(985) CHECK IT OUT!!! http://palau-chess.blogspot.com (TBN-Jan. 09, 2012)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.  Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., left, receives his 5th place prize of Brunch for 2 at PPR from Jamie Kirstie Marcos, the 18-year old beautiful daughter of co-champion Joselito Marcos. Pax nickname might become the "beast" as he showed that character on the chessboard in the last 2 rounds of PIICC. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez - Taken by Jeff Balbalosa)

                 CHECK IT OUT!!!
                     http://palau-chess.blogspot.com


WITH THE help of Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos, Palau got its own website at http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/ and an email address of palau.chess@gmail.com since its inception on December 26, 2011. The website (blogspot) has featured the latest results in the recently concluded 3^rd Palau Invitational International Chess Championship held at Conference Room of Palau Royal Resort on December 14-19, 2011.

The site now has become very popular and many Europeans have visited the site. Strangely, it’s viewed (as at date of post) only by one person from Palau and it's the co-creator of the site—Roberto Hernandez. He has forwarded to many of his chess friends the blogspot site and recently, Palau top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. has joined the group.

Marcos submitted the cross-table of the 3^rd PIICC to Mark Crowther of The Week In Chess (TWIC) and it was published at the site http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/twic895.html. Palau invitational is listed as entry number 16. The Palau Chess Federation officers and members are in gratitude to Mr. Marcos for helping promote Palau and Palau Chess to the world. He, his wife and daughter had experienced the Rock Islands tour and a tour to the Capitol in Melekeok to make their 10-day stay in Palau an unforgettable one.

After Hernandez paid Palau more than a year's arrears to World Chess Federation (FIDE) of 249 euros ($331.82) + $40.00 bank charges, the new ratings for the month of January is now published with Montel, Jr. retaining the number one spot with a FIDE rating of 1943, just a mere one point increase from his previous rating.

Menandro Manuel kept the 2^nd spot and gained 31 rating points for being the co-champion of the 3^rd PIICC. Hernandez lost 14 rating points but still in 3^rd at 1875 from his previous 1889. Tito Cabunagan is the biggest loser of rating points—49 after his disappointing performance in that event and is now at 1814 from his best so far 1863.

Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa added 5 points to his total now at 1734 while Bernard Garcia collected only 2 points at 1663. Jeff Balbalosa jumped from 15^th spot to 14^th after gaining 12 points at 1540. Dennis Gonzales (1611) lost 11 points while 11-year George Anzawa (1398) lost 22 points. The standings of 21 Palau rated players still remain the same except for Balbalosa, who overtook the 14^th spot from Rudel Roxas.

Palau Team Captain in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Russia, Jamie Kenmure has retained his position and will spearhead the Palau Team in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey to be held from August 27 to September 12, 2012. He already started booking his airfare this early to save.

He suggested to the team members of Palau—Hernandez, Cabunagan, Manuel, Mohammad Manik Hossain and reserve George Anzawa to start booking and he recommends the cheapest one that he’s got at http://www.edreams.com/ which cost $1,200.00 for a round trip ticket from Manila-Istanbul.

Bernard Garcia is asking Hernandez if there is still a place for him to be in line-up for the Istanbul Olympiad. The current available spot for him is to be the team captain of Palau Women’s Team, which is composed of Elizabeth Manuel (Menandro’s wife), Angie Parrado and Adele Anzawa (George mom).

At least 2 more women players are needed to complete a 6-player team. A country with less than 3 members will not be allowed to compete in the Olympiad as experienced by Hernandez and Cabunagan in Russia.

To make the Men’s Team (actually the Open) stronger, Hernandez will propose to Manik Hossain to be the team captain of the women’s team and Garcia will be the Board 3 of the men’s team. Hernandez will be Board 1, Cabunagan at Board 2 and Manuel at Board 4.

If Manuel can score 6 points in 9 games at Board 4, he will become the first titled player of Palau. This strategy was applied by Papua New Guinea in the 2004 Olympiad in Spain where Rupert Jones got his FIDE Master title.

Source:   Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper  
               Pages 9-10
              Volume 21   
              Issue 02    
              January 09, 2012

(781) PARRADO, PALOMA, BALBALOSA MISSED CM TITLES (TBN-Sept 01, 2014)

THE COMPLETE PALAU CHESS TEAM TO W.C.O. NORWAY

                   Before the start of 3^rd round against Guam, the Palau Chess Team, (in complete uniform) poses for a souvenir photo at the entrance of the venue –the Arena. Front row (L-R) Gladys Anne Paloma, Baby Edna Mission, Angelica Parrado, Destiny Sisior, Bernardo Garcia, Joy Flores Whipps. Back row (L-R) Dennis Gonzales, Jeffrey Balbalosa, Jamie Kenmure, Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, Roberto Hernandez and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.     (Photo by Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps)


   PARRADO, PALOMA, BALBALOSA
          MISSED CM TITLES 

                WHEN Palau first participated in an Olympiad (2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia), there’s no goal yet of acquiring a FIDE title (at least a Candidate Master title) as the 2 players who made it (Roberto Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan) were not allowed to play because of a minimum 3-player requirement.

                In the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, Palau fielded in a 4-player line-up without a reserve so they played all 11 rounds without relief. Despite being swept in the first 3 rounds, Bernard Garcia drew his game against a strong Hong Kong player in the 4^th round and averted a shutout. He then won 3 straight to score a 50% performance of 3.5 points in 7 games and automatically gained a CM title.

                In the recently concluded 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway, WNM Angelica Parrado scored the first half point of Palau Women’s Team in the 4^th round, won in the 5^th and 6^th round to be on target of a WCM title if she would win her 7^th round match against the poor African country Burundi. She did win! But by default as all of the Burundi women players didn’t show up.

                In the 8^th round, the Palau Men/Open section team is facing Burundi’s men team and one of the  players, on Board 2, didn’t show up so Garcia got his 2^nd victory by default.

                It became the top news of the Olympiad when the 8 members of Burundi’s Open and Women’s team have left Norway for greener pasture somewhere in the other 26 European Schengen states. Five women, 2 male team captains and the men/open Board 2 player have left. When the organizers checked their hotel rooms, all their belongings are gone. Their Schengen visa is for 3 months. There will be stricter screenings of Burundi players in the next 2016 World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

                Angie didn’t recover from that setback but she won very easily in her last outing against the top player of Rwanda in the final round. It is also in the 11^th and final round that Baby Edna Mission won her first ever game after losing the previous 8 games. When Roberto shook her hand to congratulate her, it’s very cold due to nervousness and pressure which is natural for beginners.

                Reserve Open section player of Palau Jeffrey Balbalosa have 2 points in 6 games. He can be Palau’s 2^nd CM if he would win his last 2 games (10^th and 11^th round). He lost a tough one against Rwanda but won against another tough opponent (a lady!) from Guyana and averted another shutout in more than 60 moves. Their endgame battle was stopped for 15 minutes when the Open Board 2 player of Seychelles suffered a heart attack. (A whole article will be published about this incident later).

                Roberto congratulated Jeff for his victory and like Baby Edna Mission, his hand is also very cold. In the 2012 WCO, Roberto averted a shutout against San Marino in the last round. Joselito Marcos of Papua New Guinea did the same avert of a shutout during the 2002 WCO in Bled, Slovenia. In both cases, (2002 and 2012 WCO), no teammates of Roberto and Joselito congratulated them.

                In Gladys Anne Paloma’s case, it’s a poor and inexperience decision of the team captain Jamie Kenmure to put Paloma on a Saturday matches (Aug. 2 and 9 – 1^st and 7^th round). Instead of 1. Parrado 2. Mission 3. Paloma 4. Sisior, it should have been 1. Parrado 2. Mission 3. Sisior 4. Whipps so that Gladys will have a rest on a Saturday match. Those 2 games that she should have been rested really affected her chances to get a WCM title.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Ne7++ Kh8 2. Ng6+! hxg6 3. hxg3 mate.

                This week’s puzzle: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
              Tia Belau Newspaper
              Pages 9-10
              Volume 23
              Issue 70
             September 01, 2014

(363) 10 YEARS OF CHESSMATE, 57 YEARS OF ROBERTO

WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD PARTICIPANT AT LAST!!!
       Palau finally sent a complete team in 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey with (R-L) Roberto Hernandez, Menandro Manuel, Bernardo Garcia and Elizabeth Manuel (who's taking this photo). They were able to ask USA top player and world's no. 7 Hikaru Nakamura for a souvenir photo at the opening ceremony.
                                                                (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


            10 YEARS OF CHESSMATE;
               57 YEARS OF ROBERTO
   

HOW time flies! It’s already 10 years since the first issue of CHESSMATE in Dec. 29, 2002. A lot has been achieved in as long as chess development in Palau is concerned. There have been at least 3 major chess tourneys every year since 2003 and 3 invitational chess championships where foreign players were invited.

                The first 6 major tournaments in Palau have 6 different champions – Eddie Grefiel, Consul General Julius Torres, Menandro Manuel, Edgardo Enarsao, Roberto Hernandez and Jess Toldoya.

                With the help of Almario Marlon Bernardino, GM Eugene Torre, Gary Bekker, Toti Abundo and the late Lifetime Honorary FIDE President Florencio Campomanes, Palau was accepted as member of FIDE (World Chess Federation) in 2005.

                A year later, Mr. Bekker and Hernandez collaborated to have the inaugural 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship where 4 foreign players were invited and 6 Palau local players gained their initial international ranking--  Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jr., Jose Omega, Gene Pastrana, Hernandez and Manny Nedic.

                In 2009, Palau was represented for the first time in Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Australia. Thanks again to Mr. Bekker for buying the airfare of Hernandez so that Palau will be represented for the first time in overseas competition.

                In Australia, Roberto met Jamie Kenmure, who later became the team captain of Palau in 2010 and 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Russia and Istanbul, Turkey respectively. Roberto also met the Lapitan family where the whiz boy Daniel became Australia’s junior champion in the 12 years and under category.

                Also in Australia that Roberto met Joselito Marcos of Papua New Guinea. They became best of friends, renewed their friendship in 2010 WCO in Russia and in the 3^rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Palau Royal Resort from Dec. 14-19, 2011. Joselito and Manuel were co-champions of that event.

                Joselito came with his wife Nanette and daughter Jamie and they experienced the beauty of Palau firsthand after a week of competitive chess. They have a trip to Rock Island, the Capitol, Palau Aquarium, golf and archery at Papago International Resort and the warm hospitality of Palauan people.

                On March 15, 2011, a new opportunity was offered to Hernandez to write/contribute on Thursday issue of Tia Belau, who will publish twice a week for the first time after 21 years of publishing once a week.

                This time it’s about music. Chess on Monday and Music on Thursday were all posted at Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

                Thanks a lot to Joselito Marcos who initiated the move to make Palau more popular through this website that started in Dec. 26, 2011. In its first month, the page views were only 30 and after a year, it’s now more than 30,000! At present, it has 381 posts with a lot more to be posted especially the older issues of CHESSMATE since 2003.

                In the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, only 2 players made it there – Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan. They were not allowed to play because of a ruling that started in 2008 WCO in Dresden, Germany that a country must have at least 3 players to be allowed to play.

                They didn’t allow Kenmure to join the Palau players because he is listed under Australia. The only hope now is on their Delegate Jan Berglund of Sweden, who was Palau’s Delegate in Dresden. He is not listed under USA (he’s got a green card) and Sweden. But, there is no stamp on his passport that confirmed that he’s been to Palau at least once to be allowed to play. His unused ticket (Sweden-Hawaii-Guam-Palau) was not honored.

                Palau finally was able to send a whole team to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. Cabunagan didn’t make it due to job requirement while Mohammad Manik Hossain was allowed by his employer to go in the last 2 weeks and missed the once in a lifetime chance to play in an Olympiad.

                But Board 1 Roberto Hernandez, Board 2 Elizabeth Manuel, Board 3 Bernardo Garcia and Board 4 Menandro Manuel is good enough to complete a team even without reserve. They played all 11 rounds and were swept by Qatar, Iraq and Maldives in the first 3 rounds respectively.

                Garcia achieved a Candidate Master title when he scored half point in round 4 and 3 consecutive wins in round 5, 6 and 7 for a 50% performance in his first 7 games for a CM title, Palau’s first. It’s already a major achievement that sparks the interest of many local players to join the next World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in August 01-14, 2014.

                The committed players in the Open (men’s) team are Board 1 Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Board 2 Menandro Manuel, Board 3 CM Bernardo Garcia, Board 4 Tito Cabunagan and reserve Roberto Hernandez (so that he can attend the arbiters/trainers seminars that coincide with every Olympiad. Jeff Balbalosa will captain the women’s team while Paquito Suringa, Jr. will replace any of the 6 that will not make it.

                The women’s team is composed of Board 1 Angie Parrado, Board 2 Baby Edna Mission, Board 3 Mary Frances Lopez, Board 4 Elizabeth Manuel and reserve Joy Flores Whipps. Paz Ngiratechekii will replace any of the 5 players that will not make it if she can start saving now for airfare.

                The Open team’s captain is still Jamie Kenmure and the Delegate for the 3^rd consecutive Olympiad is still Mr. Jan Berglund. The Head of Delegation is reserved for Senator Mlib Tmechtul. If he is not available on that date, it will be offered to Eric Ksau Whipps, who is the choice of all members and officers of Palau Chess Federation to run as President of PCF during the Annual General Meeting to be held on Feb. 10, 2013 at Palau Royal Resort.

                The officers and members of Palau Chess Federation (with 234 members now) are in gratitude to Mr. Eric Ksau Whipps for paying the arrears of PCF. The new international ratings of 21 participants of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship will now be published on Feb. 01, 2013.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Qg6!! fxg6 2. Ne7++ Kh8 3. Nxg6 mate.

SPECIAL 10^TH ANNIVERSARY PUZZLE:  HERNANDEZ WILL GIVE $10.00 EACH TO THE FIRST 3 PERSONS WHO WILL SOLVE THIS PUZZLE. THERE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $5.00 EACH FOR THE SECOND SOLUTION TO THE PUZZLE.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATE IN 2

                This position allegedly occurred during a tournament in the old USSR. White looks to have no hope but suddenly finds a move that leaves Black staring at an unstoppable mate.

                A couple of clues: Firstly the board is the right way around etc. Secondly, the mating idea would not be allowed these days (since 1988 at least) but may have worked at the time the tournament was supposed to be held.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 10-11

              Volume 21

              Issue 95

             December 31, 2012

           

(324) A VERY FRUITFUL MEETING

APPLYING AS TEAM CAPTAIN OF PALAU CHESS TEAM
Jamie Kenmure, middle, is talking to International Organizer (IO) Graeme Gardiner during the awarding of blitz chess contest winners on the rest day of Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Jamie is applying to be the team captain of Palau Chess Team to World Chess Olympiad in Russia on Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2010. Behind Jamie is Australia's top GM Zhang-Yuan Zhao. In between them is teenager James Morris, 2nd place in Oceania. Behind Graeme is British GM Gawain Jones and Daniel Lapitan, who drew with 2 GMs in a simul in 2007 and 2009.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

AFTER SIX weeks of delay due to conflicts of schedule, the meeting of Palau Chess Federation's officers and members was held finally at Migrant Center beside Sacred Heart church.

On top of the agenda was the chance of PCF to finally send a team to the biannual World Chess Olympiad, this time to be held at Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

PCF Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez was lucky to be offered free airfares for 5 players from Palau.

There will be an election of President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) that coincides with the Olympiad from Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2010.

Hernandez was able to bargained that the 3-year arrears of PCF to FIDE worth 1,240.64 euros be part of sponsorship because no teams can participate in the Olympiad if they are not fully paid with their dues to FIDE. (Or at least they are not in arrears for 2 years.)

The players who attended the meeting were Hernandez, Cyril Montel, Jr., Jimboy de Jesus, Tito Cabunagan, Gene Pastrana, Andres Mestizo II and Masum Billah.

PCF Chairman Francis 'Sno' Temaungil didn't make it because their car was used by his wife Maryann. Bernard Garcia and Menandro Manuel didn't make it likewise.

The attendees were not convinced that the offer is real and bargained to have $500.00 each as allowance to pay airport taxes, visas and other expenses.

Also discussed is to wait for other sponsors and to have Sno as the team captain of the team.

In this coming Olympiad, 5 members + team captain have free accomodations. If Sno will not be available, he will choose his Palauan replacement. It's either Morton Sawaichi or Flavin Andres. Tutii Joe Chilton is not available on the Olympiad's date.

Australian journalist Jamie Kenmure offered to be the team captain. He was asked also to raise funds for his airfare and some financial funding for Palau Chess Team.

He was asked also by Oceania Zone President Gary Bekker to help in processing the cross-table of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship so that it will be rated.

Also discussed in the meeting was the next chess tournament in Palau, which will also be the training for the Olympiad-bound members.

Masum and Jimboy were given an 18-page copy of FIDE Laws of Chess. That piece of information will be the reference for every protest, especially touch move and illegal move.

The indifferences of some players were also resolved to make this meeting the most fruitful ever. More meetings are planned in the future.

At 10:26 am of April 26, Hernandez had a Facebook chat with the airfare sponsor regarding the meeting. It was also a fruitful chat although the offer remains the same.

Two hours later, Cabunagan informed Hernandez that he was permitted by his General Manager (another GM) to participate in this once in a lifetime chance.

At the same day at 11:57 pm, Hernandez had another chat with the sponsor and he said to him that he asked for another meeting on Wednesday for the Board.

And that Tito Cabunagan is satisfied with the offer. He and Hernandez will try to convince the others to accept it.

The sponsor said that, "It is going to be on the table until June 1st and it's guaranteed that it's not going to be raised. The offer is a generous one made in good faith and if the other guys want to be greedy, good luck to them. I am glad that you, at least, understand. I will repeat: we can sponsor $5,000.00 for airfares, plus pay the arrears. Anyway, I will wait for the news. Sorry if I sound a bit tough."

Roberto thanked him again for the offer and added that GM Gawain Jones accepted his offer to be friends on Facebook.

"Cheers." was the last word from the sponsor at 12:16 am.




BIBLE VERSES OF THE WEEK:

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tounges.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 19
            Issue 16
            April 19-25, 2010

(307) Armenia, Russia win gold medals in 40th Chess Olympiad

FINAL ROUND OF ISTANBUL OLYMPIAD
Roberto Hernandez, right, poses with 3 of the 5 members of Philippine women's team during the last few hours of the final round of 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)









              ARMENIA, RUSSIA WIN GOLD MEDALS
　　　  IN THE 40TH CHESS OLYMPIAD

　
IN THE last round of the 40th World Chess Olympiad, Armenia was matched against Hungary. Levon Aronian secured a perpetual against Peter Leko, and the other games continued.
　
After the time control, Gabriel Sargissian drew the rook endgame against Ferenc Berkes, and Sergei Movsesian scored a crucial victory against Zoltan Almasi. Eventually, Vladimir Akopian held Judit Polgar to a draw to mark the start of huge celebration for Armenian gold medal. Congratulations!
　
Russia employed their trademark strategy and signed 2 quick draws with Germany -- both with black pieces. This worked perfectly as Vladimir Kramnik and Sergey Karjakin won with white to secure the overall 3-1 victory for Russia. Russia finished equal first on match points but with weaker tiebreaks and thus is awarded with the silver medal.
　
China was in good position to fight for the gold medal but a defeat in the match with Ukraine pushed them down in the standings to the 4th place. Vassily Ivanchuk won a nice attacking game against Wang Hao, while Pavel Eljanov outplayed Bu Xiangzhi. The other two games were drawn. With this victory Ukraine clims up and grabs the bronze medal!
　
In the Women's Section, Russia unexpectedly easily crushed the young team of Kazakhstan with 4-0. At the same time China was struggling to keep pace as Bulgaria proved to be a respectable opponent.
　
Hou Yifan and Antoaneta Stefanova drew, while Margarita Voiska beat Ju Wenjun. However, Zhao Xue and Huang Qian defeated their opponents to turn the tables and win the match.
　
Both Russia and China finished with 19 match points, but the tiebreak awarded the gold medal to Russia, while China team had to console themselves with silver.
　
The Palau team, rated 145th, finished 154 out of 161 countries. The consolation to the team was the acquiring of Candidate Master title to Bernard Garcia who scored 3.5 points in his first 7 games.

The Philippines lost to China 3.5-0.5 in the 9<sup>th round, drew with Vietnam in the 10th and lost to Romania in the final round to finish 21st. They finished 50th in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 12 & 13
            Volume 21
            Issue 69
           October 01, 2012</sup>

Roberto Hernandez and Elizabeth Manuel of Palau Chess Team were able to have a single shot photo with the Turkish 2023 Youngest Chess Team in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. The young team is the core of numerous teams that will spearhead Turkey in future competitions. It is expected that in 2023, these 4 kids will become masters or Grandmasters in their peak. A very nice program of Turkey.

(Photo by Bernard Garcia)

One of rare loss for Hikaru Nakamura of USA against Poland's top player Radoslaw Wojtaszek, who has been Viswanathan Anand's second for several years.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Vladimir Kramnik of Russia defeated Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany at Board 1. Sergey Karjakin, standing in the middle, also won with the white pieces at board 2.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, in green t-shirt that he wore for 4 straight days, defeated China's board 1 player Wang Hao to dislodge China from the top 3 finish. Ukraine, the defending champion, settled for bronze while Russia, who last won in 2002 Bled, Slovenia, got the silver.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Judit Polgar, middle, drew with Vladimir Akopian.

Philippines vs. Romania -- Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa, Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

SLOVENIA VS. CUBA
GM Lenic vs. GM Dominguez Perez
GM Beliavsky vs. GM Bruzon Batista
GM Borisek vs. GM Quesada Perez
GM Skoberne vs. GM Ortiz Suarez

CZECHOSLOVAKIA VS. ENGLAND

GM Laznicka vs. GM Adams
GM Navara vs. GM Jones
GM Babula vs. GM Short
GM Stocek vs. GM Howell

INDIA VS. AZERBAIJAN (All GM)
Sasikiran vs. Safarti
Harikrishna vs. Mamedyarov
Negi vs. Mamenov
Gopal vs. Guzeinov

UZBEKISTAN VS. VIETNAM
GM Kasimdzhanov 1/2 vs. 1/2 GM Le
GM Dzhumaev vs. IM Nguyen, V.
IM Kvon vs. IM Nguyen, D.
IM Kramrabulov 0 vs. 1 GM Dao

NETHERLAND VS. ARGENTINA

USA VS. POLAND (All GM)
Nakamura 0 vs. 1 Wojtaszek
Kamsky vs. Bartel
Onishuk vs. Swiercz
Robson vs.

GERMANY VS. RUSSIA

CHINA VS. UKRAINE

ARMENIA VS. HUNGARY

WOMEN'S SECTION

KAZAKSTAN VS. RUSSIA

GEORGIA VS. SPAIN

CHINA VS. BULGARIA


ISRAEL VS. USA

INDIA VS. FRANCE
GM Dronavalli vs. IM Skripchenko
IM Sachdev vs. IM Milliet
WGM Gomes vs. WGM Maisuradze
WGM Soumya vs. WIM Bollengier

ARMENIA VS. POLAND
GM Danielian vs. GM Socko
IM Mkrtchian vs. IM Rajlich
IM Galojan vs. WGM Zawodzka
WGM Kursova vs. WGM Szczepkowska<sup>　

　</sup>

ROMANIA VS. PERU
IM Polsor vs. WGM Cori Tello
WIM Bulmaga vs. WFM Allaga Fernandez
WGM Cosma vs. Casulsol Guzman
WGM L'arni vs. WFM Chumpitaz Carbajal
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

IRAN VS. UZBEKISTAN
WGM Pourkashiyan vs. WIM Muminova
WIM Khademalsharieh vs. WFM Gevorgyan
WIM Hejazipour vs. WFM Tohirjanova
WIM Hakimfard vs. Nadijanova
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

USA VS. POLAND. One of the rare time that Hikaru Nakamura lost a match.

USA VS. POLAND

Vietnamese last game at Board 2

CHINA VS. UKRAINE
Vassily Ivanchuk won his game early against Wang. Ruslan Ponomariov drew his game against Wang. I gave Ruslan my card while he is walking around after he drew his game. I saw him twice watching our games in the 9th round.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

CHINA VS. UKRAINE 1-3

ARMENIA VS. HUNGARY
Vladimir Akopian drew his long game vs. Judit Polgar as Armenia clinch the title, Russia is 2nd and Ukraine is 3rd.

USA VS. POLAND -- Last crucial game.

SLOVENIA VS. CUBA -- Last photo taken by Roberto Hernandez on the final day.

(302) BERNARDO GARCIA OF PPR IS PALAU'S FIRST TITLED PLAYER

CANDIDATE MASTER BERNARD GARCIA
Mind and physical health conditioning helped Bernardo Garcia, I. T. Manager at Palau Pacific Resort, in obtaining his Candidate Master (CM) title. He and his roommate Roberto Hernandez always excercise before taking breakfast and always use the stairs (6 floors to the buffet) as part of their conditioning. HEALTHY BODY, HEALTHY MIND- A CM TITLE!
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



BERNARDO GARCIA OF PPR IS
PALAU'S FIRST TITLED PLAYER

PALAU'S first participation in a World Chess Olympiad bears fruit already with the acquisition of a Candidate Master (CM) title of Palau's board 3 player Bernardo Garcia of Palau Pacific Resort.

In the first 3 rounds, Palau was swept by very strong opponents (Qatar, Iraq and Maldives) with board 1 Roberto Hernandez bowing to Grandmaster Al-Modiahki, who beat Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and the gold medalist in 2010 Olympiad in Russia, in the 2nd round.

But in the 4th round, Garcia avoided another sweep to Palau by drawing his game against Hong Kong board- 3 Arthas Kun Qian, whose rating of 1983 is 320 higher than his FIDE rating of 1663.

In the 5th round, Palau scored its first match win by nipping US Virgin Islands 2.5 - 1.5 from a draw from Hernandez and wins from Garcia and board 4 Menandro Manuel.

Palau lost to Bermuda 1.5 - 2.5 but Garcia won his 2nd straight and Manuel drew his winning game due to health reason on the 30th move, the minimum number of moves before a player can offer a draw.

In the 7th round, although Palau lost again this time to Macau by a 1-3 margin, Garcia scored his 3rd straight for a total of 3.5 points in his first 7 games for an automatic Candidate Master title.

He didn't know yet that he's got a CM title before Palau's 8th round match-up with Rwanda, which ended in a 2-2 tie. He was informed by team captain Jamie Kenmure of Australia about his title and it somehow affected his game and his 3-game winning streak was snapped.

With the loss, his bigger achievement of getting a FIDE Master title is now gone, where he needs to score 6 points in 9 games or 7 points in 11 games.

In the 8th round also, Hernandez got his first whole point with a win over Theotime Rutaremara and Manuel had 2.5 points, with a little chance to get also his CM title if he can score 5.5 points in 11 games.

Palau's objective has been accomplished! Get the first FIDE title in its first participation.

Only 3 players obtained their CM title in this 2012 World Chess Olympiad held in Istanbul, Turkey from Aug. 27 (Arrival) to Sept. 10, 2012 (Departure) by scoring 3.5 in their first 7 games.

Before the start of the final round on Sunday, Sept. 09, 75 players have obtained CM, FM and International Master (IM) titles.

WELL DONE, TEAM PALAU!!! YOU'LL DO BETTER IN 2014 TROMSO, NORWAY WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD AND TO THE 2016 BAKU, AZERBAIJAN WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 14 & 17
Volume 21
Issue 67
September 24, 2012

(278) MANUEL COUPLE GRANTED SCHENGEN VISA; GARCIA COMMITS TO 2014 NORWAY WCO

RENEWING THEIR FRIENDSHIP AGAIN
     From left, Joselito Marcos, Gary Bekker and Roberto Hernandez will meet again in Istanbul, Turkey for different positions in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad. Mr. Bekker will be one of the International Arbiters while Marcos and Hernandez will be Board 1 players of Papua New Guinea and Palau respectively. Fernando Aguilar, right, of Solomon Islands, will miss again this WCO due to financial constraints.
                                                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


             MANUEL COUPLE GRANTED
                    SCHENGEN VISA;
  GARCIA COMMITS TO 2014 NORWAY WCO

AFTER getting their Turkish visa for their participation in the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey, the Manuel couple (Menandro and Elizabeth) applied for Schengen visa so that they can proceed to Italy, France and Germany for 5 days after the Olympiad for a European tour.

                A week before his trip to Manila from Palau, Menandro informed Roberto Hernandez that their Schengen visa was granted and their European tour is finally confirmed.

                On August 24, 2012, Manuel, Hernandez and Bernard Garcia will fly to Manila for their August 26 (Sunday) flight to Istanbul via Singapore Airlines.

                They will arrive in Istanbul at 7:45 am with 12 hours to spare before the Captain’s meeting at 8:00 pm and the Opening Ceremony of the World Chess Olympiad at 8:30 pm.

                Meanwhile, with 2 weeks before the start of 2012 World Chess Olympiad, Garcia commits to Hernandez that he would like to be a member of Palau Chess Team to 2014 Tromso, Norway World Chess Olympiad.

                He’s thinking way ahead to be much prepared so that the team’s chances will be better. Like in chess, he’s thinking 20-move deeper which according to him is too deep.

                He likes also to be in the lower board than the 2012 Olympiad where he is playing at board 3. The tentative line-up for Palau Chess Team to 2014 WCO is: Menandro Manuel at Board 1; Hernandez at Board 2; Tito Cabunagan at 3; Garcia at 4 and Jeff Balbalosa as reserve.

                This is much stronger that the current line-up for Istanbul even if Mohammad Manik Hossain has made it at Board 2 as follows: Hernandez at 1; Elizabeth at 2; Garcia at 3 and Menandro at 4.

                Palau’s team captain Jamie Kenmure agreed to this line-up but he suggested Senator Mlib Tmetuchl be the reserve citing that at least a Palauan player can be fielded.

                But Sen. Mlib has not started to play competitive chess yet and he’s much better to be the Head of Delegation of team captain of women’s team where he will not be allowed to play.

                Team captain and Delegate are allowed to play if they are not a member of their country’s federation and had been to Palau at least once.

                Palau’s Delegate Mr. Jan Berglund has change his email address and is now having a hard time to receive Hernandez’ emails because he don’t like to open the noreply@boxbe.com

                This cause Hernandez’ bunch of emails to be waitlisted including the proxy letter to FIDE, Organizers of the Olympiad and his personal copy that says:

                August 16, 2012     To: Directory FIDE Elista Office

                                                        Organizers, 40^th World Chess Olympiad Istanbul, Turker

                Dear Sir/Madame, The Palau Chess Federation is honored to have Mr. Jan Berglund as our Delegate to the 83^rd FIDE Congress that coincides with the 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

                Mr. Berglund was Palau Chess Federation’s Delegate to the 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany and to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

                Mr. Berglund is also allowed to be a substitute player in case one of the members of Palau Chess team didn’t make or if one of them gets sick.

                He is a member of Palau Chess Federation since September 27, 2007 and he is not a member of any chess federation except Palau.

                We hope that by doing so, Palau will be represented again to the 83^rd FIDE Congress as I would like to concentrate on Board 1.

                (Signed) Roberto A. Hernandez    Secretary/Treasurer, Palau Chess Federation

                                                                           Permanent Delegate to FIDE, Palau Chess Federation

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 0 & 13

              Volume 21

              Issue 57

              August 20, 2012