According to Geoff Martin, Palau Mission Academy has a strong chess team last year and had some talented chess players that can be at par with FIDE rated members of Palau Chess Federation. His participation in the 2012 PNCC might be the start of ever growing popularity of the sport in Palau especially that kids now are being trained through tournaments. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)
HERNANDEZ IS 6-0
THIRD seed Roberto Hernandez subdued Jose Celiz in 31 moves of Danish Gambit to earn his 4thstraight victory. Jose deviated from capturing the 2nd offered pawn and pushed the d pawn instead to d3.
Hernandez won the exchange on the 9th move and held on to that advantage. He is ready to give back the exchange but Celiz blundered a touched piece. He asked Hernandez if he can still move it back but he already let go off the bishop. And even if he still hung on holding it, he should move that touched piece and that will lead to a mate in one.
Mary Frances Lopez finally showed up and played 3 games on Sunday, Oct. 28. She clobbered the Sisior sisters (Destiny and Angelil) but lost her 3rdgame to Dennis Gonzales, who is now at solo 2nd place in Class B after trouncing the Sisior sisters likewise.
9-year-old Zachary Techall Whipps won his first game by drubbing neophyte chess player Jon Manuel Reyes in 65 moves of French Defence. The 32-year-old Reyes bounced back from defeat and dealt Destiny Sisior her 4th loss to have an even 1-1 win-loss slate in his first serious chess competition.
Gonzales completed the sweep of the Sisior family by nipping the mother of Sisior sisters Angie Parrado in 62 moves of King’s Pawn Opening. But Angie took the measure of Ksau Anthony Whipps earlier in the afternoon for a total of 1.5 points in 4 games.
Paz Ngiratechekii, Nilo de Jesus, Jaime dela Cruz, Elpidio Manaligod, Freddie Gloria and Manuel Mahor didn’t show up.
In the Top 8 (Class A) division, Tito Cabunagan neatly handled the endgame of 5 pawns against a bishop and 2 pawns vs. Menandro Manuel and outlasted the skidding Manuel, who was swept for the 2nd time. He now has 3 wins and 4 losses.
And in the last game of the day, Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia clustered a crucial victory over Cabunagan in 26 moves of English Opening. Hernandez and Garcia are the 2 remaining unbeaten players in their division.
Hernandez and Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. played their 2 games on Oct. 31 at 8:20 am at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. Both games were Sicilian Defence. Pax deviated in Game 1 on the very 2ndmove and in Game 2, on the 3rd move.
In both games, Pax was behind by a whole rook and 3 pawns where he resigned on the 41st move of both games! DÉJÀ VU IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS!
The 2 victories improved Hernandez’ record to 6 straight wins.
IN THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT – Hernandez thought of an idea to have Geoff Martin join the tournament: He pursued Ferdinand ‘Bong’ Gutierrez (FIDE rating of 1567) to join the tournament even though he is leaving Palau for good on Nov. 27. He will still have more than 4 weeks to play 19 games. Even if he will not finish all his games, those will be declared draws and his registration fee will be waived.
His day off now is Monday and works at 12:00 noon – 9:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday). Players who are available on this day are requested to play with him at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 during these available times. If he will win a prize, which he believes he has a chance for the title, it will be given to his brother Ronel, the Purchasing Supervisor of PRR.
Another player was added in the Class B to complete the line-up of 21 players with 7 rated players. He is Lenge Gibbons and he will play as many games as he can on Sunday, Nov. 04 upon the recommendation of Angie Parrado. She came on Sat. Nov. 03 with her 3 daughters and played an official game against Luciano Sibayan. She won in 39 moves of Gioucco Piano. Her daughters, 8-year-old Destiny and 9-year-old Angelil Sisior played their official game with Angelil prevailing after winning his sister’s queen in the middle game and prevailed in 30 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening.
The only game for the Class A (Top 8) division was between 2nd seed Menandro Manuel and 5th seed Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. where Manuel suffered his 5th loss against only 3 wins. Pax won a piece in the middle game and held on to his advantage and mated the skidding Manuel on the 43rd move of another Queen’s Pawn Opening.
Hernandez, Suringa, Jr. and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. suggested that on the final day of the event, Dec. 02, (Sunday), the Palau Chess Federation will hold also their Christmas Party after the Awarding Ceremony. Each player is asked to bring one dish for the event.
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 18-19
Volume 21
Issue 79
November 05, 2012
