(173) BATTLE OF THE BRAINS

BATTLE OF THE BRAINS
By NAZARIO RODRIGUEZ, JR.

Horizon News Staff

CHESS, although not flexing your muscles, is considered a sport. In fact, it's one of the world's most popular sports that it has its own Olympic Games.

All you need is patience and a lot of brains. It is the battle of the minds. It is a game of ancient origin that Palau can adopt as a way of putting itself into the world map. If plans will push through, Palau can compete in the Chess Olympiad in the near future.

The Chess Olympiad is held every two years. The next tournament is scheduled in October this year.There are a total of 161 member-countries now with the International Chess Federation or FIDE, the world's governing body of the sport.

Since last year, Palau is knocking at the doorstep of FIDE through the efforts of Knights and Rooks Chess Club, which is now chaired by Flavin Andres.

The club is a brainchild of Roberto Hernandez, who was elected as its first chairman since its formal establishment in September 15, 2002.

Just recently, the Palau Chess Federation was created because it is one of the requirements for membership in FIDE.

But before that, the PCF must first seek membership with the Palau National Olympic Committee.

"We're now readying some requirements for membership in the PNOC like our by-laws and financial report." said Hernandez, who is the Secretary/Treasurer.

Francis 'Sno' Temaungil is the PCF chairman, Morton Sawaichi (Vice Chairman) and Tutii Joe Chilton (PRO), all three are regular competitors on the tournament held every Sunday at Jean's Boutique and Store, just across Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

"We're really ready for FIDE membership.We are very thankful for the help of Mr. Gary Bekker. He promised to pay the membership fee of $487.00 and even wanted to have a tournament here in Palau." said Hernandez.

Bekker is the head of Oceania Zone and has encouraged the PCF to hold a big tournament this summer in Palau. Bekker even wanted to have some of the best players in Australia and New Zealand to compete for the tournament, which is aimed to give the current crop of players in Palau to get FIDE points.

The PCF is eyeing the Palau Royal Resort as the venue for this tournament, which will in a way give economic benefit for the country.

The tournament should also be a big boost for the PCF to introduce chess among the young kids in Palau, especially that the PCF is looking forward fo Palau's first participation in the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.

Before that, there will also be the Oceania Zonal Championships in January 2007. "We want the kids to start now. In fact, we have coordinated in the schools and a lot of them have registered." said Hernandez.

Competing in the Chess Olympiad is already a great achievement and who knows that someday, there will be a Palauan Grandmaster for chess.

The upcoming 2006 International Championship here will be a perfect venue for the kids to start dreaming big.

Source: People, Places and Events

Palau Horizon Newspaper

Whole Page 9

January 24-26, 2006

Roberto Hernandez, left, got a helping hand from venue host Gene Pastrana in putting out a whole plywood of advertisement made by Hernandez for the current 2005-2006 Rapid Chess tournament.

Jose Omega, right, side by side with an onlooker.

Dennis Gonzales, left, vs. Joel Azana; Jerry Sermeno vs. Jess Gomez. Looking on is venue host Gene Pastrana and an unknown bystander.