(395) A LITTLE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

A LITTLE LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

THREE young boys showed interest in participating in the ongoing 2005 Rapid Chess Tournament sponsored by Helena Yoichi and Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique.

Jielton Cabierte, 8, Xyron Songson, 10, and Ken Pastrana, 8, and the youngest son of Gene, has requested the Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez to have their own age group chess tournament since all of them are just learning the game.

Hernandez assured the boys that a 10 years and under tournament would be established if there are at least 4 participants, and Ivan II Chess Computer would act as the 5th contestant.

The tournament for the 10 years and under division will be a triple round-robin and Hernandez will put up the money for the first place and 2nd place trophies.

Nirblush Tmechtul showed in interest in taking the 4th spot, but maybe unable to attend. That would allow an opening for a beginner player(s) to enter the 10 years and under league.

The tournament will be held at Jean's Boutique on Sunday, November 13, 2005.

Invitation has also been extended to the Palau community to participate in the senior division, which has 7 new members participating in the rapid chess double-round robin tournament.

The league now has 23 players and each of them has played at least 44 games against participants with varying strategies and skill levels.

In the past weeks, newcomer Jess Gomez ended the 7-game winning streak of 2-time champion Menandro Manuel in an endgame of king and knight against his king, knight and a pawn.

This did not stop Manuel from extending his overall lead to 3.5 points advantage.

Top seed and defending champion Jose Omega clobbered Rogelio Menor in their Sicilian Defence game.

Cyril Montel, Jr. scored 2 easy victories over Menor and Flavin Andres. Jimmy Valenzuela swept Gene Pastrana and Menor and moved into the 9th spot after beating after beating both James dela Cruz and Em-R de Vera.

Menor, however, lost his match to Jerry Sermeno. Manny Nedic is now is 8th spot with his 4th straight wins.



Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Bc6 and any move by black will lead to mate in 2.
This week's puzzle: Black to move and mates in 3
(Solution next issue)

Solutions: *Puzzles studied by Flavin Andres and Roberto Hernandez.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 45
November 11-18, 2005