Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino, center, is flanked by USA and Philippines National Master Marlon Bernardino, right, and Roberto Hernandez during the awarding of trophy and cash prizes in the inaugural Palau Invitational Chess Championship which will now become the Ambassador Marino Cup. With the support of the Ambassador, the event will become the biggest in Palau chess history.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THE 2nd Ambassador Marino Cup 2007 (Palau Invitational Chess Championship) that is slated to be held from August 30 to September 03, 2007 was postponed for 3 weeks to give chance for invited foreign players to prepare.
Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino pledged to sponsor the $1,000.00 cash prizes and 2 round trip tickets (Palau-Manila-Palau) as additional prize.
USA and Philippines National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr., who was the runner-up in the inaugural PICC to New Zealand's Hilton Bennett, will be participating again in the event together with National Master and International Arbiter Erwin Carag.
Another 2 interested players from the Philippines are also willing to participate.
They are James Infiesto and Boris Diez. It will probably make the tournament a 12-player single round-robin event with the addition of Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich and Tony Villa.
To complete the roster, the top 6 players of Palau that played last year also showed interest to improve their FIDE international rankings by playing again with tougher opposition this time.
They are NM Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, Jose Omega, Cyril Montel, Jr., Roberto Hernandez, NM Manny Nedic and Gene Pastrana.
All 6 gained international rankings that put Palau in world chess standings at 148, ahead of US Virgin Islands and Bahamas.
Gary Bekker of Australia and Hernandez were the brainchild of the event.
Mr. Bekker can not make it this year but promised to shoulder the airfare of Bernardino.
With no response from Mr. Bekker since last month, the organizers decided to postpone it for another 3 weeks to accomodate the 4 invited players.
IA Carag is willing to hold a clinic during his stay while Jess Toldoya and Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, the chairman of Palau Chess Federation, will be the arbiters.
The will gain their 2nd Arbiter's norm after the event. Four such norms are needed to be an international arbiter.
Source: Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 17
August 31-September 06, 2007
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