(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

(1613) PHOTOS OF FINAL ROUND OF 2018 P.N.C.C. (Dec. 23, 2018 at Ernguul Park)

   PHOTOS OF FINAL ROUND OF
 2018 Palau National Chess Championship
                       Dec. 23, 2018
                    at Ernguul Park

 At the cellar is Morton Sawaichi, who has yet to score a point and half point at least for a draw to have his initial rating.

Samuel Palingcod, right,  and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. had a draw.

The latest Junior champion Gian Gabriel Claronino, right, had lost only 1 game (vs. Aome Angeles) and clinched the junior division in a style--sweeping the other 3 participants. They have to do a double round-robin as there are only 5 players that made it because of busy Christmas season.

Charley Patris, right, won over Reece Reklai, left. Maybe Charley will have an increase in his 1274 FIDE Rating as he scored 3 points in this event.

Despite the loss in the final round to Tito Cabunagan, right, Neph Macasaet finished the tourney with 4 points. That might be enough to improve his 1555 rating.

Morton Sawaichi finally scored a whole point by mating Glen Navarroza, right.

My game with Bobot Tan, left, is an exciting one heading for a draw but Bobot captured the b7 pawn that allowed me to force the exchange of queens with me having a passed f pawn that clinches the 3rd spot (6 points). l won my first round game over Jello, lost the next 3 to Cyril, Jun Mahor and Dennis but won the last 5 over Morton, Neph, Charley, Pax and Bobot. It's almost the same story in the 2002 All-Filipino Chess Tournament in June 09, 2002 (the first ever chess tournament in Palau) where I won my last 4 games (against Lemuel Bacor, Mike Miguel, Jr., Consul General Julius Torres and Vincent Vergara) to clinched 3rd runner-up.

The last game of the day is another draw between Jeff Balbalosa, right and Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. (both are my teammates in the 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaihan) in an endgame of bishop of the same color. 

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 26, 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 -- December 26, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- December 26, 2018

(1607) PHOTOS AND RESULTS OF 6TH ROUND OF 2018 P.N.C.C. -December 02, 2018

PHOTOS AND RESULTS --

6th ROUND

2018 Palau National Chess

Championship

December 02, 2018

The longest game of the day was between Dennis Gonzales, 2nd from left, and Angelo Salvadora, right, that lasted till 6:30 pm. Bobot Tan and another chess player used the flashlight of their cell phones so that the protagonists can cope with darkness. Eventually, Dennis offered a draw with him having a king and 2 pawns against Angelo's king, a knight and a pawn. DRAW ACCEPTED!

Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., right, snapped the 4-game winning streak of Paquito Suringa, Jr., left, while it is another draw between Manuel Mahor, Jr., 2nd, from left, and Jeff Balbalosa in an endgame of bishop of opposite color.

The Sisior sisters, Angelil, left, and Destiny, played their game with the former, a member of 14-member delegation of Palau to 2018 Batumi, Georgia World Chess Olympiad, prevailing over her younger sister Destiny, a member of Palau Team in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. The two are almost sure members of Palau Women's Team to 2020 WCO in Russia.

Rustum Cabuso, standing in the middle, came back from vacation and participation in 2018 WCO in Batumi, Georgia after getting married in Nov. 28. He missed the 2018 PNCC Open Division where the champion gets an automatic inclusion to the 2020 WCO in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 05, 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 -- December 05, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- December 05, 2018