After winning his first 2 games, Jerry Sermeno, at right, lost 2 straight games in return. Now he's on a roll again and won 7 consecutive games and in contention for the title of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship held at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. His opponent here, Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria, is 3 pawns behind and resigned in hopeless position. Watching the game are Jeff Balbalosa, Ferdie Altea and Dennis Gonzales. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
CYRIL, BOY MANUEL & JERRY
VIE FOR PNCC TITLE
WHEN COMEBACKING chess player Jerry Sermeno defeated 3rd seed Roberto Hernandez in a special game held on Wednesday, Feb. 02, it opens the door for the remaining 3 players vying for the title of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship champion.
With the loss in 53 moves of English Opening, Hernandez will now settle for 4th place with Dennis Gonzales and Tito Cabunagan trailing by the slimmest of margin.
The other 2 players in search for another title are defending champion Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, Palau's top 2 chess players respectively.
Cyril has 5 games remaining, 2 of them against Hernandez and Manuel. He needs to win all of these 5 games to keep the title. His match with Boy is set on Sunday, Feb 6 as Hernandez is not available on that day but on Feb. 13, the final day of the tourney.
Manuel has one game left, against Cyril, after Manuel 'Jun' Mahor and Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II withdrew from the event due to financial difficulties to Mahor and schedule conflict to Mestizo II.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE PENULTIMATE ROUND MATCHES: (First name will play the white pieces) 1. Cyril vs. Boy 2. Dennis vs. Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria 3. Cyril vs. Dennis 4. Jojo vs. Jeff Balbalosa 5. Angie Parrado vs. Jojo 6. Jeff vs. Angie 7. Cyril vs. Jeff 8. Jeffrey Negrillo vs. Jojo 9. Angie vs. Jerry 10. Angie vs. Tito and 11. Jerry vs. Jeff.
THE FOLLOWING ARE GAMES THAT CAN BE PLAYED ALSO ON SUNDAY, FEB. 06 (Bong Gutierrez' day off) or in any day: 12. Ferdinand 'Bong' Gutierrez vs. Jeffrey 13. Bong vs. Tito 14. Bong vs. Jeff 15. Angie vs. Bong.
FINAL DAY MATCHES: (Mostly games of Elizalde Madrinan, who is having a day off on Sunday, Feb. 13) 16. Eli vs. Dennis 17. Tito vs. Eli 18. Eli vs. Angie 19. Cyril vs. Eli 20. Roberto vs. Cyril and 21. Eli vs. Jerry (Feb. 7).
In a special game on Monday, Jan. 31, Boy Manuel nipped Bong in 49 moves of Sicilian Defence. Boy got 2 more default victories from Mahor and Mestizo II to lead the event with 12-1-0 win-loss-draw-slate.
Aying finished the field of 15 players with 2 points from default draws with Mahor, Eli, Bong and Jeff. Mahor has 3 points from 2 wins over Jeffrey and Tito and 2 default draws to Aying and Eli.
Another special game was played between co-workers at Palau Royal Resort Jeffrey Negrillo and Elizalde Madrinan with Jeffrey prevailing over Eli in 55 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening.
Jeffrey now has a 5-7-0 record and can tie Mohammad Manik Hossain at 7-7-0 card if he will win his last 2 remaining games.
RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S GAMES (Feb. 6): Ferdinand 'Bong' Gutierrez had his day on his day off as he won all of his 3 matches against Jeff Balbalosa in 21 moves of Sicilian Defence; over his co-employee at PRR Jeffrey Negrillo in 32 moves of Bishop Opening and subdued Angie Parrado in 36 moves of another Bishop Opening.
Jerry Sermeno extended his winning streak to 8 with a masterful handling of his pet defence, the Sicilian Defence (Dragon Variation) which he successfully used against erstwhile top player Boy Manuel. Balbalosa resigned on the 58th move and stayed with just 2 points from default wins over Jun Mahor and Aying Mestizo II.
The much anticipated match between the 2 top chess players of Palau has been postponed again for the final day of the tournament. Cyril will be playing Dennis Gonzales and if he cannot finish his 4 remaining games on Feb. 13, it might jeopardize his chances of retaining the title.
Angie Parrado finally scored a full point with a come from behind victory over Jeff Balbalosa in 28 moves of Center Counter. Parrado blundered away a bishop earlier but mounted a strong attack that Jeff was unable to defend correctly.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Pages 10-11
Volume 20 Issue 6 February 07, 2011
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