(186) MODERN DEFENCE PREVAILS IN 2 GAMES

GENE OF JEAN'S BOUTIQUE
Gene Pastrana, left, manager of Jean's Boutique in front of Maris Stella School, receives his certificate of appreciation from Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez. The enthusiastic Pastrana is one of the top candidates for Most Improved Player award. He almost had a perfect attendance in the 2005 Regular Chess tournament.                                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE SECOND round action of the 2005 Open Chess tournament produced 2 impressive wins by players who employed the Modern Defence last Sunday, May 29 at Privilege Family Store in Malakal and sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra and Roswell Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing Atbp.

Third seed Jose Omega clobbered 10th seed Gene Pastrana in 37 moves of Modern Defence. Top seed Roberto Hernandez used the same defence in trouncing 6th seed Jimmy Valenzuela in another 37 moves.

With 15 minutes left in his clock, Valenzuela was unable to prevent 2 double checks in succession that will lead to mate and resigned. Five players analyzed the position where Valenzuela made a dubious bishop retreat (Be2) on the 30th move but found no winning or drawing chances for him.

In the Pastrana-Omega match, the former refused a rook sacrifice by Omega on the 35th move only to be offered by another rook sacrifice to force an inevitable mate.

Four players in both Modern Defence games annotated the game. A sign that most players now appreciate the importance of taking notes while playing like 11th seed Morton Sawaichi. He wrote down his moves against Manny Nedic and lost in 44 moves of Queen's Pawn Game but after the game, he reviewed the match using his own annotations.

A good way to improve one's game is learning from your mistakes.

In the first game of the day, comebacking Eric Espartero overlooked a neat knight sacrifice of Ivan II Chess Computer and lost in another Queen's Pawn Game.

It's the first time that Espartero encountered a chess machine because he stopped playing in the middle part of 2005 Regular Chess tourney because of venue and transportation problem.

The seeding of the ongoing tournament was updated due to the withdrawal of depending champion Menandro Manuel and top seed Eddie Grefiel, who is now in the USA.

Manuel said that he will skip this tournament to rest from competitive chess for 3 months but will participate if there will be a one-day blitz chess competition in the near future.

Fourth seed Bong Alipoon and 7th seed Lin de Guzman were present but didn't play a single game. They just played friendly games among 4 of them (Manuel and Valenzuela) with the top player not to spend anything for drinks after a single-round robin match play.

Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. and Tutii Joe Chilton were absent while Dennis Gonzales, Mario Ramos and Marcial Rodriguez had not yet show up.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Volume 14 Issue 22
            June 03-10, 2005