Palau Chessmate: Daniel Lapitan

AUSTRALIA'S CHESS FUTURE
Daniel Lapitan, left, won the under 12 years Australian Junior Chess Championship this year and will now represent Australia in the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil on November 14-24, 2011. At right is Alex Stahnke, another strong candidate to be one of Australia's best junior players. (Photo by Raymond-Nancy Lapitan)

LETTERS of invitation to join in the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship has been sent by organizer Roberto Hernandez to 7 invited participants -- FIDE Master Christopher Castellano; USA and Philippines Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr.; FIDE Arbiter Dr. Alfredo Paez and his wife; International Arbiter (IA) Erwin Carag; Papua New Guinea's Joselito Marcos, his wife and daughter; Jamie Kenmure of Australia and another one (male or female) from Australia.

Dr. Alfredo Paez was the first one to confirm his participation by email that says: "Dear Mr. Hernandez, Greetings! It is my pleasure to join in the Palau Invitational Chess Championship. I'm now preparing for the event. Pls. include me in the list of participants. Thank you for the invitation. Kind regards, Dr. Paez".

invited and local players were asked to give their comments and suggestions about the 3rd PICC and erstwhile top player of Palau Menandro 'Boy' Manuel suggested the following:
(1). The entry fee must be a requirement before any player can play his first game. This is an international event and prizes will be very important for the players to aim for. Maybe some amount in the club can be added to the prize. The tournament venue is quite important here. The site should be convenient and should have amenities standard for an event like this.
(2). The tournament will be a single round-robin event with 2 games to be played every playing day. The foreign participants will have no problem with this schedule but Palau-based players will definitely have. Almost all players here work from 7am-5pm and can be available only during weekends and maybe 6pm onward on weekdays. Maybe you adjust the locals playing time accordingly. Also locals should play full time during Sat. and Sunday as these are their day offs. If necessary, 2-3 games can be played in these days.
(3). I suggest Angie be included among the participants since she has confirmed her participation in the Istanbul Olympiad. If we will send a women's team and if she will be there 100%, we should give her all the exposures she needs to improve her game. She can take the place of Mohammad Manik Hossain and he will just be a reserve in case other participants back out.

Joselito Marcos also gives comments regarding these: "Please be advised that Palau players should make "sacrifice" if needed by asking their employers for day offs during the competition. The foreign participants are making lots of sacrifices themselves--do you think it was only a holiday for them (us)? If so, you are completely mistaken. Why not ask the assistance from the OCC for prizes? OCC should extend its hands to PCF even if there are no other Oceania participants except for me and Jamie Kenmure.
The invitational is an international tournament and should not be treated like the way games are scheduled in the Palau National Championships. It should remain as a closed tournament and as such the Palau local participants should be finalized at the soonest. No apologies for being blunt here."

Hernandez wrote an email to the president of Oceania Zonal Chess Confederation (OCC) Brian Jones. He responded with the following: "Dear Roberto and Gary Bekker, OCC is happy to provide support to contribute towards Oceania travel expenses provided that: (1). The host federation is not in arrears with FIDE and OCC. (2). The event is FIDE rated. (3). The The player is a member of an Oceania Federation. (4). Receipts from the Oceania travel expenses incurred are provided. For the Palau tournament, we would be happy to consider making a contribution to the travel expenses of any player from Australia, Guam or PNG. But I am not sure about Marlon Bernardino? Also, what is the $2,000? Maybe you need a proper budget? What is the target to be raised for Istanbul? Good luck! Brian Jones, President, FIDE Zone 3.6 (Oceania).

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9-10
Volume 20
Issue 47
November 14, 2011

Friday, July 31, 2015

(1001) DR. ALFREDO PAEZ CONFIRMED TO 3RD PICC (Nov. 13, 2011)

AUSTRALIA'S CHESS FUTURE
     Daniel Lapitan, left, won the under 12 years Australian Junior Chess Championship (2011) and will represent Australia in the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil in November 17-24, 2011. At right is Alex Stahnke, another strong candidate to be one of Australia's best junior chess player.                          (Photo by: Raymond Nancy Lapitan)

             DR. ALFREDO PAEZ
        CONFIRMED TO 3RD PICC

LETTERS OF invitation to join in the 3^rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship has been sent by organizer Roberto Hernandez to 7 invited participants –FIDE Master Christopher Castellano; USA and Philippines Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr.; FIDE Arbiter Dr. Alfredo Paez and his wife; International Arbiter (IA) Erwin Carag; Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos, his wife and daughter; Jamie Kenmure of Australia and another one (male or female) from Australia.

Dr. Alfredo Paez was the first one to confirm his participation by email that says: “Dear Mr. Hernandez, Greetings! It’s my pleasure to join in the Palau Invitational Chess Championships. I’m now preparing for the event. Please include me in the list of participants. Thank you for the invitation. Kind regards, Dr. Paez.”

Invited and local players were asked to give their comments and suggestions about the 3^rd PICC and erstwhile top player of Palau Menandro ‘Boy’ Manuel suggested the following:
(1) The entry fee must be a requirement before any player can play his first game. He said this is an international event and prizes will be very important for the players to aim for. Maybe some amount in the club can be added to the prize. The tournament venue is quite important here. The site should be convenient and should have the amenities standard to an event like this.
(2) The tournament will be a single round robin event with 2 games to be played every playing day. The foreign participants will have no problem with this schedule but Palau-based players will definitely have. Almost all players here work from 7 am to 5pm and can be available only during weekends and maybe 6 pm onwards on weekdays. Maybe you adjust the locals playing time accordingly. Also locals should play full time during Sat. and Sunday as these are their day offs. If necessary, 2 to 3 games can be played in these days.

(3) I suggest Angie be included among the participants since she has confirmed her participation in the Istanbul Olympiad. If we will send a women’s team and if she will be there 100%, we should give her all the exposures she needs to improve her game. She can take the place of Mohammad Manik Hossain and he will just be a reserve in case other participants back out.

Joselito Marcos also gives comments regarding these: “Please be advised that Palau players should make “sacrifice” if needed by asking their employers for days off during the competition. The foreign participants are making lots of sacrifices themselves—do you think it was only a holiday for them (us)? If so, you are completely mistaken. Why not ask assistance from the OCC for prizes? OCC should extend its hands to PCF even if there are no other Oceania participants except for me and Jamie Kenmure.

The invitational is an international tournament and should not be treated like the way games are scheduled in the Palau national championships. It should remain as a closed tournament and as such the Palau local participants should be finalized at the soonest. No apologies for being blunt here.”

Hernandez wrote an email to the president of Oceania Chess Confederation (OCC) Brian Jones. He responded with the following: “Dear Roberto and Gary, OCC is happy to provide support to contribute towards Oceania travel expenses provided that: (1) The host federation is not in arrears with FIDE or OCC. (2) The event is FIDE rated. (3) The player is a member of an Oceania Federation. (4) Receipts from the Oceania travel expenses incurred are provided.

For the Palau tournament, we would be happy to consider making a contribution to the travel expenses of any player from Australia, Guam or PNG. But I am not sure about Marlon Bernardino? Also, what is the $2,000? Maybe you need a proper budget? What is the target to be raised for Istanbul? Good luck! Brian Jones, President, FIDE Zone 3.6 (Oceania)

Source:   Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
   Pages 9-10
   Volume 20
             Issue 47
             November 14, 2011

Saturday, March 30, 2013

(422) MINGLING WITH THE WORLD'S TOP CHESS PLAYERS

A MOMENT WITH GRANDMASTER ALEXIE SHIROV
Prior before his game, I talked to GM Alexie Shirov, now playing for Latvia, about his simul in Australia in 2009 where Daniel Lapitan was the only player that drew with him. I can't find anybody to take this picture so I take it myself. A smile elicit from GM Shirov when I did that. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

MINGLING WITH THE WORLD'S
TOP CHESS PLAYERS

PLAYING in the World Chess Olympiad is an unforgettable experience. Where can you find a greater place to mingle with the world’s best chess players? It’s only in the Olympiad. Where can you have 15 or 16 days of free full accommodation while enjoying the host country’s hospitality and historical places to visit? It’s only in the Olympiad. There are lots more reasons to it that’s why if given an opportunity or chance, grab it and be firm on your decision.

Palau finally participated in its first World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey on Aug. 27-Sept. 10, 2012. Although they are short of a player because of separate reasons from Tito Cabunagan and Mohammad Manik Hossain, Palau still completed the 4 boards with Roberto Hernandez at Board 1, Elizabeth Manuel at Board 2, Bernardo Garcia at Board 3 and Menandro Manuel at Board 4.

After each and every game in the Istanbul Olympiad, I make it sure that I take pictures of the top 10 boards that are still playing. It means 20 top countries in the standings fighting it off for honor to their countries.

Usually, the top players sit on their tables with just a few minutes before the games start. I’m lucky to have a picture with super Grandmaster Alexie Shirov, who played for Spain for many years and now playing for Latvia. I don’t have anybody to take a picture of us so I took it myself after giving him my card and talk to him about his simultaneous exhibition games in Australia in 2009.

In that exhibition games, he played 16 players at the same time and only the 10-year-old Daniel Lapitan was able to draw with him. GM Shirov remembers that and I told him that Daniel and his family became my friends when I participated in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Australia.

I was able to talk to International Master of Philippines Oliver Dimakiling after he quickly lost his game at Board 4 against GM Gabriel Sargissian from eventual champion Armenia. He said he miscalculated the complex position of his game, which became his last game as reserve in that Olympiad.

There is an agreement between players and team captain of the Philippine team that whoever loses his first game, he will be replaced. Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre then became the Board 3 player and GM Mark Paragua replaced IM Dimakiling and since then, the Philippine team, 35^th seed, scored successive victories or draws to higher rated opponents.

In Round 6, the Philippines defeated Bulgaria with Wesley So, Paragua and Torre securing draws and Oliver Barbosa delivered the winning margin by clobbering GM Kiril Georgiev in 59 moves.

Notable draw was achieved against 4^thseeded Hungary in Round 7 with Wesley So and Peter Leko played a wild line of the Marshall Attack, but the game ended in a draw. Zoltan Almasi took his team to the lead with a win over Oliver Barbosa, but the legendary Eugene Torre, first Asian Grandmaster and record holder of 21 appearances in the Olympiads, escaped from a passive position to pull off a victory against Ferenc Berkes and equalize the score. (Palau’s Delegate Jan Berglund has claimed he’s got 22 appearances in the Olympiads but not as a player like Eugene but as captain/coach/Delegate or journalist).

In Round 8—ELO doesn’t really play a game in chess, as repeatedly proven by Philippines, who soundly beat the strong team of England by 3-1. Barbosa whipped Gawain Jones in 102 moves while the legendary Torre outsmarted Nigel Short. I remember Eugene said after losing to Short in the Candidates Matches in the ‘80’s: “I’ll never get short of Nigel Short again.”SWEET REVENGE!

Menandro Manuel, left, Board 4 of Palau, watches the England-Philippines match with GM Wesley So vs. GM Michael Adams and GM Oliver Barbosa vs. GM Gawain Jones. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

China ends the winning streak of the Philippines in Round 9 by winning on boards 2, 3 and 4. Only So salvaged a draw to avert a shutout. Still in the top 10 tables, the Philippines drew with Vietnam in the penultimate round and lost to Romania in the final round to finish 21^st. In 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia, the Philippine team finished 50^th. Their best place finished is 7^th at the 1988 Thessaloniki, Greece World Chess Olympiad and 11^thin the 1974 World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France where Torre got his final GM norm to become Asia’s first GM.

Russia’s first match loss in an Olympiad was dealt to them by a strong USA team in the 9^thround of Istanbul Olympiad. I’m there watching how USA top player Hikaru Nakamura defeated former world champion Vladimir Kramnik. Before making his 40^thmove (Rxe7), he will look up, stand up, talk to himself in silence, pretending to hold the piece to make a move, close his eyes for a few seconds, and all the other legal antics that you can think of. Most of the time, he’s watching other games if it’s his opponent’s turn to move. He spends more time standing/walking than sitting!

In the final round, Nakamura suffered his first loss to Poland’s Radoslaw Wojtaszek, who is the second/assistant of current world champion Viswanathan Anand for a long time.

World’s no. 4 Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan spends a long time before sacrificing his knight against a Grandmaster. He looks at the crowd, stand up, close his eyes, looked up staring blank, make it sure that the crowd will see him making the sacrifice. He moves while standing and authoritatively checked his opponent’s king. That move produces a whole point for him and Azerbaijan, who will host the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, the birthplace of former world champion Gary Kasparov.

Radjabov’s laptop was stolen in his hotel room while he is participating in a tournament in Europe and had to withdraw from the tournament because his preparations for the event are all in his laptop.

I was able to talk also to former Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker, who shouldered my airfare in 2009 so that I can participate in that Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Australia. He said he is very glad that Palau finally sent a whole team to the Olympiad. He added that my position being at Board 1 had a very heavy responsibility because I’m facing the strongest players every time in every game so he understands my 3 wins, 1 draw and 7 losses record.

After the Istanbul Olympiad, chess is now booming in Palau. The ongoing 2012 Palau National Chess Championship exceeded all expectations in terms of junior and women participants. The Class A is for the top 8 of Palau in a double round-robin format.

The Class B or 1650 rating and lower has 21 participants with 4 more waiting in the line. They can’t be accommodated because of shortness of rated players in that division. Next year, Palau can have a separate tournament for kids 15 years and below, Class A, Class B and women.

The Palau Chess Team for 2014 World Chess Olympiad is already filled in the Open (Men’s)—Board 1 Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Board 2 Menandro Manuel, Board 3 CM Bernardo Garcia, Board 4 Tito Cabunagan, reserve Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Balbalosa and Paquito Suringa, Jr. The head of Delegation is Senator Mlib Tmechtul, the men’s team captain is Australian Jamie Kenmure and Delegate is Jan Berglund of Sweden. The almost complete line-up of women’s team is Board 1 Angie Parrado, Board 2 Mary Frances Lopez, Board 3 Bheng Codinera Mendoza (her real name is Baby Edna Mission as written in her passport), Board 4 Elizabeth Manuel, reserve Paz Ngiratechekii or Angelil Sisior. Suringa or Balbalosa can be their team captain defending on the availability of the positions. Mohammad Manik Hossain also confirmed his inclusion to the 2014 team but his hesitations in Istanbul Olympiad caused his slot to be taken by more committed and higher rated players.

MOVING FORWARD –CHESS IN PALAU!

Source: Smile and Say Chess by Roberto Hernandez

The International Filipino Magazine

November 2012 Issue

Palau Chessmate

Monday, November 7, 2016

(1287) CHESS MATE ISSUES No. 351-400 and their LINKS

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

(1181) BLINDFOLD CHESS VS. 8 OPPONENTS (TBN-March 15-21, 2010)

Thursday, September 24, 2015

(1078) DR. ALFREDO PAEZ CONFIRMED TO 3RD PICC (TBN-Nov. 14, 2011)

Friday, July 31, 2015

(1001) DR. ALFREDO PAEZ CONFIRMED TO 3RD PICC (Nov. 13, 2011)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

(422) MINGLING WITH THE WORLD'S TOP CHESS PLAYERS

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