(1642) THERE ARE 11 WOMEN PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONGOING 2019 P.R.C.C.

 THERE ARE 11 WOMEN                     PARTICIPANTS IN THE ONGOING
                       2019 P.R.C.C. 

It was learned from the 2016 Oceania Chess Confederation meeting during the Baku, Azerbaijan World Chess Olympiad that Palau has more women chess players than New Zealand.

In the ongoing 2019 Palau Rapid Chess Championship that started in March 03, there are more than 1/3 women participants --- 

1. WFM Angelica Parrado** 

2. Joan Gemota* 

 3. Angelil Sisior* 

4. Jennifer Angeles 

5. Destiny Sisior**

 6. Angelica Magno* 

 7. Kyarii Sisior

 8. Jedidia Marinas

 9. Wakako Sisior

 10. Mary Jane Bojo

 11. Mary Grace Capili. 

  The 2 asterisks indicates that they have been my teammates in 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway and the 1 asterisk is being my teammates in the 2018 WCO in Batumi, Georgia.

WOMEN CHESS IS BOOMING IN PALAU!!!

There's a Chinese girl watching/practicing chess with fellow youngster during break time. She is a student of Chess Teacher at PMA Chess in School Jennifer Angeles. She said she doesn't know the game well yet but she will be participating soon in local tournaments.

JUNIOR CHESS IS ALSO BOOMING!!!

There are 13 junior contestants in this 2019 PRCC and most of them will join the 2019 Palau National Chess Championship to start at the adjusted date of June 23-Aug. 18 so that Ksau Anthony Whipps and Reece Reklai can participate before resuming studies off island. The other junior players are the Sisior sisters Angelil, Destiny and Kyarii, brothers Rommel and Michael Gulla, 2018 Junior champion Gian Gabriel Claronino, Wakako Sisior, Khol Sugiyama, Dave Cristobal, Aome Angeles, Solomon Islands' Carlos Santus Amo Sifix, Bin Robinson Luo Cabrera, my guitar/chess student Brandon Kyle Soriano,
Gian Paloma, Nicholas Nehez, Allyza Igharas, Paul Tucker. If the junior participants reached at least 18 players, it might be a 9-round Swiss system event which has never been happened in Palau junior chess event.



Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- March 22, 2019

               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 -- March 22, 2019

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- March 22, 2019

(1638) PHOTOS -- ROUND 5 & 6 OF 2019 PRCC (March 17, 2019 at Bethlehem Park)

 PHOTOS --
           Round 5 & 6 of 2019
   Palau Rapid Chess Championship
(Mar. 17, 2019 at Bethlehem Park)

Bobot Tan, left, stays unbeaten after defeating Palau's first WFM Angelica Parrado.

Joan Gemota, my teammate in the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, is still rusty after losing in less than 20 moves to me. She barely missed the Woman Candidate Master title in the last round. Had she won that game, Palau would have been gaining 3 titles in one Olympiad! Palau top player in the last 8 years got his CM title despite playing at Board 1 in the Open section. Angie got her WCM title 2 rounds earlier than Cyril and the WFM title in the final round.

Jeff Balbalosa, 2nd from left, and my teammate in 2014 Tromso, Norway Olympiad and 2016 WCO in Baku, Azerbaijan, tested the current strength of my teammate in 2018 WCO in Georgia Angelil Sisior, who defeated 5th seed Rustum Cabuso in the first round of the ongoing 2019 Palau Rapid Chess Championship. Angelil also defeated me in the 4th round. Jeff only manage to draw against Angelil.

A Chinese girl student at Palau Missionary Academy, right, is testing the ambiance of a real chess tournament by practicing with Bin Robinson Luo Cabrera, the last participant in the ongoing 2019 PRCC. Jennifer Angeles, 2nd from right, the chess teacher in the first Chess in School in Palau, said that the Chinese girl is just starting to learn the game.

Kyarii Sisior is climbing the wooden post to charge her cell phone at the outlet while the 2 other other girls who are not playing are enjoying the cheap and strong internet connection. Palau had the fiber optic connection in Dec. 7, 2017 and now many enjoy the fast and cheat internet.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                  Tia Belau Newspaper
                  December 29, 2002 -- March 19, 2019

                 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 -- March 19, 2019

                 The History of Chess in Palau
                 By Roberto Hernandez
                 June 02, 2002 -- March 19, 2019
                

(1625) MEDALS, GC, CERTIFICATES AWARDED ON FEB. 10 (TBN-Feb. 18, 2019)

THE FUTURE OF PALAU CHESS

                    The current cream of the crop of Palau young chess players (L-R) Kayah Iblai Whipps, Kyarii Sisior, Gian Gabriel Claronino, Michael Gulla, Brandon Kyle Soriano, Wakako Sisior, Destiny Sisior, Angelil Sisior, Gian Paloma and Rommel Gulla during the awarding ceremony of the winners of the last 3 tournaments in Palau held in Feb. 10, 2019.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

            MEDALS, GIFT CERTIFICATES,                   CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION                        AWARDED ON FEB. 10

                Awarding for the last 3 major chess tournaments in Palau was held at Eric Ksau Whipps’ residence in Surangel Dock on Feb. 10, 2019 with almost all of the awardees present. It started at 4 pm with the arrival of guests and players. While waiting, chess boards and clocks were set for them to practice. At 4:30, the awarding started with me doing the Opening Prayer.

                First to be awarded were the winners of the 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament won by the Dark Grey team of Angelo Salvadora, held from Aug. 05-Sept. 16. His team members are John Malinao, Angie Parrado, Rommel Gulla, Pedro Parmisano, Albino and Lieslie Taksiau, Meriur N. The 1^st runner-up goes to the Royal Blue team of Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and his team members Eugene Labarda, Jennifer Angeles, Reece Reklai, Carlos Manuel, Benerica Daligdig, Bendel Daligdig, Jamie Remoket and Aome Angeles. The 2^nd runner-up honor goes to the Light Blue Team of Rustum Cabuso with team members Manuel Mahor, Jr., Angelica Magno, Michael Gulla, Ultei Surangel, Arnold Undecimo, Margie Magro and Lancy Lazarus.  All of them received Surangel gift certificates.

                Certificates were given to the Top Women Finishers in the 2018 PNCC—the perennial No. 1 woman chess player of Palau Angie Parrado (1554 FIDE rating) and her 2 daughters Angelil (1439) and Destiny Sisior(1432).

                The Junior Division Top 3 finishers were given gold, silver and bronze medals—1. Gian Gabriel Claronino 2. Michael Gulla 3. Kyarii Sisior. The Open division winners are 1. Bobot Tan (1871)—gold medal;  2. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.(1877)—silver medal and me 3. Roberto Hernandez (1707)-bronze.

                Certificates were given to the Biggest Improvement in FIDE Rating list—Angelica Magno for gaining 80 rating points in standard rating and 65 rating points in blitz rating.

                For the Top Performing Newcomer, my guitar/chess student Brandon Kyle Soriano received a certificate for scoring 4 points in the recently concluded 2019 Palau Blitz Chess Championship—tied from 19^th to 27^th spot while the Highest Rating for Newcomers goes to Samuel Palingcod (1567) for 11^th place among Palau top active chess players.

                The Top 3 Palau Chess Players in FIDE Rating List for the month of January 2019 were also given recognition with certificates—Men—1. Cyril (1877) 2. Bobot (1871) and 3. Tito Cabunagan (1717). Women—1. Angelica Parrado (1554) 2. Baby Edna Mission (1389) 3. Joan Gemota (1283). Juniors—1. Ksau Anthony Flores Whipps (1519) 2. Angelil Sisior (1439) 3. Destiny Sisior (1432).

                The 3 new Titled Players were given certificates—Angelica Parrado for the first ever Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title for Palau which she earned from 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia; 2^nd Candidate Master (CM) to Cyril from the same Olympiad, too. The first CM title of Palau was gained by CM Bernardo Garcia in the 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey. The 2^nd FIDE Arbiter title was awarded to me for gaining my 3^rd norm from the 2019 PBCC. Palau’s first FIDE Arbiter is Eric from 2013 World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE in December.

                And finally, 3 medals were awarded to the 3 winners of 2019 PBCC—1. Bobot (1898 new FIDE Blitz rating) 2. Jeff Balbalosa (1691) and 3. Rustum Cabuso (1719).

                In the middle of the awarding, me being the host, announced a short break to have dinner and I performed at the keyboard with Brandon Kyle Soriano with guitar to the song “Beautiful Sunday”, followed by performance also by my guitar/piano/ukulele/chess student Angelica Magno to the song “Stand By Me”.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3832: 1. Nc6+ Kb7 2. a6+! Kxc6 3. b5#

               This week’s puzzle No. 3481: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 28

               Issue 14

               February 18, 2019

               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 -- February 18, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- February 18, 2019

(1606) HALFWAY TO THE 2018 PNCC; BOBOT STILL UNDEFEATED (TBN-Dec. 03, 2018)

: CHESS AND PIANO WITH NICK AND MARCO

                    Nick Nehez missed the 2018 PNCC Junior Division participation due to his attending the junior diving course during the first 4 weeks of PNCC. He is now a certified junior diver. He has a pet cat named Marco that posed at the piano and at the endgame part of my teaching course in chess a few months ago.                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

   HALFWAY TO THE 2018 P.N.C.C;

       BOBOT STILL UNDEFEATED

2^nd Seed Bobot Tan dealt Tito Cabunagan his first loss in the 5^th round of 2018 Palau National Chess Championship held at Ernguul Park on Nov. 25 to gain solo leadership when Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. dealt Angelo Salvadora his first loss as well in a game held at the former residence.

                 Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel snapped the 3-game winning streak of Manuel Mahor; Paquito Suringa Jr. dealt Angel Salvadora his first loss in a match played at the former's residence; Dennis Gonzales didn't show up to give Gonzalo Escapatoria a default win; Charley Patris suffrered another setback at the hands of Jeff Balbalosa; Glen Navarroza (Osman M Marte) and Angelito Mintar, Jr. drew their game in a marathon 69 moves;

                   Samuel Palingcod clobbered Reece Reklai; Neph Macasaet collected his 2nd point by nipping Manik Hossain in a shorter time control on Nov. 18 after the completion of the 4th rd.; Remrel Dizon didn't show up and give a whole point to Jello Aguaras and I won over Morton Sawaichi in just 18 moves. I uploaded Magnus Carlsen apps to Morton's cell phone so that he can have more practice session with it.

                  ROUND 6 PAIRINGS ON DEC. 2 (First name to play the white pieces)

Bobot vs. Jojo 2. Pax vs. Cyril 3. Jeff vs. Jun 4. Dennis vs. Angel 5. Angelito vs. Tito 6. Sam vs. Glen 7. Me vs. Neph 8. Charley vs. Jello 9. Manik vs. Remrel and Reece vs. Morton.

                  In the women's division, Angelil Sisior touted Angel Magno in 35 moves of Sicilian Defense; Prior to that, Angelil won over her younger sister Destiny Sisior in 33 moves of Sicilian Defense in a game held at their residence. 

Angie Parrado is still in a perfect start after she defeated Palau's No. 2 woman chess player Baby Edna Mission in just 18 moves of French Defense. In the only game of the junior division, Gian Gabriel Claronino is on track to win his first major title with a conquest of Kyarii Sisior in 48 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Bobot and Jojo played their game at Pax residence and Bobot keeps his unbeaten record intact win a victory over Jojo in 42 moves. Likewise, Tito Cabunagan and Angelito Mintar, Jr. played their game with Tito prevailing.

          I was the Guest Speaker in the PMA Chess in School 3^rd Batch on Nov. 28 at 2:15-3:00 pm. There are 14 participants in this batch with 2 Taiwanese—Derbai, Chioko Yang and Kuo Yu Hsuan, 2 Chinese—Liao, Xiancheng and Liu, Yi Lang, 2 Filipinos—Miclat, Mariah Coline and Osada, Aya, a Korean—Shin, Sowon, a Filipino-Bangladeshi—Islam, Jannah and 6 Palauans—Rechucher, Diana; Renguul, Joram; Roberto, Neil; Senior, Alik Jared; Sumang, Kikuo and my chess/piano student Tmetuchl, Dichem.

                They will be having a blitz chess tournament this December so I am preparing the single round-robin Swiss Perfect format for this.

                After missing the last 3 rounds of 2018 PNCC, Jennifer Angeles and her son Aome will play this coming Sunday, Dec. 2. She will be playing first Joan Gemota at 1pm and another game later to catch up. Aome had played only one game so far. Kyarii, Gian Gabriel, Michael and Rommel are waiting.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3493: 1. Kd6! If 1. …Kxb6 or Nd3, then 2. Nc6#

                This week’s puzzle No. 3494: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Page 9

               Volume 27

               Issue 96

               December 03, 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 -- December 03, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- December 03, 2018

(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

                   

(1590) ROUND 10 OF 2018 WCO (Oct. 04, 2018)--Honduras Swept Palau Women Team; Open Team 1-3 vs. Jersey

ROUND 10 OF 2018

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

(Oct. 04, 2018)

Honduras Swept Palau Women Team;

Open Team Lost 1-3 to Jersey

After the completion of the penultimate round, me and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. proceed to Hilton Hotel where our FIDE Delegate Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps and his wife Joy, Palau's Head of Delegation, were billeted.

Other members of Palau team were there already--Baby Edna Mission, Angelil Sisior, Angie Parrado, Rustum Cabuso and Palau's Rating Officer IA, IO Jamie Kenmure.

We had dinner at the lobby of the hotel and we proceed to the 20th floor of the hotel, where it is very cold and we need blankets to cope with the cold, windy and rainy night.

We share to them the story of the penultimate round--that both Palau teams suffered a shutout (women) and 1-3 thumping of the Open section team...




In the penultimate round of the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, the Palau Women's Team was swept by a very strong Honduras Women's team with Baby Edna Mission bowing at Board 1 to Any Figueroa (1739); Angelil Sisior was outclassed by Bitia Cruz (1702); Angelica Parrado's hunt for a WFM title was stalled by Marcella Garcia; Angelica Magno thought that she would win another one via time forfeit when her opponent, Nicole Garcia Andrea (1698) barely made her 40th move with less than a minute remaining to her first time control.

Honduras Women Team Captain Mario Garay received my face towel with design, my card and Palau Royal Resort brochure. I gave also my card/brochure to all the members of the team and to our Match Arbiter IA Gurmen Atilla of Turkey. We are talking a lot while the game is starting but whispering only.

His email address is atillanet@gmail.com 
                                      www.bodrumsatranc.com
                                      +90 533 630 56 40
                                      atilla.gurmen@tsf-org.tr

Angelil and Baby Edna aka Bheng ask the bartender to have photo with them.

The view of the center of Batumi town from the 20th floor of Hilton Hotel.

When we ordered drinks, I ordered Pinacolada.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- October 17, 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 17, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- October 17, 2018

               www.fide.com