Joselito Marcos, left, won the Papua New Guinea Chess Championship in 2003 undefeated and currently PNG's top player. His compatriot Shaun Press, middle, won the inaugural Solomon Islands International Chess Championship undefeated also with 6 wins and 3 draws. The generous Paul Spiller, right, was 3rd and undefeated also in the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship and won $100.00 which he donated to the Palau Chess Federation. That amount was deposited by PCF chairman Francis 'Sno' Temaungil to a bank and stays as the only 'untouched' fund of PCF.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
PASTRANA WITHDRAWS;
PRR IS NOW THE VENUE
IN HIS 8th game of the 2009 Palau National Chess Championship, the frontrunner of the tourney with 7 straight wins Cyril Montel, Jr. is facing venue host and 3rd seed Gene Pastrana. Both have an identical 1870 FIDE rating.
With an overwhelming advantage, Cyril committed an illegal move on his 43rd move and Gene captured Cyril's king and claimed victory.
An argument ensued and Cyril decided to have the case reviewed by Chief Arbiter Roberto Hernandez and Gary Bekker, Oceania Zone President.
Cyril said he will follow whatever these two will decide but Gene said he will not and insisted that he won the game.
According to the FIDE Laws of Chess in Article 7.4 a. If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been completed, including capturing the opponent's king or failing to meet the requirements of the promotion, the position immediately before the irregularity shall be reinstated. If the position before the irregularity cannot be determined, the game shall continue from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. The clocks shall be adjusted according to the Article 6.13. The Articles 4.3 and 4.6 apply to the move replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue from this reinstated position. b. After the action taken under Article 7.4 a. for the first two illegal moves by a player, the arbiter shall give two minutes to his opponent in each instance; for a third illegal move by the same player, the arbiter shall declare the game lost by this player. However, the game is drawn if the position is such that the opponent cannot checkmate the player's king by any possible series of legal moves.
Hernandez explained to Gene about this rule the next day. Their long conversation is not fruitful as Gene will not accept the decision of even the most prominent chess officials of FIDE like Gary Bekker, Toti Abundo and Joselito Marcos.
He will accept only if this game is declared a draw, which is unacceptable to Cyril and FIDE Laws of Chess. Cyril even suggested that they play another game.
Gene added that he will withdraw from the tournament if he will lose that game and threatened the Palau Chess Federation officials not to use his previous games scores.
The 18-page FIDE Laws of Chess was given to Gene in April 2009 and it was also published in Chessmate twice in April 2009. Gene was given another copy for him to study especially the Article 7.4 a. - b.
The next day, when Hernandez called Gene about his decision, he said he will withdraw from the tournament. He cited that he's busy and can't concentrate on the game.
Hernandez respected his decision and finalized a point to him: "WE ARE FOLLOWING THE FIDE LAWS OF CHESS AND NOT YOUR LAW! WE WILL FOLLOW ALSO THE BY-LAWS OF PALAU CHESS FEDERATION, ARTICLE IV SECTION 3.C WHICH STATES (The Secretary/Treasurer shall also keep an account of all money received and expended by the PCF. All sums received shall be deposited in a banking institution approved by the PCF and a report shall be noted on a quarterly basis. The funds, books and vouchers in the Secretary/Treasurer safekeeping shall be subjected to inspection verification by the PCF at any reasonable time).
Gene is not even an officer of the PCF but he's handling the financial matters of the PCF where its officers are: Francis Temaungil (Chairperson); Roberto Hernandez (Secretary/Treasurer); Morton Sawaichi (Auditor); Tutii Joe Chilton (PRO). Board of Directors are Jose Omega, Bong Alipoon, Boy Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jr., Jimmy Valenzuela and Manny Nedic. Gene is the 4th member in the list.
Hernandez will now assume the real position as Secretary/Treasurer and he asked Gene to surrender all records and monies that he still have. Expended money not approved by the officers and members will be subjected to auditing.
The $100.00 help donation for USA and Philippine Chess Master Almario Marlon Bernardino in the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship was approved by the officers and members of PCF.
But the more than $140.00 that Gene claimed he used to pay his electric bill for 3 consecutive months in 2007 was not approved by everybody but only by him.
Many more irregularities in handling the PCF money will be uncovered if he can't produce receipts of the expenses. $297.00 is the balance excluding the registration fees for 2009 Palau National Chess Championship but he spent it all when he gets into economic crisis. He's still in tight budget and cannot pay it now.
While PCF owes FIDE more than 800 euros, the money that's supposed to cover at least half of that was spent by Gene for his personal use. It's time to put a stop to this irregularity by a member and not even an officer of PCF.
IN THE RESUMPTION OF NCC, Romeo Caballes won over Craig Dittrich in 42 moves of Giocco Piano; Paquito Suringa, Jr. claimed his 2nd win by outwitting Elpidio Manaligod in 34 moves of Queen's Gambit Accepted; and in the last game of the day, Sunday, January 03, 2010, Gene halved the point with Caballes in 47 moves of Sicilian Defence when Gene can't convert his one-pawn advantage to a win.
Palau's top chess player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel and Jun Mahor are having a vacation in the Philippines. Manuel will be back on January 15 while Mahor's return is not yet definite.
With Pastrana's withdrawal, Mahor, Michael Mercado and Dittrich cannot get their international rating even if they finished 9 games. They must play the 4 FIDE rated players (Manuel, Montel, Pastrana and Hernandez) in those 9 games to have an international rating. Those 4 haven't played Pastrana yet.
Manaligod, Masum Billah and Caballes will definitely get their international rating while Suringa needs to play Manuel and two more unrated players.
This ongoing tournament is sponsored by Bhoey Gopez of Island Logistics, Lucio Bandibas of WCTC and Ed Martinez of Print Zone (5 trophies), by Bobby Pineda, Jun dela Cruz and Ogie Pineda of PALIBHASA group of macho men and by Mr. Sho Suzuki, Palau Pacific Resort's General Manager -- 2 gift certificates of buffet Brunch for 2 at PPR.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Pages 13 and 15
Volume 19 Issue 02
January 11-17, 2010
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