(182) AN INNOVATIVE IDEA

PALAU AND PHILIPPINES DELEGATION TO RUSSIA
It's very rare to see this kind of 'reunion' of chess icons of Palau and Philippines. From right, Roberto Hernandez, Secretary/Treasurer, Palau Chess Federation; Casto 'Toti' Abundo, Deputy Presdient of Asian Chess Federation; Atty. Edmundo Legaspi, Team Captain of Philippines' men's team; Cesar Caturla, Team Captain of Philippines women's team; Tito Cabunagan, the 2nd player of Palau to make it to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia and Asia's first Grandmaster (GM) Filipino Eugene Torre, who plays Board 4 this time. He holds the record of playing in 17 consecutive World Chess Olympiads as top board of his country.               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



                  AN INNOVATIVE IDEA

ERSTHWHILE PALAU top chess player from 2005-2009 Menandro Manuel suggests that the registration fee for the 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship be $100.00 for the rated players.

The FIDE rated event will now have a bigger cash prize. The rated players are Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Manuel, Roberto Hernandez, Eugenio Pastrana, Manuel 'Jun' Mahor, Jr., Romeo Caballes (on vacation), Bernardo Garcia (still off-island), Elpidio Manaligod and Tito Cabunagan, not rated yet but won the Class B of 2009 PNCC undefeated.

Unrated Jimboy de Jesus can join the hunt for grand prizes if he will pay $50.00 while the other unrated players Mario Ramos, Masum Billah, Mohammad Manik Hossain, Andres Mestizo II, Amante Caballero, Jojo Escapatoria, Tutii Joe Chilton, Flavin Andres, Elizalde Madrinan, Ferdie Altea and newcomer Jeffrey Negrillo can join for $20.00 registration fee.

If an unrated player pay only $10.00, then he is not eligible to receive any of the top 9 cash prizes even if he finished in the top 9.

If the collected registration fee reaches $1,000.00, the following will be the breakdown of the cash prizes: CHAMPION -$300.00 + TROPHY; 2RD PLACE --$200.00; 3RD PLACE --$100.00 4th --$75.00; 5th --$50.00; 6th -- $25.00; 7th--$20.00; 8th--$15.00; 9th --$10.00 for a total $800.00. The excess $200.00 will be added to PCF Fund.

The 10th placer will receive a trophy and the top 4 unrated finishers will also receive a trophy each.

Also suggested is the defaulting time of one (1) hour. If 2 players have agreed to play at 2:00 pm at Palau Royal Resort, they must be there at exactly 2 pm.

If a player, who is playing white, arrives there at exactly 2 pm, he will make a move and will start the clock of his opponent. If he is playing the black pieces, he will just press his clock to start his opponent's clock.

The late player will have to complete 40 moves within the remaining time that he's got. If he failed to make 40 moves in his remaining time, he'll lose by time forfeit.

Papua New Guinea's top chess player Joselito Marcos is donating $100.00 for cash prize. If agreed, it will be donated to PCF Fund.

This suggestion of Manuel will inspire players to play their best and will definitely improve the quality of games of this year's edition of Palau National Chess Championship.

Cabunagan likes also this idea but he suggested that Jimboy's fee be $75.00 instead of $50.00. And $45.00 to the unrated players because he thinks it's unfair to the rated player if the registration fee is only $20.00 and be eligible for grand prize with only that amount.

Suggestions are still welcome before the start of the event on Nov. 14.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 12-13
             Volume 19 Issue 44
             November 01-07, 2010

(181) LOW TURNOUT ON OPENING DAY

CHESS NEOPHYTE GOT HIS BAPTISM OF FIRE
Jeffrey Negrillo, left, played his first tournament game in Palau on Nov. 17 against Mohammad Manik Hossain, 2nd from right. Jeff got his baptism of fire and lost in 42 moves of King's Pawn Opening. Before their game, Manik practiced with George Gabris, right, while macho man Erick Ventinilla poses and watched the game in the sideline. Next Wednesday, Ferdie Altea will play Manik in the dashing game of wits.
                                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

DUE TO Manny Pacquiao - Antonio Margarito boxing bout on Sunday, Nov. 14, a very low turnout of players participated on the opening of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship.

Some newcomers have come to Beken's Store and General Merchandise as early as 10 am.

The one-sided fight ended with Pacquiao winning by unanimous decision and ended at about 2:30 pm (Palau time).

After attending the 4th Watchers service at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch), Roberto Hernandez waited for players at Beken's Store.

While setting the chess table, Mohammad Manik Hossain came and they practiced one rapid chess game.

They draw the number of players before playing their official game at 4:00 pm.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE NUMBERING OF PLAYERS: 1. Dennis Gonzales 2. Bernardo Garcia 3. Mohammad Manik Hossain (he drew his own name), 4. Roberto Hernandez (strangely, he drew his own name also), 5. Menandro Manuel 6. Jeffrey Negrillo 7. Andres Mestizo II 8. Tito Cabunagan 9. Elizlade Madrinan 10. Ferdi Altea 11. Jose Misael de Jesus 12. Masum Billah 13. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 14. Amante Caballero and 15. Manuel Mahor, Jr.

Elpidio Manaligod, Mario Ramos and Romeo Caballes were not included in the list of 15 players because they cannot be contacted through their telephone numbers.

Caballes' return to Palau return to Palau is not yet certain but he will difinitely be accepted as late comer.

The two invited Palauans will miss this edition of PNCC due to schedule conflict of Tutii Joe Chilton and health reason for Flavin Andres.

Before their practice and official game, Hernandez borrowed 6 chairs from PMCC and set up another chess table in case some players will come to play.

In their official game, Manik blundered away a bishop on the 18th move and Hernandez prevailed in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

No other players came until 6:30 pm and the two call it a night as Manik has to work at 7:00 pm at Airai KB Shell Gas Station.

Roberto and Manik have the same day off (Wednesday) and they set up a match at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 on Wed. Nov. 17 at 7pm. Manik will play Jeffrey Negrillo, who's been to Palau for just 2 months.

Manik practices with Hernandez, George Gabris and to the new security personnel of PRR. Hernandez offered to train him for a possible slot to Palau Chess Team at 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Hernandez has all the materials to train a player like chess clocks, chess software, books, puzzles, Laws of Chess, ChessBase9 (where over 4 million games since year 1600 can be studied) and free time.

During their game, Jeffrey experienced for the first time to write his moves in Algebraic notation. He committed consecutive blunders on move 27th and 29th and was mated by a bishop on the 42nd move.

Before their game, Manik and Hernandez have started talks about saving once a month $50.00 for buying their own airfare for the Istanbul, Turkey World Chess Olympiad.

There is no election of president of World Chess Federation in 2012 and it will be hard to find airfare sponsor in a non-election Olympiad.

While talking about that, an email from Mr. Gary Bekker, former Oceania Zone President and the sponsor of Hernandez' airfare to Australia last year, noted his response to Hernandez' email: "Hi Gary, it's been a while since I have communication with you. Me and Tito Cabunagan are trying to go to New Zealand for 2011 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Brian Jones and Paul Spiller are trying to get me an airfare subsidy like you gave me last year. Could you please advise them on how you were able to get it? It is the only way that I could go there. If I will have to spend for the whole airfare, I cannot make it. I thought that you will come to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia. I will forward to you the questionnaire sent to me by FIDE and Geoffrey Borg. In this way, you will know Palau and me better. I hope you're doing fine. Best regards, Roberto."

Mr. Bekker's response is good news: "Hi Roberto. Thank you for your email. I subsidized your airfare with my own personal money. Hopefully Brian and Paul will be able to find a corporate sponsor or arrange a discount with the airlines to assist you with your travel costs this time. Unfortunately, I have been extremely busy with my IT work and was unable to go to the 2010 Olympiad and sadly, will be unable to attend the 2011 Oceania Zonal either. Thank you for keeping in touch and for sending me the Palau questionnaire to keep updated on chess developments in Palau. All the best wishes for you, Tito and all of the Palau players. Gary Bekker."

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 12-13

Volume 19

Issue 47

November 22-28, 2010

(180) Best Individual Results in Men's Chess Olympiad

OLYMPIAD BOUND (Different Positions)
Mr. Igntius Leong, left, the General Secretary of World Chess Federation (FIDE), Roberto Hernandez, middle, Secretary/Treasurer of Palau Chess Federation and Gary Bekker, Oceania Zone President, are all World Chess Olympiad bound to Russia with different positions. Mr. Leong will attend the 81st FIDE Congress, Hernandez will be Board 1 of Palau Chess Team and Mr. Bekker might be an Arbiter or attend the Congress. This picture was taken when Mr. Leong visited the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship for a meeting in Australia last year.            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



             BEST INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
             IN MEN'S CHESS OLYMPIAD

Former World Chess Champion Mikhail Tal of the former Soviet Union holds the best record in men's Chess Olympiad.

Only players who have participated in at least 4 Olympiads are considered in this statistic. The medals are indicated for individuals (not team), in order of gold-silver-bronze.

Tal played in 8 Olympiads, with 101 games played and have a 65-34-2 win-draw-loss slate for an incredible 81.2% performance and collected 5 gold medals and 2 silver.

He was followed by another former world champion Anatoly Karpov, also of Soviet Union, with 68 games played in 6 Olympiads and also has 2 losses, 43 wins and 23 draws for an 80.1% performance. He won 3 gold medals and 2 silver.

At 3rd is another Soviet and also former world champion in the 1960's and the master of defence Tigran Petrosian. He and number 10th Paul Keres had played in 10 Olympiads. Petrosian player 129 games (78-50-1) and won 6 medals, all gold. His performance rating is 79.8%.

Maybe the least popular holds the 4th spot with 52-22-5 at 79.7%. He is Isaac Kashdan of the United States of America. He played in 5 Olympiads and won 2 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze.

Another former world champion and also a Soviet, Vassily Smyslov occupies the 5th place with 9 Olympiads and 113 games played (69-42-2) and rating of 79.6%. He won 4 golds, 2 silver and 2 bronze.

David Bronstein of Soviet Union played only 4 Olympiads but got the 6th spot with the same rating as Smyslov. He played 49 games (30-18-1) and won 3 gold medals and a silver.

Perhaps the greatest of all time Garry Kasparov is in 7th spot with 8 Olympiads. His first 4 Olympiads were under the USSR flag and the rest for Russia. He won 4 gold medals for best rating performance (first introduced at Thessaloniki, Greece Olympiad) and 3 for best score on first board.

Kasparov played 82 games (50-29-3) and 78.7%. Aside from 7 gold medals, he also won 2 silver and 2 bronze.

Another former world champion is at 8th place, Alexander Alekhine of France. He played in 5 Olympiads and played 72 games (43-27-2). He won 2 gold medals, 2 silver and a 78.5% rating.

Milan Matulovic of Yugoslavia played in 6 Olympiads and has a 76.9% rating. He played 78 games (46-28-4) and won 1 gold and 2 silver medals.

The late Paul Keres played his first 3 Olympiads for Estonia and the 7 others for USSR. He played the most games among the 15 players in the list with 141 (85-44-12). His raing is 75.9% and he won 5 golds, 1 silver and 1 bronze.

At 11th is another Soviet Efim Geller with 7 Olympiads and 75.6% rating. He played 76 games (46-23-7) and won 3 golds and 3 silver medals.

Two Americans occupied 12th and 13th spot with James Tarjan edging Bobby Fischer with 75.5.% to Fischer's 75.4%. He won 2 gold medals and 1 silver while Fischer didn't win any gold. He won only 2 silvers and i bronze in 4 Olympiads. Fischer played 65 games (40-18-7).

Another former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik of Soviet Union is in 14th place at 74.7% rating in 6 Olympiads and won 2 golds, 1 silver and 2 bronze. He played 73 games (39-31-3).

Finally, Salo Flohr of Czechoslovakia is at 15th place with 7 Olympiads played and a rating of 73.2%. He won 2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze. He played 82 games (46-28-8).


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 13 and 15
             Volume 19 Issue 24
             June 14-20, 2010

(179) DRUGS IN CHESS

TIED FOR 1ST PLACE IN UNDER 2000 DIVISION
George Lester, right, is about to shake hands with co-champion David Lovejoy in the under 2000 division of 2009 Gold Coast Open chess tournament participated in by over 120 players from Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau and Solomon Islands). Graeme Gardiner, middle, organized the event with International Arbiter (IA) Dr. Charles Zworestine, 2nd from left. Gloria Sukhu participated in the women's division of 2009 OZCC.
                                                                                                                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




                   DRUGS IN CHESS


IN DECEMBER 12, 2001, chess columnist Tim Harding, wrote in his 10-page column "The Kibitzers" the following: (Page 9 - Drugs in Chess)

The final element of the new FIDE agenda is incumbent President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's attempt to bring chess into the Olympic movement. Apparently he has already had discussions with Juan Antonio Samaranch and is confident that sooner or later chess will become part of the programme for the Winter Olympics.

Chess hasn't been in the Olympics since the 1920's and getting it back there has long been a dream of chess administrators in many countries. Especially so, because Olympic recognition for your sport is in many countries very important (if not absolutely essential) for obtaining State funds.

So another piece of the jigsaw falls into place. National federations which might see very little gain from other FIDE proposals which largely affects professional players, because they may not have any in their country, are probably precisely those which are desperately in needd of the flow of funds which Olympic recognition would bring.

I think this must be the explanation why so many countries have backed Ilyumzhinov even if they have reservations about him, his colleagues and his other policies. If he can deliver the Olympics he is a hero.

However there is a snag. The obstacle to getting chess into the Olympics used to be professionalism. Even Joe Soap with his 1900 rating might win a cash prize in the intermediate section of his local weekend chess congress.

This would have disqualified him in the old days from taking part in amateur sport (if chess were regarded as a sport).

In the 1980's this all changed. The old amateur ethos was done away within athletics, which has always been the sport of the Olympic programme. Since then, other professional sports like tennis and baseball have got into the Olympics.

Nowadays the Olymic movement doesn't exactly have an untarnished reputation, what with the bribery scandal over the awarding of next year's winter Olympics and revelations about positive drugs tests being suppressed at some previous Olympic Games.

Of course these are all physical sports and chess isn't, strictly speaking, although it is very had for physically unfit people to do well in master tournaments.

However, Samaranch apparently doesn't see this as a problem; in many countries chess is seen as a sport. The price however is that any Olympic sport must have a drug testing policy, even if nobody yet has invented any drug (other than caffeine) which has any benefit to chess players.

The first drug testing at chess event apparently was done on the winners of an Italian tournament in 1999 and it is going to be a regular occurence at international chess events soon.

For example, a Dutch master who tried beta blockers to reduce tension in time trouble reported that they made him play worse. "I could see my position was deteriorationg but it wasn't a problem."

Survival in a crisis requires the adrenaline that the drug prevents. Likewise, alcohol, cannabis etc. are known to impair chess performance while other drugs that are tested for in other sports (steroids and so on) are hardly relevant to chess since they only affect masculature and the ability to train more intensively.

The main concern seems to be about drugs like ephedrine which may be in over-the-counter medicines and could cause a player to fail a test even if they don't help chess performance.

So if you are going to a FIDE event, make sure you don't buy medicines and bring a doctor's certificate for whatever prescription medicines you are taking, and give this to the tournament organization at the start of the event.

Some players and chess writers have just seen the drugs issue as a bit of a joke. However, the British Chess Federation is taking it seriously and devotes a page to the matter in the latest issue of its publication Chess Notes.

They point out that at present there is to be no out-of-competition testing. I think we shall just have to see how this one evolves, and maybe get back to it later.

CONCLUSION
Having thought extensively about, and now aired, what seem to be the main issues about FIDE's changes to chess, I find myself in an unclear position. I am in favor of some changes and suspicious of, or dead against others. However, that is what chess mastery is about, isn't it -- carrying on regardless in an unclear position!


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 and 15
              Volume 19 Issue 25
              June 21-27, 2010

(178) IN HANDLING WHITE AND BLACK PIECES

THE MATCH THAT NEVER WAS
        Elizalde Madrinan, left, shakes hand with Jeffrey Negrillo before the start of their supposed to be official match of the 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. Their game was postponed due to schedule conflict. Mohammad Manik Hossain and Menandro Manuel, right, are playing on the other table. Manik defeated Madrinan after losing to Manuel on the same day.
                                                                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



IN HANDLING WHITE AND BLACK PIECES

THE GREAT chess master Bogoljubov, who popularized the Bogo-Indian Defence, has a popular quote about handling white or black pieces.

It's deep and applicable even in our everyday life: "WHEN I'M WHITE I WIN BECAUSE I AM WHITE, WHEN I'M BLACK I WIN BECAUSE I AM MYSELF."

This quote was mentioned by Roberto Hernandez to Mohammad Manik Hossain during their practice session on Wed., Dec. 08 at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1.

Manik always want to handle the black pieces to improve his defensive ability especially in endgames. He defeated Hernandez again twice in their practice.

Another beautiful quote from Gerzadowicz is mentioned: "OPENINGS TEACH YOU OPENINGS, ENDGAMES TEACH YOU CHESS."

A quote from former world champion Jose Raoul Capablanca of Cuba: "IN ORDER TO IMPROVE YOUR GAME, YOU MUST STUDY THE ENDGAME BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE."

And this one from another great master Aaron Nimzowitz: "WITH EVERY STEP NEARER TO THE ENDGAME, THE POWER OF THE KING INCREASES."

With one specific quote about pawn endings, Purdy noted: "PAWN ENDINGS ARE TO CHESS WHAT PUTTING IS TO GOLF."

A quote from Coleman, this time it's about openings: "I PLAYED THE BIRD AND DUTCH FAIRLY OFTEN, BECAUSE I HATED MEMORIZING OPENINGS."

This time, it's from William Steinitz: "I HAVE NEVER PLAYED IN MY LIFE THE FRENCH DEFENCE, WHICH IS THE DULLEST OF ALL OPENINGS."

Here's the lastest news from Gene Pastrana in his email to Roberto Hernandez dated Dec. 06: "ROBERT, How's the tournament going? I wish I can still join but maybe I can't finish my game. Anyway I'm coming tomorrow to Palau but must leave to Guam on the 13th Monday. My visa was approved and they gave me 5 years good enough to finish my contract with Hansen Helicopters. Once I settled in Guam temporarily I tell you about my plan about chess. GOD BLESS US ALWAYS. Gene.

Gene's chess practice partner Jose Misael 'Jimboy' de Jesus said through Manik that he is also skipping this year's edition of Palau National Chess Championship.

If Amante Caballero will not confirm also his participation, the field of 15 players will be reduced to 13.

The Jojo Escapatoria vs. Dennis Gonzales match on Thursday (Dec. 9) was postponed due to Dennis' vacation conflict of schedule. He is going for vacation with his wife and kid on Dec. 10-Jan. 5, 2011.

The Jojo-Tito match on the same day was also postponed for Sunday (Dec. 12).

Hernandez would like to thank again Ms. Yupha Ongrung for giving him the updated itinerary of their trip to New Zealand to attend the inaugural Oceania Chess Confederation meeting and to participate in the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Rotorua on Jan. 25-31, 2011.

The Koror-Manila and Manila-Koror stays the same. The changes are the Philippine Airlines trip to Sydney on Jan. 23 at 9:00 pm; the Sydney-Auckland flight via Qantas on Jan. 24 at 11:45-4:50 pm.

Hernandez and Cabunagan will be back on Feb. 01 from Auckland to Sydney and Sydney to Manila via Qantas.

With this new itinerary, the two will not miss the first round.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 12-13
             Volume 19 Issue 50
             December 13-19, 2010

(177) BLINDFOLD CHESS (Island Times)

George (Kolty) Koltanowski, the greatest showman and promoter that chess ever knew, died at the age of 96 in 2000.

A diamond cutter by trade, he left Belgium before the second world war and created a daily chess column that ran without interruption for 52 years in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Though his tournament results were modest, he wrote more than a dozen chess books and made headlines in 1937 by taking on 34 opponents at once without sight of the board to set a blindfold record of 24 wins and 10 draws.

He even took on chessmaster development team at the age of 94 in 5 simultaneous games, easily beating all of them.

He was a tireless exhibitor and raconteur who entertained fans with his specialty, the knight's tour. Spectators posted random words and phone numbin the 64 squares of a giant chessboard.

Kolty memorized the hodgepodge in seconds and while blindfolded, called out the path required for a knight to touch every square on the board as he recalled these scraps of information in order.

"I don't know how he does it", said his wife. "He can't even remember to bring a loaf of bread from the supermarket."

"Pawns are like buttons," Kolty often said, "Lose too many and the pants will fall down by themselves."

In his newspaper office he played without sight of the board against movie star and chess expert Humprey Bogart, who lost by a mere pawn.

HERE'S THEIR FRENCH DEFENCE GAME:

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Ne2 Bg4 It's too soon to know if the bishop belongs here. Better is 5. ... Bd6 to prepare castling. 6. 0-0 Bd6 7. f3 Be6 8. Bf4 0-0 9. Nd2 Nc6 More flexible is 9. ...Re8 before deciding where to post the knight. 10. c3 Ne7 11. Bsd6 Qxd6 12. f4 c5?! Overly aggressive. More prudent is 12. ...Bf5 13. Nf3 Rae8 13. Nf3 less accurate than 13. dxc5 Qxc5 14. Nd4. 13. ... Nf5 stronger is 13. ... b6 in order to recapture on c5 with a pawn and keep control of d4. Even 13. ...c4 14. Be2 Bf5 minimizes white's initiative. 14. Qd2 Ne4 15. Qc1 Rac8?! A waste of time. Again 15. ...b6 is indicated. 15. dxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Ned4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Rc7 19. f5 Bd7 20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Qf4 Re8 22. Rae1 Re5 gives up a pawn without a fight and leads to a hopeless ending. The last chance to avoid material loss is 22. ... Bb5! 23. Rf2 Bd3 24. Rxe4 Rxe4 25. Qxe4 Bc6 25. Qe3 black has managed to stave off immediate mating threats but cannot overcome the lethal disadvantage of being a pawn down. Since Kolty is blindfolded, however, there is always a chance he will overlook something. Indeed, he is starting to drift. Sharper is 25. Qf4 Re7 26. f6 Re2 27. Qb8 Re8 28. Qg3. 25. ...Re7 26. Qg3 Re8 27. f6 g6 28. Qh4 the queen is already on a strong outpost and should stay there. Simply 28. Re1 is indicated to challenge the e-file. 28. ... h5 Bogart in turn misses his main chance 28. ... Re2 29. Rf2 Re1+ 30. Rf1 Re2 draws. 29. Re1 Rxe1+ 30. Qxe1 Qd6 31. Nxc6 Qxc6 32. Qe7 Qc8 33. h3 Qc6 34. b4 Qxc3 35. Qe8+ Kh7 36. Qxf7 Kh6 37. Qe7 Qc1+ comes close to drawing--but not quite. 38. Kf2 Qf4 39. Ke2 Qc4+ 40. Kf3 Kg5 making it easy.

The best try is 40. ... h4! Forcing white to find a move like 41. Qe4! in order to win, If 40. ... Qf1+ 41. Kg3 h4+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kf2 black will eventually run out of checks. 41. f7 black resigns.

Bogart once worked in a chess stall at Coney Island and was arguably the strongest player in the Holywood community.

Source: Blindfold Chess by Roberto Hernandez

Island Times Newspaper

Friday, April 27, 2007

(176) LAST FEW HOURS IN AUSTRALIA

GOLD COAST OPEN WINNERS
GM Gawain Jones of England, 3rd from left, back row, won the GC Open. To his right is Australia's newest GM David Smerdon, winner of the Oceania Zonal. The guy in sunglass won 3rd place in the 1000 and below category, which is an achievement already for a totally blind chess player. He uses a special chessboard with special pieces during his games.                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


       LAST FEW HOURS IN AUSTRALIA
                           JUNE 28, 2009

DURING THE awarding ceremony of 2009 Gold Coast Open in Australia which was held after the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, Palau lone representative Roberto Hernandez had photo sessions with the winners – GM Gawain Jones (GC Open), GM David Smerdon (Zonal), together with Joselito Marcos, PNG’s top chess player, child prodigy Daniel Lapitan and his dad Raymond, Ric Ambatali, mother and son Jennifer and Kevin Tan and other winners of consolation prizes of the GC Open.

Before going to YHA Hostel to stay with Joselito for few hours because Gold Coast domestic airport is just a 5-minute walk from YHA, Hernandez said goodbye to Gary Bekker, Oceania Zone President and his sponsor of airfare Manila-Sydney-Gold Coast (roundtrip).

Mr. Bekker promised to shoulder Gene Pastrana’s airfare this time to Subic, Philippines so that Palau will be represented in the Asian Chess Championship. In the next Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in New Zealand in January 2011, he will help again if Hernandez is available to play.

Roberto, Joselito, Daniel and Raymond ride with Ric’s car so that he can drop Roberto and Lito to YHA. Roberto gave Raymond an old coffee cup which he brought from Palau that has a “Outrigger Resort and Palasia Hotel Palau” on it as the 2009 OZCC was held at Outrigger Twin Towns Resort on the border of Queensland/NSW. The other day (Saturday), Raymond gave Roberto a bottle of red wine and 2 bottles of red and white wine to Lito.

After dropping Roberto and Lito to YHA, Raymond is generous enough to give Roberto AU$15.00 that he can use for taxi fare to the airport.

After putting their luggage in the rented room that Lito has paid for the duration of OZCC and GC Open, they take a walk to the domestic airport. It’s only a 5-minute walk from YHA, the favorite place of former Australian top GM Ian Rogers, to check-in whenever he is in Gold Coast.

Roberto will not take a taxi so he spent the AU$15.00 for their snack of hotdog sandwich and drinks while strolling the nearest places around. They returned to YHA before 11:00 pm.

The one-hour unique experience of Roberto and Joselito at YHA recreation area will be published in the next “Music and Me” column of Hernandez on Thursday, May 31, 2012.

At 12:00 midnight, Lito resumes his packing and downloading of some chess stuff. Hernandez slept for 3 hours while Lito is finishing his downloading and packing.

Lito always pack lightly when he is travelling so he gave Roberto the 2 bottles of wine that Raymond has given him. And at 4:00 am, Lito took a train headed to the airport terminal for his return trip to PNG.

Hernandez is awake for almost 2 hours before walking his way to the Gold Coast domestic airport for a flight to Sydney to Manila at 7:00 am. Hernandez returned to Palau with his wife Flor on July 04, 2009.




Souce: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 and 15
           Volume 21 Issue 33
           May 28, 2012

(175) BULGAR (Expose) NEWSPAPER features 1st PICC

BERNARDINO RUNNER-UP;

BENNETT IS KING IN PALAU

FINAL STANDINGS: (10-MAN FIELD)

Single round-robin format

7.0 points - Hilton Bennett (New Zealand)

6.5 points - ALMARIO MARLON BERNARDINO, JR.

(PHILIPPINES)

6.0 points - Paul Spiller (New Zealand)

4.5 points - Menandro Manuel (Palau)

4.5 points - Gary Bekker (Australia)

KOROR, Palau - Filipino chess master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. finished at 2nd place in the 10-man field 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Palasia Hotel and concluded on Monday. It is a single round-robin format FIDE rated event.

The 29-year old Manila-based sportswriter and radio commentator Bernardino halved the point with 3rd placer Paul Spiller and eventual champion Hilton Bennett, both of New Zealand, in his last two games

of the event that was organized by Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker

of Australia with the help from Knights and Rooks Chess Club and Palau Chess Federation.

Bennett collected 7 points from 5 wins and 4 draws while Bernardino got his 6.5 points from 4 wins and 5 draws and Spiller garnered his 6 points from 3 wins and 6 draws.

Menandro Manuel, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), finished at 4th with his 4.5 points.

The other half of the 10-man field are Gene Pastrana (3.5 pts.), Cyril Montel, Jr. (3.5), Jose Omega (3.5), Manny Nedic (3.0) and Roberto Hernandez (3.0).

"It was a good event, an endurable one. I think that the objective has been achieved. It was great experience to play here. All the players in Palau have earned international points. They were tough." said Bennett, who was the champion of Fiji Invitational Chess Championship 2 years ago. He is in the top 20 players' list in New Zealand.

Bennett, an Information Technologist in New Zealand, drew with Cyril Montel, Jr. to win the title and avoid a tie for championship with Bernardino.

On the other bright side, Bennett and Spiller donated $100.00 for the funding of players from Palau to be sent to Fiji for the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in May 2007.

Bekker said that 2 players can represent Palau in the Oceania Zonals, which is the qualifying tournament for FIDE World Championships.

(By Marlon Bernardino)

Source: Bulgar Newspaper

Year 14

Number 275

September 06, 2006

VICTORY OF FILIPINOS!

Let us be proud being Filipino.

Let's congratulate Filipino billiard masters Efren 'Bata' Reyes and Francisco 'Django' Bustamante, who represented our country and became champions of the first-ever World Cup of Pool in Newport, Wales.

Filipino chess players also raised the Philippine flag in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after scoring honors in the field of chess.

They are Oliver Dimakiling, who gained his first GM norm, Darwin Laylo, also his first GM norm after completing his IM title status, Wesley So (IM status), John Paul Gomez (IM norm), Julio Catalino Saddora (IM norm) and Anthony Makinano (IM norm plus an outright FM title.

CONGRATULATIONS AND LONG LIVE!

Yours truly is leaving this Tuesday to represent the Philippines in the 10-man field invitation at Palau International chess tournament that was organized by Oceania Zone FIDE President Gary Bekker and Palau Chess Club head Filipino Roberto Hernandez.

It will start on August 31-September 04 and it will be held at Palau Royal Resort, Malakal Island in Koror State, Palau.

The event will implement the time control of 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move.

The cash prizes are $300.00 + trophy to the champion, $200.00 for 2nd placer, $100.00 for 3rd and $100.00 for Best Palau Player.

The invited players in this single round-robin event are Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. PHI 2166 FIDE; Jose Omega PLW 2118; Bong Alipoon PLW 2116; Menandro Manuel PLW 2111; Cyril Montel, Jr. PLW 2101; Roberto Hernandez PLW 2095; Hilton Bennett NZL 2078 FIDE; Paul Spiller NZL 2073 FIDE; Manny Nedic PLW 1975; Gary Bekker AUS 1895 FIDE.

Reserves: Edwin Eti PLW 1600; Felix Lapitan PLW 1600.

The equipments that will be use in this event (boards, sets and clocks), will be donated to local schools and to Palau Chess Federation.

Source: Bulgar Newspaper

Sulong Column by NM Marlon Bernardino, Jr.

Year 14

Number 267

August 29, 2006

(174) MUSIC AND ME (May 24) Moon River

WAVES RESTAURANT IN PALAU AND AUSTRALIA
After setting the tournament site, Roberto Hernandez, left, Jamie Kenmure, right, Scott, Bernard Saavedra and Charles Zworestine had lunch at Waves Restaurant in Australia. Roberto is playing piano at Waves Restaurant in Palau Royal Resort every night from 6-9 pm except Friday (his day off).                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




                            MOON RIVER
                (THE SONG THAT CHANGES CHORD AT EVERY BAR)

THE MOVIE “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” has a wonderful theme song entitled “Moon River”. It was composed by Henry Mancini in 1961 and lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

It is the only song that I know that changes its chords at every bar. This song is written in ¾ or waltz so every bar, there are 3 beats. You can’t go wrong with its timing if you will continually count 1, 2, 3/ 1, 2, 3/ … all the way to the end of the song.

Moon River is one of the most requested songs in my music career. In 2005, while I’m on a break in playing keyboard for a farewell party of former Taiwanese Ambassador to Palau Clark Chen, who hired me to play at Palasia Hotel during that party. He paid me $25.00 per hour including the use of my own equipments.

A Taiwanese guy played a few songs on my keyboard during my break. When he played Moon River, I immediately know that he don’t have the idea that the song changes chord every bar. When he stays longer in one bar, I know he’s not playing it right.

So if you wish to learn that song by guitar, piano or keyboard, keep in mind not to stay in one chord after 3 counts and YOU’LL NEVER GO WRONG!

Among my previous and current students, only Christian ‘Shinji’ Otsuka was able to learn and play it correctly in more than one hour of studying that song. GOOD JOB, SHINJI!

In early 1980’s, a guy requested me to play Henry Mancini’s songs and Moon River was the first one that I’ve played then, not knowing that its chords changes every bar.

I JUST REALIZED THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS SONG A FEW YEARS AGO.

H E R E ‘S        T H E        S O N G --- and the chords –

                                                                                           MOON RIVER

C          Am      F                       C            F                          C                Dm6-E7

Moon River, wider than a mile. I’m crossin’ you in style someday.

Am    C7       F                  Bb      Am     Am7    Am6 B7              Em7           A7                Dm7 – G7

Old dream-maker, you heart-breaker Wherever   you’re goin’,     I’m goin’ your way.

C         Am       F                         C                     F                     C             Dm6 – E7

Two drifters, off to see the world There’s such a lot of world to see.

Am       Am7    Am6 F7       C                       F                                   C

We’re a f t e r the same rainbow’s end     Waitin’ ‘round the bend

F                               C         Am      Dm     G7   C – G#- Bb- Eb- G7

   My huckleberry friend Moon River and me.

                                                                                   F – Em – Dm - C

(REPEAT ALL EXCEPT LAST WORD)                 … me.

Source: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 8-9

            Volume 21 Issue 32

            May 24, 2012