(1248) PALAU CHESS TEAM PRESENTATION TO BAKU (TBN-Aug. 15, 2016)

:       WHERE GREAT MINDS MEET

                One of the slogans in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Norway is “Where Great Minds Meet”. Here, in Norway, 3 great minds collaborated to make Palau Chess known to the world. FIDE Instructor (FI) Roberto Hernandez, left, pioneered chess in Palau; When FIDE Arbiter (FA) Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, middle, was elected PCF President, Palau chess has boomed; Candidate Master (CM) Joselito Marcos, right, has contributed enormous amount of time, monetary assistance, technical knowhow and moral support to Palau chess.                                    (Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps)

           PALAU CHESS TEAM

      PRESENTATION TO BAKU

PALAU Chess Federation General Secretary Roberto Hernandez has prepared a 6-part presentation of the composition of Palau Chess Team (Open) to the 2016 World Chess Olympiad to be held in Baku, Azerbaijan from Sept. 01 (Opening Ceremony) to Sept. 14 (Closing/Awarding Ceremony).

                As requested by the organizers, a short written biography of members is the first part of the presentation. The 2^nd part includes 3 photos from the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship with photos of the brainchild of that event—Hernandez and International Arbiter (IA) and then President of Oceania Zone 3.6 Gary Bekker of Australia. Also included are the invited players from New Zealand (Hilton Bennett and Paul Spiller), USA and Philippine Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr. and the Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino.

                There are only 4 photos from 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and 2009 Gold Coast Open but Hernandez provided the links to access all photos from that event:

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/fil-oz-lady-is-champ-july-27-aug-02.html    

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/05/2009-oceania-zonal-chess-championship.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/england-gm-gawain-jones-simul-in.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/2009-gold-coast-open-photos.html

                There are 10 photos from 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and a link where they can access to more than 700 photos from that Olympiad:

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/chess-tourists-in-russia.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/06/photos-khanty-mansiysk-russia.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/04/excursion-in-russia-sept-2010.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/04/2010-world-chess-olympiad-russia.html

                In the Part 4, there are 4 photos from 2011 Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Conference Room of Palau Royal Resort. A link is also provided to access more than 100 photos from that event-http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/3rd-palau-inv-chess-championship-photos.html

                The other half of Part 4 is about the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. There are 27 photos and these links: http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/12/10-years-of-chessmate-57-years-of.html     http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/qatar-swept-palau-39-other-countries.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/palau-swept-by-iraq-this-time-vs.html    

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/3rd-sweep-of-palau-vs-hongkong-next.html     

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/garcia-scores-first-half-point-of-palau.html      

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/09/palau-wins-over-us-virgin-islands-25-15.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/09/round-7-palau-vs-macau.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/09/palau-lost-to-guernsey-3-1-in-round-9.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/09/hernandez-averted-shutout-wins-at-board.html

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/09/closing-ceremony-2012-world-chess.html

                Part 5 is all about 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. There are 44 photos but the link has 1,111 photos! Mostly are from PCF President Erick Ksau Surangel Whipps’ camera.

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/05/1000th-post-1000-photos-of-palau-chess.html

                Part 6 is all about the latest local tournaments and National Championship. There are 15 photos with the last one featuring the 5 Palau players –Roberto Hernandez, Dennis Gonzales, Paquito Suringa, Jr., Jeffrey Balbalosa and Allan Alcid.

                The video and 7^th part of the presentation will be shot at Eric’s residence with the background of Rock Islands and a chess table and chess pieces scattered with every member saying “Hello Baku” before introducing themselves. In the last part of the video, everybody will say “We are the Palau Chess Team, good luck to all participants. BAKU, HERE WE COME!”

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3486: (Sorry for the error. This is supposed to be the 700^th issue special puzzle. The correct solution is 1. f8=Q Kc7 2. Qd8 mate). 1. f8=B Ke8 2. Nf6 mate.

                This week’s puzzle No. 3457: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper 

             Pages 9-10

             Volume 25

             Issue 65

             August 15, 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 -- August 15, 2016

           The History of Chess in Palau

           By Roberto Hernandez

           June 09, 2002 -- August 15, 2016   

(1247) KAREN LEE TO ISTANBUL (TBN-June 27, 2011)

CYRIL AND TITO -- No. 3 and No. 4
     Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., right, and Tito Cabunagan will finish the 2011 Rapid Chess tilt at Palau Royal Resort at 3rd and 4th place respectively after the non-played games will all be declared as draws. They trailed Menandro Manuel and Roberto Hernandez with 7 points and 6 points respectively. The dinner/lunch for 2 coupons for them will be given by Palau Royal Resort GM (General Manager) Isao Takahashi together with the winner of another Rapid Chess tilt for PRR employees only.     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


            KAREN LEE TO ISTANBUL  

 

AFTER Palau top woman chess player Angie Parrado committed to come to 2012 Istanbul World Chess Olympiad, another 3 neophyte women chess players have shown interest to join the bandwagon.

                A week prior to the start of 2011 Palau National Chess Championship (June 26), Karen Lee, Ann Acebron and Jenalyn Ortiz were guests at the Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort where Roberto Hernandez is playing keyboard music from 9-11pm.

                The lady trio is treating a former Filipino worker in Palau who is now working in New York. He likes singing live sing along with Roberto. When they got tired of singing, Roberto asked the 3 ladies if they play chess. Upon knowing that they know the fundamentals of chess, Roberto offered them slots for the forming of Palau Women’s Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad to be held in Istanbul, Turkey.

                Roberto saw a glow in their eyes about the offer. But when he mentioned to them that they need to prepare some amount of money for airfare, they are now hesitant. They became interested again when the guy offered some assistance for their airfare.

                Roberto suggested that they participate in the ongoing Palau National Chess Championship in June 26-Sept. 25 so that they will earn international ratings and that their names will be listed in www.fide.com where it can be viewed all around the world.

                The venues of the event – Beken’s Store, Palau Royal Resort and Bethlehem Park seem to be okay for them. They need a ride if it would be held at PRR. They reside near Angie’s place so they can have a ride with Angie in going to PRR.

                The confirmed participants are Roberto Hernandez, Menandro Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jr., Paquito Suringa, Jr., Angie Parrado, Mohammad Manik Hossain, Jeff Balbalosa, Rudel Roxas, Bernard Garcia, Dennis Gonzales, Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr., Edwin Acuyan, Tito Cabunagan and more latecomers and inactive like Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr. and Jimboy de Jesus.

                If the 3 ladies are not yet familiar with chess notations, Roberto will teach them before they start their very first games. If they are late in registering, they need to play as many games as they can to catch up. The tournament will be a single round-robin event limited to 9, 12, 15 or 18 players on a first come, first serve basis.

                The number of participants will depend on how many FIDE rated players are joining. If Cyril Montel, Jr., Menandro Manuel, Roberto Hernandez, Manuel Mahor, Jr. and Bernard Garcia will join, a maximum of 15 players can join. One third of the players must be FIDE rated. If Suringa, Jr. will make it, maximum of 18 players can participate.

                The time control is the same time control of Chess Olympiads, to familiarize the players about it—90 minutes to make 40 moves and 30 minutes more to finish the game with 30 seconds increment starting from move 1.

                 Solution to last week's puzzle:

                 This week's puzzle: White to move and mates in 3

                                                          (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

                   Tia Belau Newspaper

                   Pages 12 & 13

                   Volume 20

                   Issue 26

                   June 27, 2011

                  Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

                  The Beginning of Chess in Palau

                  By Roberto Hernandez

                  To be published as a book in the future

                  The History of Chess in Palau

                   By Roberto Hernandez

                   June 09, 2002 --June 27, 2011

               

(1245) MUSIC AND ME (June 02, 2016) RUSSIAN COUPLE AND THEIR BABY DAUGHTER

I THOUGHT HE IS ARGENTINE
     Vladimir, right, and his wife and baby daughter has been guests at Palau Royal Resort for more than 10 days in May 2016. Everyday, they dine at Waves Restaurant of PRR but in May 09, 2016, something strange happened.                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


          RUSSIAN COUPLE AND THEIR
                    BABY DAUGHTER 

A Russian couple and their baby daughter has been guests at Palau Royal Resort and everyday, they've been dining at Waves Restaurant of PRR.

Their daughter is so cute that many employees, esp. lady employees are carrying the girl and play with her while the couple are surfing the internet.

On May 09, 2016, the guy approached me at the piano and let me hear his cellphone with him playing a classical song. At first, he just wants me to listen to it but the tune is so refreshing that I play with it using its original key of Bbm (B flat minor).

There's a group of 8 Argentinian at the elevated center column at the right side of the piano.  

I was able to play the melody of the music in its entirety by listening to it once!

When he goes back to the waiting area to resume his internet surfing, I repeat playing the song for 2 more times before I come to him and ask if it's possible to record that song via Blue Tooth to my cellphone.

He said he has Blue Tooth in his cellphone but the song can't be recorded because it has something that prevent that song to be recorded.

I asked, "May I know the title of that Argentinian song?"
He said,  "It's a Russian song and I'm Russian." I said, "I thought you're Argentinian."

He pointed to the table where the Argentinians are sitting and said, "They are Argentinians."

I gave him my card with my Russian name written on the side where Palau Chess Federation, World Chess Federation (FIDE) logos are located.

We  talk about chess also and he said his name is Vladimir and I said, "Oh yes, like Vladimir Kramnik." He knows Vladimir Kramnik!  

Sources: Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
                Tia Belau Newspaper
                March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
                April 25, 2013 -- June 02, 2016

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


  

(1244) UKRAINE AT THE 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD BY Olena Boytsun

**Because Ukraine is one of the top 10 countries who regularly views Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com      it is just fitting to feature Ukraine in this 57-page article.***