Before the start of their game, Tito Cabunagan, left, shakes hands with Menandro Manuel, right, that gives way to Ronald Cinco, 2nd from left, to be featured this week with Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. and Jeff Balbalosa, 2nd from right. Albin Yap is next if he can have a picture taken with chess players on the last day at PRR. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
CYRIL, BOY, TITO, ROBERTO
VIE FOR 2011 PNCC TITLE
CURRENT STANDINGS of the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship: (The players and their win-loss-draw record). 1. Menandro 'Boy' Manuel (9-2-2) 2. Tito Cabunagan (8-1-2) 3. Roberto Hernandez (8-3-0) 4. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (6-1-2) 5. Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. (6-4-2) 6. Bernard Garcia (5-3-2) 7. Jeff Balbalosa (6-9-0) 8. Jose Celiz (5-2-1) 9. Rudel Roxas (3-4-2) 10. Jeffrey Negrillo (2-1-1) 11. Mohammad Manik Hossain (2-5-0) 12. Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria (2-5-0) 13. Angie Parrado (1-6-1) 14. Dennis Gonzales (1-2-0) 15. Ferdinand 'Bong' Gutierrez (1-7-0) 16. Eugenio Pastrana (0-1-1) 17. Karen Lee (0-2-0) 18. Elizalde Madrinan (0-3-0) 19. Ann Acebron (0-3-0) 20. Elpidio Manaligod (0-0-0) 21. Edwin Acuyan (0-0-0).
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL PLAYERS: In case Elpidio Manaligod can't play any of his games, he will lose all his games to all FIDE rated players because he is the lowest rated player of the event.
He will win over Karen Lee, Ann Acebron and Edwin Acuyan if the latter can't play a single game also. However, Manaligod can draw his remaining games vs. unrated players -- Balbalosa, Negrillo, Gonzales, Madrinan, Celiz, Hossain, Escapatoria, Parrado, Cabunagan, Roxas and Gutierrez.
All unplayed games against the rated players will be losses to those players. Unrated players are requested to play vs. the rated players as much as possible to have chance for at least a draw or upset instead of automatically losing that game he refused or avoided to play.
All unplayed games of non-rated players will be declared draws. In this case, the tournament will become rated and all unrated players will have international ranking.
Even though some players can't finish all their games, they are requested to pay their registration fee of $10.00 each to be used as cash prize of the top 5 finishers and for fund for 2012 Palau Chess Team to Istanbul, Turkey World Chess Olympiad.
A certificate of participation will also be given to all participants that paid their registration fee.
RESULTS OF SUNDAY'S GAMES AT PRR DORMITORY 1: After his tough loss to Balbalosa more than a month ago, Hernandez scored 6 successive victories this time against Jojo Escapatoria in 40 moves of Pirc Defence.
Jojo missed some drawing lines and succumbed in the endgame being 2 pawns down; Garcia is making his move to climb into contention for 5th --8th place. He clobbered Roxas in 35 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening. He also nipped another PRR employee, Gutierrez, in 36 moves of King's Pawn Opening and dealt Balbalosa his 9th loss in another 36 moves of Ruy Lopez. He lost his last game of the day to Cabunagan.
The rapid chess time control was used in the Hernandez-Manuel match because of shortness of allowed playing time at PRR. Writing chess notations in this format is optional but Hernandez chooses to annotate the game that's being watch by a small crowd.
He opened up with 1. f4 and exploited a weak move of 3. ... f5 by Manuel. On move 27th, Manuel made another weak move that allows Hernandez to win a knight but Manuel still generates some counter attacks.
After the exchange of all minor and major pieces, Hernandez is up by 2 pawns and ready to promote his a pawn to a queen when Manuel resigns.
With that 7th consecutive win, Hernandez is now in contention for the title. The most crucial remaining games are Manuel vs. Montel, Jr. and Garcia vs. Montel, Jr.
This is like a deja vu of 2009-2010 Palau National Chess Championship that the title was contested up to the last final 3 games that featured those 3 protagonists.
Also crucial to their hunt for another national title, Manuel and Montel's matches against Gene Pastrana are critical. They have to play it at Beken's Store, the other venue.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Pages 12-13
Volume 20 Issue 35 August 29, 2011
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