(1596) ROUND 1 OF 2018 PNCC; 38 PLAYERS WILL SLUG IT OUT (TBN-Oct. 29, 2018)

: MANIK TO 2019 OZCC IN GUAM AND TOKYO MARATHON

                    Mohammad Manik Hossain, right, confirmed his participation to the 2019 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Guam on Feb. 17-24 and will proceed from there to participate in the Tokyo Marathon (March 03, 2019) where 330,000 runners applied but only 37,000 were given invitation to participate. Manik is the only runner from Palau to be invited to the prestigious Tokyo Marathon!

                                                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

          ROUND 1 OF 2018 PALAU

 NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP;

    38 PLAYERS WILL SLUG IT OUT

Jennifer Angeles and Angelica Magno played the only game of the Sunday (Oct. 21) Opening round of 2018 Palau National Chess Championship with Magno mating Angeles on the 21^st move. 14 players in the Open division have paid their reg. fee of $20.00 but 4 of the others have failed to complete their dues. They are Glen Navarroza, Charley Patris, Morton Sawaichi and Jello Aguaras.

                Charley and Morton promised me to pay on Wed. Oct. 24 but failed to do so. I have to do something to have a pairing available to Open players as early as Friday, Oct. 26 for the 1^st round on Oct. 28 in the Open Swiss system format: I paid for Morton, Glen and Charley’s dues of $20.00 each and $40.00 for Jello to come up with this 1^st round pairings: (First name to play the White pieces) 1. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. vs. Remrel Dizon; 2. Neph Macasaet vs. Bobot Tan; 3. Angelo Salvadora vs. Jun Mahor; 4. Mohammad Manik Hossain vs. Tito Cabunagan; 5. Paquito Suringa, Jr. vs. Glen Navarroza; 6. Charley Patris vs. me; 7. Jeff Balbalosa vs. Jello Aguaras; 8. Samuel Palingcod vs. Dennis Gonzales; and Gonzalo Escapatoria vs. Morton Sawaichi, who promised to pay me the $20.00 before the start of the 1^st round. Jello, on the other hand, had paid his dues to Dennis Gonzales on Fri. evening.

                This pairing may be altered again if Lenge Gibbons will show up and pay his $20.00 reg. fee + $20.00 one year membership fee. He will not be playing in the junior division to make that division with only 5 players if Dims Alexander, Gian Paloma, Reece Reklai and Nicholas Nehez will not be playing. In that case, it will be a double round-robin event for Gian Gabriel Claronino, Michael and Rommel Gulla, Kyarii Sisior and Aome Angeles.

                Angelil and Destiny Sisior were put at the Women’s Division for them to have stronger opposition and be ready to prepare for 2020 World Chess Olympiad in Russia where both Open and Women’s Palau Team will have at least 2 Palauans in each section. Morton, Charley, Lenge, Clarence Kitalong and Reece are being targeted to fill the Open section.

                The Women’s section 1^st round pairings is: 1. Gladys Anne Paloma vs. Destiny Sisior 2. Angeles-Magno (0-1) 3. Baby Edna Mission vs. Joan Gemota 4. Benerica Daligdig vs. Angelica Parrado and 5. Tau’o Ngirmeriil vs. Angelil Sisior.

                A 10-player blitz chess contest was held after the completion of the only game played on opening day. There’s a $1.00 registration fee with the $5.00 going to the champion, $3.00 to 2^nd place and $2.00 to 3^rd place. The contestants are top seed and Palau’s newest CM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bobot Tan, Jeff Balbalosa, me, Tito Cabunagan, Angelo Salvadora, Manik, Paquito, Glen and Jun Mahor. In the final game between Angelo and Jun, 4 players are tied with 6 points each (Bobot, Tito, Jeff and Jun). If Jun would win his match, he would tie Cyril at 7 pts. But it’s not meant to be as the draw clinched Cyril another blitz title and Jun the 2^nd place finish. Jeff, Bobot and Tito just donate the $2.00 to PCF.

                The final standings: 1. Cyril (7 wins, 0 draw, 2 losses) 2. Jun (6-1-2) 3. Bobot (6-0-3) 4. Tito (6-0-3) 5. Jeff (6-0-3) 6. Pax (5-1-3) 7. Me (3-1-5) 8. Glen (3-0-6) 9. Angelo (1-1-7) 10. Manik (1-0-8).

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3792: 1. Qg4+!! Bxg4 2. Rxh6+!! gxh6 3. Bf7#

                This week’s puzzle No. 3793: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10 

               Volume 27

               Issue 86

               October 29, 2018

              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 -- October 29, 2018

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- October 29, 2018