(264) OMEGA LOSES, KEEPS LEAD

NO BETTER THAN 5TH
Bong Alipoon, left, receives his fourth 4th runner-up trophy from Roberto Hernandez, Chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau). Alipoon never won better than 5th place in the last 9 tournaments held so far. He is the only undefeated player in the ongoing 2005 Open Chess tournament. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



OMEGA LOSES, KEEPS LEAD

THIRD SEED Jose Omega's winning streak ended last Sunday, July 31 in the 10th round of the 2005 Open Chess tournament held at Privilege Family Store in Malakal and sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing Atbp.

After scoring 6 straight victories over strong opposition, Omega bowed to 14th seed Eric Espartero in 59 moves of Scotch Game.

Espartero was ahead only by a mere pawn when Omega started a king cruise from g8 square to g3 and threatened mate in a bishop, queen and pawn endings.

It was a double-edged game that doesn't favor Omega as the most powerful piece (queen) is still on the board.

But he had nothing to sustain his attack and his king traveled 5 squares and Espartero was able to thwart all of Omega's threats.

Running out of options, Espartero sacrificed a pawn and threatened a mate of his own.

Omega found the right defence but it is a lost cause as Espartero unleashed a check maneuvers to win Omega's bishop and 2 moves later, his queen.

Omega won the exchange (a bishop for a rook) on the 17th move but gave it back on the 25th move and recover the pawn but Espartero's stingy defence saves him the day and started to move up again in the standings.

The second game of a rainy and windy day fits top seed Roberto Hernandez and Espartero.

On their 18th move, strong winds and rain forced them to play indoors where Hernandez won a piece in exchange of 2 pawns.

After the exchange of rooks, the endgame favors Hernandez as he had mobility and advantage.

He missed a pawn thrust on the 49th move that allows Espartero to capture the d pawn.

As the smoke clears down, Hernandez was left with a rook, pawn and a bishop of the opposite color where the pawn will be promoted.

Technically, it's a draw but Hernandez tested Espartero's endgame skills if he can force a draw being down by 4 points and he did!

After more than 70 moves, a draw was agreed of a Bird's Opening.

The results of last week's one-day blitz chess tourney: 2-time blitz champion Menandro Manuel swept the second round of double round-robin to clinch his 3rd blitz chess title with a win-loss-draw record of 9-2-1 followed by one-time blitz champ Jimmy Valenzuela (6-3-3).

Hernandez finished 3rd this time with 5-4-3 followed by Lin de Guzman (5-6-1). Gene Pastrana improves from his last blitz chess and finish with 3-6-3 while Cyril Montel, Jr. had 4-8-0 and at the cellar was Bong Alipoon (2-7-3).

Due to new job schedule, Hernandez left the tournament site before 5:00 pm as no more players arrived.

He left a message for late-comers to play in his absence and just relay the results to him.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 31
April 05-12, 2005