(496) GUEVARRA LEADS PRR CHESS TILT (TBN-July 27-Aug. 02, 2007)

IN HIS first ever competitive chess participation, Jaime Guevarra, who works at Pastry Division of Palau Royal Resort, scored a string of 3 victories to be the early leader of PRR Rating Chess tournament held at Dormitory 1 on Sunday and Monday evening.

Guevarra clobbered Arnel Pama in 44 moves of Four Knights Defence with the white pieces.

It took him 4 moves shorter in trouncing Paquito Suringa, Jr., a cook, in 40 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

Then he drubbed Robert Tubice of Maintenance Department, in a marathon 93 moves of another King's Pawn Opening.

New employee Dennis Lara started also win 2 straight wins but was upset by Tubice on Sunday night as he overlooked a neat knight sacrifice of Tubice to win his queen and managed to hold on to his advantage till the endgame.

Lara whipped Paul Garcia in 40 moves of Ruy Lopez where Garcia made a dubious defensive move that cramped his king and other major pieces.

Lara then nipped Erick Ventinilla in just 22 moves when the latter blundered away his queen on the 19th move of Sicilian Defence.

Top seed Roberto Hernandez found a strong resistance from Excalibur Chess Computer but prevailed in 41 moves of another Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation).

He toppled the other machine, Ivan II Chess Computer, in 48 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence.

Laurence Abuton could not sustain his bewildering attack against Pama and lost the initiative when Pama combined the forces of his queen and bishop to force mate on the 49th move of Alekhine's Defence.

Senior player Abraham 'Abe' Francisco didn't play a single game and he wants to play 3 games in one day on his day off (Tuesday).

He and Pama are the candidates to be the Chairman of a club to be founded during the tournament where a name of the club will also be selected among:
1. Castle King Chess Club of PRR
2. Checkmate Chess Club of PRR
3. King of Knights Chess Club of PRR
4. The Rookies of Royal Chess Club (RRCC)
5. Addicted to Chess Club and
6. King of Kings Chess Club of PRR

Mr. Allan Tuppil, the Food and Beverage Manager of PRR, announced that the champion of the event will receive a trophy and the 2 runners-up will get medal that he will sponsor together with $100.00 cash prize.

Nino Flores, Zaldy Ranopa, Tony Penas, Randy Sioson and Darwin Nisperos are the other players who haven't played yet.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
July 27-August 02, 2007