Gonzalo
'Jojo' Escapatoria, middle, receiving his long-awaited Certificate of
Participation in the 2012 Palau National Chess Championship from Roberto
Hernandez, wherein he finished dead-last (8th) among 8 contestants in
the Top 8 double round-robin format. Tito Cabunagan, left, was the solo
champion of that event followed closely by Roberto Hernandez, right, in
the controversial last rounds. Roberto misplaced this certificate for 2
years.(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., right, receiving one of his numerous runner-up trophies from venue host Gene Pastrana during the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship. The locally made wooden chess trophies was made by Jaime dela Cruz.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THE GAME THAT STARTED IT ALL
It's just one game (Garcia vs. Celiz) but the impact to the top 5 finishers is immense. But it makes Palau Chess Federation players to learn more from these experiences. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
THE CAUSE OF 2012 PNCC CONTROVERSY
I would like to express my opinion about the cause of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship controversy…
It all started on Nov. 17, 2012 between the game of CM Bernardo
Garcia and Jose Celiz. Five players are witnesses to the game – me, Menandro
Manuel, Paquito Suringa, Jr., Jon Manuel Reyes and Baby Edna Mission.
During the last dying seconds of that game, I’ve already noticed that the increment is not working BUT… I’m not allowed, being the chief arbiter, to remind Celiz.
On the last 5 seconds on his clock, when Celiz press his clock, it’s been confirmed that the increment is really not working… and Celiz clock expired.
The first thing that I said to Celiz is, “You lost by time forfeit.” By rule, arbiter’s decision is final. Then Celiz complain about the increment that didn’t work, in which I tried to give justice to it.
Garcia and Celiz agreed to play another game and I said to Garcia, “Let’s see if there’s time.” I said that because I don’t think that playing another game to settle this is not possible because of the rate Celiz is playing. He played only 4 games in 6 weeks and it looks like impossible for him to play 11 games, including the replay, in the last 2 weeks. Me, Menandro and Paquito have played 11 games already. Garcia, Tito Cabunagan, Cyril Montel, Jr. and Gonzalo Escapatoria have played 9, 8, 7, 6 games respectively.
After searching the FIDE Laws of Chess, which is displayed/posted always at the bulletin board, I found a solution to declare that game a draw which Garcia couldn’t accept till now because Celiz COMPLAINED AFTER HIS CLOCK FELL.
If Celiz stopped the clock when he noticed that the increment is not working, I would have done something right away like adjusting the clock so that it will have increment.
BUT CELIZ FAILED TO COMPLAIN BEFORE HIS TIME EXPIRED. HE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION WHILE THERE IS TIME SO HE AUTOMATICALLY LOST THAT GAME.
It happened in 1994 between world champion Gary Kasparov and Judit Polgar in Linares, Spain. Polgar lost that game when she failed to protest a touch move violation by Kasparov.
Please read the story at http://palau-chess.blogspot.com “Did Kasparov Cheat Polgar in ’94?”
THIS IS AN ADVICE TO ALL –(IN THE FUTURE) –We don’t have yet an Appeals Committee which can overturn the arbiter’s decision on point of fact or exercise of discretion, but not on point of law.
Included in the agenda of our Annual General Meeting on
Feb. 10, 2013 is the creation of Appeals Committee to be composed of Palau’s 3
National Arbiters –Roberto Hernandez, CM Bernardo Garcia and Dennis Gonzales.
It’s late to protest after the game. Stop the clock and
protest right away. WE WILL APPLY THIS RULE TO ALL THE PROCEEDING TOURNAMENTS.
Garcia said that if that half point will have a big impact to the result of the standings, he will continue to protest about it. Things become more complicated when Celiz played 6 games on the 7th week, which is another violation of a FIDE rule – a maximum of 2 games a day is allowed if the time control is standard time.
Celiz played 3 games on Saturday, Nov. 24 and 3 games on Nov. 25 including his 2nd game against Cyril that lasted until 11:00 pm!
On the next tournaments, we will specify a minimum number of games played each week or each couple of weeks to assure that a player will not have much game remaining to play.
Another violation was committed when Celiz played against his co-employee Cabunagan twice NOT in the official venue but in their room with no witnesses. We are lucky to have a very good playing area and we should take advantage of this. Besides, Celiz and Cabunagan are off on Saturday and Sunday AND THE TOURNAMENT SITE IS JUST 300 METERS AWAY FROM THEIR PLACE.
There is another rule in FIDE that participants of the same federation must NOT play against each other on the last 3 rounds. It is said “federation and not company”, which is not applied in this case. Since our next tournaments are local events, we will apply this rule that players of the same company must play in the first 3 rounds and not in the last 3 rounds.
Cabunagan also played one game against Suringa in his room and without witnesses also. It was allowed by the arbiter because Cabunagan is going off island for 15 days. But when his trip was cancelled because of Typhoon Bopha, they should replay that game in the official venue.
The only thing going against the games between Celiz and Cabunagan is the venue. Now that it became an issue, we must include in our local rule the consequence in playing games in non-sanctioned venue.
It is proper not to accept the results of their games and have them played anew at the official venue. They replayed their 2 games NOT in the official venue but in the presence of Cyril and Roberto. BUT… because Typhoon Bopha is starting to lash Palau at about 6:00 pm that Sunday, Dec. 02, 2012, Cyril and Roberto left the place with their 1st game still in the middle game.
During that time, all other games are completed and it was possible to affect the final standings with their replayed games.
WITHOUT MAKING ACCUSATION OR INSINUATION, AS EVERYBODY SEE, TITO CAME FIRST AND CELIZ ENDED UP 3RD OUT OF NOWHERE!
Those actions/violations of Celiz trigger the suspicion of Garcia of game fixing. That’s why he suggested having a playoff so that those players who played more games and got some good results after 7 weeks will play in the playoffs on Saturday (semifinal) and finals on Sunday.
Celiz, being able to play only 10 games will be booted out in favor of Cyril, who played 11 games and always at the tournament site every weekend.
Where is Celiz during the opening day and the next 10 playing days that he played only 4 games in 6 weeks? And now he wants to play as many games as he can in the last 2 weeks of the event?
Everybody is adjusting TO HIM instead of HIM adjusting to everybody.
With chance now for at least a top 4 finish, he is present on the last day hoping to win by default if his last round opponent will not show up.
This is what GM Eugene Torre is saying – that the absent player loses by default and their game will not be rated. WHAT ABOUT IF BOTH PLAYERS ARE PRESENT?
Suringa’s work is finished at 2:00 pm on Sunday, Dec. 16 and he waited for Celiz for 1 hour for their 2nd game. He played 2 practice games with some present players (Class B) while waiting also for the last 2 official games of Cyril and Escapatoria. He still has one game left vs. Cyril.
Their game on Sat. Nov. 15 was called off because Suringa is very busy cooking food for PRR Christmas party that night. Cyril is also going to their Christmas party.
When Celiz come, it’s now time for Suringa to go to a place where he has the key to open it. Now it’s Celiz’ turn to wait.
DOES HE THINK THAT EVEN ON THE LAST DAY, PLAYERS WILL ADJUST TO HIM? EVEN ON BUSY CHRISTMAS SEASON?
It’s just right to put + - or - /- to Celiz’ game vs. Suringa because it’s not default… it is un-played game. GAMES NOT ACTUALLY PLAYED SHOULD NOT BE RATED AND APPROPRIATELY RECORDED AS +/- or -/- (double forfeit). I’M VERY SURE OF THIS.
They were not able to play it because Suringa and Cyril have
waited for him in the 12 playing days of the event. Maybe it’s better to have +
- in favor of Suringa.
In the 2011 Rapid Chess tournament at PRR, Celiz agreed to play vs. Mohammad Manik Hossain at 11:00 am Sunday. Manik arrived at 11:30. He has to go back to Airai, which is 10 kilometers away, for work at 3:00 pm.
Celiz and Cabunagan arrived at 1:30 pm when Manik is about to leave for work. I declared that game a default loss to Celiz. They agreed to play their 2nd game on next Sunday at 11:00 am again.
Celiz and Cabunagan came at 1:30 pm again!
They are staying at a place that is 300 meters from PRR while Manik is 10 kilometers away and had to spent money for gas in going to the tournament site. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU, CELIZ?
I declared that 2nd game another default loss to Celiz.
Manik is humble enough to offer a replay of their 2 games if Celiz will pay $10.00 for the gas that he spent in going to PRR twice.
Being a stingy person as he is, (in my opinion), Celiz refused the offer. He hasn’t paid yet his $10.00 registration fee in the 2011 Palau National Chess Championship, the $20.00 registration fee for 2011 Rapid Chess tournament and the recently concluded 2012 Palau National Chess Championship of another $10.00.
During the meeting on Dec. 9, 2012, he promised to pay for 2011 and 2012 PNCC but until now, it’s still a promise.
Anyway, the cross-table was submitted already by Jamie Kenmure with the final standings: 1. Tito Cabunagan 2. Roberto Hernandez 3. Jose Celiz 4. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 5. CM Bernardo Garcia 6. Menandro Manuel 7. Paquito Suringa, Jr. 8. Gonzalo Escapatoria.
Garcia is still unsatisfied with the final standings. That half point really affected this event. In his opinion, if Tito and the rest had played a playoff and Tito still emerges as champion, then he really deserves it. With many irregularities that clouded this PNCC, the final standing is still in doubt.
There is a good point to Garcia’s suggestion of a playoff. We agreed in the meeting on Dec. 9 that we will proceed and finish the tournament according to its original format, but Garcia’s line of “Why you will continue to cross the wrong path when you are warned that it’s the wrong way?”
THE RIGHT WAY HAS BEEN FOUND. WILL YOU CONTINUE IN GOING THE WRONG WAY?
But Bernard’s suggestion of a playoff is not proper regardless of the situation. YOU DON’T CHANGE HORSES AT MIDDLE OF STREAM! If that is to be effected, then we need to cancel all results and start all over again. Had that taken place, even Menandro who had 7 losses would have a chance of winning the championship – and, I believe, if given that new lease of life, he will try with all his might to be the victor.
With only 8 players in Class A, there’s no logic of trimming it down to half and then have a semi-final and final match. If that is so, we better just draw numbers and start with quarterfinal matches. A double round-robin is already a credible format.
WE WILL ENSURE THAT THOSE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS LAST YEAR WILL NOT BE REPEATED.
I hope these incidents will make Palau chess players better and stronger to the next challenges ahead. I also hope that this will also lead us to a closer camaraderie and to enjoy the game of chess the right way!
GOOD DAY TO EVERYBODY AND PLEASE ATTEND OUR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ON FEB. 10, 2013 AT WAVES RESTAURANT OF PALAU ROYAL RESORT FROM 2-5 PM.
PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION WILL BE GIVEN.
PLEASE BRING YOUR LAPTOP BECAUSE MENANDRO MANUEL AND JAMIE KENMURE WILL “ATTEND” THROUGH SKYPE OR FACEBOOK.
Best regards,
Roberto
Source: History of Chess In Palau
2012 Palau National Chess Championship
October 13- December 16, 2012
Conference Room
Palau Royal Resort
Koror City, Republic of Palau 96940
On Monday, May 19, 2014 10:34 AM,
Jose Celiz <jose@ppuc.com> wrote:
Hello Robert,
Normally when it comes to
money our brain think too fast, but anyway, I would like to break my silence
that for your information I have a receipt that I pay my 2011 and 2012 PNCC
registration. I didn’t remember that I join rapid in 2011. I remember last year
2013 that I join rapid in April but I’m not able to finished due to my long
vacation in Philippines . Blitz in June and PNCC in September all in the same
year 2013 and got the champion for Blitz and PNCC. I think you remember I pay $
20.00 for rapid and PNCC 2013 registration, after the 2013 PNCC tournament in
Bethlehem that was December 2013 and you didn’t issued me receipt because
you’re busy in organizing the small tournament for 6 of us ( Robert, Cyril,
Mahor, Eugene, Jeff , and me with 10 $ registration each ). Cyril and I, got a
champion and divide the $ 60 for $ 30 each and I give my $ 10 contribution for
pizza for the group ( stingy ? ).
And also I would like to
remind you for the promised to award the 2013 PNCC Champion and the runner up
for the Cash and Trophy for each category ( 3 category ). You promised to award
cash and then you changed it to a trophy. Where’s the trophy ?
Thank you
Best Regards,
Jose
To jose@ppuc.com; eric@surangel.com;
ksau77@gmail.com; Tito CabunaganTito Cabunagan; bernardbgarcia@yahoo.com; bernardbgarcia@yahoo.com;
belle5montel@yahoo.com; Jeff Balbalosa; eddienae@yahoo.com;
gigi_parrado@yahoo.com; neph_macasaet@yahoo.com;
Jamie Kenmure; The Chess Connoisseur; Brian Jones; geoffrey.borg@fide.com; ralphgladz@yahoo.com;
Peter Magbanua; James de Jesus
May 23
Hi Jose,
The
Cause of 2012 PNCC Controversy was written in December 2012, not recently. You
paid your registration fee for 2011 and 2012 only in Feb. 2013.
It was published/posted on Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com on Feb. 02, 2013 Post no. 407 (I have posted
771 already). ***It's now 905 as of Jan. 17, 2015 3:15am***
You don't remember that you joined the Rapid tournament at Palau Royal Resort?
Why you and Tito come to
PRR to play Manik at 11:00 on a Sunday agreed match? Both of you came very late
at 1:30 twice (2 consecutive Sundays) when Manik is ready to come back for work
in Airai.
That tournament is for outsiders of PRR. We have separate rapid tournament for
PRR employees only.
The
outsiders tourney was not finished and I finished the results with the players
who played most games and scored the most wins shall receive the Gift
Certificate of Dinner/Lunch for 1 at PRR courtesy of its GM Isao Takahashi.
Menandro Manuel and I finished 1st and 2nd respectively. We decided to sell the
certificate for $10.00 each and donated it to our fund (2012 Palau Chess Team
to Istanbul Olympiad).
The
one you are saying "small tournament" is Blitz tourney after our
Christmas party at Bethlehem Park. Jun Mahor is not a participant there.
It was Dennis because when I come back after dropping my wife at Dragon Tei, he
is ready to leave so I won 2 games over him by default.
I'm very
sure that the registration fee is only $5.00. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BLITZ
TOURNEY IN PALAU SINCE 2003 THAT THE REGISTRATION FEE IS MORE THAN $5.00.
So it's
just $30.00 cash prize that was divided between you and Cyril.
And about the trophy,
Cyril suggested that the trophy be locally made as shown in the attached
photo.
James dela
Cruz was the one who made those trophies. I paid him $50.00 to make those. This
time I contracted him to make 14 trophies for 2013 Rapid, Blitz and PNCC for
$60.00. I gave him already the money in November 2013.
I mentioned
to you that there might be little cash prize for blitz champion and 1st
runner-up but with $5.00 registration fee where more than half didn't pay, it's
better to have trophies.
The shape
of the trophies are (--Rapid Champion (Robert) -King-shaped; 2nd (Tito) Queen;
3rd- Cyril (rook); 4th -Pax --(Bishop)
Blitz
Champion - You (King), 2nd - me (Queen)
PNCC
Champion - You again (King); Bernard-2nd (Queen); Cyril -3rd (Rook)
PNCC
(Reserves) --champion Jun Mahor (King); Remrel (Queen); Alfredo (Rook)
Women -
champion -- Angie (Queen, of course)
Junior
Champion - Ksau (King)
Before James go for vacation in December 2013, he gave me the base for the
trophies -- all mahogany (expensive wood). It's now in my locker together with
the varnish. The molding machine that he is using to make those trophies is out
of order so I gave him this list and will make those chess pieces for trophies
in Philippines.
When
he comes back, that's the time that we will get our trophies.
Best regards to all.
Roberto
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2223213667651635496#editor/target=post;postID=5953208795025738866;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=193;src=link
Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., left, and Jose Celiz, 3rd from left, won the Blitz Chess competition held during the Christmas Party of members of Palau Chess Federation with 6.5 points each. They split the $30.00 cash prize. Roberto Hernandez, right, had 6 points followed by Eugene Labarda, 2nd from left, Jeff Balbalosa, 2nd from right, and Dennis Gonzales, who left earlier. At the back is Destiny Sisior and her 5-year-old sister Kyarii, Baby Edna 'Bheng' Mission and Angie Parrado. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
PALAU CHESS FEDERATION
CHRISTMAS PARTY - DEC. 22, 2013
AT BETHLEHEM PARK
THE idea of a Christmas Party for all members of Palau Chess Federation was initiated by Eugene Labarda, finalized by Jeff Balbalosa and added/optional venue was suggested by Nilo de Jesus.
Roberto started sending text messages to the players and ask them to bring at least one dish each for everybody to share.
The party will start at 3pm. Cyril text about Nilo willing to host the party in his shop at Meyuns if some guys would like to drink alcohol because it is not allowed at Bethlehem Park being a public place.
Two days before the party, Roberto was able to talk to Nilo about his offer to host the party. It will be decided at Bethlehem Park if they like to transfer. Roberto will bring the one bottle of shochu (Japanese wine) that was given to him by Mr. Namoto.
Dennis Gonzales will bring assorted sodas while Roberto will ask his wife Flor to make gelatin.
At 3:30pm, PCF players come with one dish each. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. brought spring rolls, Angie Parrado and her 3 daughters --2 boxes of dough nuts and peanuts, Baby Edna Mission - chicken; Eugene Labarda --chicken also;
Roberto lead a short thanksgiving prayer and while eating, some players played blitz chess without clock. Flor have to go after eating and Roberto dropped her at Surangel's Super Center.
When he comes back, the blitz chess competition was held with 6 players participating --1. Roberto Hernandez 2. Eugene Labarda 3. Dennis Gonzales 4. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 5. Jose Celiz and 6. Jeff Balbalosa.
Angie, Baby Edna and Jon "Sib" Manuel Reyes refused to join the double round-robin event with $5.00 registration to go to the winner-take-all champ.
Nilo de Jesus came and the plan to continue the party in his shop was cancelled. He refused also to join the blitz competition citing he has a friend waiting for him.
In Roberto vs. Jeff, their game is a win each (1-1); Eugene and Jose - (.5 - 1.5); Dennis vs. Cyril (.5-1.5); Roberto vs. Eugene is also a split as well as Eugene vs. Dennis; before dropping his wife at Dragon Tei staff house, Roberto split also his game with Cyril.
When he comes back to finish his 4 remaining games (2 vs. Jose and 2 vs. Dennis), it's already dark but the light bulb was turned on together with the Christmas lights decor.
Roberto won his first game with the black pieces against Jose but lost the 2nd one. Dennis has to go with his wife and his 4 remaining games against Roberto and Jeff were all declared losses for him.
After counting the points of the players according to their drawn numbers, Roberto accumulated 6 points, Eugene - 4, Dennis -2.5, Cyril -6.5, Jose - 6.5 and Jeff -4.5.
Thus, Cyril and Jose split the $30.00 prize pot. Roberto has to rush back to Palau Royal Resort as he has to work at 7-11pm.
It is also that during this party that Dennis asked Roberto to teach his 5-year-old daughter keyboard on his free day -- Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon. They agreed on Saturday 4:30-5:30pm.
Source: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess In Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
To be published as a book in the future
 |
| Critical penultimate game between Tuloy Rengiil, left, and Manuel 'Jun' Mahor, Jr., who is still in the running for at least 3rd place finish. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez) |
Tito Cabunagan, left, and Roberto Hernandez, right, represented Palau in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Tito swept Roberto in 2012 Palau National Chess Championship. Roberto got his revenge in 2013 Rapid Chess Championship final and in the 2013 PNCC.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
In this penultimate round match on Jan. 04, 2015, the 2 protagonists are wearing the official polo shirt of 2014 PNCC with logos of FIDE, Kasparov Chess Foundation (Asia Pacific), Palau Chess Federation and Surangel's and Sons.
There are 32 mistakes (English notation) in Tito's game vs. CM Bernardo Garcia. Roberto doesn't like Tito to continue using English notation this time and it somehow make Tito to slow down in making his moves.
In his game vs. Jeff Balbalosa, Tito's remaining time in his clock is 78 minutes! The time control is 75 minutes! It means Tito used only the increment of 30 seconds the whole game!
This time, he spent 27 minutes (or more than 30 minutes including the increment).
THE MOVES:
White: Roberto
Hernandez (1815) Black: Tito Cabunagan
(1825) Round 8 Jan. 04, 2015
1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d5 4. e5 Bg4 5.
Bb5+ c6 6. Be2 e6 7. Nc3 Ne7 8. Ng5 Bxe2 (at this stage, Tito wrote in English
notation again by 8. …BxB. Roberto told him, “Before you make your move, please
correct your notation, it’s English, not Algebraic) 9. Qxe2 Nf5 10. Qf3 h6 11.
Nxf7 Kxf7 12. g4 Qh4 13. gxf5 exf5 14. Be3 Ke6 15. 0-0-0 Nd7 16. Rdg1 g5 17. Ne2
Qe4 18. Qh5 Nf8 19. Nf4+ gxf4 (after this accepted sacrifice, Tito moves fast
again but his king is unsecured and the unavoidable mate can’t be thwarted even
with a queen sacrifice.) 20. Rxg7 Qxh1+ 21. Kd2 fxe3+ 22. Kc3 (22. Ke2 makes
the game 2 moves shorter). 22. …Qe1+ 23. Kb3 Qb4+ 24. Kxb4 c5+ 25. Ka3 cxd4
26. f4 (there’s no solution to Qf7#). 1-0
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
Eugene
Labarda, left, is playing a practice game with Glen Navarroza while Jun
Mahor and Tuloy Rengiil resumes their game. Bro. Virgilio 'Boy'
Tangonan, middle, a church mate of Roberto at Pentecostal Missionary
Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau Locale, watches the official game on
his left. Tangonan has been longing to participate in any chess
tournament in Palau but his hectic schedule prevented him always.(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
Source: History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
December 2012 - January 2015
To be published as a book in the future
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