Many firsts have been achieved and Palau has gone international after being accepted as a member of World Chess Federation (FIDE) in February.
This was after Gary Bekker, Oceania Zone President, paid for Palau's membership fee from his own pocket.
With also his full support, the first international chess championship was held in Palau that allowed the island's top six players gained international rankings after all of them scored at least three points in 9 games against four foreign players from Australia, New Zealand and Philippines.
The first tournament of 2006 was the National Chess Championship.
Due to low turnout of players, it was decided to make it a double round-robin event. Had it been a single round-robin, 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. could have been the champion with his strong 1st round performance.
Palau's top player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel topped the event with Manny Nedic and they became Palau's first National Masters.
In May 11-14, former FIDE President Florencio Campomanes made a visit to Palau and convinced Philippine Ambassador Ramoncito Marino to hold a rapid chess tournament at the embassy's office in June 25, July 2, 9, 2006.
The Ambassador sponsored the $1,000.00 cash prize while Manny Kimpo of Pinoy Express Remittance sponsored the 4 glass trophy for the champion of rated, unrated, junior and women's division.
Jose Omega and Roberto Hernandez topped the rated section while Vincent Vergara of Moylan's Insurance baeed the unrated division.
Ken Pastrana was the junior champ and Flor Hernandez took the women's division plum in her very first participation.
After the final week of NCC, the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship was held from August 31 to September 04 with New Zealand's Hilton Bennett winning be a mere half point from top seed USA and Philippines National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino.
Paul Spiller, also from New Zealand, bagged the 3rd spot while Manuel edged Bekker at 4th.
Gene Pastrana was the surprised 6th placer while Montel, Jr. showed incredible recovery with Spiller in his last two tough games.
Omega settled at 8th and Nedic and Hernandez scored 3 points each to obtain also an international rankings in 2006's new ratings of FIDE.
The 2006 Rapid Chess tournament was the last tourney of the year with Manuel and veteran-newcomer Tony Villa sharing the title and $175.00 cash prize.
And finally, during the Christmas party of Knights and Rooks Chess Club, first-timer Rey Lapuz won the unrated division of the blitz chess festival by outwitting Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in their final cliffhanger game.
Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 16
Page 11
January 05-11, 2007
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