(782) MOMENTUM WIN (Feb. 25-March 04, 2005)

VENUE HOST, THE BOUNCER AND GIANT CHESSBOARD
     Morton Sawaichi, right, poses with venue host Artemio Navarette behind the giant chessboard made by Roberto Hernandez during the 2005 Regular Chess tournament.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


                   MOMENTUM WIN

In 13 games at the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament, Palauan bet Morton Sawaichi notched only 3 wins but after his latest win against tough newcomer Manny Nedic, he don’t like to play another game against 6^th seed Jimmy Valenzuela to keep his momentum going and played as few as one game per week.

                The tournament is only on its 8^th round last Sunday, March 06, 2005 at Image Restaurant and being sponsored by the officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

                Nedic missed the right defense (a knight move) and was mated by Sawaichi with a queen move in the back rank. Sawaichi won last week over Gene Pastrana but lost to Cyril Montel, Jr. that stopped his momentum and he doesn’t like it to happen again.

                Nedic lost another game to top seed Roberto Hernandez in 61 moves of Bird’s Opening. Their game is such a cliffhanger as the crowd saw a winning continuation for Nedic on the 32^nd move which was analyzed at the end of the game.

                Valenzuela found a bishop sacrifice that would have won the game for Nedic against any defense. A clever in-between move by Hernandez on the 37^th move allowed him to put Nedic’s queen in passive position. A mistake pawn move by Nedic on the 38^th move sealed the victory for Hernandez although Nedic tried to draw the game with perpetual check. Hernandez found a haven for his king at a2 and threatens to promote another pawn for a queen when Nedic resigned.

                Third seed Menandro Manuel toppled Montel, Jr. to keep the lead of 4.5 points over his closest pursuer, Jose Omega, who was absent for Rock Island trip. His adjourned game against Nedic will be played next Sunday in the original venue, the premises of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

                In the last game of the day, Montel, Jr. clobbered Dennis Gonzales in 45 moves of a Center Counter Game and stayed at 5^th spot with a 5-2-1 win-loss-draw record.

                After the completion of the games, the players have discussed some suggestions to improve the ever-growing popularity of chess in Palau. An agenda was discussed for the report of past accomplishments, responsibilities, policies, election of new officers and board of directors, financial report, the next tournaments of the year and a meeting to finalize the next tournament.

                Also discussed were the possible sponsors and recruitment of new members who are somehow hesitant to join due to venue problem and the printing of Knights and Rooks Chess Club polo shirt with logo.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Na6 Kc6 2. Be8 mate. If 1….Kxa6 2. Bc4 mate. If 1. …Ka8 2. Bd5 mate and if 1. …Kc8, then 2. Bd6 mate.

                This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 9-10
              Volume 14
              February 25-March 04, 2005

               

                

(373) ANOTHER NEW VENUE

VENUE OF 3 MAJOR TOURNAMENTS
The Conference Room of Palau Royal Resort has been the venue of 3 major chess tournaments -- the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship, the 3rd PICC in 2011 and the recently concluded 2012 Palau National Chess Championship in which Jon Manuel Reyes, left, shakes hand with Miguel Hilario, Jr. during a Class B clash. Standing from left, Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Balbalosa and Baby Edna Mission. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)







            ANOTHER NEW VENUE

ON ITS 11th week, the 2005 Regular Chess tournament fires off to its 3rd venue, the Privilege Family Store in Malakal.

Artemio Navarette, the manager, is now the new venue host after he and his wife and Joe Cayetano agreed to host the remaining rounds of the tilt.

The original sponsor, Palau Paradise Lions Club president Lourdes Funa will be sponsoring the trophies while the $50.00 cash for brilliancy prize will be shouldered by the club's officers and members.

After 9 weeks at Image Restaurant, it is finally relocated to a more convenient location for players especially Bong Alipoon who resides in the second floor of the building.

It might have been a home court advantage for him as he won 2 games in a row last Sunday, March 27 over newcomer Manuel Nedic and Mario Ramos.

Ramos also lost earlier to top seed Roberto Hernandez in 34 moves of Sicilian Defence. And in his final game of the day, he lost again to Lin de Guzman but won by default over 9-year-old Israeli boy Liam Bornovski.

Hernandez trounced de Guzman in 36 moves of French Defence in the last game of the day.

To update the games of players who don't show up for at least 3 weeks, the chairman started the defaulting procedures for them. It can be replayed if time permits and if their opponents agreed.

Bornovski, who is on a Spring break in Canada, now has a win-loss-draw record of 0-9-6 after losing by default to Alipoon (7-3-2), Jimmy Valenzuela (6-6-1), Morton Sawaichi (4-11-0), de Guzman (8-2-2), Nedic (6-4-2), Cyril Montel, Jr. (8-2-2) and Jose Omega (8-1-1).

He halved the point by default draw to Joel Azana (2-0-2), Ivan II Chess Computer (4-6-3), Chris Domingo (1-7-4), Mariano Agustin, Jr. (0-6-3), Eric Espartero (1-5-1) and Ronald Maomay (2-4-2).

Meanwhile, Domingo lost by default to Dennis Gonzales (6-4-1), Alipoon, Maomay, Montel, Jr., Marcial Rodriguez (3-4-1) and Omega. He drew by default draw with Azana, Agustin, Jr., Espartero, Bornovski and Ivan II.

2004 junior champion Em-R de Vera (2-4-2) lost by default to Gonzales and drew by default with Maomay and Ivan II.

More default losses will be implemented next Sunday if the following players will not inform the chairman through tel. no. 488-3694 that they will be absent: Tutii Joe Chilton, Espartero, Agustin, Jr., Azana, de Vera, Domingo, Bornovski, Gonzales and Rodriguez.


Chess legend Bobby Fischer arrived in Iceland on Thursday after spending 8 months of detention in Japan fighting a US deportation order.

The 62-year-old American was granted citizenship earlier this week. Iceland hosted the 1972 World Chess Championship between Fischer and Soviet champion Boris Spassky in the capital Reykjavik.

The US State Department seemed determine to continue trying to bring him to justice for violation sanctions against the former Yugoslavia by playing a chess match there in 1992.

Fischer vanished after the 1992 match, in which he defeated his old rival Spassky and pocketed $3 million. He resurfaced again after the Sept. 11 attacks in US in 2001, and, in a interview with Philippine sports radio program at DZSR where National Master Marlon Bernardino has a weekly chess radio show, Fischer praised the strikes and said he wanted to see America "wiped out".


Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
April 01-07, 2005

(271) CHANGE OF VENUE

GIANT CHESSBOARD IS ALSO BEING USED AS BULLETIN BOARD

Morton Sawaichi, right, and venue host Artemio Navarette, posed behind the giant chessboard made by Roberto Hernandez. It is also used to announce the change of venue. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



CHANGE OF VENUE

THE RAINY and windy 2nd round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament had a sudden change of venue due to the renovation of Palau Paradise Lions Club headquarters beside Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video Center.

Only in the last hours that the Chairman was informed about the change and the players were informed through phone calls and notice on the giant chessboard.

Still, half of the participants are at Image Restaurant, the temporary venue, and half are waiting at the Galaxy Video Center where there are 3 matches took place while waiting for the others.

Newcomer Marcial Rodriguez played his first 2 tournament games and lost both to Jose Omega and Gene Pastrana.

Another newcomer, Manuel Nedic, played his first tournament game against Mario Ramos.

Their game is such a cliffhanger that 8 persons are crowding the small table where they are playing to get a glimpse of the position where both players are playing good defence and positional play.

They are in the endgame part when the other players proceed at Image Restaurant where 3 other players are waiting: Tutii Joe Chilton, Dennis Gonzales and Morton Sawaichi.

As the players started their matches, Ramos called the Chairman to inform him that there is a clock violation committed by Nedic as they stop their game and reset it in original position where the violation was made.

Ramos said that Nedic press his clock without moving any of his pieces. Upon consultation with Menandro Manuel, the arbiter-chairman Roberto Hernandez decided to penalize Nedic with 10 minutes off his clock.

They resume the game and after some clever maneuver, Nedic won a drawish game in 68 moves of an Irregular Opening.

Having consumed much of their time in their first game, they don't have time to play a 2nd one as Nedic resides in Ngeremlengui while Ramos and Rodriguez in the very far end of Ngchesar.

Other results of 2nd round and special 3rd and 4th round:
Chilton drubbed Gonzales in 64 moves of Nimzo-Indian Defence where both players thought that the format is rapid and moved fast.

Chilton also dealt Sawaichi his 2nd straight loss in 34 moves of a Bishop Opening.

Earlier, Sawaichi lost to Ivan II Chess Computer in another 34 moves of a Sicilian Defence (Dragon Variation) where he missed the rook capture and giving up the exchange to keep a strong attack.

Gonzales suffered another loss from Manuel, who is now the solo leader after scoring one more win over 13-year old Chris Domingo without a rook on his a1 square.

Omega and Sawaichi defeated defending kiddie champ Em-R de Vera with a knight handicap.

Most Improved Player Lin de Guzman nipped Pastrana but lost to Jimmy Valenzuela, who is now in solo 2nd spot with 2.5 points after losing to Roberto Hernandez in 52 moves of Danish Gambit in the last game of the day.

Valenzuela deviated from 3 previous Danish Gambit variations on the 3rd move and won a knight on the 17th move.

Hernandez clawed back by playing precise endgame tactics. After both players got a new queen, Hernandez is up by a rook and threatens mate in 2 when Valenzuela resigned.

Bong Alipoon came late in the afternoon and didn't play while newcomer Eric Espartero came at the original venue and practiced blitz chess with Omega but unable to come at Image Restaurant for a regular match.

In a special game held at Image Restaurant on Friday, January 21, Chilton lost to Ivan II Chess Computer in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

The 9-year-old Israeli boy didn't come also as his parents were off island since January 14.

Israel's top 24 players are all Grandmasters with Boris Gelfand at the top.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 14
January 23-29, 2005

(189) CM61 MANUEL BAGS 2nd TITLE

MENANDRO MANUEL

                                                2-time Champ

THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VENUE HOST
Knighs and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez, left, poses in front of the giant chessboard with Artemio Navarette, the venue host of the last 4 rounds of 2005 Regular Chess tournament. The giant chessboard displays the game of Manny Nedic and Jose Omega, who finished 2nd runner-up. Hernandez won 1st runner-up for the 3rd straight time. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



MANUEL BAGS 2ND TITLE
THIRD SEED Menandro 'Boy' Manuel clinched his 2nd title in 2 years after top seed Roberto Hernandez was upset by 16th seed Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 36 moves of an Irregular Opening in the final round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament sponsored by Palau Paradise Lions Club and Artemio Navarette, the venue host.

Manuel finished the tourney with a 18-1-2 win-loss-draw record after Hernandez dealt him his only loss in 34 moves of Dutch Defence. Manuel is ahead by quality but a blunder capture of a pawn resulted in losing his queen to avoid mate in two.

He resigned when he sees that there is no sustainable attack and the trend continues as the new champion suffered at least one defeat like the other 8 previous champions since 2002.

Hernandez was 1st runner-up again for 3 consecutive times. There is a 3-way tie for 2nd, 3rd and 4th runner-up between 5th seed Jose Omega, 4th seed Cyril Montel, Jr. and 9th seed Bong Alipoon.

After using the Sonnenborn Bergen system of tiebreak, Omega emerges with the highest score (141) followed by Montel, Jr. (127) and Alipoon (121.5).

Montel, Jr. forged the 3-way tie after drawing with Ivan II Chess Computer in 38 moves of a Caro-Kahn Defence.

Another tiebreaker was used between the top 2 candidates for Most Improved Player award. Gene Pastrana and Dennis Gonzales were tied at 12 points each and after using the same tiebreak system, Gonzales wins by 74-61 margin even though he was absent in the final round.

ROUNDING UP THE FINAL STANDINGS: 6. Lin de Guzman (15 pts.) 7. Jimmy Valenzuela (13.5) 8. Manuel Nedic (13) 9. Gonzales 10. Pastrana 11. Ivan II Chess Computer (10) 12. Mario Ramos (9.5) 13. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (8.5) 14. Marcial Rodriguez (8.5) 15. Morton Sawaichi (8) 16. Tutii Joe Chilton (7.5) 17. Joel Azana (6.5) 18. Ronald Maomay (5) 19. Eric Espartero (4.5) 20. Em-R de Vera (4.5) 21. Chris Domingo (3.5) 22. Liam Bornovski (3).

Manuel, Montel, Jr. and Hernandez are still reviewing the qualified games for brilliancy prize worth $50.00 courtesy of officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

There will be a gathering of all Filipino Associations in Palau this Sunday, April 24 at Long Island. The Knights and Rooks Chess Club will have a blitz chess festival and if the trophies are ready, the awarding ceremony will also be held.

Those who will attend and participate are requested to bring at least one dish to be shared with others.

Two weeks ago, Hernandez was able to talk to The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) President Boie Aguas and he mentioned that he had given August Ubaldo, the in-charge of the trophies of the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament sponsored by TFCP, --$300.00 for the trophies.

Ubaldo said that the 7 trophies arrived already in Palau but said there is a mistake in the engraving so he returned it to Philippines. Many think that it is just an alibi as it is very easy to make a new engraving like Hernandez has done to the trophies of 2002 and 2004 Open Chess tournament.

Ubaldo has not come back yet in Palau and the winners of the 2004 Rapid Chess tourney especially the junior champion Em-R de Vera is still disappointed over the delay.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume 14 Issue 16
April 22-29 2005

(136) MANUEL BAGS 2ND TITLE (TBN-Apr.22-29, 2005)

                                            MENANDRO MANUEL
                                                  2-time Champ

THE CHAIRMAN AND THE VENUE HOST
     Knighs and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez, left, poses in front of the giant chessboard with Artemio Navarette, the venue host of the last 4 rounds of 2005 Regular Chess tournament. The giant chessboard displays the game of Manny Nedic and Jose Omega, who finished 2nd runner-up. Hernandez won 1st runner-up for the 3rd straight time.                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



         MANUEL BAGS 2ND TITLE
THIRD SEED Menandro 'Boy' Manuel clinched his 2nd title in 2 years after top seed Roberto Hernandez was upset by 16th seed Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 36 moves of an Irregular Opening in the final round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament sponsored by Palau Paradise Lions Club and Artemio Navarette, the venue host.

Manuel finished the tourney with a 18-1-2 win-loss-draw record after Hernandez dealt him his only loss in 34 moves of Dutch Defence. Manuel is ahead by quality but a blunder capture of a pawn resulted in losing his queen to avoid mate in two.

He resigned when he sees that there is no sustainable attack and the trend continues as the new champion suffered at least one defeat like the other 8 previous champions since 2002.

Hernandez was 1st runner-up again for 3 consecutive times. There is a 3-way tie for 2nd, 3rd and 4th runner-up between 5th seed Jose Omega, 4th seed Cyril Montel, Jr. and 9th seed Bong Alipoon.

After using the Sonnenborn Bergen system of tiebreak, Omega emerges with the highest score (141) followed by Montel, Jr. (127) and Alipoon (121.5).

Montel, Jr. forged the 3-way tie after drawing with Ivan II Chess Computer in 38 moves of a Caro-Kahn Defence.

Another tiebreaker was used between the top 2 candidates for Most Improved Player award. Gene Pastrana and Dennis Gonzales were tied at 12 points each and after using the same tiebreak system, Gonzales wins by 74-61 margin even though he was absent in the final round.

ROUNDING UP THE FINAL STANDINGS:  6. Lin de Guzman (15 pts.) 7. Jimmy Valenzuela (13.5) 8. Manuel Nedic (13) 9. Gonzales 10. Pastrana 11. Ivan II Chess Computer (10) 12. Mario Ramos (9.5) 13. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (8.5) 14. Marcial Rodriguez (8.5) 15. Morton Sawaichi (8) 16. Tutii Joe Chilton (7.5) 17. Joel Azana (6.5) 18. Ronald Maomay (5) 19. Eric Espartero (4.5) 20. Em-R de Vera (4.5) 21. Chris Domingo (3.5) 22. Liam Bornovski (3).

Manuel, Montel, Jr. and Hernandez are still reviewing the qualified games for brilliancy prize worth $50.00 courtesy of officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

There will be a gathering of all Filipino Associations in Palau this Sunday, April 24 at Long Island. The Knights and Rooks Chess Club will have a blitz chess festival and if the trophies are ready, the awarding ceremony will also be held.

Those who will attend and participate are requested to bring at least one dish to be shared with others.

Two weeks ago, Hernandez was able to talk to The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) President Boie Aguas and he mentioned that he had given August Ubaldo, the in-charge of the trophies of the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament sponsored by TFCP, --$300.00 for the trophies.

Ubaldo said that the 7 trophies arrived already in Palau but said there is a mistake in the engraving so he returned it to Philippines. Many think that it is just an alibi as it is very easy to make a new engraving like Hernandez has done to the trophies of 2002 and 2004 Open Chess tournament.

Ubaldo has not come back yet in Palau and the winners of the 2004 Rapid Chess tourney especially the junior champion Em-R de Vera is still disappointed over the delay.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Volume 14   Issue 16
             April 22-29 2005