Lowela Karlsen, 2nd from right, showed
Filipino hospitality in Norway to Palau team members Roberto Hernandez, 3rd
from right, and CM Bernardo Garcia, right. She’s been to Norway for 4 years and
married to Norwegian Mr. Karlsen. Magnus Carlsen, of Norway, is the current
World Chess Champion. At left is Filipino Hexilon dela Cruz Punongbayan, Board
2 player of Macau. He gained a FIDE Master title for scoring 6 points in 9
games. 3rd from left is the other Filipino in Macau’s team and his
wife. At the middle is CM Joselito Marcos, Delegate of Papua New Guinea and
Roberto’s best friend. He came to Norway with his own airfare expenses to prove
something.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
2 DEATHS AT THE FINAL DAY OF
CHESS OLYMPIAD IN NORWAY
ONE hour before the start of the
final round (11th) of 2014 World Chess Olympiad, Palau Chess Team Board 1
player Roberto Hernandez go to the Medic at the Olympiad site (Arena). He asked
a lady medic there if they have something to check his blood sugar like he did
in 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey.
The lady medic said they don't
have that. Then he asked, "How about the sphygmomanometer to check my
blood pressure?" They still don't have those basic needs for a quick blood
sugar and blood pressure check. She said if Roberto wants to have blood sugar
test or blood pressure check, he should go to the hospital.
She also said, "Are you feeling okay? If
not, the ambulance outside will take you to the hospital but only in case of
emergency." He said he feels fine.
RIGHT THERE, ROBERTO REALIZED
THAT THEY ARE NOT PREPARED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY! Five hours later, he’s not
mistaken that they are not prepared. Roberto is watching other games (Open and
women) and taking pictures of each table with the names and countries of
players. Suddenly, somebody shouted "MEDIC!"
Roberto is about 5 meters to the guy who
shouted, Peter Meier. Some players even said, "Sssh.." referring to
"be quiet! It's the final day of 2014 World Chess Olympiad."
Even Grandmaster (GM) Eugene
Torre, Asia’s first GM, thought the one who shouted is a terrorist. NO MEDIC CAME! Peter has to run 30 meters to
get the attention of the medic. It's only then that they come with Peter
shouting very loud, "What's wrong with you, guys! Why you are so slow to
help me?" His dad is suffering from heart attack! He is the Board 2 player
of Seychelles (CM Kurt Meier). He's all reddish and his left and right hands
are frozen like an eagle's claw.
That's the only time that they started to do
first aid (CPR…pumping his heart). The 10 seconds differential in attending to
the victim is very crucial and they failed to revive him after more than 30
minutes of trying.
Table clothes were used to cover the medic.
Plays were stopped for about 15 minutes. Palau Reserve player Jeffrey Balbalosa
is in a winning position against his lady opponent from Guyana. He is trying to
avoid a shutout as Board 1, 2 and 3 players of Palau Team in the Open section lost
their games.
When plays were resumed, Jeff
subdued his opponent in more than 60 moves of exciting and educational endgame
chess match. Thus, he averted a final round shutout.
During the Closing Ceremony 3
hours later, there is a one-minute silence in memory of CM Kurt Meier... a
lesson learned about the real meaning of EMERGENCY.
There is another death in the
last day of the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway but it’s by natural
cause and police ruled out foul play as the room where he is staying have no
signs of intrusion and his belongings are all intact.
The FIDE Ratings list for the
month of September has been published and Jose Celiz is now the number one
player of Palau with 1837 rating followed by Tito Cabunagan (1825). Hernandez
dropped from 2nd to 3rd with 1815. He lost 30 rating
points after his poor play in the Olympiad, losing his last 6 games. Erstwhile
no. 1 Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. lost the most number of rating points (53) for
winning only 1 game in 9 matches and is now at no. 4 with 1795.
CM Bernardo Garcia stayed at no.
5 with 1758, losing a moderate 11 points. He rested in the last 3 days of
Olympiad (round 10, 2nd rest day and round 11). Dennis Gonzales lost
19 rating points and tied at 9th with Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr.
with identical 1701 rating.
Balbalosa scored 2 wins and 2
draws to become the most productive player in the Open section. He lost only 2
rating points to stay at no. 8. Inactive for almost a year, Rustum Cabuso
(1739) and Eugenio Pastrana (1722) stayed at 6th and 7th
respectively.
In the women’s section, Destiny Sisior lost
the most rating points (39) followed by Baby Edna Mission (15), her mom
Angelica Parrado (13), Gladys Anne Paloma (12) and Joy Flores Whipps (9).
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
1. Bxg5+! Kxg5 2. Qg7+ Kh5 3. g4 mate.
This week’s puzzle: White to
move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 10-11
Volume 23
Issue 72
September 08, 2014
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