THE 3rd Palau Invitational International Chess Championship was the best organized PIICC ever because of the full support of the only invited player that made it—Joselito Marcos. He came with his wife Margarita and daughter Jamie Kirstie, who both enjoyed Palau especially during the last 4 non-playing days of the event.
In the penultimate round, Menandro Manuel’s 7-game winning streak was snapped by Palau’s current number one chess player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. to put pressure on Manuel to upset Marcos who is also on a 7-game winning streak.
In the endgame of a knight and pawns, Manuel upset Marcos and put pressure this time on Marcos to beat Roberto Hernandez in the final round to tie him for the title. Jeff Balbalosa scored 2 points in his last 3 games and edged out Dennis Gonzales at 8th spot.
With the win over Manuel, Montel and Hernandez clinched the 3rd and 4th spots respectively. Meanwhile, Paquito Suringa, Jr. lost to Gonzales and Tito Cabunagan but won over Balbalosa to keep his hopes alive for 5th place finish if he will win his last 2 games in the final day against Hernandez and Bernard Garcia.
The final round is very exciting although it only affects the standings of 3 players fighting for the 5th place. At 9:00 am, Suringa outlasted Hernandez in a marathon 82 moves to set up a crucial match with Garcia at 1:00 pm.
If Bernard will win, he will clinch the 5th spot, Tito will get the 6th slot and Paquito will drop to 7th place. If they will draw their game, Tito will clinch the 5th spot, Bernard the 6th and Paquito to 7th.
At 1:00 pm, the match of Hernandez and Marcos was set. Photo session was held before the matches to document an exciting final round. Before the 30th move, Marcos sacrificed his queen for a rook, regained it with interest (a whole rook) after 3 moves and Hernandez resigned for being down by a rook and a pawn.
Hernandez immediately set the program of the awarding ceremony while the Suringa-Garcia match is still going on until 2 hours before the awarding with Paquito surviving an onslaught and clinched the 5th spot via the hardest way.
At the awarding ceremony at 6:00 pm on December 19, a thanksgiving prayer was lead by Hernandez. Mr. Shinichi Arakawa, the Rooms Director of Palau Royal Resort, was asked to give short remarks at the ceremony on behalf of PRR GM Isao Takahashi who is off island.
The generous Mr. Marcos presented a gift to 11-year old George Anzawa, the youngest participant. He also gave Papua New Guinea’s pouches (black or red with PNG flag) to all participants. Manuel, Cabunagan and Garcia were given a book each by Lito, a PNG alarm clock to Hernandez and a PNG kid’s watch for Montel’s daughter.
The 5th place honor was awarded by Jamie Kirstie to Paquito, who works at PRR, —a Gift Certificate of Sunday Brunch for 2 at Palau Pacific Resort (PPR) while the 4th placer’s same prize was given by Adele Anzawa, mother of George, to Hernandez, who works as musician at PRR.
The 3rd place was given by Mrs. Margarita Marcos to Montel, who works at PPR, a Gift Certificate of Dinner for 2 at PRR. Montel and Manuel donated their Gift Certificates prizes to the Marcos family.
The champions’ prizes were given by Mr. Takao Anzawa, Adele’s husband, to Manuel —$150.00 cash while Marcos received a storyboard trophy from Mr. Arakawa.
Mr. Marcos donated his $150.00 cash prize to Palau Chess Federation for payment of its more than a year arrears to FIDE (World Chess Federation).
After the ceremony, Mrs. Adele Anzawa gave some pizza that she and George made. They also gave a Christmas card and a bottle of champagne to Hernandez.
After the ceremony, Mrs. Adele Anzawa gave some pizza that she and George made. They also gave a Christmas card and a bottle of champagne to Hernandez.
Before using their gift certificates of dinner at PRR, Lito organized a blitz chess tourney between the remaining players after the awarding ceremony: 1. Dennis 2. Cyril 3. Lito 4. Menandro 5. Roberto and 6. Jeff. The time control is 5 minutes for each player to finish the game with an increment of 3 seconds.
This tourney is in commemoration of former Philippine Consul Julius Torres who introduced in 2003 of having blitz chess tourney after the awarding of major prizes.
The result was a sweep by Hernandez, who defeated all 5 participants convincingly. Lito is 2nd with 4 wins and a loss. Menandro lost 2 and won 3 while Cyril dropped 3, won 1 and drawn a game for 1.5 pts. Dennis lost 4 and won 1 while Jeff only managed a draw vs. Cyril.
Awarding ceremony's attendance almost perfect except for Tito Cabunagan.
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| 3rd placer Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. receiving his gift certificate of dinner for 2 at Palau Royal Resort. He works at Palau Pacific Resort. Roberto works at Palau Royal Resort and won Brunch for 2 at Palau Pacific Resort. Are you confused? |
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| BEAUTY AND THE BEAST |
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| Roberto receives his 4th place prize, a Brunch for 2 at Palau Pacific Resort. |
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| Menandro Manuel receives his $150.00 cash prize from Takao Anzawa, Counsellor of Japanese Embassy in Palau. |
A PNG Alarm clock gift to Roberto.
HAPPY GIVER...Joselito Marcos donated his $150.00 cash prize to Palau Chess Federation so that it can pay its arrears to FIDE. Arigatou Gozaimasu, Lito san.
Adele Anzawa, left, also gave a bottle of champagne to Roberto Hernandez and a Christmas card from George.
We miss you, Tito.
All participants except Tito Cabunagan.
With Mr. Shinichi Arakawa this time and without Paquito Suringa, Jr.
This photo was featured in Australasian Chess Magazine.
Delicious pizza made by Adele and George Anzawa.
We've got our piece of pizza.
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 20
Issue 53
December 26, 2011
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