MAJOR upsets were scored in the 2nd week of rapid chess tilt held on November 22, 24 and 25 at Jean's Boutique and Store that left no player undefeated except Paul Garcia, who hadn't played a game yet due to schedule conflict.
Venue host Gene Pastrana, who totes a 2-3-1 win-loss-draw record, scored a whole point over blitz chess expert Tony Villa (4-1-1) but lost to top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel (2-2-2) on the eve of November 22, a non-playing day.
Players who are available on any day can play to those who are available to avail of the most flexible schedule in the world. Villa and Manuel drew their game that night.
On Saturday, November 24, 2nd seed Jose Omega (2-1-1) drew also with Manuel and swept Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich (3-6-2-1), who played already 10 games so far and scored the first major upset of the day over Palau's first National Master Manny Nedic (2-1-0).
In disbelief, Nedic left the tournament site without talking to anybody but he clobbered his fellow NM Manuel earlier in the day.
Fourth seed Roberto Hernandez nipped Dittrich in more than 40 moves of Danish Gambit when the latter's time elapsed with an extra 15 minutes odd.
On the official day of the tourney, November 25, Michael Mercado (2-2-0) of Aqua Water, won 2 and lost 2 games of his first serious tournament participation.
He upset Pastrana and Dittrich in both come-from-behind fashion where Pastrana was ahead in material while Dittrich overlooked some simple moves while ahead by 2 pawns but in extreme time pressure and finally lost by time forfeit.
Mercado then succumbed to Hernandez in another Danish Gambit game and to 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. (3-1-1), who was held to a draw by Dittrich in the last game of the day.
Jaime Guevarra, the 2nd runner-up in the Palau Royal Resort rating chess tourney, played 3 games on Sunday morning and lost all of them.
He showed strong resistance against Villa in their first game but his inexperience in the endgame cost him both games while in his game against Pastrana, he missed some strong continuation.
Dennis Lara (1-3-1) played 4 games on Sunday afternoon. He avenged his 1st week loss to Dittrich but failed to extract full point over Pastrana when he blundered away his queen that have them with both king remaining on the board.
He lost to Villa and Montel, Jr. while Manuel dealt Dittrich his 6th loss of the event.
Arnel Pama withdrew from participating due to his father's heart attack while Danny Dandoy didn't show up yet.
PRR players will play whoever is available on Saturday morning from 10:00 - 12:00 noon.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 13
Volume 17
November 30 - December 06, 2007
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