(596) TIME IS RUNNING OUT; LARA WITHDRAWS (TBN-Oct. 20-26, 2008)

WITH no chance to get financial support from his governor relative in Philippines, Dennis Lara withdrew his participation to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25 with the other 5 members still hoping for the best.

Lara's governor relative lost the election in 2007 and the chances of getting his sponsorship finally ended his chance to participate in Chess Olympics held every 2 years. He will try again on the next one with more preparation.

According to an email received by Jan Berglund from Mr. Modrozynski in Dresden, the German Embassy in Manila knows everything about the members of Palau Chess team and is just awaiting for the application as soon as possible. 

The finances of the airplane tickets is not yet finalize and Mr. Berglund is still hoping for his last try for a new sponsor from three sources.

The members of the team are Board 1 Menandro Manuel of Surangel and Sons Company, Board 2 Manuel Nedic of PTC, Board 3 Roberto Hernandez, musician of Palau Royal Resort, Board 4 Cyril Montel, Jr. of PPR and reserve Gene Pastrana of Jean's Boutique and Store.

The sponsorship of their airplane tickets will be the deciding factor of the first ever participation of Palau abroad.

If the airfares cannot be solved, there is no point in spending money on asking for visas and Mr. Berglund suggested to go on with the preparations for visas up to the point where money has to be spent to be fully prepared to act quickly if all of a sudden he gets an OK from somewhere.

In the resumption of 2008 Palau National Chess Championship, Manuel scored another full point after defeating Mohammad Manik Hossain in their game last Saturday, October 11 at Jean's Boutique.

THE MOVES:

White: Mohammad Manik Hossain                                                                              (108)

Black: Menandro Manuel (1942)

1. d4 Nf3 2. f3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd2 c5 5. Ne2 Nc6 6. Bc3 Bd6 7. g3 c4 8. Bg2 c5 9. f4 b5 10. a3 Ne4 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. d5 Ne7 13. Qd4 Nf5 14. Qxe4 exd5 15. Qf3 Bc5 16. Nd4 Qe7 17. Re1 Re8 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Kg2 Bxc2 21. Qg4 f6 22. Bd4 a5 23. Nf2 Be4 24. Kf2 Bxd4 25. Nxd4 b4 26. h4 Rc8 27. h5 h6 28. axb4 axb4 29. f5 Ra8 30. Nc6 Qb7 31. Nd4 c3 32. bxc3 bxc3 33. Qe2 Qb2 34. Rac1 Bd3 35. Qxb2 cxb2 36. Rd1 Be4 37. Ne2 Rec8 38. g4 Rab8 39. Ng3 Rc2+ 40. Kf1 Bf3 41. Rb1 Rbc8 42. Rxb2 Rxb2 43. Ne2 Rcc2 44. Kf2 Bxe2 45. e4 dxe4 46. Kd3 Bxg4 47. Kxe4 Re2+ 48. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 49. Kf4 Bxh5 50. Kg3 Re5 51. Kf2 Be8                 0-1

The much-awaited of Manuel and Hernandez was postponed again due to schedule conflict. 

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 14
               Volume 17
               October 20-26, 2008