(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
  

  

(608) JANUARY 2004 LIST OF TOP 50 CHESS PLAYERS OF PHILIPPINES

NINE years and nine months ago, the Philippines had only 4 Grandmasters and their top player is IM Mark Paragua (2529) followed by GM Rogelio 'Joey' Antonio, Jr. (2523) and the vintage Asia's first GM Eugene Torre (2521).

At 4th is IM Rogelio Barcenilla (2502) and another GM at 5th --Buenaventura 'Bong' Villamayor (2469).

At no. 18 is IM Jayson Gonzales (2403), who became the Team Captain of Philippine Team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

GM Jayson Gonzales and NM/NA Roberto Hernandez of Palau with the Philippine Women Team before the start of their games at 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

No. 29 Darwin Laylo (2328)is not even a FIDE Master then as well as no. 31 Oliver Barbosa, who did very well in 2012 Olympiad beating GM Gawain Jones of England in 103 moves.  

A pictorial with GM Oliver Barbosa at the bleachers of Wow Convention Center, the venue of 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

GM Oliver Barbosa, left, at the bleachers with Palau teammates and couple Menandro Manuel and wife Elizabeth the day after Barbosa defeated England's Board 2 player GM Gawain Jones.
                                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Wesley So vs. Michael Adams (draw), Oliver Barbosa vs. Gawain Jones (1-0), Eugene Torre vs. Nigel Short (1-0).                                                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



At no. 37 is Woman International Master Arianne Caoili. She said, "I'm tired of begging for sponsorship just to play abroad. It's time to change colors."

Now she is representing Australia, where I met her there in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. She was the champion then and 2nd seed.

I met her again in 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

Board 1 Arianne Caoili at 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.
                                                           (Photo by Shaun Press)   

Australian Men's Team -- GM David Smerdon, Moulthun Ly, Stephen Solomon and Max Illingworth.
                                                                             (Photo by Shaun Press)

At no. 53 is WM Christine Rose Mariano, who applied to Roberto Hernandez as Team Captain of Palau Team to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia. 

The position was given to Australia's Jamie Kenmure as an appreciation for him being the Rating Officer of Palau.
He is also the Team Captain of Palau in Istanbul.

Roberto Hernandez, left, and next to him Mr. Gary Bekker, met in 2006 at Palau Invitational Chess Championship. They meet again in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and in the 2012 Olympiad.
                                                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


The most surprising is this list is no. 36 Julio Catalino Sadorra, just became a GM a few months ago and now Phil. no. 2 at 2585.

Wesley So is just 9 years old at this time but he's now the no. 1 chess player of the Philippines with 2710 rating, the best rating that a Filipino player have gotten this high and world's no. 34.

The top 11 players of the Philippines are all GMs with Torre now at no. 10 and Roland Salvador at 11th.

No. 3 is Mark Paragua, 4. Oliver Barbosa 5. Joseph Sanchez 6. Rogelio Antonio, Jr. 7. John Paul Gomez 8. Darwin Laylo 9. Rogelio Barcenilla  
   


Source: History Of Chess In Palau
            By Roberto Hernandez
            September 2013
            To Be Published As A Book In The Future 

(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