MENANDRO MANUEL
2-time Champ
Knighs and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez, left, poses in front of the giant chessboard with Artemio Navarette, the venue host of the last 4 rounds of 2005 Regular Chess tournament. The giant chessboard displays the game of Manny Nedic and Jose Omega, who finished 2nd runner-up. Hernandez won 1st runner-up for the 3rd straight time. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
MANUEL BAGS 2ND TITLE
THIRD SEED Menandro 'Boy' Manuel clinched his 2nd title in 2 years after top seed Roberto Hernandez was upset by 16th seed Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 36 moves of an Irregular Opening in the final round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament sponsored by Palau Paradise Lions Club and Artemio Navarette, the venue host.
Manuel finished the tourney with a 18-1-2 win-loss-draw record after Hernandez dealt him his only loss in 34 moves of Dutch Defence. Manuel is ahead by quality but a blunder capture of a pawn resulted in losing his queen to avoid mate in two.
He resigned when he sees that there is no sustainable attack and the trend continues as the new champion suffered at least one defeat like the other 8 previous champions since 2002.
Hernandez was 1st runner-up again for 3 consecutive times. There is a 3-way tie for 2nd, 3rd and 4th runner-up between 5th seed Jose Omega, 4th seed Cyril Montel, Jr. and 9th seed Bong Alipoon.
After using the Sonnenborn Bergen system of tiebreak, Omega emerges with the highest score (141) followed by Montel, Jr. (127) and Alipoon (121.5).
Montel, Jr. forged the 3-way tie after drawing with Ivan II Chess Computer in 38 moves of a Caro-Kahn Defence.
Another tiebreaker was used between the top 2 candidates for Most Improved Player award. Gene Pastrana and Dennis Gonzales were tied at 12 points each and after using the same tiebreak system, Gonzales wins by 74-61 margin even though he was absent in the final round.
ROUNDING UP THE FINAL STANDINGS: 6. Lin de Guzman (15 pts.) 7. Jimmy Valenzuela (13.5) 8. Manuel Nedic (13) 9. Gonzales 10. Pastrana 11. Ivan II Chess Computer (10) 12. Mario Ramos (9.5) 13. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (8.5) 14. Marcial Rodriguez (8.5) 15. Morton Sawaichi (8) 16. Tutii Joe Chilton (7.5) 17. Joel Azana (6.5) 18. Ronald Maomay (5) 19. Eric Espartero (4.5) 20. Em-R de Vera (4.5) 21. Chris Domingo (3.5) 22. Liam Bornovski (3).
Manuel, Montel, Jr. and Hernandez are still reviewing the qualified games for brilliancy prize worth $50.00 courtesy of officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.
There will be a gathering of all Filipino Associations in Palau this Sunday, April 24 at Long Island. The Knights and Rooks Chess Club will have a blitz chess festival and if the trophies are ready, the awarding ceremony will also be held.
Those who will attend and participate are requested to bring at least one dish to be shared with others.
Two weeks ago, Hernandez was able to talk to The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) President Boie Aguas and he mentioned that he had given August Ubaldo, the in-charge of the trophies of the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament sponsored by TFCP, --$300.00 for the trophies.
Ubaldo said that the 7 trophies arrived already in Palau but said there is a mistake in the engraving so he returned it to Philippines. Many think that it is just an alibi as it is very easy to make a new engraving like Hernandez has done to the trophies of 2002 and 2004 Open Chess tournament.
Ubaldo has not come back yet in Palau and the winners of the 2004 Rapid Chess tourney especially the junior champion Em-R de Vera is still disappointed over the delay.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 14 Issue 16
April 22-29 2005
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