(860) ROUND 3 (2003 OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT) Manuel Whips 2 Former Champions

          ROUND 3 -- 2003 OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT
                  Manuel Whips 2 Former Champions


Menandro 'Boy' Manuel has been to Palau for only 2 months. He talked to Roberto Hernandez that he would join in the ongoing tournament in the 3rd round of Classification. Roberto told him that he needs to play at least 2 games.
HE WAS ABLE TO PLAY 3 GAMES!

His first opponent is Consul General Julius Torres, the 2002 Open Champion. Manuel doesn't know that Torres is the defending champion. He showed class in his game and prevailed over Torres, who is also playing his first game.

In his 2nd game, Manuel played with Freddie Dumlao, co-employee of former champ Eddie Grefiel at Daewoo Corporation. Dumlao is playing his 4th round game and they drew their game after Dumlao prevailed over Hernandez in the 2nd game of the day.

It's time now to play Eddie Grefiel and Manuel won also! Roberto asked him, "Do you know the 2 players that you have beaten today?" He said no. Roberto told him, "They are former Palau chess champions."

Grefiel subdued Danny Dandoy with the black pieces in the first game of the day -- January 19, at Image Restaurant and Sports Bar, which is the co-sponsor of the event with The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) and Budget Mart.

In the 4th and 5th games, Dmitri Kyle Villanueva and his father Norbert both lost to Chito Vargas and Jimmy Valenzuela respectively.

Mariano Agustin, Jr. played his 2nd round match and won over Roy Rebollos but lost to Edgardo Enarsao in the 3rd round.     

 Torres bounced back from defeat in his first round game and trounced Palau bet Allen Kangichi and Rebollos (his 4th round game).

Agustin, Jr. became the 1st qualifier of Group A when he touted Norbert Villanueva for his 3rd point. Both of them played their 4th round games.

Valenzuela followed suit and scored his 3rd point with a win over Danny Dandoy. Both likewise played their 4th game.

In the last game of the day, Agustin, Jr. is playing against his co-employee and boss Consul General Julius Torres. After their game, Roberto asked Agustin, Jr., "Who won?"
Agustin, Jr. proudly replied, "Who else?"

Roberto thought it's Agustin, Jr. who won and recorded a win for him. One week later, Torres complain that he read in Tia Belau that Agustin, Jr. beat him, which is not true.

Roberto asked Agustin, Jr. again and he said, "Who else, but Consul!"  


   
Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Page 9
             Volume 12
             January 25-February 01, 2003