(188) CM60 DE GUZMAN REGAINS 3rd Spot

MOST IMPROVED Player honoree Lin de Guzman upset early earstwhile leader Jose Omega in 45 moves of Irregular Opening in the penultimate round of 2005 Regular Chess tournament held on Sunday, April 10 at Privelege Store in Malakal.

De Guzman regained 3rd spot despite the loss to Ivan II Chess Computer with a 13-4-3 win-loss-draw record. Omega (12-3-1) dropped to 6th but still has 5 games left and won his adjourned game against Manuel Nedic (10-5-5) way back from Feb. 20 (7th round).

And in the other completed game, Nedic drew with friend Gene Pastrana (9-7-4), the person that introduced chess tournament play to Nedic since last year.

All 43 other games were defaults: Liam Bornovski (0-15-6) lost to top seed Roberto Hernandez (15-2-1), Tutii Joe Chilton (5-6-5), Dennis Gonzales (10-5-2), leader Menandro Manuel (15-0-2) and Pastrana.

Ronald Maomay (2-13-6) lost to Bong Alipoon (12-3-3), Mario Ramos (8-5-2), Pastrana, Cyril Montel, Jr. (12-2-1) &Gonzales.He drew w/ EricEspartero (1-13-7).

Joel Azana (2-10-9) lost to Hernandez, Jimmy Valenzuela (10-6-1), de Guzman and Alipoon. He drew with Ivan II and Nedic.

Esparatero lost to Marcial Rodriguez (5-4-6), Gonzales, Morton Sawaichi (7-13-10), Alipoon, de Guzman and Nedic. He drew with Maomay and Ivan II (5-6-7).

Chris Domingo lost all of his remaining games by default to Hernandez, Ramos, Chilton, de Guzman, Sawaichi, Nedic and Pastrana; Em-R de Vera (2-14- ) likewise lost to Valenzuela, de Guzman, Pastrana, Chilton, Montel,Jr., Manuel, Ramos and Alipoon.

Mariano Agustin, Jr. (3-8-6) drew with Ivan II Chess Computer, Chilton and Rodriguez.

THE FINAL ROUND GAMES ON SUNDAY ARE: 1. Hernandez vs. Manuel, Agustin, Jr. and Rodriguez 2. Manuel vs. Ramos, Chilton and Rodriguez 3. Montel, Jr. vs. Ivan II, Omega, Ramos, Chilton and Rodriguez 4. Omega vs. Ivan II, Ramos, Gonzales and Agustin, Jr. 5. Valenzuela vs. Ramos, Chilton, Nedic and Rodriguez 6. Alipoon vs. Ivan II, Chilton and Rodriguez 7. de Guzman vs. Agustin, Jr. 8. Ramos vs. Gonzales and Agustin, Jr. 9. Sawaichi vs. Gonzales 10. Gonzales vs. Rodriguez 11. Pastrana vs. Chilton 12. Agustin, Jr. vs. Ivan II

Absent players will lose by default. Special games may be accomodated like Omega vs. Ivan II Chess Computer.

The trophies for the top 5 finishers are donation by Palau Paradise Lions Club. Its officers and members will shoulder the $50.00 brilliancy prize. Artemio Navarette hosted the last 4 rounds of the event.


KASPAROV RETIRES!

THE CHESS world is still commiseratingover the retirement of legendary player Garry Kasparov.

"In chess," says Dutch Grandmaster Hans Ree, Kasparov's "maximalism gave fire and color to every tournament in which he played. Alas, no more"

"Chess is dead." says American GM and reigning champion Hikaru Nakamura.

"ALL THE SQUARES ARE BLACK," was the headline of an Argentine newspaper.

"There are two periods in chess, with and without Kasparov," wrote a Russian journalist.

In London, Garry's former challenger, GM Nigel Short, is still shaking his head in disbelief. "The greatest player of all time," Short says, "has just announced his retirement from professional chess. A remarkable career has abruptly come to an end. Kasparov is a giant, and there is no one of even remotely comparable stature to replace him. At 41 he has done everything that there is to be done in chess, and more."

Short first met Garry over the chessboard in 1980, and the result was a draw. Short won their game in 1986 when Garry was already the world champion. But Short says, "this moment of triump was to prove fleeting. A few days later he took his revenge. It was the beginning of a long series of crushing defeats for me. We played 73 tournament and match games. I won 6, with 33 draws but the score is massively in his favor (Garry thumped him in 34 games). I have spent many months, if not years, of my life solely contemplating how to defeat him, but to no avail. He is simply too strong."

At a press conference announcing his retirement, Garry named his game against Veselin Topalov in 1999 in Wijk ann Zee as perhaps his best game.

LAST OFFICIAL GAME AT IMAGE RESTAURANT

The rapid chess format was used in the game between Tutii Joe Chilton, left, with the white pieces against Image Restaurant's pianist/DJ Roberto Hernandez. The result was a cliffhanger to the end as Chilton lost by time forfeit by a mere split second. With the closing out of the restaurant, a very close game like this might not happen again. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 14 Issue 15
April 15-22, 2005