(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