(1098) HERNANDEZ IS 2005 CHRISTMAS BLITZ CHESS FEST CHAMP (TBN-Dec. 23-30, 2005)

ENJOYING THE FOOD, NOT THE GAME
     Flor Hernandez, left, enjoys the food prepared for the Christmas party of Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) on Dec. 18, 2005. In the middle is Bong Alipoon and next to him is the younger looking Dennis Gonzales... This is 10 years ago! He is playing blitz chess whiz Edwin Eti.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

  HERNANDEZ IS 2005 CHRISTMAS 
       BLITZ CHESS FEST CHAMP
  

DURING the resumption of play in the 17^th and 18^th round of 2005-2006 Rapid Chess Tournament, a Christmas party of members of Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) was held at the venue -- Jean’s Boutique and Store on Dec. 18, 2005.

                Roberto Hernandez prepared broiled tilapia fish, Cyril Montel, Jr. brought spring roll (lumpiang Shanghai), Dennis Gonzales – fried noodles, one big fish for Manuel Nedic, assorted fruits from Bong Alipoon, fish kelaguin from Menandro Manuel, newcomer William Blasquino roasted 2 pig’s head and venue host Gene Pastrana donated one case of soda.

                The food were served on one of the playing table at the parking area, with the players not have enough time to eat as they are busy playing, especially Joeven delos Santos, who is catching up and played 9 games! He won 4 and lost 5. Roberto’s wife Flor attended the party because of food, not because of chess.

                Those were very busy chess events as 37 games were played in the resumption of 2005-2006 Rapid Chess Tourney. Roberto is the only one that annotates all his games including on this day – against newcomer Joeven delos Santos.

                THE MOVES:

Hernandez, Roberto (2095) - Delos Santos, Joeven (1500) [B53]

2005 Rapid Chess (17), 18.12.2005

          1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Bc4 g6 5.dxc5 Bg7 6.Qd5 Be6 7.Qxb7 Nd7 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.Ng5 Rc8 10.Nxe6    Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Nxc5 12.Qxc8+ Kf7 13.Ng5+ Kf6 14.Bxa5 Kxg5 15.Bd2+ Kf6 16.Nc3 Nh6 17.Nd5+ Ke5 18.Bc3+ Kxe4 19.Qc6 Bxc3+ 20.Nxc3+ Ke5 21.f4+ Ke6 22.Qd5+ Kd7 23.0–0–0 Rf8 24.Qxc5 Nf5 25.Rhe1 Rc8 26.Qb5+ Kd8 27.Nd5 Rc5 28.Qb8+ Kd7 29.Qb7+ Ke8 30.Rxe7+ Nxe7 31.Qxe7#

1–0

ROUND 17 & 18                                               December 18, 2005

1. Rogelio Menor vs. Edwin Eti (0-1) 2. Joeven delos Santos vs. Menandro Manuel (0-1) 3. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs Joeven delos Santos (1-0) 4. Menandro Manuel vs. Edwin Eti (1-0) 5. Joel Azana vs. Manny Nedic (1-0) 6. Manny Nedic vs. Joel Azana (1-0) 7. Joeven delos Santos vs. Francis Temaungil (1-0) 8. Tutii Joe Chilton vs. Edwin Eti (0-1) 9. Bong Alipoon vs.Jess Gomez (0-1) 10. Tutii Joe Chilton vs. Rogelio Menor (0-1) 11. Francis Temaungil vs. Joeven delos Santos (0-1) 12. Edwin Eti vs. Joel Azana (1-0) 13. Jess Gomez vs. Edwin Eti (1-0) 14. Dennis Gonzales vs. William Blasquino (0-1) 15. Tutii Joe Chilton vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (0-1) 16. Tutii Joe Chilton vs. Bong Alipoon (0-1) 17. Rogelio Menor vs. William Blasquino (0-1) 18. Manny Nedic vs. Jess Gomez (0-1) 19. Dennis Gonzales vs. Em-R de Vera (1-0) 20. Tutii Joe Chilton vs Bong Alipoon (0-1) 21.Roberto Hernandez vs. Joeven delos Santos (1-0) 22. Bong Alipoon vs. Francis Temaungil (1-0) 23. Em-R de Vera vs. Dennis Gonzales (Draw) 24. Rodiante Balagso vs. Edwin Eti (0-1) 25. William Blasquino vs. Rogelio Menor (1-0) 26. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Rogelio Menor (1-0) 27. Joeven delos Santos vs. Bong Alipoon (0-1) 28. Edwin Eti vs. Rodiante Balagso (1-0) 29. Bong Alipoon vs. Joeven delos Santos (1-0) 30. Rodinate Balagso vs. William Blaquino (0-1) 31. Felix Lapitan vs. Tutii Joe Chilton (1-0) 32. Em-R de Vera vs. Joeven delos Santos (0-1) 33. Dennis Gonzales vs. Edwin Eti (0-1) 34. Edwin Eti vs. Flavin Andres (1-0) 35. Joeven delos Santos vs. Em-R de Vera (1-0) 36. William Blasquino v Rodiante Balagso (0-1) 37. Rogelio Menor v Felix Lapitan (0-1)

CHRISTMAS BLITZ CHESS FESTIVAL

December 18, 2005

Single Round Robin

5 Minutes Time Control

FINAL STANDINGS

                      Players                                                        Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                    8        1         0             8
2. EDWIN ETI                                                           7        1         1            7.5
3. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                           5        2         2             6
4. GENE PASTRANA                                               5        3         1            5.5
5. MENANDRO MANUEL                                      4         2        3             5.5
6. BONG ALIPOON                                                 4         3        2             5
7. MANNY NEDIC                                                   4         4        1             4.5
8. DENNIS GONZALES                                           2         7        0             2
9. FLAVIN ANDRES                                                0         8        1             .5
10. WILLIAM BLASQUINO                                     0         8        1             .5

            After the completion of all 37 games, a Christmas blitz chess fest was organized with 10 players participating. The time control is 5 minutes for each player to finish the game without increment as they are using mechanical clocks. The registration fee is $5.00 as usual with Flavin Andres as the only one who had not paid his fee. Roberto paid for him.

            With top seed Menandro Manuel not in his top form, the fight for top honor was reduced to newcomer blitz specialist Edwin Eti and Roberto. When Eti drew his last game, he does not have enough points to catch up with Roberto and thus Roberto claimed another blitz chess title by a hairline.

            FINAL STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:

1. Roberto Hernandez (8-1-0) 2. Edwin Eti (7-1-1) 3. Cyril Montel, Jr. (5-2-2) 4. Gene Pastrana (5-3-1) 5. Menandro Manuel (4-2-3) 6. Bong Alipoon (4-3-2) 7. Manuel Nedic (4-4-1) 8. Dennis Gonzales (2-7-0) 9. Flavin Andres (0-8-1) 10. William Blasquino (0-8-1).

Solution to last week puzzle: 1. .... Qxh2+!! 2. Kxh2 hxg2+ 3. Kg1 Rh1 mate.

           

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez           Tia Belau Newspaper
           Pages 9-10
           Volume 14
           December 23-30, 2005

(706) PALAU CHESS FEDERATION 2006 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

THE HIGHLIGHT OF PALAU CHESS FEDERATION 2006 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
   Roberto Hernandez, left, and Australian Gary Bekker, right, and President of Oceania Zonal, are the brainchild of the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship where the top 6 Palau chess players gained their initial FIDE rating.
                                                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) 



             PALAU CHESS FEDERATION
            2006 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

1. January 08 (Sunday) - February 12
     Resumption of the 2005-2006 Rapid Chess Tourney
     at Jean's Boutique premises. Sponsored by Helena
     Yoichi and Gene Pastrana.

2. March 05- May 29
    Palau National Chess Championship. 13-round Swiss 
    System. The Champion will become Palau first National
    Master. The venue is Palau Community College?
    SPONSORS -- Pinoy Express Remittance (Palau) c/o
                         Manny Kimpo  -- Trophies
                         William Blasquino -- Cash prizes

3. June 18 - August 13
     PALAU OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT
     Venue and Sponsors -- To be announced later

4. August 31-September 04
    FIDE-rated PALAU INVITATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP.
    10-player single round-robin. Two games a day will
    have to be played. 4 FIDE-rated players from Australia,
    New Zealand, Philippines or Fiji or Papua New Guinea
    will be invited. Venue -- Palau Royal Resort.
    Mr. Gary Bekker -- Sponsor of cash prizes:
                                  Champion -- $300.00
                                  2nd place --  $200.00
                                  3rd place --  $100.00
                      Palau top finisher -- $100.00

5. September 24 - December 18
    RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT
    Time Control -- 30 minutes for each player to finish
                              the game.
    Blitz Chess tourney after the completion of regular
                              games. Registration -- $5.00

6. December 18
    Knights And Rooks Chess Club Christmas Party.
    Each player is asked to bring one dish.

7. December 18
    CHRISTMAS BLITZ CHESS FESTIVAL
    10-minute time control.
    Registration fee -- $5.00
    The champion will keep half of the cash collected.
    The other half will be spent on drinks.

8. December 26, 2006 - January 08, 2007
    CHRISTMAS BREAK RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT FOR 
                                PALAUAN KIDS
    Double Round-Robin if the contestants reach 6 players.
    Single round-robin if there are 10 contestants.
    Registration fee -- $10.00
    Time controL -- 30 minutes for each player to finish
                               the game.


Source: History of Chess In Palau
            By Roberto Hernandez
            January 2006
      
              

(403) KRCC CHRISTMAS PARTY DEC. 18

FIRST TROPHY IN 2 TRIES
Manny Nedic, right, receives his 3rd runner-up trophy from Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez. Nedic won his first-ever trophy in his 2nd try. He is currently in 4th place at the 2005 Rapid Chess tournament with a 12-2-0 win-loss-draw record and the only player to have beaten current leader Menandro Manuel.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE OFFICERS and members of Knights and Rooks Chess Club held another meeting Sunday, December 11 after the completion of all games in the 8th week of the 2005 Rapid Chess Tournament sponsored by Helena Yoichi and Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique.

They agreed to have a Christmas party on December 18 at 12:00 noon. Members were assigned a dish or two for the event that will also hold selected regular games and blitz chess festival later in the afternoon.

Roberto Hernandez will prepare tilapia fish and rice; Cyril Montel, Jr. -- lumpia shanghai; Dennis Gonzales -- pancit; Manny Nedic -- one big fish; Bong Alipoon -- assorted fruits; Menandro Manuel --fish kilawin; William Blasquino -- roast pig's head (2); and Pastrana -- one case of soda. $5.00 each will be collected for additional drinks.

Other players and members will be informed through this column and telephone calls.

A separate 12-under category was started when the required 4-player minimum registered. They are Jielton Cabierte, Zyron Singson, John Farinas and Ken Pastrana, the youngest son of Gene, who is now leading the division by winning over Singson and Cabierte.

He drew his 2nd game with Singson via 3-move repetition.

Farinas and Singson split their match (1-1) in the double round-robin format. The division also include Ivan II Chess Computer in its easy level.

Another division (16-under) will also be organized if former kiddie champion Em-R de Vera, 15, can get another 3 junior players to join.
He already played 5 games in the senior division, winning 2 and losing the first three.

RESULTS OF THE 8TH WEEK: (12 TOTAL GAMES PLAYED)
Pastrana drew with Hernandez in 61 moves of a bishop-of-the-same-color endgame; de Vera swept Francis 'Sno' Temaungil; 3 more sweeps followed as Ivan II Chess Computer drubbed Gonzales; Alipoon trounced Pastrana and Nedic dealt Gonzales his 2nd sweep of the day.
Nedic collected another point over Blasquino to dislodge Pastrana at 4th spot; Blasquino defeated Temaungil but lost to Alipoon in the last game of the day.

A young Chinese national would like to join the field on Sunday. He had to play as many games as he could to catch up.

The Chinese women's team won the World Chess Olympiad last year in Spain.


Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. ... Qxh2+! 2. Kxh2 hxg3+ 3. Kg2 Rh2 mate.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 50
December 16-23, 2005