(102) CHESSMATE MARKS 9TH YEAR

PENULTIMATE ROUND MATCH. The game of Jeff Balbalosa, right, vs. Bernard Garcia, left, is one of the turning point of 3^rd PIICC. The loss of Garcia enabled Paquito Suringa, Jr., 2^nd from right, to finish 5^th. Joselito Marcos, center, and joint winner of the event, poses together with Roberto Hernandez before the start of the game.

THE FIRST issue of Chessmate by Robert Hernandez was published in December 29, 2002 and since then the popularity of chess in Palau is on the rise. National Chess Championships were held since 2006 and three invitational international chess championships were held in 2006, 2007 and the recently concluded one from December 14-19, 2011.

The inaugural PIICC (Palau Invitational International Chess Championship) in 2006 enabled 6 local players to obtain international ratings—Menandro Manuel, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Gene Pastrana, Jose Omega, Roberto Hernandez and Manny Nedic.

The 2007 PIICC was not rated due to late submission of tournament cross-table.

The recent one in 2011 is something different—all the participants are FIDE-rated and although only one invited player was able to make it, it was the best organized PIICC ever because of the financial, technical and moral support of Papua New Guinea’s top chess player Joselito Marcos, who came to Palau with his wife Margarita and last-born daughter Jamie Kirstie.

In 2009, Palau was able to send a representative to Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Gold Coast, Australia through the support of former Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker, who shouldered Roberto Hernandez’ airfare and accommodation. Thus, Palau was represented for the first time in an Oceania Chess Championship, which is the first step to the World Cup of Chess. In there, Hernandez met Marcos and they became friends – the best of friends.

In 2010, another breakthrough in Palau’s chess happened when Hernandez found a sponsor for 5 players to participate in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The captain of Palau Team, Jaime Kenmure of Australia, was chosen in gratitude of him being the Rating Officer of Palau Chess Federation. Every cross-table of FIDE-rated tournaments that was held in Palau was sent to Jamie including the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship where 21 active players are now listed in the FIDE rating list. In Russia, Hernandez and Marcos renewed their friendship and acquaintances.

Although the 2 local players who made it to Russia (Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan) were not allowed to play because they are short of one player, the experience of being there cannot be forgotten. Socializing with the world’s best chess players, free full accommodation for 16 days, excursions, watching the world’s best in person and lots of activities is really an unforgettable experience.

The focus of Palau’s chess team now is at the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. Six players in the men’s division and a possible 4-player team in the women’s division have already committed to join. First to join are Hernandez and Cabunagan, Manuel and Mohammad Manik Hossain. The team captain is still Jamie Kenmure. Hernandez is not sure if he can find sponsors again so those who committed must buy their own airfare from Palau-Manila and Manila-Istanbul.

Another good thing that happened to Palau chess is the coming to country of Anzawa family (Takao, his wife Adele and their son George). With George’s participation in the 2011 PNCC, he was able to get an international rating and also committed to be in the men’s team as reserve player. Adele would like to join the women’s team and if Hernandez’ wife Flor would also be interested to join, there might be a mother and son and 2 husband and wife team members as Menandro’s wife Elizabeth is also interested to join the team.

The 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship was won by Manuel while the 2011 PNCC produces 3 champions – Tito Cabunagan, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Roberto Hernandez. The 3^rd PIICC has 2 champions—Joselito Marcos and Manuel and all the players except Cabunagan, lived up to expectations according to their rating. With the withdrawal of Dr. Alfredo Paez from Philippines, he was replaced in the last hour by Paquito Suringa, Jr., who won his last 2 games to finish 5^th and might be chosen as “Comeback Player of the Year”.

(Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Volume 21 Issue 1 January 02, 2012