(1241) 700th ISSUE OF CHESS MATE (TBN-July 25, 2016)

:  ELLA AND ELI TARGET 2018 WCO IN BATUMI, GEORGIA

                                 Ella Asuncion, 7^th from left, GM Kawaguchi, left, secretary, celebrated her birthday on July 20^th with Palau Royal Resort staff. Two weeks ago, Ella showed interest to be with Palau Chess Team in the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. Likewise, Elizalde Madrinan, Japanese Chef, is also targeting a slot at the Open section of 2018 WCO. GOOD LUCK and GANBATTE MASU!

                                                 (Photo by Ella Asuncion)

    700th ISSUE OF CHESS MATE 

THE FIRST ever chess tourney in Palau was held in June 09, 2002 and 193 days later (Dec. 29, 2002), the first issue of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez was published with the first line as this:

                “THREE years ago, I was approached by Tutii Joe Chilton, the most active Palauan chess player today, to form a chess club. Without hesitation, I agreed to donate my free time, chess books, use of my chess clock, and experience to develop chess in Palau. The idea didn't materialize but in the middle of this year, TFCP (The Filipino Community In Palau) Vice President Sergio Alemania asked me if there were enough chess players in Palau to hold the first-ever chess tournament in Palau. He assigned me to be the chairman of the tilt that drew 20 contestants including four women.”

                The 75 continuous publishing of Chess Mate articles resumed even if Roberto, his wife Flor and daughter Karen had a vacation in May 28-July 16, 2004 with issues No. 76-81 prepared in advance till their return and Karen staying in Philippines for her Nursing studies.

                The same thing Roberto has done when he went to Australia in 2009, in Russia in 2010, in Istanbul, Turkey in 2012, in Norway in 2014 and in this coming 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan (Sept. 01-14).

                During the Russian Olympiad, Roberto’s part 4 of his prepared articles was not published because the Editor thought it’s the same as the previous 3. The title is “I Was Tortured in the Pasadena Jailhouse” by Bobby Fischer. The first 3 parts were published but not the conclusion. Thus, it’s the first unpublished issue (No. 408).

                While participating in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, Roberto is feeding Tia Belau with the latest results of the Olympiad through emails aside from the prepared 4 articles but no issues have been published for Aug. 27, Sept. 10 and 17. The Sept. 03 issue was done after coming back from the Olympiad.

                No issue on Dec. 10, 2012 because of Typhoon Bopha and because of printing machines problem in March 11 and 18, 2013, no issues also for 2 consecutive weeks.

                Exactly on the 11^th year of Chess Mate (Dec. 29, 2013), the deadline was advanced by a day without notification from publisher and the New Year’s issue was missed. And the last missed issue of Chess Mate was during the last few weeks’ tenure of Joel as graphics designer, issue of March 31, 2014, where there is a bad weather and only one game was played in the 2014 Open Chess Tournament.

                He makes a lot of errors in publishing the titles. While they are at 2014 Norway Chess Olympiad, Roberto prepared 4 articles and one of them is entitled “Chess Jokes Part 4”, he printed “Long Hours at the Beauty Parlor” instead. He even missed the punch line of a very good joke. But at least he always says sorry for every mistake he committed.

                The itinerary of Palau Chess Team to Baku has changed from Palau-Manila-Dubai-Moscow-Baku-China-Manila to Palau-Manila-Thailand-Turkey-Baku-Turkey-Thailand-Manila because of cheaper rates in this route. The tickets were bought more than a month earlier for discounted prices.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3483: 1. h8=N!! Ke8 2. Bc6 mate. Only Kyle Soriano solved this puzzle in 20 minutes and 3 clues—White Bishop will mate, not a move by knight and dark-colored bishop. Kyle won $1.00 that he put in his piggy bank of quarter dollars (coins).

                This week’s 700^th issue Puzzle No. 3485: White to move and mates in 2. The first person to solve will win 700 cents or $7.00.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Page 9

              Volume 25

              Issue 59

              July 25, 2016

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             To be published as a book in the future

             Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

             April 25, 2013 --July 25, 2016

             The History of Chess in Palau 

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- July 25, 2016   

(1240) MUSIC AND ME (May 19, 2016) PRR GM's Birthday, This Time at Palm Bay

 3 years ago, Palau Royal Resort General Manager Masayuki Kawaguchi celebrated his birthday at his meeting office where he showed everybody that he can play piano as well.
                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

(1239) JEFF, ROBERTO, TITO -- Top 3 Finishers of 2016 PRCC (Part 2) TBN-July 18, 2016

AZERBAIJAN HERE WE COME!

               Left to right – Dennis Gonzales of Hanpa, Roberto Hernandez and Paquito Suringa, Jr. of Palau Royal Resort, Allan Alcid of Graphic Design Print and Jeffrey Balbalosa of Surangel and Sons are the members of Palau Chess Team (Open Section) to the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan from Sept. 01-14. The Delegate (now changed to Doctor) is Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, the Palau Chess Federation President.                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

          JEFF, ROBERTO, TITO ---

    TOP 3 FINISHERS OF 2016 PRCC

                    (Part 2)

In the final and 3^rd week of 2016 Palau Rapid Chess Championship (Part 2), 7^th seed Jeff Balbalosa scored a total of 7 points to add another feather in his cap in capturing the 2^nd edition of rapid chess tilt held on Sunday, July 10 at Bethlehem Park, where top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (1935) and 4^th seed Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. (1785) having a basketball game with different teams just a few meters from the venue.

                Third seed Roberto Hernandez succumbed to Rustum Cabuso in the penultimate round in 56 moves of Dutch Defense but outplayed Dennis Gonzales in the final round in 39 moves of Sicilian Defense (Lowenthal and Kalashnikov Variations) to finish 1^st runner-up with 6 points.

                Second seed Tito Cabunagan’s opponent in the final round (Pax) didn’t show up and scored a full point by default to clinch 3^rd place with 5.5 points. The top 3 finishers will receive medals.

                                                        Final Standings:

 

                Kema Goryoeva, the Registration and Accreditation Manager of Baku Chess Olympiad sent an email to all National Chess Federations regarding this: Dear National Federation,

The Operating Committee of the Baku Chess Olympiad is requesting you to provide contact@bakuchess.com with the following:

1. Interesting biographical short presentation of your teams and members (written or on video)

2. Photos of your players maybe at some of the important and strong tournaments with information on who is on the photo, which tournament, etc

3. Interesting facts and statistics of your teams in the previous Olympiads.

4. if possible, videos of your team players at any of the tournaments that you may consider interesting to share with our followers.

5. "Hello, Baku" short video message from your team members, which will contain this greeting in the beginning and some words to support the Olympiad.

These all or some of the information that you can send we are going to publish on the official website in order to promote the Olympiad in Baku, your national teams and game of chess in general.

We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation. Regards, Kema Goryoeva,

Registration & Accreditation Manager

         Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3482: 1. Qa6 Ka1 2. Nc3 mate. If 1. …Kc2, then 2. Qd3 mate.

                This week’s puzzle No. 3483: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

                There is a reward of $1.00 each to the first 5 persons who can solve this puzzle.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Page 9
             Volume 25
             Issue 57
             July 18, 2016

            Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
            The Beginning of Chess in Palau
            By Roberto Hernandez
            To be published as a book in the future

            Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
            http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
            April 25, 2013 -- July 18, 2016

            The History of Chess in Palau 
            By Roberto Hernandez
            June 09, 2002 -- July 18, 2016