(405) Tourney Organizer Issues Format for 1st Chess Tourney of 2007

TOP CONTENDERS OF BOTH DIVISION
Palau's top player NM Menandro Manuel, standing left (back row), will lead the rated division of 2007 first chess tourney with fellow NM Manny Nedic, 3rd from left back row, and venue host Gene Pastrana, right, back row, with 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr., left. American Craig Dittrich, right, will be the top seed in the unrated division as he prefers the tourney's time control format of 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 20 seconds increment per move. He's playing against newcomer Emmie Buyacao while another newcomer Andy Estargo is executing a move against Val Vidar of Palau Pacific Resort (PPR) during the Christmas Blitz Chess Festival won by Rey Lapuz, 2nd from right, back row. Sole lady is the muse of the festival.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



    TOURNEY ORGANIZER ISSUES
     FORMAT FOR THE 1ST CHESS
         TOURNAMENT OF 2007
                                          (From Report of Roberto Hernandez)

THE FOLLOWING is the format for the first chess tournament of 2007-- the rated and unrated qualification chess tourney for the spot to represent Palau in Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Fiji on May 5-12, 2007:

1. The tournament will be a double round-robin in both divisions. In case that there will be 15 or more players in the unrated division, it will become a single round-robin event.

2. The time control for both divisions is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 20 seconds increment per move. It means that everytime a player moves and presses his clock, an additional 20 seconds will be added to his time.

3. Writing chess notation is mandatory either in algebraic, English or descriptive notation. Players will be given score sheets to be signed by both players after the conclusion of the game and submit the score sheets to arbiter Jess Toldoya or Roberto Hernandez. Protests may also be referred to the arbiters.

4. The tournament venue will be at Jean's Boutique and Store premises. Playing day is Sunday at 1:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon. Some games may last longer depending on the schedule of players.

5. Touch move rules will be applied. Once a piece is touched, it must be moved so players are advised to analyze the moves with their mind and not with their hands.

6. Registration fee is $20.00. Half of the fee will be utilized as cash prize for the top finishers and the other half will be used for the expenses of the Palau's representative to Fiji or for Palau's annual payment of membership to the World Chess Federation.

7. No tiebreak will be used to break the tie. Instead, the players will play on sudden death game or just split the cash.

8. Registration is still going on. Please contact Roberto Hernandez at 488-3694 or Gene Pastrana at 488-4640 for more information and details. The unrated division is also open to kids and women chess players.

Andy Estargo, left, vs. Craig Dittrich; Val Vidar vs. Emmie Buyacao; watching the game--Menandro Manuel, Manny Nedic, Rey Lapuz and Cyril Montel, Jr.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Emmie Buyacao, left, vs. Val Vidar' Craig Dittrich vs. Andy Estargo.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto Hernandez, 3rd from right, organized the rapid chess tournament being won by Rey Lapuz, beside him. Craig Dittrich finished 1st runner-up to Lapuz.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



Source: Island Times Newspaper Sports Page
From report of Roberto Hernandez
January 18-24, 2007

(97) CHESSMATE MARKS 4TH YEAR; LAPUZ WINS BLITZ CHESS TILT

            CHESSMATE MARKS 4TH YEAR;
                LAPUZ WINS BLITZ TILT

THE END of 2006 marks the 4th year of this column.

Three major tournaments were held this year with the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship being the highlight in the success in having Palau's top players to earn international ranking by playing FIDE rated players from New Zealand, Australia and Philippines.

This year also produced the first Palau National Master: Menandro 'Boy' Manuel and Manny Nedic, who earned their titles by topping the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship.

In the last tournament of the year, the 2006 Rapid Chess tourney, veteran-newcomer Tony Villa shared the title with Manuel, who won five titles since 2003.

He is the second multi-titled chess player in Palau. The first one was Eddie Grefiel with three, who left Palau for greener pasture.

The other chess champions with one title each are Consul General Julius Torres, Edgardo Enarsao, Roberto Hernandez, Jess Toldoya, Nedic, Villa and Jose Omega, who won 2 consecutive Class B Championship before winning his first one in the 2005 Open.

During the Christmas party of Knights and Rooks Chess Club held o Sundau, December 24 at Jean's Boutique and Store premises, newcomer Rey Lapuz topped the blitz chess festival for unrated players.

He hesitated to join in two previous tournaments as he is to be playing against Palau's best.

With lower rated players in the field, he showed his wares against fellow newcomers Emmie Buyacao and Andy Estargo.

He lost only one game, to Val Vidar, the first runner-up in the unrated division of Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament.

He clobbered Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in their first game of this double round-robin event. That sets up the climactic championship match in their last game.

If Dittrich will win, they will share the cash and title. If Lapuz will win, he will win his first ever chess title.

It is meant to be as he outwitted Dittrich, who is also in time trouble as usual but had a great start with two straight victories.

FINAL STANDINGS OF THE PLAYERS & THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW SLATE:
1. Rey Lapuz (7-1-0) 2. Craig Dittrich (5-3-0) 3. Val Vidar (4-4-0) 4. Emmie Buyacao (2-6-0) 5. Andy Estargo (2-6-0)

Anselmo Idol paid his registration fee of $5.00 but his job responsibilities didn't allow him to play even a single game. His fee will be returned.

The rated division's blitz chess tourney didn't push through as there were not enough players. Edwin Eti and Tony Villa went to Philippines with Villa coming back on January 04.

Palau's best junior player Dmitri Villanueva also didn't make it in the unrated division's blitz tourney. His mother called Roberto Hernandez and informed him that Dmitri is willing to participate in the next tournament where the top players of Palau will be participating.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper December 29, 2006 - January 04, 2007