Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria, standing, watches a senior game between Jimmy Valenzuela and Jess Toldoya, right. Palau's no. 1 player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel and JR Agustin, left, also watch beside both players in the 2004 Non-master chess tourney. Escapatoria played his first serious chess game in the Class B of 2009 Palau NCC.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
CYRIL STAYS UNBEATEN;
ESCAPATORIA REPLACES
CABUSO
PALAU'S number 2 chess player Cyril Montel, Jr. kept his perfect 4-0 record intact after another win over 4th seed Roberto Hernandez in the resumption of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship held on Sunday, November 22 at D. J. Cruz General Merchandise premises.
Hernandez employed the Bird's Opening which he unsuccessfully used in a rapid chess tournament against Cyril in 2004.
He deviated on the 5th move that exposed his kingside. With 36 minutes left on his clock to make 20 moves, Cyril sacrificed a bishop to weave a mating net 5 moves later to force Hernandez' resignation after 24 moves.
Right before their game, Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria joined the Class B of the NCC replacing Rustum Cabuso, who never showed up for more than a month.
Jojo was taught first how to write chess moves before playing an official game against Jimboy de Jesus, where he lost in 45 moves of another Bird's Opening.
In the Chess Mate March 19-26, 2004 issue, Escapatoria was featured as "SPECTATOR NOT COMPETITOR" where he was the first to register in the 2004 Non-master Chess tournament but because of job schedule conflict, he missed the first 3 weeks and became an avid spectator instead of a competitor.
Flavin 'Matlab' Andres finally played his first game of Class B division. Prior to his match against Jimboy, he showed a magic trick using a deck of cards to Hernandez and the small crowd ala David Blaine.
He lost to Jimboy in 25 moves of another Bird's Opening.
On Wednesday, November 18, Jimboy suffered his 2nd loss in 39 moves of yet another Bird's Opening to Mario Ramos.
Palau's top player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel will play his game against Hernandez on Nov. 29 at 6:00 pm while Cyril will play as many games as he can to catch up.
In the Class A of Paquito Suringa Cup Rapid Chess tournament at Palau Royal Resort, invited player Joel Flor swept and ousted Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II and injected life to Pax and Jaime Guevarra's bid to make it to the semifinals.
It will depend on the last remaining 4 games of another invited player Arnel Ogalesco, who needs at least a win and a draw in his 2 games vs. Robert 'Tube Ice' Tubice and 2 games against Jomar Alerta.
Due to the schedule conflict of Tubice and Alerta, it is now official that semifinals and finals will be played on Nov. 29. All remaining games will be declared drawn games.
THE SEMIFINAL MATCHES WILL BE:
1. Roberto Hernandez vs. 4. Arnel Ogalesco and 2. Nino Flores vs. 3 Joel Flor at 4:00 pm at PRR Dorm 1.
The 2009 Palau NCC is sponsored by PALIBHASA group of Bobby and Ogie Pineda, Jun dela Cruz ($60.00 cash prize) and by Bhoey Gopez of Island Logistics, Lucio Bandibas of WCTC and Ed Martinez of Print Zone (5 trophies)
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 18
Issue 48
November 30-December 06, 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment