(738) EXTRA 2 WEEKS TO GET SCHENGEN VISA (TBN-June 09, 2014)

: PALAU CHESS TEAM – NORWAY HERE WE COME!

                   The 11 members of Palau Chess Team to Norway World Chess Olympiad--
1. Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps (Head of Delegation, Delegate, Men/Women Team Captain)

 2. Roberto Hernandez (Board 1)

 3. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (Bd. 2)

 4. Bernardo Garcia (Bd. 3)

 5. Dennis Gonzales (Bd. 4)

6. Jeffrey Balbalosa (Bd. 5/Reserve)

7. Angelica Parrado (Bd. 1 --Women)

 8. Baby Edna Mission (Bd. 2)

9. Gladys Anne Paloma (Bd. 3)

10. Destiny Sisior (Bd. 4) and

11. Joy Flores Whipps (Bd. 5/Reserve)

           EXTRA 2 WEEKS TO GET
                  SCHENGEN VISA

 

PALAU will send an 11-person delegation to the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway on Aug. 01-14, 2014. Getting Schengen visa in Manila will take 3-5 working days and getting it will need the personal appearance of applicant for interview and finger printing.

                Palau Chess Federation President Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps and his wife Joy Flores Whipps already have their Schengen visa. The other 9 members of Team Palau will have to fly to Manila on July 15 to get their visas, buy travel insurance (about $150.00) and wait for their visas release before flying to Norway on July 30 or 31.

                The 9 other members are NM Roberto Hernandez (Board 1 Open Section), NM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (Board 2), CM Bernardo Garcia (Board 3), Dennis Gonzales (Board 4) and Jeffrey Balbalosa (Board 5/Reserve). Women’s Team –WNM Angelica Parrado (Board 1), Baby Edna Mission (Board 2), Gladys Anne Paloma (Board 3), Destiny Sisior (Board 4) and Joy Flores Whipps (Board 5/Reserve).

                Ms. Mission suggested that upon arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, they will proceed to the pre-reserved hotel/rooms so that they will go altogether to the Norwegian Embassy for acquiring Schengen visa. Appointment has to be made in advance online. Schengen visa is accepted at 25 other European countries. The fee is 60 euros.

                The Olympiad Organizers has given $932.00 for each Palau player as Travel Fund according to the distance of a country in going to Norway. New Zealand is the farthest and can claim about $1,200.00 for each player. Palau is no. 11. The latest email from the organizers stated that Palau must claim its travel fund before June 15, 2014. Eric, who is on vacation, will do it this Sunday (June 8).

                Minister and General Secretary of Palau National Olympic Committee Baklai Temengil was offered to be the Head of Delegation of Palau Chess Team but the Pacific Islands Forum will coincide with the date of Olympiad that resulted to her withdrawal likewise with Tito Cabunagan, who is supposed to be the Team Captain of Men/Open Team.

                In the first round of 2014 Palau Olympians and Rapid Chess tournament at Bethlehem Park on Sunday, June 1, only 2 games were played with CM Garcia exploiting the blunder of Hernandez on the 37^th move to prevail in 53 moves of Bird’s Opening.

                NM Cabunagan subdued fellow NM Montel, Jr. in 39 moves of Queen’s Gambit Declined. The players’ numbers have been drawn in this division but the Rapid Section was not. These tune-up games for Olympiad-bound players will not be rated as well as the rapid. No registration fees will be collected.

                The other 2 Palau Olympians Jeffrey Balbalosa and Dennis Gonzales didn’t play yet. It is allowed for Olympians to join also in the rapid tilt. Jeffrey suggested that women Olympians can join the others to have more practice with stronger players.

                The new FIDE Ratings of Palau Chess Players for the month of June has been published. Montel, Jr. (1906) keeps the no. 1 spot by gaining 10 points for being 3^rd overall in the recently concluded 2014 Palau Open Chess tournament.

                Hernandez (1868) gained 33 points for being the overall champ and dislodged Jose Celiz (1837) at no. 2. Celiz lost 3 points. Cabunagan (1820) lost 9 points but stayed at no. 4. Garcia (1754) lost only a point but Pool B champ Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr.(1701), gained the most number of rating points (42) to climb from 11^th – 8^th, just 2 points shy of Balbalosa(1699), who gained a modest 16 points.

                Gonzales (1684) got 11 points and now no. 10. Parrado, Mission, Alfredo Pacenos, Jr., and Rafael Paloma lost 8, 11, 12 and 37 points respectively.

                Neph Macasaet got his initial FIDE Standard Rating of 1510 and listed now at no. 20. Neph solved the last 4 chess puzzles of this column.

                Solution to this week’s puzzle: 1. …Rxh3! 2. Nxh3 Re1++ 3. Kh2 Qh1 mate. Congrats to Neph. It’s 4 in a row.

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

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 8 & 11

             Volume 23

             Issue 46

             June 09, 2014