(639) PHOTOS, AWARDING -- 2003 Senior & Junior Chess Tournament

L-R Christopher Domingo, Kelvin Cuenco and Rodnnie Dizon.
                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Eventual champion Charles Aquino vs. defending champion Jayrome Soriano.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Charles Aquino, left, vs. Christopher Domingo; Jayrome Soriano vs. Ricky 'Jun-Jun' Camacho; Bong Alipoon vs. Jess Toldoya; Menandro Manuel vs. ? and Rodnnie Dizon, right, watches from the sideline.
                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Christopher Domingo also participated in the 2003 Spelling Bee in Palau. He's up against Palauan bet Jovani Adachi.                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jimmy Valenzuela poses beside the bulletin board of the 11-round Swiss system Senior Division of 2003 Palau Senior and Junior Chess Tournament held from September - Dec. 14, 2003.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Left to Right -- Rodnnie Dizon, Ricky 'Jun-Jun' Camacho and defending champion Jayrome Soriano.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Venue host and trophies sponsor Nilo de Jesus vs. Ivan II Chess Computer. Nilo uses the tournament size chessboard because Ivan's board is just 8 inches. 
                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Ricky Camacho vs. Jayrome Soriano; Christopher Domingo vs. Charles Aquino.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Nilo de Jesus is the Manager of C & N Refrigeration and Aircon Services. The premises is being used as the venue of 2003 Senior and Junior Chess tournament.        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Charles Aquino -- first time participant, first chess trophy in Palau.
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Christopher Domingo against an unknown opponent. Beside him is a Palauan boy bystander who practices with another unknown junior player.                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jose Omega, left, vs. Eugene Koh in the senior division. Danny Dandoy watches in the middle while Jess Toldoya is up against Mariano Agustin, Jr.                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



                            AWARDING CEREMONY
                                                                              December 14, 2003

Roberto Hernandez - Champion in the Senior Division

Charles Aquino -- Champion in the Junior Division.

Left - Right --Charles Aquino -- Champion, Junior Division
                     Roberto Hernandez, Champion, Senior Division
                     Jayrome Soriano, 1st runner-up, Juniors
                     Ricky Camacho, 2nd runner-up, Juniors
                     Rodnnie Dizon, 4th runner-up, Juniors
                     Christopher Camacho, 3rd runner-up, Juniors

Menandro Manuel got a 'fish' storyboard trophy for finishing 1st runner-up to Roberto Hernandez. Menandro has a 8-3-2 win-loss-draw record while Hernandez has 10-1-2 slate. Their game was a draw held on November 01, 2003.                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




The Senior and Junior Division champions, Roberto Hernandez, left, and Charles Aquino, who leads the Juniors with a 14-2-2 record.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)                                

The surprise of the tournament is Jun Mahor, right, who finished tied at 3rd with 4 others (Cyril Montel, Jr., Jimmy Valenzuela, Bong Alipoon and Ivan II Chess Computer). Mahor was the only player to have beaten the eventual champion Roberto Hernandez, left.                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Ricky 'Jun-Jun' Camacho finished tied at 2nd place with defending champion Jayrome Soriano with an identical total points of 13.5 from 12-3-3 record to Jayrome's 13-4-1 card. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Jayrome Soriano posing with his 'fish'-shaped storyboard for finishing tied at 2nd with Ricky Camacho.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Left to Right (Back Row) --Jayrome Soriano, Rodnnie Dizon, Hirm Isechal, the storyboard-trophy artist, Charles Aquino. Front row, Christopher Domingo and Ricky Camacho.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Nilo de Jesus, right, sponsored the 8 storyboard-style trophies with the 9th being donated by the artist Hirm Isechal. Also the venue host, Nilo finished 8th with a 7-5-1 slate.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Rodnnie Dizon, right, finished 5th in the Juniors Division. The Palauan artist Hirm Isechal is generous enough to donate extra 5th trophy so that Rodnnie will have his plum like the others (Charles Aquino, Jayrome Soriano, Ricky Camacho and Chris Domingo.                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Left to Right -- (Back Row) -- Charles Aquino, Ricky Camacho, Hirm Isechal, Jayrome Soriano. Front -- Christopher Domingo and Rodnnie Dizon.            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Ricky Camacho scored 13.5 points in 18 games. He and Jayrome Soriano accumulated the same number of points but Jayrome prevailed with a higher tiebreak points.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)






Mario Ramos, right, receiving his certificate with calendar and picture of him. He finished 14th and tied with Eugene Koh at 4.5 points each from 3 wins, 7 losses and 3 draws to Eugene's 2-6-5.
                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Mike Miguel, Jr., right, receiving his certificate of appreciation/participation from Knights And Rooks Chess Club (Palau) Chairman Roberto Hernandez. Mike finished 11th with 5-5-3 win-loss-draw record. The certificate was designed by Roberto's wife Flor. It has picture of player and 2004 Calendar.
                                                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)






Source: The History Of Chess In Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             September 21-December 14, 2003





                                                 

                                            




  

(638) MUSIC AND ME (Oct. 17, 2013) Jap. & Taiwanese Songs about "Moon"

KOU JOU NO TSUKI
    At the stand of the piano that I'm playing, I took a shot of the full moon which can be seen through the glass roof. The Japanese word "Tsuki" means "Moon".
                                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


In the last week of March 2007, we have a function of 150 persons (all Japanese). The Executive Chef Masaki Horie asked me 3 weeks earlier to give him the list of all Enka Japanese songs that I know. Enka means Japanese songs which lyrics are about the break-up of lovers or the quarrel of husband and wife.

Chef Horie said that the guests will choose from my list but they didn't choose any from it. Instead, they sent me a "Kou Jou No Tsuki" music score arranged in 'classical' form. I spent 22 hours practicing it.

When Sales and Marketing Director Yuji Bephu listened to what I have practiced, he's not satisfied. He said it's only about 20% of the song. I said to him, "This is what is written in the music score and I played it about 98%."

Realizing that he gave me the wrong version of the song, he searched the internet and come up with the one in the photo. I LEARNED IT IN 30 MINUTES!

On the day of the occasion (function), a group of maintenance crew pushed/lifted the piano to Breeze Bar. Realizing it will get out of tune due to shaking while they are pushing it, I tuned it for 2 hours after a Japanese guy listened to my version of Kou Jou No Tsuki according to the score. He said just to make it a little slower.

But before dark, it rained hard so the set up of tables, chairs, buffet table, sound system, etc. have to be moved at Waves Restaurant.

After playing Kou Jou No Tsuki during their dinner, I pushed the piano to the wooden area and played about 30 minutes to the guests (not the function guests) and got $2.00 tip from a young Taiwanese lady and a young Taiwanese guy. They requested "Hotel California" and other American songs.

                                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

 

                                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)                                        
 

 YUE LIANG DAI BIAO WO DE XIN
      In English, it means
                                             "The Moon Symbolizes My Heart"

You ask me how deep my love for you is,
How much I really love you...
My affection is real, My love is real.
The moon symbolizes my heart.

You ask me how deep my love for you is,
How much I really love you?
My affection do not waver, My love will not change.
The moon symbolizes my heart.

Just one soft kiss is enough to move my heart.
Our profound love has made me miss you till now.

You ask me how deep my love for you is, 
How much I really love you?
Go and think about it. 
Go and have a look (at the moon).
The moon symbolizes my heart. 
   


TWO Chinese waitresses at Palau Royal Resort lend me a CD of all-Taiwanese/Chinese songs in 2009.

I learned first the "Du Jiau Shin", "Nu Ren Hua", another one that I don't know the title, "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin", and 3 more that I don't know also the title. 

I want to know which one is the most popular so while playing it, I looked around to look if somebody knows the song or singing it softly (like lipsing).

It was proven many times during my 6 years of playing music at PRR that "Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin is the most popular of all that EVEN A 4-YEAR OLD TAIWANESE GIRL KNOWS THE LYRICS!!! 

During the inaugural Chinese songs singing contest where I am the one who  accompany live to all the contestants, that song was sung by all 9 contestants except the grand winner. 

I have a feeling on that night that whoever will sing a different song than that will be the winner. And I'm right!

I have learned 7 new Taiwanese songs during that event and another 7 new songs from the 2nd Chinese songs Singing Contest.

Maybe there will be no 3rd part of the event. I'm not been contacted yet.

At present, I know only 20 Taiwanese/Chinese songs -- good enough for 2 hours of non-stop playing.  

Mr. Namoto asked me to record this Japanese song "Tsuki" so that he can used to teach Palauan students the dance steps of this song. He is with his wife when we recorded it at Waves Restaurant (piano) and at Breeze Bar (keyboard). They gave me a bottle of shochu as a show of appreciation.

In return, a show of appreciation was published on the 410th post at http://palau-chess.blogspot.com and at Tia Belau newspaper with this picture:

In the next photo, Mr. Namoto is getting food from the buffet. I approached him and show him that at the place where I'm sitting and playing piano, I can see the moon. I showed him and tell him that I have the best job in the world -- I can see the moon even indoors!

Source: Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
            The Beginning of Chess In Palau
            October 2013
            To be published as a book in the future
            Tia Belau Newspaper (Music and Me)
            February 07, 2013  "Okama Bin Laden"



 

(637) GOOD NEWS FOR MANIK (TBN-Oct. 28, 2013)

WILL MANIK MAKE IT TO NORWAY?
     Bangladeshi bet Mohammad Manik Hossain, left, finished 5th in the Reserves Division of 2013 PNCC although he lost his final game here against eventual champion Jun Mahor. His rating will surely increase as well as his chances to make it to 2014 Palau Chess Team to Tromso, Norway World Chess Olympiad.                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


       GOOD NEWS FOR MANIK

With still 10 months before the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, the Palau Chess Team composition is still open to PLAYERS who can afford to buy their own roundtrip airfares to Norway. The 6 members of 2012 Palau Chess Team to Istanbul, Turkey bought their own tickets in going there. Those are Roberto Hernandez, Elizabeth Manuel, CM Bernardo Garcia, Menandro Manuel, Jamie Kenmure (Australia-Team Captain) and Jan Berglund (Sweden-Delegate).

                The tentative composition of Palau Chess Team to Norway is: Senator Mlib Tmetchul, Head of Delegation; Jan Berglund, Delegate; Jamie Kenmure, Men’s (Open) Team Captain; Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Board 1; Menandro Manuel, Board 2; CM Bernardo Garcia, Board 3; Tito Cabunagan, Board 4; Roberto Hernandez, Board 5 (Reserve); Eric Ksau Whipps, Women’s Team Captain; Angelica Parrado, Board 1; Gladys Anne Paloma, Board 2; Baby Edna Mission, Board 3; Joy Flores Whipps, Board 4; Elizabeth Manuel, Board 5 (Reserve).

                When the Organizing Committee of the 2014 Olympiad sent the invitation to Palau, only the players who can afford to buy the roundtrip airfares will be included in the team because in getting Schengen visa, roundtrip ticket is one of the requirements to get it.

                Interested players were informed about this and were asked to start saving since last year. Although there might be some financial help from presidential candidates for the FIDE (World Chess Federation) presidency, Palau will opt to accept help for long-term support for Palau Chess Federation instead of short term one-time off benefit. THAT IS--BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN OLYMPIAD.

                This new development is good news to Mohammad Manik Hossain as he is capable of buying his own airfare like in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad. He missed his chance then but he is very determined this time. Opportunity will knock again but it’s not like the first time where it’s all for him to grab.

                He knows and everybody knows that it’s impossible to be with the Bangladesh national team in any Olympiad in the future because of his inexperience in chess. There were 4 Bangladeshi Grandmasters in the top 4 boards at the 2012 Olympiad in Istanbul.

Paquito Suringa, Jr., Jeff Balbalosa and even Eugenio Pastrana are also eligible to be with the team if they can provide their own airfares that the others in the tentative list can’t afford.

The format and date of the 2013 Palau Invitational Chess Championship was tackled during the meeting at Bethlehem Park in Oct. 13. Of the 6 players (Jose Celiz, CM Bernardo Garcia, Roberto Hernandez, Tito Cabunagan, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Jeffrey Balbalosa) listed to participate against 3 or 4 invited players, only Balbalosa refused to join because he will be taking a vacation to Philippines during that date –last week of November to first week of December 2013.

Pastrana volunteered to replace him. An Indian player and another one from Kenya have showed interest to play when they met Palau Delegate Jan Berglund at the FIDE Congress in Tallinn, Estonia earlier this month. Two more players (from USA and Namibia) showed interest but not as eager as the first two, whose FIDE rating is just above 2003, which is good to put up the level of Palau players.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qc8+ Ka7 2. Bb6+! Kxb6 3. Qb8 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 86

                 October 28, 2013 

(636) CHESS OLYMPIAD CALVIA (SPAIN) 2004 FINAL STANDINGS

On November 05, 2004 Roberto Hernandez printed the Final Standings of 2004 World Chess Olympiad in Calvia, Spain. THE FOLLOWING IS THE FINAL STANDINGS OF 129 PARTICIPATING NATIONS:

Source: www.fide.com

(635) Karpov has an easy first round victory (The Khaleej Times -Dec. 13, 1988)

Nana Ioseliani against fellow Soviet Anatoly Karpov concentrate during their match.
                                                                                                      (Reuter wirephoto)

This article from The Khaleej Times was gathered  by Roberto Hernandez while working as musician in Bahrain from January 1987-April 1989.

DMAZATLAN (Mexico) -- Some of the globe's top chess players battled against each other and the clock on Sunday, at the opening of the first World Active Chess Championship.

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov of the Soviet Union won his first round match well within the time limit but others took their game to the wire in the $150,000 tournament of rapid chess.

While Karpov appeared to have little difficulty with fellow Soviet Nana Ioseliani, other players found their pieces literally flying off the board as they attempted to finish their matches within the 60-minute time limit. 

Walter Browne of the United States frantically made his final moves against cool 14-year-old Hungarian Zsofia Polgar, before the two agreed to a first round draw.

Active chess is an attempt to make the sport more palatable for a mass television audience.

"In general it's less beautiful but it's much more exciting, even for the players," said Horst Metzing, general secretary of the West German Chess Federation.

Unlike traditional chess where single matches can last over six hours, active chess must be finished within an hour with each player having 30 minutes to make his moves.

The active form is an effort by chess players and promoters to gain a larger audience and television coverage for a sport traditionally limited to a hardcore following of aficionados.  

With increase popularity, there would be more money for national and international chess federations as well as for players, tournament organizers said. 

"If television is interested, the sponsors are interested," Metzing said.

The Active Chess Championship, being played through Saturday in Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific coast, is being televised to the United States and Europe by a Mexican television network.

Source: The Khaleej Times
             Tuesday
             December 13, 1988
       


   

(634) WELCOME TO FIDE NETWORK (October 13, 2001)

FIRST DOWNLOADED AND PRINTED FIDE WEBSITE
                        The Palau Chess Federation has been a member of FIDE since 2005 but started to follow FIDE events since this first downloaded and printed part dating back to Oct. 13, 2001.

Source: History of Chess In Palau
            October 13, 2001
            www.fide.com