(845) THE ERMITA-MALATE OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT IN PHILIPPINES (March 19-27, 1990)

TOP 8 UNRATED PLAYERS
   Anthony Pelayo captured the Top Unrated Player category in the Ermita-Malate Open Chess Tournament in the Philippines held from March 19-27,1990. It's the handwritten report of Chief Arbiter Henry Sky.


    THE ERMITA-MALATE OPEN CHESS
       TOURNAMENT IN PHILIPPINES
             (March 19-27, 1990)

Participated in by Philippines top players (except GM Eugene Torre), it's nice to take a look at the participants:

1. Rodriguez, Ruben 2. Antonio, Jr., Rogelio 3. De Guzman, Ricky 4. Roca, Petronio 5. Chiong IV, Luis 6. Maga, Mirebeau 7. Garma, Chito 8. Alaan, Vince 9. Donguines, Fernie 10. Young, Angelo 11. Lao, Elias 12. Aguilar, Susano 13. Cain, Celestino 14. Villamayor, Buenaventura 15. Cabrido, Victor 16. Libre, Virgilio 17. Milagrosa, Alex 18. Badilles, Ponciano 19. Garma, Edgardo 20. Neri, Walter 21. Ortiz, Eduardo 22. Urbi, Emil 23. Sasot, Allan 24. Cabellon, Gerry 25. Bagamasbad, Efren 26. Gonzales, Jayson 27. Lorena, Carlo 28. Mariano, II, Nelson 29. Sanchez, Jess 30. Abriam, Luis 31. Soria, Rene 32. Martin, Ricardo 33. Gutierrez, Dennis 34. Salazar, Nelson 35. Ulanday, Jude 36. Arguelles, Efren 37. Gatus, Edmundo 38. Agagon, Eduardo 39. Lagua, Joseph Bende 40. Miguel, Reynaldo 41. Gomez, Danilo 42. Carag, Erwin 43. Duhaylunsod, Herminigildo 44. Dalura, Rodolfo 45. Esmane, Rogelio 46. Zapanta, Jr., Ernesto 47. Camposano Agripino 48. Nolte, Rolando 49. Legaspi, Joselito 50. Mayo, Charlie 51. Ranola, Yves 52. Reyes, Expedito 53. Vinas, Alexander 54. Estrella, Edgardo 55. Poliarco, Gene 56. Ibanez, Rudy 57. Parceco, Errol 58. Fineza, Jun 59. Garcia, Noel 60. Panelo, Rudy 61. Bautista, Roberto 62. Caunte, Juancho 63. Lorenzo, Edwin 64. Panopio, Rodolfo 65. Fontanilla, Raul 66. Cunanan, Homer 67. Barrios, Benjamin 68. Rabe, Jose 69. Chua, Cesar 70. Rabago, Celso 71. Cunanan, Crispin 72. Yu, Manuel 73. Pamatpat, Stephen 74. Abalos, Wilfredo 75. Castro, Orden 76. Chay, Alfredo 77. Palma, Michael 78. Munoz, Rommel 79. Fontanilla, Edgar 80. Manabilang, Jose 81. Acuran, Rafael 82. De Villa, Melchor 83. Edrada, Alex 84. Verdon, Norman 85. Clavo, Jess 86. Garcia, Juancho 87. Bolico, Joshwe 88. Penaredondo, Leo 89. Manongas, Jessie 90. Pena, Robert 91. Sopungco, Alvin 92. Bolico, Exfelicos 93. Pabuaya, Roger 94. Loyaga, Victor 95. Gopilan, Antonio 96. Catalan, Edwin 97. Liquicia, Art 98. Mariano, Christine Rose 99. Marcial, Johnny 100. Cruz, Renato 101. Del Agua, Armelito 102. Baltazar Jr., Ernesto 103. Ibra, Jamael 104. Gutierrez, Alfonso 105. De Leon, Carlos 106. Castro, Ronald 107. Yap, Danilo 108. Roldan, Ric 109. Roldan, Sheridan 110. Dawa, Alvin 111. Manlunas, Jay 112. Santos, Ed 113. Pagulong, Ronald 114. Castro, Ronald 115. Naling, Archie 116. Yulo, Gerry 117. Mariano, Robert Gene 118. Opano, Virgilio 119. Jose, Reginaldo 120. Almazan, Romeo 121. Aspril, Emil 122. Abakan, Jhonson 123. Mariano, Helen Grace 124. Mariano, Carmina Joy 125. Archimedes, Rafols 126. Baccay, Lester 127. Bocallos, Jose 128. Capiral, Rowel 129. Cayetano, Federico 130. Corpuz, Balden 131. Dawa, Avemelech 132. Fontanilla, Ed 133. Gandarosa, Ali 134. Gonzales, Jesus 135. Hernandez, Roberto 136. Jossi, Daniel 137. Lafuerza, Sebastian 138. Laurel, Rocky 139. Legarda, Joselito 140. Madia, Manuel 141. Malenas, Herman 142. Nasser, Sharif 143. Pelayo, Anthony 144. Reyes, Al 145. Reyes, Noel 146. Reyes, Norberto 147. Tilles, Bernardo 148. Salando, Gerardo 149. Tan, Montreo  


2nd seed Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio, Jr. became a Grandmaster 3 years after this event, which he won (1993) after a drought of 17 years since GM Rosendo Balinas became the 2nd GM of Philippines in 1976. Asia's first GM Eugene Torre got his GM title in 1974 at Nice, France World Chess Olympiad. 

14th seed Buenaventura 'Bong' Villamayor became the 4th GM of Philippines in 2000 followed by 28th seed Nelson Mariano II 4 years later (2004).

26th seed Jayson Gonzales became the 9th GM of the Philippines in 2008, the same year when child prodigy Wesley So became the youngest GM of the Philippines at the age of 13.

GM Gonzales was the team captain of Team Philippines in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey where they finished 4th in the Open Division (if the tiebreak system that was used is the same as the previous one prior to 2008 Dresden, Germany Olympiad). Roberto Hernandez met him there. Eventually, Philippines finished 21st using the new tiebreak system where the matches won prevails over the other tiebreaks.

GM Gonzales and Hernandez met again while getting their Schengen visa in Manila. GM Gonzales is also the playing Team Captain of the Philippines in 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. GM Wesley So became the Team Captain of USA Team as he is transferring federation. In his absence, GM Julio Catalino Sadorra is Board 1, GM John Paul Gomez at Board 2, GM Torre at 3, FM Paulo Bersamina at Board 4 and GM Gonzales as reserve. 

23rd seed NM Allan Sasot was the mentor of Palau blitz chess specialist Tony Villa, who became the 4th Palau National Master for winning the 2007 Palau National Chess Championship, tied with Hernandez and Manuel Nedic. 

42nd seed Erwin Carag was one of the invited players of both 2007 and 2011 Palau Invitational Chess Championship but didn't make it due to expensive airfare in going to Palau.  

48th seed Rolando Nolte is now an International Master (IM) with current rating of 2395 (Dec. 2014). Hernandez lost to him in a 1991 tournament in Quezon City, being held at the same building where billiards are also played.

56th seed Rudy Ibanez showed interest to participate in the 2013 Micronesian Cup/Palau Invitational Chess Championship in November. The event was postponed to Feb. 2014 because of Typhoon Haiyan and Ibanez was not interested anymore.

74th seed Wilfredo Abalos met Roberto Hernandez in the Asian Continental Meeting being held during the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Roberto regrets not having a photo taken with him at that time. Mr. Abalos passed away a few years later.

98th seed Christine Rose Mariano was offered to be the Team Captain of Palau Chess Team to 2010 Olympiad in Russia. The other choice is Jamie Kenmure of Australia and Palau Rating Officer. They have to buy their own airfare.
Eventually, the slot was given to Mr. Kenmure and he became Palau Team Captain for 3 consecutive World Chess Olympiads (2010 Russia, 2012 Istanbul, Turkey and 2014 Tromso, Norway Olympiads). 

Since Congressman Prospero 'Butch' Pichay took over as President of National Chess Federation of the Philippines in 2008, he produced 9 GMs. Philippines have only 7 GMs in the previous 40 years or more.

Those 9 GMs are Wesley So and Jayson Gonzales (2008); John Paul Gomez and Joseph Sanchez (2009); Rogelio Barcenilla and Roland Salvador (2010); Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon (2011).

To complete the list, Mark Paragua got his GM title in 2005 while Darwin Laylo earned it in 2007. 

At 74 years old, IM Renato Naranja is still listed at the Top 100 chess players of the Philippines at no. 63 with a rating of 2187. Another proven fact that in chess -- AGE DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS THE MATTER DOESN'T AGE!

   
 
   

  

 

(803) I DREW WITH GM DARWIN LAYLO IN Sept. 25, 1989 (Manila Mayor's Cup Open Chess Tournament)

DISCOVERIES AMONG MY OLD CHESS SCORE SHEETS
       GM Darwin Laylo, right, GM Wesley So, middle, and NM, FI Roberto Hernandez, left, met for the first time in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Just lately, Roberto discovered from his old files of chess score sheets that he and GM Laylo had played a game in the 6th round of Manila Mayor's Cup Open Chess Tournament in Sept. 25, 1989. It's a draw in a marathon 70 moves of Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation) where Roberto is down by 2 pawns in the endgame of rook and pawns.        
                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez--- Taken by Tito Cabunagan)



      I DREW WITH GM DARWIN LAYLO
                  IN SEPT. 25, 1989 at
 Manila Mayor's Cup Open Chess Tourney

As I look at my old score sheets, I discovered that I have played a game against GM Darwin Laylo in the 6th round of Manila Mayor's Cup Open Chess Tournament in Sept. 25, 1989, where it is also the 6th year anniversary of our church wedding with my wife Flor.

I remember that I played all rounds (9), except against WNM Christine Rose Mariano where I am absent and lost by default. 

My 1st round opponent is Mr. Datu. I'm not sure if it's Idelfonso or Ildefonso, but one of them is a National Master and I lost that 1st game as usual. I wrote the chess notation in English notation.

My 2nd opponent is Ryan Gaffud where I won and wrote the chess notations in Algebraic this time.

I lost to C. Padua in the 3rd round and wrote the notations in English notation again!

I won in the 4th round against Angel Mamaed and back to Algebraic notation again.

In the 5th round, I lost to B. Dacalos in a marathon 69 moves and wrote the notations in English again.

Then comes the 6th round with me playing the white pieces against the kid, Darwin Laylo. It's a Sicilian Defence game, Najdorf Variation where Darwin is up by 2 pawns in the endgame of rook and pawns endgame.
                         HERE'S THE SCORE:
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be2 Be7 9. 0-0 Nbd7 10. Qd2 0-0 11. f4 Rc8 12. Kh1 b5 13. Bd3 Nh5 14. Bxd7 Qxd7 15. f5 Bc4 16. Ne2 Nhf6 17. Rf3  Nc5 18. Nxc5 Rxc5 19. b3 Bxd3 20. cxd3 d5 21. Qg5 h6 22. Qh4 Rfc8 23. Rg3 Kh7 24. h3 Rc2 25. Ng1 R8c3 26. Nf3 dxe4 27. Ng5+ Kh8 28. Nxe4 Rc1+ 29. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30. Kh2 Qa7 31. Rf3 Qg1+ 32. Kg3 Nxe4+ 33. Qxe4 Qe1+ 34. Qxe1 Rxe1 35. Kf2 Ra1 36. Re3 Rxa2+ 37. Re2 Ra3 38. Rxe5 Rxb3 39. d4 a5 40. d5 a4 41. Re8+ Kh7 42. d6 Rd3 43. Rd8 a3 44. d7 a2 45. Ra8 Rxd7 46. Rxa2 Rd5 47. g4 h5 48. Ke3 hxg4 49. hxg4 Kh6 50. Ke4 Rc5 51. Rb2 Kg5 52. Kd4 Rc4+ 53. Kd5 Rxg4 54. Rxb5 Rf4 55. Rb1 Rxf5+ 56. Ke4 Kg6 57. Rg1+ Rg5 58. Rf1 f6 59. Rh1 f5+ 60. Ke5 Rg4 61. Re1 Kg5 62. Rf1 f4 63. Ke4 Kh4 64. Kf3 Rg3+ 65. Kxf4 g5+ 66. Kf5 g4 67. Kf4 Rc3 68. Rh1+ Rh3 69. Rf1 g3 70. Rg1    (Draw) 

I lost to F. Alejar in round 7 and default loss to WNM Christine Rose Mariano in the 8th and lost the final (9th) round match with Edmundo Gatus (2092 rating).

Darwin Laylo became the 7th Grandmaster of the Philippines in 2007, 33 years after GM Eugene Torre became Asia's first Grandmaster in 1974.

Two years later, Rosendo Balinas became the 2nd GM of the Philippines after winning a strong Soviet tournament where he refused to eat the food that the Soviets are giving him. He thought that they put 'drugs' to it so that he cannot think properly and preferred boiled eggs and other 'safe' food.

It took 17 years before Philippines got its 3rd GM in Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio, Jr. in 1993 and another 7 years before getting its 4th GM in Buenaventura "Bong' Villamayor in 2000.

Four years later, Nelson Mariano II became the 5th GM of Philippines in 2004 followed by GM Mark Paragua the next year and then Darwin Laylo followed suit after 2 years. 

   GM Wesley So is cutting his birthday cake with GM Darwin Laylo at his left. To his right is GM Eugene Torre and at his back are Roberto Hernandez and Almario Marlon Bernardino.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


 The 2nd time I met GM Darwin Laylo is during the 18th birthday celebration of GM Wesley So (Sept. 10, 2011) at Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Tomas Morato Quezon City, where I also met Congressman Prospero 'Butch' Pichay for the 2nd time likewise. The first time is during the final round (11th) of 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

It is during the term of Cong. Pichay (2008-Present) that Philippines produced 9 GMs.

GM Wesley So and GM Jayson Gonzales in 2008;
GM John Paul Gomez and GM Joseph Sanchez in 2009;
GM Rogelio Barcenilla and GM Roland Salvador in 2010;
GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, GM Oliver Barbosa and GM Richard Bitoon in 2011. 


Source: History of Chess In Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              September 1989-October 2014
  

  

(516) ALMOST AN NM TITLE FOR JOSELITO MARCOS (TBN-July 15, 2013)

SAME AS YOU 
     Joselito Marcos, right, is flanked by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, when the latter visited the National Polytechnic Institute of Papua New Guinea recently.Lito teases Roberto by saying, "If you have a photo of you and Palau President Johnson Toribiong, I have also a photo with PNG's Prime Minister." The two really have many things in common.
                                        (Photo by Joselito Marcos) 

         ALMOST A NM TITLE FOR

              LITO MARCOS IN 1991 

Joselito Marcos of Papua New Guinea became the best friend of Roberto Hernandez when they first met in Australia to represent PNG and Palau respectively for the first time.

Since then, their friendship goes deeper and deeper from Russia in 2010 World Chess Olympiad and in Palau during the 2011 3^rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship.

Health problem prevented him to participate in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey but he’s always online watching the development and games of the Olympiad. He usually gives advises to Palau Chess Team members especially Roberto and Bernardo Garcia, who acquired the first FIDE title of Palau, a Candidate Master title.

A few months after the 2012 Olympiad, he single-handedly worked on how to achieve a CM title that should have been given to him when he scored enough points at 2002 Bled, Slovenia World Chess Olympiad.

He is now a CM and in their latest conversations about how many chess masters does he knows, he shared the following wonderful experiences when he almost gain a National Master title in 1991 in his final round game against Idel Datu, who eventually gained that title in the following story:

“I’m reminiscing… when I missed out on NM title in a game vs. Idel Datu, who went on to get his in 1991. GM Jayson Gonzales, Philippines Open Team Captain at 2012 Olympiad, was there telling Datu that he could not underestimate Joselito.”

“He nearly made a losing blunder but he spotted it in the end because Lito rose from his chair in excitement. Datu looked at him and at the board… then he perspired, regained his composure, and changed the move written on his score sheet (today, it is not allowed doing this).”

HIS HUMBLE SHARING COMMENTS: “Whatever I have shared to Palau is my way of giving back from other’s goodness.”

A short email to Lito by Roberto is as follows: “Thanks for the info about GM Mark Paragua. I don’t have an idea about all of it. You really know a lot about almost all chess players in the world. Even when we’re in Russia, you easily recognized GM Nigel Short personally than me even if we chat regularly on Facebook before the Russia Olympiad.

If not for your recognition of him, I might have missed that photo session with Nigel.”

Lito answered “Thank you for the compliments. As always or most of the cases I happened to be where the actions are.

We were in the same hotel with the Philippine team in 2oo2 Bled, Slovenia Olympiad. GM Paragua’s father Ric Paragua, a civil engineer like me, and I have talked at least 2 times during meals. Then again, we met in a rapid tourney in Baliwag, Bulacan Philippines in 2010 where I learned about GM Paragua’s  marital situation and need.

However, he didn’t seem to remember me and I didn’t bother to remind him. Why? Grandmasters Bong Villamayor and Jayson Gonzales always talk and approached me when opportunity arises during tournaments we are together.

The Philippine Masters who do not know me were wondering who I am that they are talking to intently.  Bong, while he was just a NM was my guest in the house but he never mind not sleeping as we analyzed some of my games and gave me pointers.

In Bled, he was already a GM, still we also analyzed 2 of my games, one won and one drawn.

He pointed a couple of missed wins in the middle game and in the endgame of the drawn game.”

                Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1.

                This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9 & 11

               Volume 22

               Issue 56

               July 15, 2013