BOUNCING back from a stunning upset last week to Koror State Legal Council Craig Dittrich, top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel clobbered Palau number 2 chess player Jose Omega, a cook at Ashibi Restaurant, in 34 moves of Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) that was held at Jean's Boutique and Store on Saturday, July 26.
The combinative Manuel sacrificed a bishop for 3 pawns on the 11th move and obtained a bewildering attack on Omega's uncastled king.
THE MOVES:
White: Menandro Manuel (1942) (105)
Black: Jose Omega (1870)
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4
e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. Be3 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. f3 Nbd7?! 11. Bxe6! fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc8 13.
Nxg7+ Kf7 14. Nf5 Qc7 15. Qd2 Ne5 16. Bd4 Bf8 17. 0-0 Rg8 18. Rad1 Rac8 19. Kh1
Rg6 20. Qf4 Be7 21. Rf2 Rf8 22. Ne3 Kg8 23. Nf5 Bc8 24. g4 Bb7 25. h4 h5 26. g5
Ne8 27. Qg3 Ng7 28. Nh6+ Kh7 29. f4 Nf7 30. f5 Nxf5 31. Nxf5 Ne5 32. Bxe5 dxe5
33. Qf3 Bc5 34. Qxh5+ 1-0
The same position arised in Manuel's match against 4th seed Roberto Hernandez about 4 years ago with Hernandez unable to find the right continuation.
Manuel proved once more why he is the top player in Palau in the last 3 years.
If things work out well, he will be the board 1 player of Palau chess team to compete in the World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany on November 12-25, 2008.
Board 2 will be Manny Nedic. Palau first National Master. Board 3 will be Hernandez and board 4 will be Cyril Montel, Jr. and the reserve will be Gene Pastrana.
A possible extra player might be included but he has to shoulder his own airfare and accommodation.
Dennis Lara, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, is trying to get sponsorship from his governor relative in the Philippines and if things go well, he might be included to the team.
Another possibility of joining the team is the withdrawal of one of the 5 selected players.
With the help of International Arbiter (IA)/trainer/journalist/coach Jan Berglund, Palau might be recognized as a member of CACDEC nation and will gain certain valuable benefits.
The other players that might have a chance to join the team are Francis 'Sno' Temaungil, the chairman of Palau Chess Federation, Tutii Joe Chilton, Morton Sawaichi, blitz chess expert Tony Villa (now in Philippines), Omega and Jaime Guevarra, a pastry chef at PRR.
Those 6 players are asked to submit their passport details to Mr. Berglund for possible participation in Dresden and/or other international chess events.
Arnel Pama, steward at PRR, left Palau to join his wife, who also worked at PRR, in Qatar on Friday.
His remaining games will be played through telephone match or internet.
He played his last game in Palau on Wednesday evening against Lara and lost again.
He is the only player who hasn't won or draw a game yet. Many of his games have winning lines but his inexperience in tight positions and endgames cost him some valuable points.
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 13 & 15
Volume 18
August 01-07, 2008
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