(1616) 62 POSSIBLE CONTESTANTS OF 2019 P.B.C.C. (TBN-Jan. 14, 2019)

BOBOT TAN—NEW PALAU KING OF CHESS

                   The emergence of Bobot Tan, 2^nd from right, resulted in him ruling all chess tournaments in Palau in the last 2 years although by FIDE rating, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. is still number one. This one-day Palau Blitz Chess Championship on Jan. 13, he’s the favorite to win this tourney. Hopefully, there will be more than 30 players who will make it to make this PBCC the biggest ever in terms of participants. Last year, there were only 24 players.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

     62 POSSIBLE CONTESTANTS OF

                2019 P.B.C.C.

                This might be the biggest turnout of participants in any blitz chess championship in Palau. A total of 62 chess players have been listed by me for this one day event on Jan. 13, 2019 at Bethlehem Park that will start at 2pm for registration in this 9-round Swiss system event.

                Since 2013, all Palau Blitz Chess Championship (PBCC) were held in the month of Jan. to be followed by Palau Rapid Chess Championship (PRCC) in April or May and Palau National Chess Championship (PNCC) as the last tournament of Palau Chess Federation.

                In 2014, there was no PBCC with the arrival in Palau of Geoffrey Borg and Toti Abundo in Jan. and Brian Jones’ participation in the Micronesian Open that replaced the PRCC. Prior to the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in Aug. 1-14, PCF held the Palau Open and Palau Olympians tourney. After we come back from Norway, the PNCC was held.

                The next 4 years in PCF Calendar of Events showed that PBCC is always being held in Jan.

THESE ARE THE POSSIBLE PARTICIPANTS WITH THEIR BLITZ RATINGS: 1. Bobot Tan (1868) 2. Tito Cabunagan (1777) 3. CM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (1776) 4. Roberto Hernandez (1733) 5. Rustum Cabuso (1697) 6. Rafael Paloma (1660) 7. Manuel Mahor, Jr. (1658) 8. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (1653) 9. Dennis Gonzales (1631) 

10. Eugene Labarda—off island (1648) 11. AFM Jeff Balbalosa (1615) 12. Angelo Salvadora --withdraw(1607) 13. Gonzalo Escapatoria (1603) 14. Remrel Dizon (1596) 15. WFM Angelica Parrado (1580) 16. Samuel Palingcod (1567) 17. Angelito Mintar Jr. (1556) 18. Mohammad Manik Hossain (1529) 19. Destiny Sisior (1500) 

20. Neph Macasaet (1498) 21. Baby Edna Mission (1478) 22. Jello Aguaras (1465) 23. Luciano Sibayan (1462) 24. Gladys Anne Paloma (1452) 25. Joan Gemota (1433) 26. Angelil Sisior (1387) 27. Glen Navarroza (1382) 28. Michael Gulla (1379) 29. Gian Gabriel Claronino 

30. Ma. Florida Hernandez (1363) 31. him (1357) 32. Reece Reklai (1345) 33. John Malinao (1343) 34. Ksau Anthony Whipps (1331) 35. Joel Gemota (1327) 36. Leif Toribiong (1304) 37. Charley Patris (1284) 38. Morton Sawaichi (1206) 39. Jennifer Angeles (1182) 

40. Kyarii Sisior (1148) 41. Dichem Tmetchul (1145) 42. Angelica Magno (1129) 43. Gian Paloma (1073) 44. Gabriell Garcia 45. Aome Angeles 46. Rommel Gulla 47. Elizalde Madrinan—withdraw  48. Jeyrald Lomboy 49. Chioko Yang Derbai 

50. Yu Hsuan Kuo 51. Xiancheng (Lincoln) Liao 52. Yi Lang Liu 53. Mariah Coline Miclat 54. Aya Osada 55. Diana Rechucher 56. Joram Renguul 57. Neil Roberto 58. Alik Jared Senior 59. Sowon Shin 60. Kikuo Sumang  61. Jannah Islam and the latest one to join—my guitar/chess student 62. Brandon Kyle Soriano.

There is still possible chance to join for Christopher Kitalong, Eryn Reklai, David Wong, Arnold Undecimo, Eugenio Pastrana, Genaro Manlaya, Herbert Galiza, Jade Mariur, Jaime Balute, John Mark Tamayo, Melvin Parinas, Benerica Daligdig, Albino Taksiau, Jon Manuel Reyes, Jose Misael de Jesus, Miguel Gancayco, Nelson Sablan, Nilo de Jesus, Robert Sola, Rey Sanchez, Sofronio Mahor, Thomas Hayes, Joy Flores Whipps…

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3827: 1. Rh1+ Rh2 2. Rh7+!! Rxh7 3. g7#

This week’s puzzle No. 3828: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 28

               Issue 02

               January 14, 2019

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

              The Beginning of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 25, 2013 -- January 14, 2019

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- January 14, 2019

(1539) 800th ISSUE OF CHESS MATE (TBN-July 02, 2018)

OUTSTANDING OFW IN 2012 FOR MUSIC AND PROMOTION OF CHESS IN PALAU

                  Philippine Ambassador to Palau Ramoncito Marino and his wife Issa posed with Roberto Hernandez after the awarding of medals and certificates to the other 15 Outstanding OFWs in Palau during the 111^th Declaration of Philippine Independence on June 12, 2009. The generous Ambassador sponsored $1,000.00 cash prizes twice for 2006 and 2007 chess tournaments in Palau. He is also a good pianist and prefers to play Filipino songs.

     800th ISSUE OF CHESS MATE

This 800^th issue of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez is a selection of the best 25 issues according to the page views on Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

                At least 300 page views for this Top 25 Issues of Chess Mate:

1.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-issue-of-chessmate-by-roberto.html

2.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/11/did-kasparov-cheat-polgar-in-94-tbn-apr.html

3.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2011/12/marcos-manuel-co-champions-of-3rd-piicc.html

4.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/02/palau-chess-federation-has-208-members.html

5.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/01/2-day-visit-to-palau-by-geoffrey-borg.html

6.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/fil-oz-lady-is-champ-july-27-aug-02.html

7.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/4-palau-chess-team-members-granted.html

8.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/12/torre-asias-first-grandmaster-tbn-june.html

9.       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/06/unbeaten-no-more-gancayco-is-class-b.html

10.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/outstanding-ofw-in-palau-awardees-june.html

11.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/pastrana-escapes-with-draw-billah.html

12.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

13.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/06/enarsao-lagumen-now-lead-class-b-tbn.html

14.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/1078-dr-alfredo-paez-confirmed-to-3rd.html

15.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2011/12/marcos-family-coming-to-palau-for-chess.html

16.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/getting-russian-visa-tbn-aug30.html

17.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/01/ksau-cup-drew-24-players-roberto.html

18.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/filipino-hospitality-in-australia-aug.html

19.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/sen-mlib-to-2014-norway-chess-olympiad.html

20.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/09/1065-10-years-of-palau-joining-fide-tbn.html

21.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/simul-vs-jamie-kenmure-anyone-tbn-feb.html

22.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/06/palau-registrered-43-move-countries.html

23.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/geoffrey-borg-is-back-conducted-fide.html

24.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/08/special-games-tbn-aug-12-2013.html

25.   http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/07/mercado-nips-garcia-and-dittrich-on-to.html

The new Palauan chess players being invited to the 1^st Surangel Team Tournament are still on “vacation mode” according to Jennifer Angeles. Nobody has confirmed yet.

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3839: 1. Qxh7+!! Kxh7 2. Rh3 Kg7 3. Be7#

This week’s puzzle No. 3840: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Page 9

               Volume 27

               Issue 58

               July 02, 2018

               Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

               The Beginning of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               Soon to be published as a book

               Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

               April 25, 2013 -- July 02, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- July 02, 2018

(1519) INVITATION TO 2018 BATUMI, GEORGIA CHESS OLYMPIAD (TBN-April 30, 2018)

KEMA GORYAEVA AND GEOFFREY BORG

                   Geoffrey Borg, right, visited Palau in Jan. 2014 with Asian Chess Federation Deputy President Toti Abundo, prior to the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. He came back in April of the same year to conduct FIDE Trainers’ Seminar where 14 local chess players gained FI, NI and DI titles. These titles are needed if anybody would like to be team captain in World Chess Olympiad. Kema Goryaeva, left, will be the Registration and Accreditation Officer for 2 Olympiads in a row (2016 Baku, Azerbaijan and 2018 Batumi, Georgia Chess Olympiads).

   INVITATION TO 2018 BATUMI,
     GEORGIA CHESS OLYMPIAD

KEMA Goryaeva, the same lady in-charge of Registration and Accreditation in the 2016 WCO in Baku, Azerbaijan, is the same in-charge of this year’s World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. The following is her email to me which I forwarded to the other members of Palau Chess Team:

  Dear Madame/Sir, We are glad to invite Palau to participate in the 43^rd Chess Olympiad, which will take place from 23^rd of September to 6^th of October 2018 in Batumi, Georgia. You may find the official invitation letter with all the necessary information here: https://batumi2018.fide.com/storage/app/media/uploaded-files/Batumi_Chess_Olympiad_Invitation_Letter_23.04.2018.pdf

To proceed with the participation in the Olympiad, you are kindly requested to create an account in the Batumi Chess Olympiad Registration System. Your account will be used for: 1. Registration and accreditation of participants 2. Accommodation inquiries and 3.Travel information submission.

All information collected by the Batumi Chess Olympiad Registration System will be solely used for the purposes of organization of the Olympiad and the best possible service of your accreditation, accommodation and transportation needs. In order to create your Federation’s account and be enabled in the registration system, please follow the steps below:

Step 1 - Create your account Visit official website http://batumi2018.fide.com and click the Registration link. In the next page, click Create account link at the bottom. Here you are required to complete Name, Surname, your email address and your desired password for the system.

Step 2 - Activate account After completing Create account form and clicking Submit you will receive an activation email. This email includes an Activate your account link which you need to click. After successfully activating your account, you will receive a confirmation email.* Please make sure to also check your Spam folder and move the email to inbox if you find it there, in order to properly receive all future correspondence.

Step 3 - Send email with Federation & email Having successfully created your account, you need to send an email to kemagoryaeva@batumichess.com from the Federation’s official email as listed in FIDE’s official website https://ratings.fide.com/fide_directory.phtml. In the email you will state 1. The Federation’s name and 2. email address used for creating the account in the registration system, as in many cases third party emails are being used. 

Example of email:  Sender: georgianchess@yahoo.com ← Georgia’s official email in FIDE directory     Subject: Georgia ← Write Federation’s name as subject Content of Email: The email address used for the registration system on behalf of Georgia is [write email account used at step 1]

This step is important in order to ensure that only an officially approved account will be enabled for registration on behalf of your Federation. Step 4 - Validation and notification After validation and confirmation of your account, you will be notified in order to proceed with the registration of your Federation. Should you experience difficulties, please contact us referring to the step you had an issue with. Thank you so much in advance for your kind cooperation. 

Looking forward to see you in Batumi!

 Best regards,

Kema Goryaeva 

Registration & Accreditation Chess Olympiad Batumi 2018 

site: batumi2018.fide.com email: kemagoryaeva@batumichess.com

I have printed the 25-page invitation from the organizers for future reference.

The final round of 2018 PRCC will be played this Sunday, April 29^th with Bobot Tan already clinched the title with another perfect slate when he defeated Mohammad Manik Hossain last week. My last opponent is Morton Sawaichi; Angel Magno vs. Cyril; Leif vs. Jennifer; Bheng vs. Kitalong and Angie will have a BYE.

 In the Junior Division, Angelil Sisior and Gian Gabriel Claronino are fighting it out for the top spot with Angelil having to win her last 2 games vs. her younger sister Destiny and my piano/chess student Nicholas Nehez. Gian needs to win also over Destiny to get a chance at the title. Awarding of medals will commence after the 9^th round is finished. 

Meanwhile, at the PMA Chess in School 2^nd Batch Blitz Chess Tournament, top seed Ksau Anthony Whipps clinched also the title with a round to spare having won all of his 15 matches and drew one against Japanese girl Himari Tono (8 wins, 2 draws, 3 losses), who is currently in 3^rd place trailing Secheriang Senior (10 wins, 4 losses). The last few games will be played on Monday, April 30.

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4436: 1. …Nxd4++ 2. Kg4 Bc8+ 3. Kh4 Nf3#

This week’s puzzle No. 4437: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9 & 11

               Volume 27

               Issue 34

               April 30, 2018

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

              The Beginning of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Soon to be published as a book

              Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 25, 2013 -- April 30, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              June 09, 2002 -- April 30, 2018

(1511) FIDE Presidential Board Ask Kirsan To Resign (TBN-April 16, 2018)

FIRST CANDIDATE TO DECLARE F.I.DE. PRESIDENT CANDIDACY

                  Georgios Makropoulos, sitting in the middle, is the first to announce his candidacy for FIDE President during the 1^st Quarter Presidential Board Meeting. Geoffrey Borg, standing 2^nd from left, and Toti Abundo, standing 4^th from left, has been to Palau in Jan. 2014 to campaign for incumbent FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, whose been asked to resign by the PB Board by 14 to 1 vote with no abstentions. According to Jamie Kenmure, Sheik Sultan of UAE will also run for FIDE President.                         (Photo from FIDE website www.fide.com)

      F. I. D. E. Presidential Board

          Ask Kirsan to Resign

           During the FIDE Presidential Board Meeting held in Minsk, Belarus, the Board was also able to persuade the Saudi authorities to grant visas to Iranian and Qatari players. Unfortunately, it became clear only at the last day that visas were not going to be granted to Israeli players. He advised that in January, he had had talks with the Israeli Chess Federation about the situation and had come to an agreement with them. FIDE was continuing to speak with the Organizers to ensure that all participants would be able to get visas in future. He advised the PB that FIDE was now in a sound financial position and had built up reserves by cutting unnecessary expenses. 

          He advised that the situation was becoming very nasty and personal and that, together with Prof. Adrian Siegel, Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Geoffrey Borg, he was referring Mr. Ilyumzhinov, Willy Icklicki, Lewis Ncube, Berik Balgabaev and Silvio Danailov to the Ethics Commission for spreading lies and defamatory statements.

          The PB then discussed the situation regarding the FIDE bank accounts. Prof. Adrian Siegel, the FIDE Treasurer and Nigel Freeman, the FIDE Executive Director brought the PB up to date on the severe problems caused by the request of FIDE’s bankers that they would close our accounts on 30th April, 2018 because of the fact that the FIDE President is on the US Sanctions list. They advised that despite meetings with senior management of the bank, whilst they extended the deadline from the original 28th February, 2018 to 30th April, 2018, they were unwilling to extend until the FIDE elections on 3rd October, 2018, when the matter would be solved. 

          They also advised that they had approached many other banks both in Switzerland and outside and had met with several they all said they were willing to have FIDE as client they were unable to do so whilst its President was on the US sanctions list. The PB recognized the dire operational situation FIDE was in because the President was under US Sanctions and passed the following resolution to ask the President to resign by 14 votes to 1 with no abstentions: Dear Kirsan ---The Presidential Board has resolved: In the light of:

 a) The imminent withdrawal of FIDE’s banking facilities by UBS, 

b) The inability of FIDE to obtain replacement banking facilities while you remain nominal President and 

c) subject to US Treasury Department sanctions, d) The consequent severe difficulties facing FIDE in funding its obligations and its commitments to the chess family, e) The adverse publicity that reflects badly on FIDE’s reputation and undermines the confidence of all those who are or would be involved in chess, that in the interests of the organization: 

You should resign with immediate effect. 

Signed: 

Makropoulos, Georgios Deputy President; 

Tolentino, Abraham General Secretary;
Fierro, Martha Vice President 

Siegel, Adrian Treasurer; 

Bastian, Herbert Vice President 

Kambuzia, Mohammed Vice President; 

Marinello, Beatriz Vice President;

 Sundar, D.V. Vice President
Al-Hitmi, Khalifa Vice President; 

Gelfer, Israel Vice President; 

Kutin, Boris Vice President
Tulay, Gulkiz Vice President; 

Ochoa, Javier Hon. Vice President;

 Ramirez, Mario Hon. Vice President
Vega, Jorge President of Americas;

 Azmaiparashvili, Zurab President of ECU

The PB discussed the various FIDE offices and resolved to close the Moscow Office as soon as possible.

The PB then discussed the various FIDE events and were brought up to date with the situation regarding the 2018 Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, in September, the World Championship match in London in November and the Women’s World Championship match in China in May.

       During the meeting, Georgios Makropoulos, the Deputy President advised that he had been approached by the majority of the Presidential Board and many delegates asking him to run for President to sort out the present problems and ensure stability in FIDE. Therefore he announced his candidacy for FIDE President at the forthcoming elections in Batumi on 3rd October, 2018.

          Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4378: 1. …Qxe3+!! 2. Kxe3 Bh6+ 3. Kd3 Rd2#

     This week’s puzzle No. 4435: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9 & 11

               Volume 27

               Issue 28

               April 16, 2018

              Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

              The Beginning of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Soon to be published as a book

             Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013

             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

             April 25, 2013 -- April 16, 2018

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2018

(1509) MAKROPOULOS RUNNING AS PRESIDENT OF FIDE IN OCT. 03, 2018 (SHEIK SULTAN RUNNING ALSO?)

AS PER Presidential Board Meeting in Minsk, Belarus from April 07-08, 2018, FIDE Deputy President announced his candidacy as FIDE President to be held during the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia on Oct. 03, 2018. The Olympiad will be held from Sept. 23-Oct. 07, 2018.

During the Palau Chess Federation Board Meeting in April 03, 2018, Angelica Parrado informed us through Jamie Kenmure that Sheik Sultan is running for FIDE President.

FIDE Press Release: 2018 1st quarter Presidential Board Sunday, 08 April 2018 17:12 FIDE PRESIDENTIAL BOARD 1st QUARTER  Minsk, Belarus 7-8 April, 2018 The Meeting was opened by Mrs Anastasia Sorokina, the President of the Belarus Chess Federation, who welcomed the FIDE Presidential Board to Minsk and wished them a pleasant stay and successful meeting in Minsk, during which they would present their bid for the 2022 Chess Olympiad. The FIDE Deputy President, Mr Georgios Makropoulos thanked Mrs Sorokina for her kind words and also for the excellent organisation of the Presidential Board (PB) Meeting. He then advised the Presidential Board of what had happened since the Presidential Board in Athens. In particular, he advised the PB on the FIDE Rapid & Blitz Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He said that he was very pleased that FIDE had negotiated that for the first time in Saudi Arabia, the women participants did not need to wear abayas in the tournament hall, nor in the hotel where they were staying and men and women were able to play in the same room. FIDE was also able to persuade the Saudi authorities to grant visas to Iranian and Qatari players. Unfortunately, it became clear only at the last day that visas were not going to be granted to Israeli players. He advised that in January, he had had talks with the Israeli Chess Federation about the situation and had come to an agreement with them. FIDE was continuing to speak with the Organisers to ensure that all participants would be able to get visas in future. He advised the PB that FIDE was now in a sound financial position and had built up reserves by cutting unnecessary expenses. He advised that the situation was becoming very nasty and personal and that, together with Prof. Adrian Siegel, Zurab Azmaiparashvili and Geoffrey Borg, he was referring Mr. Ilyumzhinov, Willy Icklicki, Lewis Ncube, Berik Balgabaev and Silvio Danailov to the Ethics Commission for spreading lies and defamatory statements. The PB then discussed the situation regarding the FIDE bank accounts. Prof. Adrian Siegel, the FIDE Treasurer and Nigel Freeman, the FIDE Executive Director brought the PB up to date on the severe problems caused by the request of FIDE’s bankers that they would close our accounts on 30th April, 2018 because of the fact that the FIDE President is on the US Sanctions list. They advised that despite meetings with senior management of the bank, whilst they extended the deadline from the original 28th February, 2018 to 30th April, 2018, they were unwilling to extend until the FIDE elections on 3rd October, 2018, when the matter would be solved. They also advised that they had approached many other banks both in Switzerland and outside and had met with several, they all said they were willing to have FIDE as a client, they were unable to do so whilst its President was on the US sanctions list. The PB recognised the dire operational situation FIDE was in because the President was under US Sanctions and passed the following resolution to ask the President to resign by 14 votes to 1 with no abstentions: Dear Kirsan The Presidential Board has resolved: In the light of: a) The imminent withdrawal of FIDE’s banking facilities by UBS, b) The inability of FIDE to obtain replacement banking facilities while you remain nominal President and c) subject to US Treasury Department sanctions, d) The consequent severe difficulties facing FIDE in funding its obligations and its commitments to the chess family, e) The adverse publicity that reflects badly on FIDE’s reputation and undermines the confidence of all those who are or would be involved in chess, That in the interests of the organisation: You should resign with immediate effect. Signed: Makropoulos, Georgios Deputy President Tolentino, Abraham General Secretary Fierro, Martha Vice President Siegel, Adrian Treasurer Bastian, Herbert Vice President Kambuzia, Mohammed Vice President Marinello, Beatriz Vice President Sundar, D.V. Vice President Al-Hitmi, Khalifa Vice President Gelfer, Israel Vice President Kutin, Boris Vice President Tulay, Gulkiz Vice President Ochoa, Javier Hon. Vice President Ramirez, Mario Hon. Vice President Vega, Jorge President of Americas Azmaiparashvili, Zurab President of ECU The PB then discussed the subject of the $30,000 loan to the ACC. It was agreed that the loan had not been fully used for the purposes requested; that there was no proof in any way as to how the loan was used; that the other board members of the ACC had not been advised of the loan until late 2017; that there was a delay of 29 months from the initial promised date of repayment; and that the loan was only repaid when the fact of the loan was became public knowledge. It was therefore agreed that the remainder of the FIDE Development Budget for Africa would be handled by the Treasurer and the Executive Director. Only the African Continental President disagreed with this decision. The PB discussed the various FIDE offices and resolved to close the Moscow Office as soon as possible. The PB then discussed the various reports from Commissions and approved all reports and title recommendations. The PB discussed in detail the situation in Bulgaria, with Mr Toshev from the Bulgarian Chess Federation (1928) presenting their case for becoming a member of FIDE. He was advised that FIDE needed to receive the information requested by the Ethics Commission regarding the payments from their bank account to the fake ECU (Delaware) bank account and other matters. Particularly they should ask the Prosecutor why he has taken four years with no action regarding the more than one million Euros stolen from the Bulgarian Government. They also had to provide the translation of documents into English. Until these matters were settled, no action can be taken towards recognising any Federation in Bulgaria. The PB resolved that if these matters were not solved by the end of April that all the Bulgarian players in the FIDE ratings list would no longer be rated until the situation was regularised. The PB then discussed the various FIDE events and were brought up to date with the situation regarding the 2018 Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, in September, the World Championship match in London in November and the Women’s World Championship match in China in May. Mr. Georgios Makropoulos announces his candidature for the FIDE Presidency. During the meeting, the Deputy President advised that he had been approached by the majority of the Presidential Board and many delegates asking him to run for President to sort out the present problems and ensure stability in FIDE. Therefore he announced his candidacy for FIDE President at the forthcoming elections in Batumi on 3rd October, 2018. Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez                Tia Belau Newspaper                December 29, 2002 -- April 12, 2018             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)             The Beginning of Chess in Palau             By Roberto Hernandez             Soon to be published as a book             Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez             Tia Belau Newspaper             March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013             http://palau-chess.blogspot.com             April 25, 2013 -- April 12, 2018             The History of Chess in Palau             By Roberto Hernandez             June 09, 2002 -- April 12, 2018            www.fide.com