(758) BERNARD OUTLASTED CYRIL IN A MARATHON 62 MOVES (TBN-July 07, 2014)

FROM 2002 (PALAU) - 2014 (NORWAY WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD)

     Roberto Hernandez, right, was surprised to meet a guy from Tromso, Norway, where the 2014 World Chess Olympiad will be held from Aug. 01-14 at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort while entertaining a young Japanese couple Juichi, left, and his wife who can't speak much English. 2nd from right, Haakon, the Norwegian guy, works at his country's military. Hernandez pioneered chess in Palau in 2002 and will be Board 1 player again in the Olympiad in Norway.

            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Devie Guimbal)

  BERNARD OUTLASTED CYRIL

    IN A MARATHON 62 MOVES

 

Only 2 games were played in the resumption of 2014 Palau Olympians Tune-Up Games on Sunday, June 29 at Bethlehem Park.

The participants are NM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., NM Roberto Hernandez, NM Tito Cabunagan, CM Bernardo Garcia, Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa.  All of them, except Tito, are members of the Men/Open Palau Team that will compete in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway from August 01 (Arrival, Opening Ceremony) to Aug. 14 (Closing Ceremony and Departure on Aug. 15).

The Women’s Team is composed of Angelica Parrado (Board 1), Baby Edna Mission (Board 2), Gladys Anne Paloma (Board 3), Angie’s daughter Destiny Sisior (Board 4) and Joy Flores Whipps (Board 5/Reserve). Eric Ksau Whipps is the Delegate, Head of Delegation and Team Captain of Women’s Team.

Australian Jamie Kenmure became the Open Team Captain when Tito withdrew because of the Pacific Islands Forum to be held in Palau in the same date of the Chess Olympiad. This is Jamie’s 3^rd time to be Palau team captain after leading Palau in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey. Tito also withdrew from the 2010 WCO due to job requirement.

The first game of Tune-Up games is between 2 undefeated players --Dennis Gonzales and Jeffrey Balbalosa. Their game is headed for a draw with equal materials but Dennis’ patience pays off after pinning Jeff’s bishop with a rook at 7^th rank.

On his 41^st move, Jeff resigned in their Slav Defence game. Dennis scored his 3^rd straight victory to lead the tournament with Tito and Cyril as his last 2 remaining opponents.

The most exciting game of the event was not decided until 7:30 pm between CM Bernard Garcia and fellow worker at Palau Pacific Resort Cyril, who mistakenly set their time clock to 90 minutes to make 30 moves and 30 minutes more to finish the game with 30 seconds increment starting from move 1. Roberto Hernandez adjusted it to 90/40/30/30.

The 2 protagonists showed their excellence in time management as they used their time control to the max. With Cyril still has 7 minutes in the first time control and Bernard with 13 minutes, they transfer thrice due to lack of lights and rain.

Roberto left them for work at 7pm when their remaining pieces are King, Queen, Bishop and 2 Pawns for Bernard and a King, Queen and 4 pawns for Cyril.

Before going to attend the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Evangelistic Night at 8pm, Roberto dropped by at Bethlehem Park at 7:45 but they are not there anymore. Roberto asked Bernard through text on the next day and learned that Bernard won in 62 moves.

Tito is still on vacation. He’s got only one game played and he needs to play at least 2 games on Saturday (July 12) and 2 games on Sunday (July 13) as the 9-member Palau Chess Team will fly to Manila on July 15 to get Schengen visa before proceeding to Norway via Manila-Kuala Lumpur-Oslo-Bodo-Tromso on July 31.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

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


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 9-10
              Volume 23
              Issue 54
              July 07, 2014