(1168) 2006 PNCC TO START MARCH 19 (TBN-March 17-24, 2006)

VENUE HOST AND PARTICIPANT
                Gene Pastrana, right, is receiving his trophy as the Most Improved Player from Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) Chairman Roberto Hernandez before the start of 2006 Palau National Chess Championship where Gene is hosting from March 19-August 08. He is also a participant in this event.
                                             (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



2006 PNCC TO START MARCH 19

HOSTED by Gene Pastrana, the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship will fire off on March 19 (Sunday) at Jean’s Boutique and Store just across the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Games will start at 1pm with some games to be played late in the afternoon because of varying job schedules of many participants.  There will be no Women’s or Junior Division as there were not enough women and junior players to participate here.

                The time control (using mechanical chess clocks) is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game. Writing chess notations in either English or Algebraic is mandatory. Roberto Hernandez is the Organizer, Chief Arbiter and also a participant, with Pastrana as his Deputy Arbiter.

                The champion of this event will become the first National Master of Palau.  He will become also the first player to participate outside Palau if he can afford the airfare and accommodation of such prestigious tournaments like Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, Asian Chess Federation tournaments and an automatic member of Palau team to any World Chess Olympiads.

                The succeeding National Championships’ champions will likewise be Palau’s next NM. This single round-robin event would become double round-robin depending on the number of participants.

                The possible participants and their national ratings are:

1.  Menandro Manuel                                                        2159
2.  Jose Omega                                                                     2157
3.  Bong Alipoon                                                                  2155
4.  Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.                                                 2140
5.  Roberto Hernandez                                                       2134
6.  Jimmy Valenzuela                                                          2059
7.  Manuel Nedic                                                                 2020
8.  Ivan II Chess Computer                                                 1974
9.  Joel Azana                                                                       1944
10. Edwin Eti                                                                         1941
11. Jose Misael de Jesus                                                     1939
12. Eugenio Pastrana                                                          1938
13. Morton Sawaichi                                                           1913
14. Dennis Gonzales                                                            1911
15. Joeven delos Santos                                                      1892
16. Felix Lapitan                                                                    1886
17. Jess Toldoya                                                                    1883
18. Rodiante Balagso                                                           1881
19. Jess Gomez                                                                      1855
20. William Blasquino                                                           1812
21. Gerry Sermeno                                                               1810
22. Tutii Joe Chilton                                                              1771
23. Francis Temaungil                                                          1767
24. Flavin Andres                                                                  1720
25. Ernie Mijares                                                                   1712
26. Rogelio Menor                                                                1708
27. Em-R de Vera                                                                  1708
28. James dela Cruz                                                              1706
29. Lito Salas                                                                          1672
30. John Pastrana                                                                  1632

                There will be some Blitz Chess competition after the completion of this event’s regular games. The usual time control in Palau for blitz is 10 minutes (using mechanical clocks). While preparing for this event, players may gather at the venue to practice or play blitz chess contest like what happened on March 05, where a 5-player blitz chess contest was held with Pastrana and Hernandez winning it over blitz chess specialist Edwin Eti, Cyril Montel, Jr. and Jimmy Valenzuela, who will be playing his last tournament in Palau as he is leaving Palau for good. He might not finish this event if this National Chess Championship will last longer than he expected.

                Pastrana won his first ever chess title in Palau (in any time control) and is requesting the participants to support his hosting of the event buy purchasing drinks, snack, etc. at the store. If the players are more than 6, it will be held at the parking lot, very close to the main road.

                Playing outdoor chess is one way of promoting the game since 2003. The 2002 All-Filipino Chess Tournament and 2002 Open was played at Mindzenty Auditorium. The 2003 Open was held at Image Restaurant and Sports Bar where players can play billiards and dart in between games.

                The 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament was held at the parking lot of Galaxy Video Center, beside Palasia Hotel and the beginning of outdoor chess tournaments that drew the attention of kids.

It was also the start that Ivan II Chess Computer participated in the next events with its strength in H for Hard for adults and E for Easy for kids and A for Average in the Class B category.

                But because it’s National Championship, Ivan II will not be participating in this event.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 9-10

            Volume 15

            Issue 11

            March 17-24, 2006

(1040) RAMOS CONQUERS COMPUTER (TBN-Aug. 08-15, 2003)

MARIO Ramos, the 9th seed who notched only 2 victories and a draw in 6 games against humans, proved his chess mettle with a surprise win over Ivan II Chess Computer last Sunday in what was the biggest upset win in his chess career. 

He employed the Four Knights Defence in which a knight is sacrificed on the 15th move. He recovered the knight on the 19th move with interest (a pawn).

After the exchanges of queens and 2 minor pieces, he has three unopposed pawns on the king side that enabled him to win in 63 moves. Ramos, with a rating of 1460, thus became the lowest rated player to beat Ivan II.

 THE MOVES:
[Event "2003 Age Group Chess"][Site "Koror City, Palau"]
[Date "2003.08.03"][Round "6"][White "Ramos, Mario"]
[Black "Ivan II, Chess Computer"][Result "1-0"][ECO "C49"]
[Black Elo "2000"][Ply Count "125"]
          1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bb4 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Bg5 Bxc3 8. bxc3 Qe7 9. Re1 Nd8 10. d4 Ne6 11. Bc1 Rd8 12. Nh4 g6 13. a4 c6 14. Bf1 d5 15.
Nf5 gxf5 16. exf5 Ng7 17. dxe5 Ne4 18. f6 Qxe5 19. fxg7 Kxg7 20. f3 Nxc3 21. Rxe5 Nxd1 22. Bd2 Nb2 23. Bc3 f6 24. Re7+ Kf8 25. Rxh7 Kg8 26. Bxf6 Kxh7 27. Bxd8 Bf5 28. Bf6 Nc4 29. Bxc4 dxc4 30. c3 Rf8 31. Bg5 Re8 32. Kf2 Rf8 33. Be3 b6 34. Re1 Rf7 35. h3 Bc2 36. Ra1 Rf5 37. g4 Ra5 38. h4 Rxa4 39. Rxa4 Bxa4 40. h5 Kg7 41. g5 Bc2 42. f4 c5 43. Kg3 a5 44. Kg4 a4 45. f5 Bd1+ 46. Kh4 Kf7 47. g6+ Kf8 48. h6 Bc2 49. Kg5 Bxf5 50. Kxf5 a3 51. Bc1 a2 52. Bb2 Kg8 53. Kf6 a1=Q 54. Bxa1 Kf8 55. h7 Ke8 56. Ke6 Kd8 57. Kd6 Kc8 58. Kc6 Kd8 59. h8=Q+ Ke7 60. Qe5+ Kf8 61. Qc7 Kg8 62. Qf7+ Kh8 63. Qh7#       1-0
 
In the only other completed Class A match, Ramos lost to Edgardo Enarsao, in 30 moves of Pirc Defence. 

THE MOVES: [Event "2003 Age Group Chess"]
[Site "Koror City, Palau"][Date "2003.08.03"][Round "6"]
[White "Ramos, Mario"][Black "Enarsao, Edgardo"]
[Result "0-1"][ECO "B07"][Ply Count "60"]
           1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d6 3. Bb5+ c6 4. Ba4 e5 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Nbd7 7. Nf3 Qc7 8. O-O a6 9. Re1 Be7 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 c5 12. Qe3 O-O 13. Nxd7 Bxd7 14. Qg3 Bd6
15. f4 b5 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Rxe4 bxa4 18. Qf3 Rae8 19. Bd2 Bc6 20. Rae1 Rxe4 21. Rxe4 f5 22. Qg3 Bxe4 23. Bc3 Bxf4 24. Qh3 c4 25. Qh5 Rd8 26. h4 Qc5+ 27. Kh1 Bg3 28. Bxg7 Bxg2+ 29. Kxg2 Qf2+ 30. Kh1 Qh2#           0-1
 
Enarsao is now tied for the lead with Roberto Hernandez when the latter's opponent, Jimmy Valenzuela, showed up late in the afternoon. Enarsao totes a 5-1 win-loss record while Hernandez is 5-0.

In the Class B category, Jose Omega won his first 3 games against Ivan II, Ben Ramos and 3rd seed Mike Miguel, Jr. He also won by default over Genaro Manlaya and carry-over draw with Norbert Villanueva. Omega has taken the place of Kelvin dela Paz, who is on vacation. Dela Paz' default loss to Tutii Joe Chilton will be replayed this Sunday.

In the 12-years-and-under category, another new kid, Kelvin Cuenco, has joined the block of youngsters showing interest in the brain-challenging game.

After losing his first 4 games against Chris Domingo (1-2), Ricky Camacho (1-2), Ivan II, and Rodnnie Dizon (0-3), he won 3 default games over I. B. Misech, Michael Jordan Ngiratechekii and Dmitri Kyle Villanueva.

Domingo dealt Jayrome Soriano his 2nd loss of the tourney (2-1). He has the most wins for the day with four against 2 losses.

THIS WEEK'S PUZZLES:

    

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 12
             August 08-15, 2003

  

   

(1039) BEATING A FORMIDABLE MACHINE (TBN-Aug. 01-08, 2003)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

(972) FORMAT -- 2003 SENIOR AND JUNIOR CHESS TOURNMENT (TBN-Sept. 05-12. 2003)

               FORMAT -- 2003 SENIOR AND JUNIOR 
                          CHESS TOURNAMENT

                                                         Sept. 21- Dec. 14, 2003

                                                     Sponsored by Nilo de Jesus

                                                                       and

                                      C & N Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Services

1. It will be a 13-round Swiss System in the Senior Division and double round-

    robin in the Junior Division.

2. The time control in the Senior Division is 2 hours for each player to make 40

    moves and an additional 1 hour each to make 20 moves. In case of adjourned

   games, it will be played an hour earlier on the next Sunday or any other day 

   that the involved players have agreed.

    The Junior Division’s time control is 30 minutes each to finish the game.

3. Ivan II Chess Computer will participate in both divisions with its strength in

    H for Hard, in the Senior Division and E for Easy in the Junior Division.

    The players can use the tournament size chessboard if he/she finds that the

     8” size of Ivan II is too small for him/her.

4. Writing chess notations is mandatory in either English or Algebraic notations.

     Mechanical chess clocks will be provided except when playing Ivan II. Score

     sheets will be provided but players are requested to bring their own pens.

5. Registration fee is $10.00 with the amount collected to be paid for buying

    Ivan II Chess Computer, which can be rented by players for $5.00 a week.

6. There will be no cash prizes but the 8 trophies will be provided by Nilo de

     Jesus, the venue host, for the top 4 finishers in each division.

7. Touch move rules will be applied. Players are advised to used their mind to

     analyze their games and not their hands or fingers.

8. Special games can be arranged especially to those players that are having

    their day offs on Saturdays. Playing Ivan II on weekdays can also be

    arranged.

9. All games must be played at the venue—C & N Refrigeration and Air

    Conditioning Services premises from 1:00-5:00 pm.

10. This tournament will be rated nationally for senior players for chance to

     improve their ratings according to their performances.

     The approximate ratings of possible contestants are as follows:

            1. Ivan II Chess Computer          2000

            2. Cyril Montel, Jr.                      1740

            3. Menandro Manuel                   1740

            4. Roberto Hernandez                 1740

            5. Eugene Koh                             1690

            6. Jimmy Valenzuela                    1680

            7. Jose Omega                             1665

            8. Mike Miguel, Jr.                      1655

            9. Bong Alipoon                           1640

            10. Mariano Agustin, Jr.             1625

            11. Jon Lagumen                         1620

            12. Danny Dandoy                       1600

            13. Mario Ramos                         1595

            14. Nilo de Jesus                          1560

            15. Manuel Mahor, Jr.                 1515

            16. Amante Caballero                  1515

            17. Ben Ramos                             1515

            18. Norbert Villanuea                   1515

            19. Tutii Joe Chilton                     1510

            20. Genaro Manlaya                    1510

            21. Jess Toldoya                           1510

            22. Rolando Funa                         1510

            23. Francis Cuenco                      1510

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Pages 9-10

             Volume 9

             September 05-12, 2003

              

(736) IVAN II THE CONQUEROR -- CHESS COMPUTER THAT TALKS TO YOU! (TBN-Feb. 26-March 04, 2005)

FIRST PARTICIPATION OF IVAN II IN 2003 AGE GROUP CHESS TILT
     The 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament (May 25-Aug. 24) first introduced the participation of a chess computer in Palau chess tournaments. With 2000 rating (USCF), it becomes the favorite tough opponent of many players.           (Video photo by Roberto Hernandez)



       IVAN II THE CONQUEROR -
   CHESS COMPUTER THAT TALKS
                   TO YOU

ARE YOU ready for Ivan's challenge?
Hear swords clang, horses gallop, men march and the drums pound. 

These are only some of the many sound effects of Ivan II's call to chess battle.

In one mood, Ivan will taunt, insult and even threaten you. But as a teacher, he's a powerful and patient mentor, a comrade in arms.

With large vocabulary, and spoken words also scroll across display. Capable of beating 90% of all players with its powerful programming and USCF (United States Chess Federation) estimated strength rating of 2000.

It has 136 adjustable strength level, 120 for play and 16 for analysis. With teaching mode and opening book trainer and the sound effects can be turned on or off. 

Excellent challenge for even the most advanced players.

Ivan II was introduced in Palau by participating in the 2003 Age Group Chess tournament from May 25 to August 24. 

In its very first tournament game in the first round of classification, Ivan II lost to eventual champion Edgardo Enarsao with the black pieces in all but one game.

It won over Norbert Villanueva in its 2nd game and lost again to Norbert's son Dmitri in the first round of the triple round robin of the 12 years and under category.

In the 3rd round, it won over 11-year-old Christopher Domingo and lost to 61-year-old Mariano Agustin, Jr. in the 4th round.

Won over newcomer Jon Lagumen, Kelvin dela Paz and Tutii Joe Chilton. It finished 6th in the 5-round classification with a 3-2 win-loss record.

In the 1st round of Class A championship, Ivan II defeated 2003 Open Champion Menandro Manuel.

On June 29, 2003, Ivan was defeated by newcomer Michael Jordan Ngiratechekii and Jayrome Soriano in the kid's division but avenged its first ever loss by trouncing Enarsao using the King's Gambit Accepted.

In Class A, Ivan's level is set to H for Hard, A-Average in Class B and E-Easy in the kid's division.

Other losses of Ivan II were from Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., Bong Alipoon and Mario Ramos, who won the $20.00 brilliancy game against Ivan.

In Class B, it lost to newcomers Jose Omega, Jon Lagumen, Eugene Koh and Mike Miguel, Jr. It has default draws with Chilton and Amante Caballero and defeated Ben Ramos and N. Villanueva in Class B to finish 7th and also 7th in Class A with a 5-4 win-loss record.

1-4-4 win-loss-draw in Class B is understandable. In the kid's division, it actually finished 1st runner-up but its participation is just a fill-in to give kids chance to play against the formidable machine with a 12-5-7 slate.

In the next tourney, the 2003 Senior and Junior Chess tournament, it finished 6th again in both senior and junior category with a 7-4-2 record in Senior Division and 5-10-3 record in the kiddie category (18 years and below) where newcomer Charles Aquino bagged the title. 

The kids found the weakness of Ivan II by using the Four Knights Defence where a knight is sacrificed on the 15th move. 

Hernandez won his first championship with a 10-1-2 record and one of only 4 players  to beat Ivan. The other 3 were Omega, Montel, Jr. and Caballero. 

John Page and Jovani Adachi were 2 of the 3 newcomers in the last tournament of the year.

In the 2004 Open Chess tournament, Ivan had a 4-1 record in the classification, losing only to Manuel and defeated 3 newcomers Morton Sawaichi, Den Canaria, Edward Agravante and 62-year-old Agustin, Jr. 

It finished 7th again in Class A with a 3-5 card losing to 3-time champion Eddie Grefiel, Alipoon, Valenzuela, Hernandez and 2004 Non-master champ Jess Toldoya.

Surprisingly, it finished first in Class B but as a fill-in, it did not get trophy. 2-time Class B champ Omega was declared the champion and the only Class B player to beat Ivan in the double round-robin finals. 

Omega lost the first one to Ivan, who swept Sawaichi, Agustin, Jr. and late comer Dennis Gonzales.

There are no kid's division as no players 18 years and below participated.

In the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament from October 24-December 19, Ivan II finished 7th again! With a 9-4-4 record, it lost only to Grefiel, Hernandez, Manuel and Most Improved Player awardee Lin de Guzman.

It won over newcomer Gene Pastrana, Valenzuela, Montel, Jr., Omega, Alipoon, come-backing Jimboy de Jesus, Joel Azana, Gonzales and Sawaichi. 

In the first tournament of 2004, the Non-Master Chess tilt from January 11-April 11, Ivan was the top seed but finished 8th in the Seniors Division (4-4-6) and 5th in the juniors (2-4-8)

It lost to eventual kiddie 2-time champ Aquino, come-backing Karen Hernandez, Domingo and newcomer Michael Velarde. 

The youngest contestant was Georby Domingo. He is the younger brother of Chris, who is only 9 years old.

In the Senior Division, Jess Toldoya captured the title and Ivan had lost to Hernandez, Montel, Jr., Miguel, Jr. and Ramos (through telephone match).

In the ongoing 2005 Regular Chess tournament, Ivan II is currently sporting a 2-2 win-loss slate.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper
           Pages 11-12
           Volume 12
           February 26-March 04, 2005