arbiters for the Zonal in Brisbane, Australia.
 fro
It means that Mr. Berglund is not going to these 2 tournaments and rather save those airfares and spend it in going to Palau instead.

He's hoping to go to Brisbane to coach one or 2 players from Palau and will see if there are any funds available to obtain that. 

Also mentioned in the conversation is the school project for Palau. Mr. Bekker said that he had someone from the Philippines, who could come for a month.

The very same person will go for a month in Papua New Guinea. The salary for this person will be taken care of by someone so that it would not cost Palau anything.

In Dresden, Mr. Bekker also promised the 4 professional and retired teachers from USA/British Virgin Islands the airfares to go to Palau and teach. 

The four women have spent from their own money to travel to Dresden without getting able to play for Palau women's team in the end.

Mr. Berglund thinks that it would be a much better idea to have these women as there would be responsible for this teaching for the entire semesters and they could inspire more women to start to play chess as well as waken up the USA community in the island to take part in the local tournaments.

In Hernandez' last day off (Sunday, Nov. 30), a blitz chess contest was held at Jean's Boutique and Store.

The other players were Manny Nedic, Gene Pastrana and Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich.

Hernandez emerged as champion by sweeping Pastrana and Dittrich and split his match with Nedic for a total of 5 wins and a loss.

Pastrana was 2nd with a 3-2-1 win-loss-draw slate. Nedic was 2-3-1 and Dittrich scored his only win against Nedic and finished with 1-5-0.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 17
               December 08-14, 2008       


         



       

(585) TOP SEED MANUEL NIPS 2ND SEED OMEGA (TBN-Aug. 01-07, 2008)

BOUNCING back from a stunning upset last week to Koror State Legal Council Craig Dittrich, top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel clobbered Palau number 2 chess player Jose Omega, a cook at Ashibi Restaurant, in 34 moves of Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) that was held at Jean's Boutique and Store on Saturday, July 26.

The combinative Manuel sacrificed a bishop for 3 pawns on the 11th move and obtained a bewildering attack on Omega's uncastled king.

THE MOVES:

White: Menandro Manuel (1942)  (105)

Black: Jose Omega (1870)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. f3 Nbd7?! 11. Bxe6! fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc8 13. Nxg7+ Kf7 14. Nf5 Qc7 15. Qd2 Ne5 16. Bd4 Bf8 17. 0-0 Rg8 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Kh1 Rg6 20. Qf4 Be7 21. Rf2 Rf8 22. Ne3 Kg8 23. Nf5 Bc8 24. g4 Bb7 25. h4 h5 26. g5 Ne8 27. Qg3 Ng7 28. Nh6+ Kh7 29. f4 Nf7 30. f5 Nxf5 31. Nxf5 Ne5 32. Bxe5 dxe5 33. Qf3 Bc5 34. Qxh5+             1-0

The same position arised in Manuel's match against 4th seed Roberto Hernandez about 4 years ago with Hernandez unable to find the right continuation.

Manuel proved once more why he is the top player in Palau in the last 3 years.

If things work out well, he will be the board 1 player of Palau chess team to compete in the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.

Board 2 will be Manny Nedic. Palau first National Master. Board 3 will be Hernandez and board 4 will be Cyril Montel, Jr. and the reserve will be Gene Pastrana.

A possible extra player might be included but he has to shoulder his own airfare and accommodation.

Dennis Lara, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, is trying to get sponsorship from his governor relative in the Philippines and if things go well, he might be included to the team.

Another possibility of joining the team is the withdrawal of one of the 5 selected players. 

With the help of International Arbiter (IA)/trainer/journalist/coach Jan Berglund, Palau might be recognized as a member of CACDEC nation and will gain certain valuable benefits.

The other players that might have a chance to join the team are Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, the chairman of Palau Chess Federation, Tutii Joe Chilton, Morton Sawaichi, blitz chess expert Tony Villa (now in Philippines), Omega and Jaime Guevarra, a pastry chef at PRR.

Those 6 players are asked to submit their passport details to Mr. Berglund for possible participation in Dresden and/or other international chess events.

Arnel Pama, steward at PRR, left Palau to join his wife, who also worked at PRR, in Qatar on Friday.

His remaining games will be played through telephone match or internet.

He played his last game in Palau on Wednesday evening against Lara and lost again. 

He is the only player who hasn't won or draw a game yet. Many of his games have winning lines but his inexperience in tight positions and endgames cost him some valuable points.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 13 & 15
             Volume 18
             August 01-07, 2008
     

          

(583) CRAIG SCALPS ANOTHER MASTER (TBN-July 25-31, 2008)

MENANDRO 'Boy' MANUEL has been Palau's top player in the last three years and being inactive from competitive chess in the last few months might be the reason of his skidding play.

Last Sunday, July 20 he was drubbed by Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in a marathon 60 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening. A pawn thrust on the 25th move gave Dittrich a whole piece advantage that he sustained through the endgame.

After the last exchange of Manuel's pawn, Dittrich is ahead by two pawns with his king safely protected by the g pawn and his rook prevented Manuel's king from stopping the promotion of the h pawn.

THE MOVES:

White: Craig Dittrich                    (103)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Bc5 6. e3 0-0 7. Bd3 Ngxe5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. Be2 d6 10. 0-0 a6 11. a3 Be6 12. b3 c6 13. Ne4 Qe7 14. Nxc5 dxc5 15. Bb2 Rad8 16. Qc2 Ng6 17. a4 Qg5 18. Rfd1 f6 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 Re8 21. f4 Bf5 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Qxd3 Qg4 24. h3 Qe6 25. f5 Qxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rxe3 27. fxg6 hxg6 28. Bc1 Rxb3 29. Bf4 Rb4 30. Rd8+ Kf7 31. Rd7+ Ke6 32. Rxg7 g5 33. Be3 b6 34. Rb7 Kf5 35. Bd2 Rb3 36. Rc7 Rb2 37. Bc3 Rc2 38. Be1 Rxc4 39. Rxc6 Rc1 40. Kf2 Ra1 41. a5 Ra2+ 42. Kf1 Ke5 43. axb6 Kd5 44. Rxf6 c4 45. Rf5+ Kd4 46. Rxg5 c3 47. Bxc3 Kxc3 48. Rg7 Rb2 49. b7 a5 50. g5 Rxb7 51. Rxb7 Kd4 52. Kg2 Ke3 53. Rf7 Kd4 54. Rb7 Ke5 55. h4 Ke6 56. Rb6+ Ke7 57. Kf3 Kd8 58. g5                 1-0

In May 04, 2008, Dittrich snapped Tony Villa's 7-game winning streak and dealt the blitz chess master his first loss of the 2008 Palau National Chess Championship.

Manuel became Palau's 2nd National Master after capturing the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship with co-champion Manny Nedic. He was assigned twice in Yap that made him missed the first 2 months of the tourney.

His game against Dennis Lara, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, ended in a fighting draw after another marathon 75 moves of French Defence. He can't convert his one pawn advantage into a win in a difficult bishop-of-opposite color endgame because of Lara's excellent handling of the endgame. The game was held at PRR Dormitory 1 on July 15. 

THE MOVES:

White: Menandro Manuel (1942)    (101)

Black: Dennis Lara

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb5 4. e5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 c5 6. Qg4 g6 7. Nf3 Ne7 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. 0-0 c4 10. Be2 Nf5 11. h3 Qa4 12. Bd2 0-0 13. Qg5 Qd8 14. g4 Qxg5 15. Bxg5 Ng7 16. Bh6 f6 17. exf6 Rxf6 18. Bg5 Rf7 19. Rab1 b6 20. Rbe1 Bd7 21. Bd1 b5 22. Ne5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Ne8 24. Kg2 Nd6 25. Bf3 Kg7 26. Bc1 Nc8 27. Ba3 Nb6 28. g5 Na4 29. Re3 h6 30. gxh6+ Kxh6 31. Bg4 Re8 32. Rfe1 Rf6 33. Bc1 Kg7 34. Rg3 Ref8 35. Re2 Re8 36. Ba3 Rf4 37. Bd6 Re4 38. Rxe4 dxe4 39. Bh5 Nxc3 40. Rxg6+ Kh7 41. Rg3 Rg8 42. Bg4 Nd5 43. Ra3 Ra8 44. Ra6 Bc8 45. Ra5 a6 46. a4 Nc3 47. axb5 Nxb5 48. Be5 Kg6 49. Be2 Bb7 50. Bxc4 e3+ 51. Kg1 exf2+ 52. Kxf2 Rf8+ 53. Ke1 Rc8 54. Bxb5 axb5 55. Rxb5 Bg2 56. Kd2 Bxh3 57. Rb6 Bf5 58. c3 Kf7 59. Rb7+ Ke8 60. Rb4 Be4 61. c4 Kd7 62. c5 Bd5 63. Rb6 Rc6 64. Rb7+ Kc8 65. Ra7 Kd8 66. Kc3 Rc8 67. Kb4 Ra8 68. Rh7 Ra1 69. Bf6+ Kc8 70. Kc3 Rc1 71. Kd3 Rf1 72. Be5 Re1 73. c6 Be4+ 74. Kd2 Bxh7 75. Kxe1      (Draw)

Manuel had won another long encounter against Jimboy de Jesus in 51 moves of Sicilian Defence on Saturday, July 19 at Jean's Boutique and Store and now have a 3-1-1 win-loss-draw slate. He is scheduled to face Palau's number 2 Jose Omega on Saturday.

THE MOVES:

White: Jose Misael de Jesus           (102)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 d6 3. d3 Nf6 4. h3 e6 5. Nc3 a6 6. a3 Be7 7. Be3 Qc7 8. Nf3 0-0 9. Ba2 b5 10. 0-0 Nbd7 11. Rc1 Nb6 12. Bf4 Bb7 13. Bh2 Rfd8 14. Qe2 Rac8 15. Nd1 Qc6 16. Ne3 Rd7 17. Ng5 c4 18. f4 d5 19. e5 Ne8 20. d4 h6 21. Nf3 g6 22. c3 Ng7 23. g4 a5 24. Bb1 b4 25. axb4 axb4 26. Bg3 Na4 27. Qc2 bxc3 28. bxc3 Qb5 29. f5 Qb3 30. f6 Ba3 31. fxg7 Bxc1 32. Rxc1 Bc6 33. Qd2 Kxg7 34. Nd1 Rb7 35. Bc2 Qa3 36. h4 Nb2 37. Bf4 Rh8 38. h5 Nxd1 39. Bxd1 Rb2 40. Qe3 Qa2 41. Ne1 gxh5 42. gxh5 Ba4 43. Bxa4 Qxa4 44. Qg3+ Kh7 45. Qh4 Rg8+ 46. Kh1 Qe8 47. Qf6 Qf8 48. Ra1 Qg7 49. Qxg7 Kxg7 50. Nf3 Rf2 51. Rg1+ Kh7 52. Ng5+? hxg5                   0-1

In his latest email to Roberto Hernandez, Jan Berglund asked him to give him as many passport details of all those that might come into questions of going to Dresden, Germany (where the World Chess Olympiad will be held in November 12-25) now and/or for other future international chess events.

Hernandez will ask Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, Tutii Joe Chilton, Morton Sawaichi, Omega, Lara, Villa, de Jesus, Dittrich and Jaime Guevarra to fax their passport details to Mr. Berglund.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper 
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18 
            July 25-31, 2008

(581) BOY MANUEL IS BACK (TBN-July 11-17, 2008)

MENANDRO 'Boy' Manuel has been Palau's top player in the last 3 years and missed the first 2 months of 2008 National Chess Championship due to his assignment in Yap twice.

He's now back and prove his stature as number 1 seed by outplaying 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. in 45 moves of Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation) last Sunday, July 06 at Jean's Boutique and Store.

It is the only game of the day as other top seeds have conflict with their schedules. 

THE MOVES: 

White: Cyril Montel, Jr. (1870)       (96)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. c3 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. d5 exd5 10. Nxd5 0-0 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. Bg5 Bg4 13. Re1 Rae8 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qb3 h6 17. Bh4 Rc8 18. Bd5 g5 19. Bg3 Rc7 20. f4 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Kh7 22. Rac1 Rfc8 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Rc1 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Rxc1+ 26. Bxc1 Qc7 27. Qd2 Qc4 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 29. Qf4 Ng6 30. b3? Nxf4 31. bxc4 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 Nxc1 33. a4 Nd3+ 34. Ke3 Nb2 35. Kd4 Nxa4 36. Kd5 Nb6+ 37. Kxd6 Nxc4+ 38. Kc5 b5 39. g4 Nd2 40. e5 Ne4+ 41. Kd4 Nf2 42. h4 Nxg4 43. h5 Nh6 44. Kd5 Kf8 45. Kc5 Ke7            0-1

Second seed Jose Omega, 4th seed Roberto Hernandez, venue host and 7th seed Gene Pastrana and Palau first National Master Manny Nedic arrived at the tournament site in different time.

Even Jaime Guevarra, Palau Royal Resort's pastry chef, had missed the chance to play Manuel, who generously paid for Em-R de Vera's registration fee of $20.00.

It is still possible to send a Palau team to compete in the 2008 Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.

According to Jan Berglund in his latest email to Hernandez, the first step to be made is to have Hernandez choose the players in the team.

 If it's possible, the top 7 players of Palau (Manuel, Omega, Montel, Hernandez, Nedic, Pastrana, and even Tony Villa, who is now in Philippines) are eligible to compete in the Olympiad. 

Mr. Berglund will captain the team and on his way to Palau via Philippines, he is planning to play Villa and will decide how can Villa finish his other 2 remaining games against Manuel and Paquito Suringa, Jr., a cook at PRR.

The Organizing Committee of Dresden, Germany have given the participating countries the deadline of confirming their participation on July 12, 2008.

If one or 2 players can't make it, it is possible for Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich, Jimboy de Jesus, Dennis Lara, Guevarra and even Elizalde Madrinan to make it to the team.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18
            July 11-17, 2008       

(578) ELI ESCAPES WITH A WIN (TBN-June 27-July 03, 2008)

IT'S THE first serious chess tournament participation of Elizalde 'Eli' Madrinan, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, and he prevailed once more over first timer Elpidio Manaligod in the featured game on Sunday, June 22 in the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship held at Jean's Boutique and Store.

Eli blundered away a bishop in the middle game in exchange of two pawns and positional advantage. Manaligod missed a knight capture of a pawn in the ensuing play and play it safe.

With some accurate maneuver, Eli managed to promote his 2 pawns into queens and mated the skidding Manaligod to claim his 3rd victory. His other 2 wins are from co-employees Paquito 'Pax' Suringa and Arnel Pama, who has yet to win a game.

In the first game of the day, Manaligod subdued Suringa in a marathon 70-move French Defence game where some passive play cost Pax the game. He missed a strong rook capture that will pave the way for his passed pawn and put Manaligod on the defensive side.

Second seed Jose Omega showep up at the tournament site and played one game against Pama. The game is scheduled on Wednesday at PRR Dormitory 1 but they played it there to save time.

As usual, Pama have a good opening repertoire but his weakness in the middle game was exploited by Omega and mated Pama on the 38 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence. With the victory, Omega seized the 2nd spot in the standings from Palau's first National Master Manny Nedic, who showed up late in the afternoon and not enough time to set a match with 4th seed Roberto Hernandez, as he has to work at 6:00 pm.

Their scheduled match on Saturday, June 28 is not possible as Hernandez will work on the 3rd Anniversary of Palau Royal Resort and the grand opening of PRR beach.

STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:  1. Tony Villa (14-2-1) 2. Jose Omega (11-2-0) 3. Manny Nedic (10-1-0) 4. Craig Dittrich (8-6-2) 5. Jimboy de Jesus (7-5-1) 6. Cyril Montel, Jr. (5-2-1) 7. Roberto Hernandez (5-2-1) 8. Jaime Guevarra (3-4-2) 9. Dennis Lara (3-4-1) 10. Elpidio Manaligod (3-4-1) 11. Eli Madrinan (3-7-1) 12. Paquito Suringa (3-7-0) 13. Andres Mestizo II (2-8-2) 14. Michael Mercado (2-6-1) 15. Mohammad Manik Hossain (3-11-1) 16. Eric Espartero (2-2-0) 17. Gene Pastrana (2-3-0) 18. Ken Pastrana (0-2-2) 19. Arnel Pama (0-8-0) 20. Jan Berglund 21. Menandro Manuel 22. Em-R de Vera

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper 
                 Pages 13 & 15
                 Volume 18
                June 27-July 03, 2008         

(572) VILLA NIPS OMEGA, NEDIC FOR THEIR FIRST LOSS (TBN-May 23-29, 2008)

BLITZ CHESS specialist Tony Villa dealt erstwhile leader and previously unbeaten Jose Omega, a cook at Ashibi Restaurant, and Palau's first National Master Manny Nedic their first loss in the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship held on Sat. and Sunday, April 19 & 20 at Jean's Boutique and Store.

Villa also defeated venue host Gene Pastrana in their Caro-Kahn encounter on Saturday to take the lead again in the 22-player championship.

Fifth seed Roberto Hernandez scored a full point over Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in 41 moves of Dutch Defence. And on the 3rd and last game of the day, 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. refused a draw offer from Dennis Lara and prevailed in an exciting endgame of king and pawns.

Lara deviated from a knight sacrifice that will gain him 2 pawns for a minor piece and an excellent prospect of promoting his two unopposed pawns on the queenside.

Before bowing to Villa, Omega clobbered the lone Bangladeshi entrant Mohammad Manik Hossain and Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II while Nedic touted Michael Mercado prior to his first loss.

Aying finally scored a victory after a string of losses by outwitting Pastrana. He proceeded to Palau Royal Resort and dealt Elizalde Madrinan another loss. Eli lost earlier to Pastrana.

OTHER RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S ACTION: Dittrich is back in the winning column after drubbing Hossain; Hernandez took the measure of Mercado in 41 moves of Sicilian Defence; newcomer Elpidio Manaligod maintained his composure after a touch move violation of Hossain and claimed his 3rd win. Hossain put his king in a place where a bishop can capture it and pressed his time clock.

In a FIDE tournament of 90 minutes + 30 seconds/move increment, an illegal move violation will be resumed by moving the touched piece to a legal square. In blitz chess,(Palau style), after pressing the clock, it will be the final move of the player. If he/she didn't move or defended the attacked king, it can be captured and the game is over.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
        Tia Belau Newspaper
        Pages 13 & 15
        Volume 18 
        May 23-29, 2008

(571) OMEGA, NEDIC STILL UNDEFEATED (TBN-May 16-22, 2008)

Palau's No. 2 player Jose Omega and Palau's first National Master Manny Nedic kept their winning streak intact in the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship held on Saturday, May 10 and Mother's Day (May 11) at Jean's Boutique and Store.

In a special game at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 on Wednesday, May 7, Omega dealt Elizalde Madrinan, a cook at PRR, his 3rd loss via 36-move conquest of Sicilian Defence. He followed it up with another whipping of previously unbeaten Cyril Montel, Jr. (Palau's No. 3) in 54 moves of another Sicilian Defence and notched his 6th win of the tourney with a victory over newcomer Elpidio Manaligod in 36 moves of Giocco Piano.

Blitz chess wizard Tony Villa is back in winning column for at least 2 games after nipping Jaime Guevarra, a pastry chef at PRR, in 27 moves of Petroff Defence and 4th seed Roberto Hernandez in 67 moves of Danish Gambit.

Another PRR employee Arnel Pama, a steward, lost to Jimboy de Jesus in 47 moves of Bishop Opening on Saturday afternoon.

The game of the week was the upset of Montel, Jr. of Villa in 54 moves of Irregular King's Pawn Opening where Cyril responded 1. ... Nh6 to Tony's 1. e4.  A blunder by Tony on the 27th move made Cyril very cautious not to let the whole point slip away. He spent 17 minutes on his 29th move while Tony spent more than 5 minutes in the game's entirety!

Dennis Lara, the 5th of PRR employee to see action on Sunday, lost to de Jesus in 60 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening while Pama suffered his 2nd straight loss to Manaligod, who had a 50% day after drawing with Hernandez in 63 moves of Danish Gambit.

Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich halved the point with Guevarra in 26 moves of Semi-Slav Defence and suffered his rare loss to Cyril in 37 moves of King's Indian Defence while Nedic took the measure of Lara in 57 moves of Queen's Gambit Accepted.

Villa refused the Blackmar Dimer Gambit of Pama and prevailed in 39 moves and finally a PRR player scored a whole point when Guevarra outwitted Mohammad Manik Hossain in 52 moves of King's Pawn Opening, where Hossain used the same opening as Cyril did in his game against Villa.

Hossain dropped another game to Cyril in a shorter 24 moves of the same opening and Lara was happy enough to draw will Villa in 57 moves of Pirc Defence.

The final game of the day was the Pama vs. Nedic match where the latter accepted the pawn that Villa refused. After only 4 moves, Nedic spent 11 minutes on his 4th move.  Showing signs of unfamiliarity with the Blackmar Dimer Gambit or BDG, Nedic was on the defensive most of the time and when Pama missed a good outpost for his knight, Nedic had a sigh of relief after prevailing in 41 moves.

Pama learned the BDG from the online website chess.com

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18
            May 16-22, 2008

(570) CRAIG SNAPS TONY'S 7-GAME WIN STREAK (TBN-May 09-15, 2008)

KOROR STATE Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich finally ended the surging blitz chess specialist Antonio Villa in a last game marathon match on Sunday, May 04 at Jean's Boutique and Store in the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship.

After dominating mostly newcomers, Villa succumbed to pressure of being a piece down in an endgame with isolated pawns. He was forced to move a touched piece that resulted in being a piece down.

With Dittrich taking full advantage of the time control that fits his style of play, he exploited his advantage with Villa trying to salvage at least a draw.

With two more victories over the father and son participants on Monday evening, Dittrich is in solo 2nd place and looking forward to his first chess title in Palau.

Other results of previous games: 2nd seed Jose Omega defeated Dennis Lara, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, in 38 moves of Slav Defence in a game held at Dormitory 1 of PRR on April 29th; 5th seed Roberto Hernandez won his first game over Jimboy de Jesus in 29 moves of Sicilian Defence on Saturday, May 03; 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. also plyed his first game on Sunday and drew a tough game with Andres 'Aying' Mestizo in a marathon 76-move of King's Indian Defence; Villa spoiled Elizalde Madrinan's first tournament game with a 35-move conquest of Sicilian Defence; Dittrich dealt Mestizo another loss in 56 moves of Queen's Gambit Accepted.

De Jesus scored a full point over Mercado in 40 moves of Bishop Opening; Mestizo lost to Villa in 31 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening (this game was published last week where it should be Mercado vs. Mestizo); Madrinan suffered another tough loss to Palau first National Master Manny Nedic; Dittrich and Mercado halved the point in another long game; Villa spoiled another debut tournament play of newcomer Elpidio Manaligod; Mestizo lost another game to Nedic.

Madrinan drew with 10-year old Ken Pastrana after the boy accepted his offer of a truce with a whole rook advantage; Manaligod suffered the same fate of Eli and lost his 2nd game to de Jesus; Mercado and de Jesus extracted a full point off Mohammad Manik Hossain, the lone Bangladeshi participant.

Monday evening results: (All players with the black pieces won) Hossain lost to Gene Pastrana, his first game of the tourney; Ken Pastrana lost to Dittrich; Hossain scored his 2nd win by clobbering Mestizo and Pastrana totes a 1-1 slate after losing to Dittrich.

Jess Toldoya, the 2004 Non-master chess champion, withdraw from the tournament after the death of his youngest son. Em-R de Vera, the 2005 Junior Rapid chess champion, will also join the field with Menandro Manuel paying his registration fee of $20.00.

Manuel also confirmed his participation but he had to go to Yap for 2 weeks on May 15, 2008 and will catch up when he returns.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18  
            May 09-15, 2008