ANOTHER PERFECTIONIST MUSIC STUDENT OF MINE
Mitha Oktaviani, an Indonesian co-employee of mine at PRR, asked me to teach her keyboard for 5 weeks before she leave for good on Dec. 02, 2017. I didn’t know that she is also a perfectionist like Jasmine Yano, my piano student from 2005-2007. http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/10/music-and-me-oct-25-parents-support-in.html Imagine, Mitha spent more than 6 hours on one song to make a perfect performance at PMA church on Nov. 26.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
AVOIDING THE TOP SEED
MANY times, the round-robin format of all Palau National Chess Championship became lax that ‘opportunist’ players seek to avoid playing the top seed. It happened again before the start of the 7th round of 2017 PNCC Top 12 Division. Fifth seed Tito Cabunagan requested me that he wants to play Leif Toribiong in the 7th round because he will be having a one-week vacation during that 8th round.
The problem is Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr. is scheduled to play Leif, who haven’t scored any point yet, losing all his 7 games. Jun badly needs a point as he only has a point in 6 games. I explained to Tito about this scenario. It’s me and him facing each other in the 7th round as scheduled.
Before the start of our game, top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. asked Tito to play their 2nd round game in Oct. 15 that was postponed. Cyril said I can be a full time Chief Arbiter so that he can play the more than a month long delayed game of them as 3rd seed Jeff Balbalosa also asked me that he can’t play Cyril in their scheduled 7th round game.
Sensing he can’t play with Leif, Tito insisted to play with me instead—to avoid facing the top seed. This is a cowardly act of opportunism. It must be first things first. During our game, I have to stop my clock twice to assist the junior division’s games where I take care of their tables and chairs, chess sets, score sheets, ball pens, set their digital chess clocks, take photos before the start of their game and their playing color of pieces. I gave them an advise that they must complain during the game and not after because I can’t do anything if the game is finish when they complain. I have to do the same thing to the Women’s Division, Top 12 Division and Reserves Division.
Honestly, my games suffered because of these extra jobs. That’s why Jeff passed to me the liability of doing the Swiss Perfect for this PNCC so that he can concentrate in his games. The consolation is—even though Jeff is not doing the Swiss Perfect program anymore, he is not doing well in this event, losing 4 straight to Rustum Cabuso, Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr., Angelo Salvadora and Tito (9th round) after drawing with me in the 1st round and subduing Leif in the 2nd round.
So Cyril has now 3 games not played yet—vs. Dennis Gonzales (4th round), Tito (2nd rd.) and Jeff (7th rd.) and he played and defeated Jojo Escapatoria, who just came back from the funeral of his father. Their game is supposed to be on the 10th round on Dec. 10.
The opportunists are the opposite of Pax, who never choose opponents whoever they are. In 2009, he didn’t reject the offer of Menandro Manuel, Palau’s top player in the last 5 years (2004-2009) and he won. Later, he drew with Palau’s first Woman National Master Angie Parrado.
Although Pax lacks resources from getting access to the latest chess openings, middle game and endgames progressions, he never lacks the courage to face any opponents and giving his very best, which is mostly not enough. After losing his first 2 games to me and Dennis, Pax scored 4 straight to tie Tito with 4-2 slate. His game vs. Jojo which I arranged for Saturday, Nov. 25 at 9pm at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 was postponed to Thu. Nov. 30.
He will face top seed Cyril in the 8th round hoping to keep his streak intact. I will be playing the leader in the last 3 weeks Bobot Tan; Rustum vs. Dennis; Jeff vs. Jun and Angelo vs. Jojo.
Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3793: 1. Bxg7+! Kxg7 2. Qg5+ Kh8 3. Qf6#
This week’s puzzle No. 3794: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9 & 11
Volume 26
Issue 94
November 27, 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 -- November 27, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- November 27, 2017
No comments:
Post a Comment