The 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament (May 25-Aug. 24) first introduced the participation of a chess computer in Palau chess tournaments. With 2000 rating (USCF), it becomes the favorite tough opponent of many players. (Video photo by Roberto Hernandez)
IVAN II THE CONQUEROR -
CHESS COMPUTER THAT TALKS
TO YOU
ARE YOU ready for Ivan's challenge?
Hear swords clang, horses gallop, men march and the drums pound.
These are only some of the many sound effects of Ivan II's call to chess battle.
In one mood, Ivan will taunt, insult and even threaten you. But as a teacher, he's a powerful and patient mentor, a comrade in arms.
With large vocabulary, and spoken words also scroll across display. Capable of beating 90% of all players with its powerful programming and USCF (United States Chess Federation) estimated strength rating of 2000.
It has 136 adjustable strength level, 120 for play and 16 for analysis. With teaching mode and opening book trainer and the sound effects can be turned on or off.
Excellent challenge for even the most advanced players.
Ivan II was introduced in Palau by participating in the 2003 Age Group Chess tournament from May 25 to August 24.
In its very first tournament game in the first round of classification, Ivan II lost to eventual champion Edgardo Enarsao with the black pieces in all but one game.
It won over Norbert Villanueva in its 2nd game and lost again to Norbert's son Dmitri in the first round of the triple round robin of the 12 years and under category.
In the 3rd round, it won over 11-year-old Christopher Domingo and lost to 61-year-old Mariano Agustin, Jr. in the 4th round.
Won over newcomer Jon Lagumen, Kelvin dela Paz and Tutii Joe Chilton. It finished 6th in the 5-round classification with a 3-2 win-loss record.
In the 1st round of Class A championship, Ivan II defeated 2003 Open Champion Menandro Manuel.
On June 29, 2003, Ivan was defeated by newcomer Michael Jordan Ngiratechekii and Jayrome Soriano in the kid's division but avenged its first ever loss by trouncing Enarsao using the King's Gambit Accepted.
In Class A, Ivan's level is set to H for Hard, A-Average in Class B and E-Easy in the kid's division.
Other losses of Ivan II were from Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., Bong Alipoon and Mario Ramos, who won the $20.00 brilliancy game against Ivan.
In Class B, it lost to newcomers Jose Omega, Jon Lagumen, Eugene Koh and Mike Miguel, Jr. It has default draws with Chilton and Amante Caballero and defeated Ben Ramos and N. Villanueva in Class B to finish 7th and also 7th in Class A with a 5-4 win-loss record.
1-4-4 win-loss-draw in Class B is understandable. In the kid's division, it actually finished 1st runner-up but its participation is just a fill-in to give kids chance to play against the formidable machine with a 12-5-7 slate.
In the next tourney, the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess tournament, it finished 6th again in both senior and junior category with a 7-4-2 record in Senior Division and 5-10-3 record in the kiddie category (18 years and below) where newcomer Charles Aquino bagged the title.
The kids found the weakness of Ivan II by using the Four Knights Defence where a knight is sacrificed on the 15th move.
Hernandez won his first championship with a 10-1-2 record and one of only 4 players to beat Ivan. The other 3 were Omega, Montel, Jr. and Caballero.
John Page and Jovani Adachi were 2 of the 3 newcomers in the last tournament of the year.
In the 2004 Open Chess tournament, Ivan had a 4-1 record in the classification, losing only to Manuel and defeated 3 newcomers Morton Sawaichi, Den Canaria, Edward Agravante and 62-year-old Agustin, Jr.
It finished 7th again in Class A with a 3-5 card losing to 3-time champion Eddie Grefiel, Alipoon, Valenzuela, Hernandez and 2004 Non-master champ Jess Toldoya.
Surprisingly, it finished first in Class B but as a fill-in, it did not get trophy. 2-time Class B champ Omega was declared the champion and the only Class B player to beat Ivan in the double round-robin finals.
Omega lost the first one to Ivan, who swept Sawaichi, Agustin, Jr. and late comer Dennis Gonzales.
There are no kid's division as no players 18 years and below participated.
In the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament from October 24-December 19, Ivan II finished 7th again! With a 9-4-4 record, it lost only to Grefiel, Hernandez, Manuel and Most Improved Player awardee Lin de Guzman.
It won over newcomer Gene Pastrana, Valenzuela, Montel, Jr., Omega, Alipoon, come-backing Jimboy de Jesus, Joel Azana, Gonzales and Sawaichi.
In the first tournament of 2004, the Non-Master Chess tilt from January 11-April 11, Ivan was the top seed but finished 8th in the Seniors Division (4-4-6) and 5th in the juniors (2-4-8)
It lost to eventual kiddie 2-time champ Aquino, come-backing Karen Hernandez, Domingo and newcomer Michael Velarde.
The youngest contestant was Georby Domingo. He is the younger brother of Chris, who is only 9 years old.
In the Senior Division, Jess Toldoya captured the title and Ivan had lost to Hernandez, Montel, Jr., Miguel, Jr. and Ramos (through telephone match).
In the ongoing 2005 Regular Chess tournament, Ivan II is currently sporting a 2-2 win-loss slate.
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 11-12
Volume 12
February 26-March 04, 2005
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