(1091) LAKOBONG, LACAMBRA, JR., MACAPAGAL --SPONSORS OF 2005 OPEN (TBN-May 13-20, 2005)

          LAKOBONG, LACAMBRA, JR. 
                        MACAPAGAL --
            SPONSORS OF 2005 OPEN 

BEFORE the awarding ceremony of the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament even begins, the next chess tournament – the 2005 Open Chess Tilt, have already got trophies and brilliancy game prize sponsors. Palau businessman Bendix N. Lakobong, his Operations Manager Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Production Manager Roswell C. Macapagal have agreed to host/sponsor the next chess tourney after talking to Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) Chairman Roberto Hernandez. It will start on May 22 and will conclude on September 25 at Galaxy Video Center premises.

                During their conversation, they agreed to use the name T-Shirt Printing Atbp as the company with all of their names to be mentioned in all succeeding issues of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez in Tia Belau Newspaper. Lacambra also designed the T-Shirt/Polo Shirt printing for players to order if they wished to have 2 shirts (white and dark green) wearing those while playing or as souvenir for participating in that event. They also agreed to have a brilliancy prize of $50.00 and will issue certificates of participation to players who paid their registration fee.

                In the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament (January 16-April 17), no certificates were issued to Eric Espartero and Joel Azana for failing to pay their $10.00 registration fee within that 3-month period. Those others who didn’t make it in the awarding ceremony will get theirs on the opening day of the event. They are Manuel Nedic, Em-R de Vera, Chris Domingo, Lin de Guzman, Mario Ramos, Marcial Rodriguez, Dennis Gonzales, Tutii Joe Chilton, Liam Bornovski and Ronald Maomay.

                The players who confirmed their participation are Menandro Manuel (2061 Approximate National Rating), Roberto Hernandez (2056), Cyril Montel, Jr. (2044), Jose Omega (2027), Bong Alipoon (2012), Ivan II Chess Computer (2006), Jimmy Valenzuela (1994), Mario Ramos (1890), Dennis Gonzales (1825), Gene Pastrana (1822), Joel Azana (1789), Morton Sawaichi (1780), Manuel Nedic (1759), Tutii Joe Chilton (1693), Eric Espartero (1579), Marcial Rodriguez (1571) and James dela Cruz (1500).

                It will be a single round-robin so 15 games will have to be played by each player. The time control is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game.

Adjournment is allowed if a player has to go back for work. The position must be recorded with the time remaining for each player and the player to move will seal his move and will give it to the Chief Arbiter (Hernandez). At the resumption of the agreed date, it will be open and play will resume.

Players can play as much as 2 games every Sunday and special games in different places can be arranged. For those late participants, the time control can be reduced to the agreed time control of both players.

Registration fee is $10.00. No certificates will be issued to those players who didn’t pay their registration fee like in the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament. Writing chess notations is mandatory either in English or Algebraic notations.

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3768: 1. Ne6++ Ke8 2. Qe7+!! Nxe7 3. Rd8 mate.

This week’s puzzle No. 3770: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Page 9

             Volume 14

             May 13-20, 2005 

(1089) HERNANDEZ TOPS 2005 MID-YEAR BLITZ CHESS FEST (TBN-July 15-22, 2005)

FREE BANANAS FROM ROBERTO
    Once in a while, Roberto is bringing ripe bananas at tournament site for players to have as snack while playing. Here, he brought some and put on the tables donated by Nilo de Jesus to Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) in January 2004. Eric Espartero, right, whipped Joel Azana, who nipped Gene Pastrana, standing, earlier in the afternoon while Lin de Guzman, left, practices with Cyril Montel, Jr. De Guzman skipped this tournament--the 2005 Open, but participated in the Mid-Year Blitz Chess Fest held on July 10, 2005.                      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


HERNANDEZ TOPS 2005 MID-YEAR
             BLITZ CHESS FEST

AFTER the 5 games of the 8th round of 2005 Open Chess Tournament held at Privilege Family Store in Malakal were finished, 7 players participated in the double round-robin blitz chess fest.

The 5 games were between Eric Espartero vs. Manuel Nedic, in which the latter won;

 Gene Pastrana was clobbered by Mario Ramos;
 Jose Omega subdued Jimmy Valenzuela; 

Nedic scored another victory over Ramos,

 and Marcial Rodriguez outwitted Ivan II Chess Computer.

THE PLAYERS IN THE DOUBLE ROUND-ROBIN BLITZ CHESS FEST ARE:

1. Menandro Manuel
2. Cyril Montel, Jr.
3. Roberto Hernandez
4. Bong Alipoon
5. Gene Pastrana
6. Morton Sawaichi
7. Lin de Guzman
 

2005 MID-YEAR BLITZ CHESS FESTIVAL

July 10, 2005

Double Round Robin

FINAL STANDINGS

                      Players                                                            Win    Loss   Draw    Total

1. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                        10       2        0           10
2. MENANDRO MANUEL                                             8       2        2            9
3. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                                 7       5        0            7
4. BONG ALIPOON                                                       5       5        2            6
5. LIN DE GUZMAN                                                      4       6        2            5
6. GENE PASTRANA                                                     3       7        2            4
7. MORTON SAWAICHI                                               1       11      0             1

  

 Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 9-10
            Volume 14
            Issue 33
            July 15-22, 2005

    

(1063) VALENZUELA'S LUCKY DAY (TBN-April 12-19, 2005)

LOSING 6 games out of 7 matches is not consistency to 6th seed Jimmy Valenzuela. But on the 11th round of the 2005 Open Chess Tournament held on Sunday, August 7, he came from behind in games against Eric Espartero and Mario Ramos to beat the two in lucky fashion.

His game against Espartero was put on hold when the latter has to go to the airport and left the position on the 26th move. 

Then Ramos came and play with Valenzuela while waiting for Espartero to come back. Valenzuela lost his queen in the middle game. Many observers thought that he will lose his 7th straight but he managed to attack Ramos' weaknesses at the back rank and recovered the queen and the initiative. Ramos tried to salvage his game with a draw by stalemate but his unopposed pawn gave him the extra move that cost him half point.

Espartero came back while they are in the middle of their game. When they resume the game, Valenzuela opted to stop writing his moves and was in passive position when Espartero blundered away his bishop and resigned facing mate in two moves.

Espartero had 3 pawns, a bishop and a rook against Valenzuela's 2 rooks. In master's game, that advantage is good enough to convert into a win but many amateurs play fast in the endgame that several winning games were lost due to endgame tactics weaknesses.

With 2 victories of the day, Valenzuela climbed from 13th spot to 8th place in the tournament sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell C. Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing Atbp. and held at Privilege Family Store in Malakal.

Lacambra came back already from vacation and he brought the 6 trophies for the top 5 finishers and for the Most Improved Player (MIP).

And speaking of MIP, top contender Manuel Nedic demolished Ivan II Chess Computer in 53 moves of Modern Defence to tie idle Jose Omega at the top of the standings with 6-2-0 win-loss-draw slate. Omega had a 6-1-0 card after losing for the first time last week to Espartero.

Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. survived a tremendous attack from Gene Pastrana to win in 26 moves of Bird's Opening.  Montel, Jr. (5-1-0) moved closer to the leaders and continued his quest for a first title in 9 tournaments. Espartero and idle top seed Roberto Hernandez were tied at 6th spot with an identical record of 4-4-1. 

Another blitz chess contest was held after the completion of all regular games. This time, 8 players participated:
 Menandro Manuel, Bong Alipoon, Hernandez, Valenzuela, Lin de Guzman, Montel, Jr., Pastrana, and Nedic.

Hernandez won his first 4 games when he received a phone call from work asking him to come as customers were waiting for him. It's supposed to be his day off that day. He lost his last 3 games and left the site with the last 2 crucial games still to be played between Alipoon and Valenzuela, and de Guzman against Manuel. 

If Valenzuela would win, and Manuel would lose to de Guzman, Valenzuela would be the champion. If Manuel and Valenzuela would both win, they will decide to play one game to decide the issue or just split the cash prize. Half of the prizes were already spent on drinks of all participants.

Solution to last week's puzzle: (We are sorry for the mistake. The first puzzle should have been the 2nd puzzle.)
1. ...h5+ 2. Kg4 f5+!! (forced, but now Black's rook is no longer pinned) 3. ...Rg2 mate.   

     

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 14
             Issue 32
             August 12-19, 2005 

(1051) FIRST ROUND SURPRISES (TBN-January 21-28, 2005)

MARIO RAMOS -- 3-1 WIN-LOSS RECORD VS. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER
     The 'Knight' of Palau chess Mario Ramos, left, has defeated Ivan II Chess Computer 3 times in their last 4 encounters. His latest victory is via a special telephone match organized by Roberto Hernandez on Monday, January 17, 2005 to save time and gas because he's living and working in a ranch which is 45 minutes travel to reach town. He outwitted Ivan II in 54 moves of Four Knights Defence. In the background of this photo (L-R) are Marcial Rodriguez, Jose Omega, Honorary PCF Member Susan Andres and Gene Pastrana at the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament in Malakal.
                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


             FIRST ROUND SURPRISES
THE FIRST round of the 2005 Regular Chess Tournament that was held on Sunday, Jan. 16, generated a few surprises with 15th seed Joel Azana leading the field with 2 straight wins over 19th seed Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 36 moves of a Bird's Opening and over 16th seed Morton Sawaichi in 29 moves of a Queen Pawn's Game where the latter blundered away his queen on the 18th move and never recovered.

Cyril Montel, Jr. outsmarted newcomer Eric Espartero in 32 moves of Caro-Kahn Defence. The talented Espartero displayed brilliance in the middle game when he put 2nd seed Roberto Hernandez on the brink of defeat but miscalculated the sequence of moves and allow Hernandez to equalize when he left his bishop unprotected and was mated by a pawn on the 48th move of Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation).

The first tourney of the year is being sponsored by officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club and being held every Sunday at their office premises beside Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video where the first contestant to arrive had paid for his registration fee of $10.00 but will play next Sunday.

Manuel Nedic, who resides in Ngeremlengui, is an avid reader of Chess Mate and solving the chess puzzles in the column is his only way to practice. He will play his first ever tournament game on Sunday against the first player available at 1pm.

Another 8 players didn't make it in the opening round and will play 2 games on the 2nd round. They are defending champion Eddie Grefiel, Jose Omega, Gene Pastrana, Mario Ramos, Dennis Gonzales, Den Canaria, Tutii Joe Chilton and Jimboy de Jesus, who showed up but didn't play.

The trophies for the winners of the 2004 Open Chess Tournament were awarded to Jimmy Valenzuela (2nd runner-up, Class A), Agustin, Jr. (1st runner-up, Class B), Hernandez (1st runner-up, Class A) and Canaria (2nd runner-up, Class B). The trophy were awarded at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

The Most Improved Player trophy was awarded also to Lin de Guzman, who clobbered Bong Alipoon in the last game of the day.

OTHER RESULTS OF THE 1ST AND SPECIAL 2ND ROUND:
     Valenzuela halved the point with Agustin, Jr. in a bishop-of-the-same-color endgame; former champion Menandro Manuel dealt Agustin, Jr. his 2nd loss of the day and 9th seed Valenzuela upset 5th seed Montel, Jr. in 74 moves of a French Defence.

In the kid's division, defending champion Em-R de Vera lost to Chris Domingo (2-0) in their best-of-3 series opener. They practiced with Valenzuela and Manuel in a handicap format to prepare in joining the seniors if the participants in the junior division will not reach at least 4.

A 9-year-old Israeli boy (Liam Bornovsky) will join the fray as his parents talked to the Chairman (Hernandez) to let their son to participate in his very first tournament game.
They said that he is already beating his father in practice.

Israel is a powerhouse in world chess as they are seeded 3rd in the 36th Chess Olympiad held in Mallorca, Spain in Oct. 14-31, 2004. They finished 5th behind eventual champion Ukraine and top seed Russia.  

In a special game through telephone on Monday, Jan. 17, Mario Ramos played against 3rd seed Ivan II Chess Computer and defeated the formidable machine in 54 moves of Four Knights Defence with the white pieces. Ramos informed the Chairman that he can't make it on the opening day and that he will play 2 games next Sunday. He resides in the very far end of Ngechsar state and it is 45 minutes trip by car to Koror. He now has a 3-1 win-loss record against Ivan II.


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 9-10
            Volume 15
            Issue 04
            January 21-28, 2005 

                

  

(568) 21 PLAYERS JOIN NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (TBN-May 2-8, 2008)

           
THIS YEAR'S National Chess Championship attracts 21 chess players all around Palau to test their chess savvy and get a chance to have international ranking.

It is more than double of the last year's participants with the inclusion of inactive player Jose Misael G. de Jesus, Jr. or 'Jimboy', who played the first game of NCC on Saturday, April 26 against Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in their Bishop Openig game.

Dittrich sacrficed a knight for a pawn on the 19th move and obtain a strong attack but overlooked another neat knight sacrifice two moves later and succumbed to pressure and resigned on the 28th move.

The first game on Sunday, April 27 was between 28-year old Michael Mercado vs. Jaime Guevarra, a 36-year old pastry chef at Palau Royal Resort and having his rare Sunday day off. Even without much preparation, Guevarra prevailed in 40 moves of Center Counter.

The surprise entree of the NCC is Ken Pastrana, the 10-year old youngest son of Gene Pastrana, who is Palau no. 4 with FIDE rating of 1870 and the venue host of the event which is Jean's Boutique and Store, just across Maris Stella School.

Another surprise entrant is Mohammad Manik Hossain, a Bangladesh national, who always practice with the older Pastrana on weekends.

Ken and Hossain played on Sunday and they drew their game via stalemate as Ken failed to maintain his overwhelming advantage into a victory in another Center Counter game.

Blitz chess specialist Tony Villa scored five consecutive wins against Hossain in 24 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening; over Jimboy in 27 moves of Bishop Opening; against Mercado in a marathon 76 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening; over Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II and basketball player Eric Espartero, who trounced Hossain in 54 moves of Petroff Defence.

Villa will be having a vacation on May 29 and he likes to finish all his games before going. Players are requested to play with him even on non-playing days.

Guevarra halved the point with Jimboy in 40 moves of King's Pawn Opening after realizing that there is no breakthrough in their bishop of opposite color endgame. And Guevarra had a 50% day of chess after losing to Palau's number 2 Jose Omega in their Sicilian Defence game encounter.

Mestizo was winless in 3 tries as he lost also to Jimboy and Espartero. He's neophyte in tournament game where writing chess notations is mandatory. The same fate happened to Mercado as he lost his third game to Espartero.

Omega has set a match against Dennis Lara, a cook at Palau Royal Resort, on Tuesday, April 29 at 12:00 to 3:00 pm at Dormitory 1 of PRR.

Other players who haven't seen action in the opening day are Menandro Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jr., Manny Nedic, who showed up but didn't play, Jess Toldoya, Arnel Pama, Elizalde Madrinan, Paquito Suringa (on vacation and will be back on May 14), Palau's no. 5 Roberto Hernandez, PRR Musician, and Jan Berglund, the International Arbiter/Trainer from Sweden who will come to Palau on May 15.

The tournament is still open to interested players like Dennis Gonzales, Val Vidar of PPR and the new worker (4-time champion in Philippines). Registration fee is $20.00. For more information, please call Roberto Hernandez at 488-2000 ext 114 or Gene Pastrana at 488-4640.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 13 & 15
              Volume 28
             May 02-08, 2008

(264) OMEGA LOSES, KEEPS LEAD

NO BETTER THAN 5TH
Bong Alipoon, left, receives his fourth 4th runner-up trophy from Roberto Hernandez, Chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau). Alipoon never won better than 5th place in the last 9 tournaments held so far. He is the only undefeated player in the ongoing 2005 Open Chess tournament. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



OMEGA LOSES, KEEPS LEAD

THIRD SEED Jose Omega's winning streak ended last Sunday, July 31 in the 10th round of the 2005 Open Chess tournament held at Privilege Family Store in Malakal and sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing Atbp.

After scoring 6 straight victories over strong opposition, Omega bowed to 14th seed Eric Espartero in 59 moves of Scotch Game.

Espartero was ahead only by a mere pawn when Omega started a king cruise from g8 square to g3 and threatened mate in a bishop, queen and pawn endings.

It was a double-edged game that doesn't favor Omega as the most powerful piece (queen) is still on the board.

But he had nothing to sustain his attack and his king traveled 5 squares and Espartero was able to thwart all of Omega's threats.

Running out of options, Espartero sacrificed a pawn and threatened a mate of his own.

Omega found the right defence but it is a lost cause as Espartero unleashed a check maneuvers to win Omega's bishop and 2 moves later, his queen.

Omega won the exchange (a bishop for a rook) on the 17th move but gave it back on the 25th move and recover the pawn but Espartero's stingy defence saves him the day and started to move up again in the standings.

The second game of a rainy and windy day fits top seed Roberto Hernandez and Espartero.

On their 18th move, strong winds and rain forced them to play indoors where Hernandez won a piece in exchange of 2 pawns.

After the exchange of rooks, the endgame favors Hernandez as he had mobility and advantage.

He missed a pawn thrust on the 49th move that allows Espartero to capture the d pawn.

As the smoke clears down, Hernandez was left with a rook, pawn and a bishop of the opposite color where the pawn will be promoted.

Technically, it's a draw but Hernandez tested Espartero's endgame skills if he can force a draw being down by 4 points and he did!

After more than 70 moves, a draw was agreed of a Bird's Opening.

The results of last week's one-day blitz chess tourney: 2-time blitz champion Menandro Manuel swept the second round of double round-robin to clinch his 3rd blitz chess title with a win-loss-draw record of 9-2-1 followed by one-time blitz champ Jimmy Valenzuela (6-3-3).

Hernandez finished 3rd this time with 5-4-3 followed by Lin de Guzman (5-6-1). Gene Pastrana improves from his last blitz chess and finish with 3-6-3 while Cyril Montel, Jr. had 4-8-0 and at the cellar was Bong Alipoon (2-7-3).

Due to new job schedule, Hernandez left the tournament site before 5:00 pm as no more players arrived.

He left a message for late-comers to play in his absence and just relay the results to him.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Volume XIV
Issue 31
April 05-12, 2005

(263) ESPARTERO WINS 3 STRAIGHT

MUSCLE AND BRAIN
Morton Sawaichi, left, a bouncer at Island Bar beside the tournament site, won a game over Tutii Joe Chilton that is qualified for brilliancy prize. Former champion Jess Toldoya looks from afar while Gene Pastrana is analyzing a game by himself. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

       ESPARTERO WINS 3 STRAIGHT

A BASKETBALL player and a solid positional chess player, Eric Espartero gained momentum from a long drought of win to notch three straight and climbed from 11th spot to 7th in the 9th round of the 2005 Open Chess tournament held on Sunday, July 24 at Privilege Family Store in Malakal, sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell C. Macapagal of T-Shirt Printing, Atbp.

After nipping Joel Azana last week, Espartero clobbered Marcial Rodrugiuez in 39 moves of Irregular Opening.

Later in the afternoon, he survived a mental block and outlasted Gene Pastrana in more than 70 moves of Sicilian Defence.

On the 26th move, he thought that his king is already checkmated but the Chairman-Arbiter (Roberto Hernandez) noticed that he still has one square to hide his king (h1) and resumed playing a passive position.

Pastrana still had 50 minutes on his clock and decided to stop writing his moves. They are moving so fast in the minor piece endgame and Pastrana missed a pawn sacrifice that would have won him Espartero's knight and the game but lost it when he blundered away his bishop and was unable to stop 2 passed pawns.

Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. ended Espartero's streak with a victory and dislodged Pastrana in 4th place.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, scored his 2nd win in 5 games to move one step higher in the standings.

Top seed Roberto Hernandez made short work on Morton Sawaichi to prevail in 39 moves of Pirc Defence.

Pastrana employed the Four Knights Defence to outplay Ivan II Chess Computer and mated the machine in 32 moves with the black pieces.

And in the last game of the day, Jimmy Valenzuela suffered another loss by bowing to Bong Alipoon, who played only 3 games so far and one of the 2 remaining undefeated player.

Jose Omega kept the lead by winning over Ivan II in 48 moves of Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation) in a special game held on Tuesday, July 19 at Chairman's residence.

Omega took advantage of Ivan's slight error when it castled in the queenside with lots of weaknesses.

The game evolved into magnificent beauty when on the 17th move, the combinative Omega sacrificed a whole knight without any material consideration except to maintain his initiative in mounting a bewildering attack.

He unified his forces into perfect harmony so that when his heavy artillery ignited the first salvo, the belligerent forces were in frenzy dodging the spitfire.

Pandemonium broke loose as the continuous shelling ravage Ivan's territory as Omega even offered his queen on the 23rd move and got Ivan's queen instead and finally realized that Ivan had no choice but to desist from resistance.

The ensuing game is qualified for brilliancy prize of $50.00.

After the completion of all regular games, 7 players participated in another one-day blitz chess tourney. The same format was used like the other blitz contests.

Hernandez already suffered 4 losses when he left the tournament site. The players that are leading the standings when Hernandez left are Valenzuela, 2-time champ Menandro Manuel and Most Improved Player honoree Lin de Guzman.

Montel, Jr., Pastrana and Alipoon completed the rest of the contestants. Hernandez' remaining unfinished games were declared draws. Full results will be published next week.

THE FOLLOWING ARE VERY GOOD NEWS FOR PALAU'S CHESS:
Hernandez received 2 emails from Calvin Prasad, the Treasurer of Fiji Chess Federation and from Gary Bekker, FIDE Oceania 3.2b Zone President. The emails read as follows:

Dear Mr. Hernandez,
I have noticed your application for registration with FIDE, to be tabled at the FIDE Congress in Germany in August.
Please extend the full support of the Fiji Chess Federation in this matter, and we are excited about the prospect of having another South Pacific nation FIDE-affiliated.
This would increase the chance of chess being included in the Pacific Games in Samoa, in 2007.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you need any assistance.
Regards,
Calvin Prasad, Treasurer -- Fiji Chess Federation

AND THIS IS AN EMAIL FROM MR. GARY BEKKER:

Dear Roberto,
Firstly, let me say how delighted I am to hear that Palau will be joining the international chess community during the coming months. This is undoubtedly an exciting moment for the development of the international chess scene within the Oceania Zone.
I would like to offer my full support and endorsement for Palau's application to become a member federation of FIDE, and I am happy to provide any assistance I can to encourage regular chess competition within your federation.
I have already arranged for the shipment of a selection of chess books, sets and other material to your postal address.
I am excited by the prospect that Palau may, in the near future, be able to send representatives to international tournaments such as the Oceania Zonal Chess Championships or the World Chess Olympiad.
I am also keenly interested to support any proposals for Palau to host a small international tournament. Ideally, such a tournament would be limited to Palau's six best players, together with 4 FIDE-rated players invited from overseas, with the view that the leading Palau players would gain international rankings from the event. I am willing to provide limited sponsorship for such an event and look forward to discussing this idea with you in the future.
The Oceania Chess Zone was formed by separating from the South East Asia in 1998 and, with the addition of PNG several years later, now comprises Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and PNG. Negotiations for New Caledonia, Nauru and the Solomon Islands to join FIDE have been encouraging, but have so far failed to bear fruit.
Information about FIDE rated tournaments, within the Oceania region is currently available from my website which includes links to the websites of the other Oceania chess federations.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Warmest regards,

Gary Bekker
FIDE Oceania 3.2b Zone President
gbekker@mira.net


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Volume XIV
             Issue 30
             July 29-August 05, 2005

(199) RAMOS, THE 'KNIGHT' OF PALAU CHESS

BANANAS IN BETWEEN GAMES
Most of the time, Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez brings in some snacks for participants like bananas. Eric Espartero, right, ignores it as he is busy in a winning endgame match against Joel Azana that started his 3-game winning streak. Current leader Cyril Montel, Jr. is playing a friendly game of blitz chess against Lin de Guzman while Gene Pastrana observes from the sideline.
                                                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

RAMOS, THE 'KNIGHT'
OF PALAU CHESS

HE RESIDES at the far end of Ngchesar State and takes care of the horses of his employer, Polycarp Basilius and still manage to squeeze in a schedule to particiapate in many chess tournaments in Palau during his free time.

He's got a little over an hour last Sunday, August 21 and played one game against top seed Roberto Hernandez, who was then the only available player that he hasn't played with yet as he had already played with other players like Jose Omega, Manuel Nedic, Jimmy Valenzuela and Gene Pastrana.

In their Modern Defence game, Hernandez sacrificed a pawn and a bishop on the 17 move to obtain a kingside attack.

Ramos found all the right defence against the mate threat and countered with his own queen and knight attack.

Hernandez could have drawn the game by 3-move repetition but he needed a full point to bolster his chance to finish at least 4th runner-up.

Then on the 28th move, Ramos made a suicidal Rg1 move that covers the escapte route for his king and facing a mate in 2 moves at the expense of his queen and bishop, he resigned and immediately left the tournament site to take care of the horses.

With the win, Hernandez dislodged idle Joel Azana at 4th place with a 5-4-1 win-loss- draw record. Omega and Cyril Montel, Jr. tote an identical 6-1-0 card and share the lead with Nedic (6-2-0).

The adjourned game of Omega and Dennis Gonzales did not resume as Gonzales was busy with the opening of basketball tournament. Omega offered the draw to Gonzales through the phone.

Gonzales said he will think about it but never made a call to Omega until Sunday in the 12th round of the 2005 Open Chess tournament sponsored by Bendix N. Lakobong, Leo Lacambra, Jr. and Roswell Macapagal of T-shirt Printing Atbp.

It was only 3:00 pm and there were already 5 players waiting for their opponents which most of them already played against each other.

Someone suggested to organize another blitz chess tourney with Omega participating for the first time. He had only an hour to spare before going to work.

So a 5-player blitz tilt participated by Omega, Valenzuela, Nedic, Hernandez and Pastrana was held.

Valenzuela won his first 3 games against Hernandez, Nedic and Pastrana and virtually clinch the title before losing his last game against Omega in the single round-robin of speed chess.

FINAL RESULTS: 1. Valenzuela 3-1-0 2. Omega 2-1-1 3. Hernandez (YES, HE'S 3RD PLACE AGAIN FOR THE 4TH TIME IN A ROW) 2-2-0 4. Nedic 1-2-1 5. Pastrana 0-2-2.

The oldest player in the latest ratings of International Chess Federation (FIDE) who was listed in the top 100 is Viktor Korchnoi of Switzerland, who is tied at 100th with Alexander Goldin of USA with an ELO rating of 2615.

Korchnoi was born on March 23, 1931. The second oldest is Dr. Robert Huebner of Germany (2636) who is the number 65th in the world and was born on November 6, 1948.

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia is the 33rd. He was born on May 23, 1951 and with the current rating of 2672.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Volume 14 Issue 34
           August 26-September 02, 2005

(112) ALIPOON WINS 2 GAMES, SITTING! (TBN-Feb. 18-25, 2005)

                                                         February 18-25, 2005


                    ALIPOON WINS 2 GAMES, SITTING!

SINCE JUNE 2002, 9th seed Bong Alipoon  never sits down while playing chess. Last Sunday, February 13 in the 5th round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament, he collected 2 wins playing seated and upset erstwhile leader Jose Omega and 8th seed Jimmy Valenzuela to snap his string of 9 consecutive tournaments where he played 146 games (including blitz and excluding default losses) without sitting!

Omega resigned on the 48th moved after Alipoon forked his king and rook with a knight of a Ruy Lopez.

In a roller coaster performance of the day, Valenzuela bounced back from defeat and clobbered Gene Pastrana but lost again in the last game of the day to Ivan II computer.

Most Improved Player honoree Lin de Guzman continued his awesome start and dealt Palauan bet Morton Sawaichi his 8th losses and stopped new leader Menandro Manuel's winning streak by halving the point with him in a complicated game that Manuel don't wish to continue as it is dangerous to explore winning lines.

Manuel destroyed Ivan II Chess Computer by using his favorite Queen's Gambit Declined opening that he also used in his last game of the 2004 Rapid Chess tourney that coincides with the Knights and Rooks Chess Club's Christmas party.

His game with Ivan II was displayed on the giant chessboard that looks like a world championship match where the crown can get a glimpse of the position from afar.

In the first game of the day, newcomer Eric Espartero suffered another heartbreaking loss to Omega in just 23 moves of Scotch Game. Omega offered a bishop sacrifice on the 22nd move that Espartero easily accepted but didn't anticipate a queen check on b6 that leads to mate in two.

It was another tough loss for Espartero who happens to play his first 3 games and 5th game against the top 4 seeds (Cyril Montel, Jr., Roberto Hernandez and Manuel).

Seventh seed Jess Toldoya came back from vacation and was present in the 5th round of the 2005 Regular Chess tournament held at its temporary venue, Image Restaurant.
He was asked if he would like to catch up and said he will skip this tilt again that is being sponsored by the officers and members of Palau Paradise Lions Club.

The renovation of its headquarters beside Palasia Hotel and Galaxy Video Center is now almost done and maybe another week at Image Restaurant and then the tournament will resume at its original venue.

There's no news yet about the trophies of the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament where the Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) sponsored those trophies.

Junior champion Em-R de Vera and Chris Domingo were absent in the last three weeks of the tournament where they will play against seniors with a rook or knight handicap.


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
               February 18-25, 2005

                                BONG ALIPOON   75-57-14 win-loss-draw record, standing!

MIP and Regulars
     Lin de Guzman, 2nd from right, receiving his Most Improved Player (MIP) bishop-shaped trophy from Knights and Rooks Chess Club Chairman Roberto Hernandez while "roller coaster" player Jimmy Valenzuela is ready to execute a move against Cyril Montel, Jr.  Bong Alipoon, left, and Menandro Manuel, 3rd from left, are regular participants to almost all chess tournaments in Palau.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)