(313) 2 CHAMPS WIN GAMES

CHAMPS IN GOOD START
2003 Junior champion Charles Aquino, right, receiving his storyboard-type trophy from Senior champion Roberto Hernandez. The two won their opening day games on Sunday, Jan. 11 to start their title defense on a position note. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

BECAUSE of job requirements of almost half of the contestants, a low turnout of participants marked the opening day of 2004 Non-master Chess tournament held last Sunday, January 11 at Paul Brothers Tri-M General Merchandise and Food Retail in Malakal.

The sponsors are its manager Joji Casinas, Jose Omega ($100.00 to the champion) and Nilo de Jesus who donated two long tables and cash prize for the top 3 finishers in the kid's division.

Defending champion Roberto Hernandez, with a rating of 1879, defeated Ivan II Chess Computer (1993 rating) in 35 moves of Ruy Lopez (Zaitsev Defence).

Fourth seed Cyril Montel, Jr. (1782) outlasted 7th seed Bong Alipoon (1701) in the endgame. Eighth seed Mike Miguel, Jr. (1695) dealt newcomer and co-host Lin de Guzman (1500) his first tournament game loss.

9th seed Danny Dandoy (1662) beat 14th seed Mario Ramos (1584) in less than an hour. Jess Toldoya (1579) and 6th seed Jose Omega made it but didn't play so they have to play 2 games on Sunday.

Third seed Menandro Manuel (1794) and 5th seed Jimmy Valenzuela (1742) will return to Palau on Saturday, Jan. 17, and they will have to play 2 games also to catch up.

In the 18 years and below category, defending champion Charles Aquino lost his first game of best of three series to Chris Domingo but bounced back to win the last 2 to begin his campain of defending his title.

Karen Hernandez, 18, and the lone female contestant, defeated newcomer Michael Velarde, 16. The youngest contestant, 9-year-old Georby Domingo, the younger brother of Chris, lost to Aquino (3-0).

SENIORS' SECOND ROUND PAIRINGS: (fIRST NAME TO PLAY WHITE) Ramos vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1617); Manuel vs. Valenzuela; de Guzman vs. de Jesus (1623); Toldoya vs. Omega; Alipoon vs. Miguel, Jr. Valenzuela vs. Toldoya; Ivan II vs. Dandoy; Omega vs. Manuel; de Jesus vs. Montel, Jr. and Agustin Jr. vs. Hernandez. Latecomers will have to play 2 games on Sunday.

This week's featured classic game is between World Champion Gary Kasparov and Deep Thought in an exhibiton match in 1989.

The World Champion was invited to New York to face off the world's leading mainframe computer program in a two-game series at the Marshall Chess Club.

The first game was a typical Grandmaster crush, as Deep Thought was tied down in defending the King pawn.

In the 2nd game, Kasparov opens the game up tactically and show how a hesitant computer can be hung out to dry.

THE MOVES: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nc6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5. d5 Ne5 6. Nc3 c6 7. Bf4 ng6 8. Be3 cxd5 9. exd5 Ne5 Deep Thought loses time moving the same piece twice in the opening. Kasparove jumps at the chance to exploit his advantage in development.
10. Qd4 Nxf3+ 11.gxf3 Bxf3 12. Bxc4 Qd6 Black could not play 12. ... Bxh1 13. Bb5+, but 12. ... a6 would have been a better defense.
13. Nb5 Qf6 14. Qc5 Qb6 15. Qa3 e6 16. Nc7+ Qxc7 17. Bb5+ Qc6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Bc5 Bxc5 20. Qxf3 Bb4+ 21. Ke2 cxd5. At this point, a human would have probably resigned but Deep Thought never mind playing out a lost game.
22. Qg4 Be7 23. Rhc1 Kf8 24. Rc7 Bd6 25. Rb7 Nf6 26. Qa4 a5 27. Rc1 h6 28. Rc6 Ne8 29. b4 Bxh2 30. bxa5 Kg8 31. Qb4 Bd6 32. Rxd6 Nxd6 33. Rb8+ Rxb8 34. Qxb8+ Kh7 35. Qxd6 Rc8 36. a4 Rc4 37. Qd7 Black resigns.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 9-10
Volume 13
January 16-23, 2004