(867) CYRIL, JOJO, ANGIE AND ANGELIL ARE 2014 PNCC CHAMPS (Jan. 19, 2015)

: 3^rd PNCC TITLE FOR CYRIL TOMAS MONTEL, JR.

                   National Master Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., left, subdued Roberto Hernandez, right, in the final round of 2014 PNCC, and earned his 3^rd PNCC title. He previously won the 2009 and 2011 PNCC. A trophy and $175.00 cash prize is awaiting him at the awarding on Jan. 25 or Feb. 01, 2015.

                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

    CYRIL, JOJO, ANGIE  &  ANGELIL

           ARE  2014 PNCC CHAMPS

  

THE FINAL day of 2014 Palau National Chess Championship was played on Jan. 11, 2015 at Bethlehem Park with 4^th seed NM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and fellow NM, FI 3^rd seed Roberto Hernandez battling it out for Palau chess supremacy.

                In the Open division, Roberto’s co-worker at Palau Royal Resort Felix Oling is in search of his first chess title in Palau after subduing erstwhile leader Marcial Santander in the penultimate round. He is up against a dangerous player Eugene Labarda.

                The Women’s division is already won by WNM Angelica Parrado with a clean record a sweeping her division. Her daughter Destiny is about to wrap her junior division supremacy if she would win her last 8 games against her sister Angelil and Cyrelle Ann Montel.   
                *After the last games of the junior division were played, Angelil Sisior took the plum of Junior Division Champion, besting her sister Destiny, who took 2nd place. Ultei was the surprise 3rd placer (12 pts.) ahead by a point from another surprise of the event Robert Godwin Sola. Cyrelle Ann
finished with 6 pts. and 5th place overall while Kayah Iblai Flores Whipps is last with 1 point.

                In the Top 10 division, Cyril prevailed over Roberto in 41 moves of King’s Indian Defence after Roberto overlooked a queen check that cost him a piece (knight). Thus, Cyril clinched his 3^rd PNCC title, a trophy and $175.00 cash prize. Cyril won the 2009 PNCC undefeated, the same as the current one. He shared the 2011 PNCC title with NM Tito Cabunagan and Roberto, who finished 2^nd this time, a trophy and $125.00 cash prize in which he will donate the 51% to the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4^th Watch) Palau Locale.

                The Open division is almost a sure win for Oling, who is ahead by 2 pieces in the middle game. But somehow, Labarda generated an attack and equalized to end the game in a draw. Oling needed a win to clinch the title as his rival Gonzalo ‘Jojo’ Escapatoria can catch him if he would have only a draw in his final game.

                After Jojo won his final round game, he clinched the Open division title via Direct Encounter tiebreak over Oling because he defeated him in the Opening round on Nov. 16, 2014.
                *Marcial Santander won 6 consecutive games but lost the last 3 (to Eugene Labarda, Oling and Christopher Kitalong) and was overtaken by Manuel Mahor, Jr. at 3rd place.
               The top 2 PRR  players finished both 2^nd this time unlike in the 2014 Palau Open where Roberto topped the Group A division undefeated while fellow PRR co-worker Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. topped the tough Group B undefeated also but with a draw.

                In the Junior division, Ultei Angelie Surangel had a 2-2 record vs. Robert Godwin Sola, 4-0 sweep of Kayah Iblai Flores Whipps, 1-3 loss to Angelil, 3-1 over Cyrelle and 3-1 as well over Destiny.

                Robert swept Kayah also, lost to Angelil, Cyrelle, and Destiny by identical 1-3 record. Kayah scored the only point in this tourney over Cyrelle and was swept by the other 4 junior players.

                The last games of the junior division will be played on Jan. 18 most specifically the Destiny-Cyrelle match as the 4 games of Sisior sisters will be played in their house to save time.

                Jeff Balbalosa claimed the 3^rd spot after defeating Dennis Gonzales in 59 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening. He finished with 6.5 points, not enough for Tito to catch up as he has only 6 points on 6 wins and 3 losses (to Menandro Manuel, Cyril and Roberto). Jeff will receive $100.00 and a trophy. He’s done a very good job as a player, and also the one in-charge of pairings and results esp. in the Open division.

                The awarding of cash prizes and trophies will be held on Jan. 25 or Feb. 01, 2015.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS AND FOR A VERY SUCCESSFUL HOLDING OF 2014-2015 PNCC!!!

                Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. …1 Rf1++ 2. Kh2 Bg1+ 3. Kh1 Ng3 mate.

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

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Page 10

             Volume 24

             Issue 05

             January 19, 2015