(604) DEJA VU 2: ARMENIA RETAINS CHESS OLYMPICS TITLE (TBN-Dec. 01-07, 2008)

IN THE 2006 World Chess Olympiad in Torino, Italy, there was a controversy about Palau's proxy vote for FIDE President.

The Palau Chess Federation had given their proxy vote to former and honorary lifetime president of FIDE Florencio Campomanes. He visited Palau in May 11-14, 2006.

But the opposition camp of Mr. Gary Bekker has asked for another proxy vote. After the problem has been resolved, Palau proxy had been finally given to Mr. Casto "Toti" Abundo, the Deputy President of Asian Chess Federation.

The same thing happened in the final week of 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany when Mr. Campomanes has asked for proxy of Palau to vote in the FIDE Congress that coincides with the Olympiad.

An earlier letter was sent to Mr. Jan Berglund confirming him as the official Delegate of Palau.

He was hired in January to act as Palau Delegate and has done his job superbly despite financial problems that led to eventual withdrawal of Palau men team and the denied participation of Palau women's team that's composed of professional and retired teachers from British Virgin Islands.

Mr. Berglund was still able to represent Palau in the Congress and Asian Continental Meeting and Toti voted for Palau in the selection of the Chess Olympiad site in 2012 where Budva in Montenegro and Istanbul in Turkey are the last 2 remaining contenders to host the prestigious event.
 
Istanbul won a clear victory by unofficial 92-40 votes among 152 participating nations, which is a record in Olympiad. 

Mr. Berglund also submitted a budget proposal for Palau for 2008-2010 for Administration, 3 Annual Invitational Tournaments 2008-2010, Participation in FIDE tournaments 2008-2010 School program where the 4 teachers for British Virgin Islands will come to Palau to teach chess in 10 schools in Palau.

Their school work in Palau is honorary as well as Mr. Berglund's, whose contract will expire at the end of November. 

His contract will be renewed as his dedication to help in chess development in Palau is very sincere.

The amount of the proposed budget is 170,00r 0.00 euros and will be delivered to CACDEC as Chess in Schools, Asian Chess Federation and the Oceania Zone President with the idea of receiving a portion of the expenses from each one of them.

The Asian Chess Federation President Sheik Sultan Bin Khalifa Al-Nehyan says that he might be able to find some solution for the airfares while FIDE Chess In Schools chairman Professor Uvencio Blanco will be visiting South East Asia in June 2009 according to an already existing plan. After negotiations, he has now added Palau to be visited during this trip.

At the end of 2008 World Chess Olympiad, Armenia retained the title that they won for the first time in 2006 Torino, Italy Chess Olympiad. 

Israel got the silver medal and USA the bronze. The surprise team is Vietnam, which finished 7th. The Philippines' best placed finish is also 7th, in the 1998 Chess Olympiad in Thessalonica, Greece.

The original chess team of Palau to the Olympiad held a blitz chess contest on Sunday night at Jean's Boutique and Store with Palau no. 1 Menandro Manuel reasserted his supremacy by topping the event over NM Manny Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., Roberto Hernandez, Gene Pastrana and Dennis Lara.

The participation of Hernandez became possible because he is on annual leave till the end of November. Another blitz chess contest might be held on Nov. 30.

Hernandez won the Palau Royal Resort theme songwriting contest held on November 24 with his rendition of his original composition of "That Is Origin8" with the singing and dancing performance of his co-department PRR beauties Lorna Castaneto, Ella Asuncion and Shirin Dy.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 17
            December 01-07, 2008           

   

 

 

(603) MUSIC AND ME (Sept. 12, 2013) KUMA-The Dog That Committed Suicide

Kuma, right, the stinky and horny dog of Margarita Borja Dalton, can't stand the loneliness of being alone. That's why he 'committed' suicide?
Kimo, left, and Atau, middle, are the other 2 dogs of Margie that died earlier than Kuma.                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Flor Hernandez poses beside Kuma while Atau is ready to join the pictorial. The 2003 Palau Open Chess tournament was held at the same spot with Menandro Manuel becoming the champion in his first ever participation beating former champions Eddie Grefiel and Consul General Julius Torres in his first 2 games.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Rest In Peace, Kuma. The 2nd floor of the restaurant is the place where Roberto Hernandez plays piano and operates karaoke for 13 years (July 26, 1992-April 2005).                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


   KUMA -- The Dog That 
                  Committed Suicide


SINCE 1992, Kuma was the best dog that my employer Margarita Borja Dalton has ever had.

Whenever I go fishing at the lagoon, Kuma always come with me together with Kimo and Atau--which means in Palauan "bad smell". 

My daughter Karen is afraid of dogs when we are living in Muntinlupa City in Philippines.

But when she and my wife Flor came to Palau in June 17, 1995, her phobia to dogs has not been a problem anymore because of Kuma.

Very friendly even to guests of Image Restaurant. I remember one time that Kuma was in the terrace of the restaurant and some guests (Japanese ladies) arrived and they saw Kuma lying at the terrace.

Margie shouted at Kuma to go down but instead of going down, he wag his tail and laid in a 'welcoming' position with his 'tutu' coming out like a jumbo hotdog. The Japanese guests laughed so hard.

When Image Restaurant was sequestered by Bank Of Guam in 2005, me and my wife, Willy and Alice Medalla were the only remaining employees that stayed at the restaurant's staff house while waiting for other house that we can relocate.

When we are moving to Margie's granddaughter Blaire's house, we are so busy with trips bringing all our things to the house which is about 8 kilometers far.

It's almost midnight when Willy took the last trip to get Kuma and secure the place.

During our last trip, we turn off all the lights and locked all the windows and doors of the staff house. I noticed that Kuma is aware that we are leaving the place and he might be thinking that he will be left alone there. His growling sounds different.

Kuma is the only dog left in there because Kimo and Atau died earlier.

I'm expecting Willy to come with Kuma but he came back alone. He told us a very sad story which maybe hard to believe.
 
According to him, when he took the last things that are to be brought, he looked for Kuma for a few minutes. He don't answer to calls, claps and other kinds of things to get his attention.

When he climbed up to the terrace of the restaurant, he found Kuma there with its head in between the railings and lifeless.

His conclusion to it is that Kuma can't stand the loneliness that he is about to face and committed suicide by putting his neck in between the railings and choke himself to death.

Willy buried him in the garden where I used to plant tomatoes, string beans, papaya, bitter melon, eggplant and bell pepper.


Source: Chess And Music: Perfect Combination
           The Beginning Of Chess In Palau
           By Roberto Hernandez
           September 2013
           To be published as a book in the future 

 

(602) GETTING READY FOR 3RD AMBASSADOR CUP (TBN-Nov. 24-Dec. 01, 2008)

AFTER the Palau women's team to 2008 Dresden World Chess Olympiad were also unable to play, the focus now of the disappointed chess players are on the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship and the 3rd Ambassador Marino Cup (formerly known as the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship).
     ***During the arguments about the Palau women's team, Mr. Jan Berglund emailed Roberto Hernandez -- asking him to send an email to Chief Arbiter Ignatius Leong that the 4 women (retired teachers from British Virgin Islands) have been to Palau teaching chess in schools. Roberto send the email but lately, he found out that the organizers are looking for a Palau stamps on their passports that they've really been to Palau at least once. They said that all of their passports are new and they didn't bring the old ones.
         Eventually, the 4 women were denied participation. Their expensive airfares just to be there are not worth it. Roberto didn't know that Mr. Berglund will bring in those women.***

On Sunday evening, the much awaited match between Palau top player Menandro Manuel and no. 4 Roberto Hernandez finally materialized.

Fireworks occurred in their Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) game. 

On the 13th move, Hernandez sacrificed a whole knight for a pawn and obtain a strong attack. 

On his 16th turn to move, Manuel consumed 32 minutes for one move that proved to be critical as he thwarted the relentless attack and spent another 15 minutes for his 25th move and later seized the initiative with 2 rooks, 2 bishops and 2 pawns against Hernandez' queen, knight and 4 pawns.

Hernandez resigned on the 49th move after making a blunder.  

THE MOVES:
       

White: Roberto Hernandez (1830)        (109)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qc7 8. Qf3 Nbd7 9. 0-0-0 b5 10. g4 Bb7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. g5 f5 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qh5+ Kd8 15. g6 b4 16. Rg1 Be7 17. gxh7 Nf6 18. Qf7 Rxh7 19. Qxe6 Rxh2 20. e5 Qd7 21. Rxd6 Bxd6 22. Qxf6+ Be7 23. Qb6+ Kc8 24. Rg8+ Bd8 25. Ne2 Bd5 26. Qc5+ Qc6 27. Qxc6+ Bxc6 28. e6 Ra7 29. Nd4 Bd5 30. Bxa6+ Rza6 31. e7 Bxg8 32. e8=Q Bd5 33. Qb5 Rg6 34. Qc5+ Bc7 35. b3 Be4 36. Qf8+ Kb7 37. Qxb4+ Rb6 38. Qe7 Rd6 39. Qg7 Rd5 40. Kb2 Rd2 41. Ne6 Rxc2+ 42. Ka3 Ra5+ 43. Kb4 Ra6 44. Nc5+ Rxc5 45. Kxc5 Rxa2 46. b4 Rc2 47. Kd4 Rf2 48. Qd7?? Rd2+                         0-1

A 5-player blitz chess contest was held right after their match and Hernandez redeemed himself by capturing the title against the original members of Palau Olympiad Chess team: Manuel, Manny Nedic, Cyril Montel, Jr., and venue host Gene Pastrana.

After the game, the 5 players talked about the future of chess in Palau and about Jan Berglund, who is coming to Palau after his stint as International Arbiter in Queenstown Classic Open Chess tournament in New Zealand on January 15-24, 2009.

He is currently negotiating for Palau to be a CACDEC member nation at the ongoing Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany and he successfully done it. 

He will then obtain chess materials (chess boards, clocks, etc) but will be having a problem on overweight baggage.

He will also invite about a dozen chess players of different nationalities to participate in the 3rd Ambassador Marino Cup which is tentatively set after the Queenstown Classic.

He and the 3 women members of the Palau team are also arranging talks to Palau school officials about "Chess In Schools" meeting held during the Congress that coincide with the Olympiad.

They got really good input and also good arguments to use when approaching the government about chess in schools as well as some real good arguments to approach Palau National Olympic Committee.

Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino is currently in the Philippines and will be back next month.

Talks about the final date of the event where he is sponsoring the cash prize of $1,000.00 will be finalized.

Mr. Berglund is hoping to get a sponsorship for the same amount. There might be a second tournament parallel to it. 

The invited players can stay longer and their accommodation will be one of the primary concerns.

The second tournament might be a Swiss system and the Ambassdor Cup will be round-robin as the previous two where Palau players got their international rankings.





Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 17
               November 24-December 01, 2008
                

                 

(601) GOOD NEWS FOR KIDS CHESS IN PALAU (TBN-Nov. 17-23, 2008)

IN AN email to Jan Berglund, Palau Coach and Delegate of FIDE to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany, six kids bring honor to Palau through chess.

THE FOLLOWING IS THEIR EMAIL TO HIM:

     From: Kerstin Nicolai@onlinehome.de
     To: berglund_jan@hotmail.com
     cc: stefantaudte@freenet.de
     Subject: Palau Dresden
     Date:Tue, 4 Nov 2008 22:53:54 +0100

     Dear Mr. Berglund, 
     We turn to you with a very special question. We are six children at the age of 10.
     Last year our team took part in a special chess tournament, the so called "Partnerschulen Turnier."
     Each team of this special tournament started for one foreign country. Our team started for Palau. Before the tournament we collected lots of information about Palau.
     We made posters, designed a flyer and painted a huge flag. We presented all these things during the tournament.
     But we were also successful in the games of chess. We won most of the games and so we qualified for the Chess Olympiad 2008 in Dresden.
     During the Opening Ceremony in the Eissporthalle Freiberger Arena on 12th November you will see two of us with the flag of Palau.
     We will be in Dresden for the Olympiad together with our coach Stefan Taudte from 12th November 2008 to 14th November 2008.
     It would be very great for us to play a game of chess with the real team of Palau. Is it possible for you to help us with organizing a meeting on Friday 14th November 2008?
     We are looking forward to hearing from you.
     Best wishes,
     Alexander, Katharina, Soren, Max, Florian, Alina, Tim 
     from Erfurt in Germany.

MR. BERGLUND RESPONDED WITH:
     Dear Ms. Kerstin Nicolai, Alexander, Katharina, Soren, Max, Florian, Alina, Tim and Mr. Stefan Taudte,
     We are very pleased to hear what you have accomplished for, and with, us.
     Of course, we must find some way of playing chess with each other during your stay in Dresden.
     We are playing our daily round in the tournament from 3pm. So, if you would want to play against all of us, it must be in the morning of one of those three days or after a round. 
     If you would like to play some kind of simultaneous exhibition, myself and the player not playing that round can play against all of you at the same time.
     But maybe you have much better ideas yourselves? Tell me, what you would like to do?
     I'm sure that our kids, in our schools in Palau, would be very curious to know of what you have done for us, and yourselves.
     So, if you can give us some information on paper, we can bring that home to our schools and maybe find some kids who would like to correspond with you from time to time.
     Our kids are very curious to know about life in Europe.
     Maybe you can sometime meet each other in Erfurt and/or Koror?
     Please tell us also the results of your performances when representing Palau and give us a small resume of what information on Palau you managed to gather.
     How many of you are in the group? You write six but sign with seven names?  
     We are looking forward to see you in Dresden. We will stay in Ramada Hotel Dresden-Wilhelm-Franke-Str. 90
     Jan Berglund
     National Coach
     FIDE Delegate, Palau Chess Federation
                             Koror, Republic of Palau

The two chess players Roberto Hernandez and Gene Pastrana are difficulties obtaining Schengen visa and their trip on Nov. 12 is still hanging in the balance.

It would be unfortunate and disappointing for these kids to miss the only 2 players from Palau in the team as the other members are one from Philippines and 2 from Sweden. 

The other original four members could not make it due to financial constraints and the world economic crisis. 

After talking to the Consul on Monday, November 10, Hernandez and Pastrana didn't make it in time.

 Hernandez will still get his annual leave and will stay in Palau Royal Resort and resume his work on the History of Chess in Palau to be completed.

The National Chess Championship will be resumed also and plans for the 3rd Ambassador Cup might be finalized after the Chess Olympiad.

There might be some invited players to participate. Mr. Berglund will also come to Palau after his role as International Arbiter in a New Zealand tournament is finished.

Mr. Diez didn't make it also to Dresden and he is still interested to play for Palau team in the next Chess Olympiad in Seberia in 2010 and he will participate also in New Zealand and Australia, with him paying his own airfare. 

THE LATEST NEWS:
     Palau withdrew its men's team due to visa problems of players. The substitute for Hernandez, Pastrana or Diez was denied.
     He is from British Virgin Islands.
     Now it's only the women's team (girls from Sweden and Australia) that will be representing Palau if their legitimacy of joining the Palau team will be resolved.
     
The first opponent of Palau women team is Germany.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 13 & 15
             Volume 17
             November 17-23, 2008
  
        

(600) CABUSO, DIZON LEAD 2013 PNCC (TBN-Sept. 16, 2013)

DIZON WHIPS MAHOR
     Remrel Dizon, right, dealt Jun Mahor, left, his 1st loss in the Reserve Division of 2013 PNCC to lead with 4-1 win-loss record. Mahor is 3-1. Dennis Gonzales, 2nd from left, vs. Gene Pastrana (draw) while Jeff Balbalosa, middle, lost to Rustum Cabuso (4-1), who now leads the Top 12 Division. Baby Edna Mission is watching the games while waiting for Gladys Anne Paloma, who didn't show up. Their game will determine the 1st runner-up in the women's division.     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


  CABUSO, DIZON LEAD 2013 PNCC

SURPRISE! Surprise! On the 6^th week of 2013 Palau National Chess Championship, 2 newcomers are leading the Top 12 and Reserve Divisions.

                Rustum Cabuso, who changed his mind in participating in the 2009 PNCC, seized the leadership of the event after scoring 2 wins and a loss on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

                He won his first game over National Arbiter (NA) Dennis Gonzales and drubbed both 6^th seed Paquito Suringa, Jr. and 2^nd seed Roberto Hernandez at Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church of Christ) premises on 2 consecutive Thursday evening special games.

                He lost his 3^rd special game to 7^th seed Eugenio Pastrana in 50 moves of King’s Indian Defence held at the latter’s residence –Beken’s Store and General Merchandise.

                He played his 5^th game against Jeff Balbalosa and won again in 45 moves of English Opening to seize the leadership over erstwhile leader and idle Jose Celiz, who has 3.5 points in 4 games and still undefeated. Him and Tito Cabunagan were absent in the 6^th week.

                Cabuso’s leading might be short-lived as he has not played yet the other top 3 players of Palau –National Masters Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Cabunagan, 4^th seed Celiz and CM, NA Bernardo Garcia.

                Garcia dealt Roberto his 3^rd loss with a victory in 45 moves of their Budapest Defence encounter. Hernandez now has an even 3-3 win-loss card while Garcia improved to 3-2-1.

Here's the moves: 1. f4 c5 2. e4 d6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6 bxc6 7. 0-0 g6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 c5 10. Nde2 Bg7 11. e5 Ng4 12. Qd5 Be6 13. Qc6+ Bd7 14. Qd5 Be6 15. Qc6+ Bd7 It should have been draw here if I move 16. Qd5 -the 3-repetition but there's no excitement with that so I proceed with 16. Qf3 dxe5 

17. h3 Nh6 18. fxe5 0-0 19. g4 Be6 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Rad1 Qa5 22. Bg5 f6 23. exf6 exf6 24. Qe3 fxg5 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. Rd7 c4 28. Rd5 Qc7 29. Ne4 Qa7+ 30. Kg2 Qe3. I thought for 25 minutes or more to my next move. I'm running out of time --13 minutes to complete the 40 moves or 10 more moves in 13 minutes. 31. Nxg5 Qf2+ 

32. Kh1 Qf1+ 33. Ng1 Qc1 (Here, I didn't think long enough to make a blunder like this 34. Rd7?? Qxg5 35. Qxc4 a5 35. Qc7 Qe5 (I should have exchanged queens here but made another blunder 36. c3 Qe4+ and I resigned. Eugenio Pastrana said that Bernard Garcia should have won a piece at 31. ... Rf2+ instead of Qf2+. But he didn't calculate the 32. Kf1 Rxe2+ 33. Qxe3 Rxe3 34. Rd8 recovering the piece after 34. ...Bf8 as 34....Ng8 35. Nf7 mate.

                Balbalosa, Garcia, Hernandez, Pastrana and Gonzales are on track to finish their 11 games on Oct. 06, the last day of the event. Un-played games will be marked as + - and will not be counted as points to both players.

                Garcia can play with Suringa, Jr. on the last Thursday of this month. Suringa vs. Celiz might take place on Sat. morning at 8am. Pastrana vs. Suringa will be played at 9:30am on Saturday but on a shorter time control (30 minutes each) to accommodate this special game because Suringa doesn’t have a Sunday off. Balbalosa has to sacrifice one Sat. morning schedule vs. Suringa (8am). If he will not sacrifice a few hours of sleep, he might not get the National Master title he’s aiming for.

                In the Reserve Division, Remrel Dizon surges to the top after winning his last 4 games. He lost his first game to Palau Royal Resort new employee Fernan John Velarde. Since then, he’s a different player.

                He defeated Alfredo Pacenos, Jr., Eugene Labarda, Glen Navarosa and his latest victim was the undefeated Jun Mahor, whom he clobbered in 44 moves of Bishop Opening.

                Labarda has 4 points also but he’s got 2 losses. Mohammad Manik Hossain and Pacenos have an identical 2-2 card. Manik said he will play this Sunday, the 7^th week of the event.

                Solution to this week’s puzzle: 1. Rf8+!! Kxf8 2. Qa8+ Ke7 3. Qe8 mate

                This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

 

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9 & 10
             Volume 22
             Issue 74
             September 16, 2013

(599) CHESS OLYMPIAD LATEST DEVELOPMENTS (TBN-Nov. 03-09, 2008 -Nov. 10-16, 2008 Double Printing

TWO FIDE rated players from Palau, one from Philippines, and probably two from Sweden, might represent Palau in the World Chess Olympiad to be held in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.

Palau No. 4 Roberto Hernandez already completed his papers for Schengen visa application and if Gene Pastrana can complete his papers, he can also be included in the team and they will travel together on the 12th of Nov. from Koror to Manila, Manila to Amsterdam on Nov. 13 and will take an overnight train (Amsterdam-Dresden) that is included in the ticket.

Antonio Aladino Diez, the 3rd placer in the 2nd Palau Invitational Chess Championship, already been selected as Board 1. He will travel from Manila to Berlin via Cathay Pacific on Nov. 11 and will take a short train ride to Dresden on Nov. 12.

Travel insurance have been obtained for the players that covers the period of Nov. 12-29, 2008. It can be extended on a day-to-day basis.

The 2 extra players that Mr. Diez got from Davao, Philippines didn't make it because of the short deadline. 

They have just a couple of days to rush everything through and there are a couple of technicalities that could not be arranged.

It was not because of finances that they said no. They have money and the time. The two are Engineer Rico Vanta and lawyer Bernardo Cataluna.

The papers of Hernandez were given to the Pastor of Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale as she is leaving on the eve of October 31, 2008 to attend the church's international conference in Manila.

She will go also to German Embassy in Manila to apply for Schengen visa, which she obtained a few years ago but were not able to use it because of an incident.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 17
            November 03-09, 2008
            November 10-16, 2008 (Double Printing) 



      

  

(598) OLYMPIAD PLAYERS REDUCTION, RESHUFFLE (TBN-Oct. 27-Nov. 02, 2009)

WITH the latest development of the Palau top players participation in the Dresden, Germany World Chess Olympiad, it has to be reduced dramatically due to financial constraints. 

The collaboration of Jan Berglund and Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker of Australia to get some funding for the players is still not enough to send 5 players to the Olympiad.

Mr. Bekker suggested to have players who played somehow in Palau and are residing in place closer to Europe to be back up players. But they have to shoulder their own airfares.

One option is to borrow the prize fund of $1,000.00 from the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship (The Ambassador Marino Cup) and chip-in together the $500.00 that the Palau Chess Federation has set aside for yearly membership fee to FIDE, and the $200.00 that Roberto Hernandez has pledged, then there would be almost enough to finance at least one ticket for him.

If Mr. Berglund will be playing and he will find 2 others (from Palau or from any other part of the world), then there will be a participating team for Palau.

Four people and no substitute is a common solution when federations are lacking funds.

A minimum of 2 people can be fielded by a country but that means they'll never win a match, a 2-2 draw would be the maximum.

Minimum of 3 players could be OK and if one gets sick, the team can still play with 2 players for a round or two, not having to forfeit.

Hernandez forwarded Mr. Berglund's email to 29 individuals and only Antonio Aladino Diez, the 3rd placer in the 2nd Palau Invitational Chess Championship responded quickly.

He was instructed to contact the German Embassy in Manila. And to apply for Schengen visa and other things related to travel in Europe.

He has to shoulder his own airfares and extra accommodation costs if he arrive one or 2 days early or depart late.

He is also asked to inquire of the cheapest ticket he can get hold of from Manila. 

His son, Boris Michael Diez and Palau no. 1 player Menandro Manuel won the tourney in Sept. last year.

He specified before that he and his son are willing to represent Palau in the Olympiad if given the opportunity. His son is not available for this Olympiad.

The deadline for Palau to change the line-up of players is in the middle of this week, a special request granted by Mr. Ignatius Leong.

Hernandez also forwarded an email of a Bulgarian who is also willing to represent Palau in the Olympiad.

Mr. Berglund don't know him as his record in the FIDE rating list is just his name and date of birth, 1971.

He will investigate more about him as he can save a lot because he is already in Europe.

This practice of getting players from anywhere is granted only to first time participating nation.

There is a rule that a player must reside in a country for 2 years before he can represent a country in Chess Olympiad.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper
           Pages 13 & 15
           Volume 17
           October 27-November 02, 2008