THE FUTURE OF PALAU JUNIOR CHESS
Roberto Hernandez, left, have a
photo session with Palau top junior players (L-R), Champion Angelil Sisior, 2nd
placer Destiny Sisior and 3rd placer Ultei Angelie Surangel during
the Awarding Ceremony for participants of 2014-2015 PNCC at Bethlehem Park on
Jan. 25, 2015 at 5-6pm.
PALAU BEST CHESS PLAYERS
REWARDED
THE 2014-2015 Palau National Chess Championship concluded
on Jan. 25, 2015 right on time as scheduled. It started on Nov. 16, 2014 with
Top 10 Division, Open (Swiss) Division, Women and Junior Division and it became
the best-ever National Chess Championship in terms of participants, awarded
trophies and certificates and cash prizes.
There
are 10 players (of course) in the Top 10 Division led by erstwhile Palau top
player for 5 consecutive years (2005-2009) National Master (NM) Menandro ‘Boy’
Manuel (1852 FIDE Rating), NM, National Instructor (NI) Tito Cabunagan (1825),
NM, FIDE Instructor (FI) Roberto Hernandez (1815), NM, NI Cyril Tomas Montel,
Jr. (1795), Candidate Master (CM), NI Bernardo Garcia (1758), NI Jeffrey
Balbalosa (1721), NI Dennis Gonzales (1701), Developmental Instructor (DI)
Paquito Suringa, Jr. (1701), Nilo de Jesus (1624) and Rafael Paloma (1612).
The
Swiss System Open Division has 17 players… 1. Marcial Santander 2. Felix Oling
3. Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. 4. Manuel Mahor, Jr. 5. Eugene Labarda 6. Senator
Surangel Whipps, Jr. 7. Tuloy Rengiil 8. Leif Toribiong 9. Glen Navarroza 10. FIDE Arbiter (FA), NI Eric
Ksau Surangel Whipps 11. Nelson Sablan 12. Joey Jaime Balute 13. Arnold
Undecimo 14. Jo-Arl Ulap 15. Remrel Dizon 16. Christopher Kitalong 17. Geoff
Martin
The
Women’s Double Round-Robin Division consists of 1. Woman National Master (WNM),
DI Angelica Parrado 2. DI Baby Edna Mission 3. DI Gladys Anne Paloma 4. Joy
Flores Whipps 5. Roxanne Parco 6. Jade Ngirasob Mariur.
The
Junior Division became a quadruple round-robin event on its 2nd
week. The players are Destiny Sisior, her sister Angelil, Cyrelle Ann Montel,
Ultei Angelie Surangel, Kayah Iblai Whipps and newcomer Robert Godwin Sola.
It’s
like a family affair as many contestants are related to each other especially
in the women and junior division while the Top 10 Division has the most
experienced players with Roberto being in Australia, Russia, Istanbul Turkey
and Norway to represent Palau in Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and World Chess
Olympiads.
His
teammate in Russia is Tito Cabunagan, in Istanbul, Turkey –Menandro Manuel, his
wife Elizabeth and CM Bernardo Garcia, who achieved Palau first title in 2012
Turkey Olympiad.
In
the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, it became the banner year of
Palau chess as they were able to send a women’s team composed of Board 1
Parrado, Board 2 Mission, Board 3 Paloma, Board 4 Destiny Sisior and reserve
Joy Flores Whipps.
The Open (Men) section has 4
newcomers in Board 2 Montel, Jr., Board 4 Dennis Gonzales, Reserve Jeffrey
Balbalosa and Head of Delegation/Delegate Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps. It is also
that in 2014 Chess Olympiad that the 14 Instructors Titles (I. D.’s) were given
including DI titles to Peter Erick Magbanua, Eugene Labarda and Ohjea Mae
Perdon.
Solution to last week's puzzle No. 4454: 1. ...Rc4+! 2. Kb3 Rc3+ 3. Ka4 Ra3 mate.
This week's puzzle No. 4455: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
The top 3 finishers in the Top
10 Division are Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. –Champion (Trophy, Certificate and
$175.00 cash); Roberto Hernandez (2nd place – Trophy, Certificate
and $125.00 cash); Jeffrey Balbalosa (3rd place—Trophy, Certificate
and $100.00 cash).
Out of 17 participants in the
Open (Swiss) Division, Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. emerged as Champion over
tiebreak (Direct Encounter) with newcomer Felix Oling of Palau Royal Resort. It
was the first ever chess title of Escapatoria in Palau, where his last
participation was in 2012 PNCC where he finished last among 8 best chess
players in Palau.
He received a trophy, certificate
and $100.00 cash (not $125.00 as reported last week) while Oling got the same
and $75.00 (not $100.00). Defending Reserves Champion Manuel Mahor, Jr.
finished 3rd place this time but he’s got a trophy, certificate and
$50.00 (not $75.00).
Mahor’s trophy for 2013 PNCC
(Reserves) still has to wait for a few months as the wooden trophies made to
order in Philippines were not brought yet when James dela Cruz came back to
Palau a few weeks ago. There’s no more space in James' luggage because he
brought lots of fruits seedlings (sour sop mostly) for planting in Palau fruits
plantation of Melwert Tmechtul.
The women’s division champion
WNM Parrado received a trophy, certificate and $125.00 cash while 2nd
placer Mission got the same and $100.00 cash and 3rd placer Paloma got
the same and $75.00.
The Junior Division looks like
changing of the guards as elder Angelil Sisior became the latest Palau Junior
champion after she won over 5 other kids including her sister Destiny, who
captured 2nd place and got $75.00, trophy and certificate. Angelil
got $100.00 and the same.
Surprising first time
participant Ultei Angelie Surangel captured the 3rd place, a trophy
and $50.00 cash and just a point behind her is another newcomer Robert Godwin
Sola.
Solution to last week's puzzle No. 4454: 1. ...Rc4+! 2. Kb3 Rc3+ 3. Ka4 Ra3 mate.
This week's puzzle No. 4455: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 10
Volume 24
Issue 10
February 02, 2015
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