(1401) TITO, JEFF, BOBOT LEAD 2017 PRCC WITH 3-0 SLATE (TBN-July 09, 2017)

DARK HORSE OF 2017 PRCC

                    Santiago, Jr. C. Tan, aka Bobot Tan, left, showed great potential during his practice with me at Bethlehem Park 4 weeks ago. He is now one of the 3 unbeaten leaders of the first 3 rounds of 2017 PRCC. KEEP IT UP BOBOT!!! ANOTHER CHESS TALENT HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN PALAU! Rounding up the players in this photo are Neph Macasaet, right, me vs. Angelo Salvadora; Tito vs. Pax in the background and Cyril, partly covered.       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

       TITO, JEFF, BOBOT LEAD

     2017 PRCC WITH 3-0 SLATE

The 1st round of 2017 Palau Rapid Chess championship at Bethlehem Park on July 02, 2017 has started late in the afternoon. We are waiting for the last confirmed participants. It's Neph Macasaet! After drawing of lots, this is the number of players: 1. Tito Cabunagan 2. Angelica ‘Angel’ Magno 3. Angelo Salvadora 4. Santiago, Jr. Tan aka Bobot Tan 5. Jeff Balbalosa 6. Angie Parrado 7. Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr. 8. Jennifer Angeles 9. Neph Macasaet 10. Roberto Hernandez 11. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 12. Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr.

                My Russia 2010 Olympiad teammate Tito Cabuangan, 2014 and 2016 Norway/Azerbaijan Olympiads teammate Jeff Balbalosa and newcomer Bobot Tan lead the opening 3 rounds with a perfect 3-0 slate held on Sunday, July 02, at Ernguul Park (formerly Bethlehem). The supposed to be 9-round Swiss system format became an 11-rd. round-robin because only 12 players have confirmed their participation.

                It will be very difficult for Swiss Perfect software to make it a Swiss system so I consulted the players to make it a round-robin with 3 games to be played on the first week, 4 on the last 2 Sundays. I have a Messenger conversation with Jamie Kenmure, asking him to register this event to FIDE. He asks who will be the Chief Arbiter and I said it’s me. He will surely make me the Chief Arbiter of the 2017 Palau National Chess Championship for me to get another FIDE Arbiter Norm.

                 The next 4 rounds will be played on July 9 and the last 4 rounds on July 16. Paquito Suringa Jr. has to work at 5pm that Sunday so his last 2 games were default losses to Manuel Mahor and to Angelica Morales Magno. I lost my first 3 games to Angelo Salvadora, Bobot Tan and Jeff Balbalosa.

                In my game against Bobot, he suggested a capture of the knight by my rook on the 33^rd move that will leave me with 5 connected pawns and a bishop against his rook and 3 pawns. I missed it as well as the 52^nd move Ke2 with unstoppable 2 pawns ready for promotion. Instead, I moved the king to d4 and was mated instantly. I have 3 minutes left in my clock against 9 min. for him. I lost to Jeff by time forfeit while the setback to Angelo is clinical.

                The other victories of Bobot were against Neph and against top seed Cyril. Tito’s 3 wins are over Pax, Angel and Angelo while Jeff’s other 2 points is earned from Jennifer and Neph.

                Notable absentees from this event are Dennis Gonzales, who is still on vacation; Rustum Cabuso, Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr., Eugene Labarda, Baby Edna Mission, Joan Gemota, newcomer Gabriell Garcia and the 3 daughters of Angie –Angelil, Destiny and Kyarii, in which Angie said she can’t afford the $15.00 each registration fee. The couple Rafael and Gladys Paloma, Glen Navarroza, Joel Gemota, Wilson Barrameda, Francois Millimono, Thomas Hayes and PRR’s Elizalde Madrinan didn’t make it also due to varying reasons.

                The following is the 4^th round pairings on July 9 that will start at 2pm: (First-mentioned names to play the White pieces) 1. Pax vs. Jennifer 2. Neph vs. Jun 3. Me vs. Angie 4. Cyril vs. Jeff 5. Tito vs. Bobot and 6. Angel vs. Angelo.

                5^th ROUND PAIRINGS: 1. Angelo vs. Pax 2. Bobot vs. Angel 3. Jeff vs. Tito 4. Angie vs. Cyril 5. Jun vs. Me and 6. Jennifer vs. Neph.

                6^th ROUND PAIRINGS: 1. Pax vs. Neph 2. Me vs. Jennifer 3. Cyril vs. Jun 4. Tito vs. Angie 5. Angel vs. Jeff and 6. Angelo vs. Bobot.

                7^th ROUND PAIRINGS: 1. Bobot vs. Pax 2. Jeff vs. Angelo 3. Angie vs. Angel 4. Jun vs. Tito 5. Jennifer vs. Cyril and 6. Neph vs. Me.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4419: 1. …g5+ 2. Kh5 Nf4+! 3. exf4 Rxh3#

                This week’s puzzle No. 4420: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

 Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 9-10
              Volume 26
              Issue 54
              July 09, 2017

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

                 Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
              April 25, 2013--July 12, 2017

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002--July 12, 2017