(1615) 2019 P. B. C. C. on Jan. 13; FIDE Published Ratings for Jan. 2019 (TBN-Jan. 07, 2019)

AWARDING TO THE CHAMPIONS OF 1^st SURANGEL CHESS TEAM TOURNEY, 2018 PNCC AND THIS SUNDAY’S BLITZ

                    Three tournaments will get the awarding to be held on Jan. 20 after the 2019 PBCC. Winners of SCTT are Angelo’s Team—Champion; Cyril’s Team—2^nd place and Rustum’s Team—3^rd place. In the 2018 PNCC, the champion is Bobot Tan, followed by Cyril and me. The women’s division champ is Angie Parrado, her daughter Angelil Sisior is 2^nd and her younger daughter Destiny—3^rd. In the junior division, Gian Gabriel Claronino got his first ever championship followed by Michael Gulla and Kyarii Sisior.      (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

        

        2019 P.B.C.C. ON JAN. 13;
       FIDE Published Ratings for
                 January 2019

As published last year, the 2019 Palau Blitz Chess Championship will be held on the 2^nd or 3^rd week of January for this one day event. The time control is 3 min. + 2 seconds increment in this 9-round Swiss system event.

Here are the Blitz ratings of possible contestants of 2019 PBCC: 1. Bobot Tan (1868) 2. Tito Cabunagan (1777) 3. 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 (1648) 11. Jeff Balbalosa (1615) 12. Angelo Salvadora (1607) 13. Gonzalo Escapatoria (1603) 14. Remrel Dizon (1596) 15. Angie Parrado (1580) 16. Mohammad Manik Hossain (1529) 17. Neph Macasaet (1501 (Rapid) 18. Destiny Sisior (1500) 19. Baby Edna Mission (1478) 20. Gladys Anne Paloma (1452) 

21. Ksau Anthony Whipps (1331) 22. Joan Gemota (1433) 23. Angelil Sisior (1387) 24. Glen Navarroza (1382) 25. Joel Gemota (1327) 26. Charley Patris (1284—Standard) 27. Jennifer Angeles (1182) 28. Roxanne Parco (1145) 29. Kyarii Sisior (1148) 30. Samuel Palingcod (1567—Standard) 31. Angelito Mintar, Jr. (1554-Standard) 32. Jello Aguaras (1465-Standard) 33. Reece Reklai (1345-Standard) 34. Leif Toribiong (1304-Standard) 35. Michael Gulla (1379) 36. Gian Gabriel Claronino (1373) 37. Angelica Magno (1129) 38. Morton Sawaichi (1206-Standard) 39. Nicholas Nehez (1357) 

40. Jeyrald Lomboy (NR) 41. Rommel Gulla (NR) 42. Gabriell Garcia (NR) 43. Aome Angeles (NR) 44. Nilo de Jesus (1615) 45. Christopher Kitalong (1401-Rapid) 46. Elizalde Madrinan (1326-Rapid) 47. Ma. Florida Hernandez (1363-Standard) 48. John Malinao (1343-Standard) 49. Gian Paloma (1073) 50. Pedro Parmisano (1611) 51. Eryn Reklai (1004) 52. Luciano Sibayan (1427-Rapid) 53. Arnold Undecimo (1435) 54. Elizalde Madrinan. 

The 14 participants of PMA Chess in School 3^rd Batch are also invited: 1. Chioko Yang Derbai 2. Yu Hsuan Kuo 3. Xiancheng (Lincoln) Liao 4. Yi Lang Liu 5. Mariah Coline Miclat 6. Aya Osada 7. Diana Rechucher 8. Joram Renguul 9. Neil Roberto 10. Alik Jared Senior 11. Sowon Shin 12. Kikuo Sumang 13. Dichem Tmetuchl 14. Jannah Islam.

            The Top 30 Palau Chess Players in FIDE Rating List for the month of January 2019 is as follows: Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel kept the No. 1 position despite finishing 2nd in the 2018 PNCC with the same rating of 1877 (same as last year's); Bobot Tan is just 6 points behind at 1871 for an incredible increase of 54 (2nd most); Tito Cabunagan is still at No. 3 but lost 7 rating points from 1724 to 1717;

           Paquito Suringa Jr. gained only 2 points to keep the No. 4 slot at 1716; Jeff Balbalosa jumped 2 slots higher with an increase of 20 points (7th most) from 1694 to 1714 to dislodge me at No. 5 when I lost 1 rating point (from 1708-1707); Rustum Cabuso didn't participate in the 2018 PNCC but he kept the No. 7 slot with unchanged 1701; Angel Salvadora lost 5 points (from 1686-1681) but stayed at No. 8; Dennis Gonzales lost a minimal 3 points to stay at 9th place (1625-1622); Gonzalo Escapatoria lost 5 points likewise and stayed at No. 10 (from 1593-1588);

           Samuel Palingcod earned the most rating points among newcomers with an initial rating of 1567 for 11th place; Manuel Mahor earned 29 rating points (5th most) to climbed at 12th (1523-1562); the 2nd newcomer who earned 1554 initial rating is Angelito Jun Cabugao Mintar, Jr. for 13th place; Palau's first Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Angie Sisior gained the 4th most points of 30 for topping again the women's division with a perfect 6 points to claim the No. 14 spot; Neph Macasaet lost the 3rd most points of 57 to slide at No. 15 from 1555-1498; Remrel Dizon lost the most rating points of 77 to be at 16 place (1559-1482); Manik Hossain lost 18 points (5th most) to be the 17th placer (1498-1480); Newcomer Jello Aguaras got his initial FIDE rating of 1465 for 18th place; Batumi Chess Olympiad member Angelil Sisior gained 25 rating points (6th most) to improve at 19th spot (1414-1439); Glen Navarroza continues to improve with a pocketful 47 rating points (3rd most) to occupy 20th slot (1388-1435); 

          Destiny Sisior stayed at 21st spot with no changes in her rating of 1432; Bheng Codinera Mendoza lost 47 points (4th most) to slide at No. 22 (1436-1389); Reece Reklai got his initial rating of 1345 for playing the most number of games (10) including 3 games from the 2017 PNCC Junior division. Leif Toribiong stayed at No. 24 with unchanged rating of 1304; 2018 PNCC Junior Division champion Gian Gabriel Jun Claronino Jr. got his initial rating too of 1290, good at 25th spot. His Blitz rating is 1373; Charley Patris gained 10 points (8th most) to occupy 26th spot (from 1274-1284); the rusty Jhoan Gemota lost 71 rating points (2nd most) for 27th spot ((1354-1283); Morton Sawaichi, inactive for 13 years, got his initial rating of 1206 for 28th spot; Jennifer Tubtub lost 1 point (like me) from 1187-1186 for 29th spot...AND THE LAST ONE, WHO GAINED THE MOST POINTS OF 80-is  Angelica Morales Magno -- from 1079-1159.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3498: 1. Qe1 e6 or e5 2. Qh4#   If 1. …c6 or c5, then 2. Qa5#

                                                                                       (Nobody solved this puzzle)

                This week’s puzzle No. 3827: 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 001

               January 07, 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 07, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- January 07, 2019

(1572) PHOTOS -- FINAL ROUND OF 1st Surangel Chess Team Tournament (Sept. 16, 2018)

PHOTOS -- 

Final Round of 1st S. C. T. T.

(Sept. 16, 2018)

The first ever team tournament in Palau concluded on Sept. 16, 2018 with a very exciting final round. Dark Grey is leading Light Blue by a mere half point (20-19.5 total team points). My Yellow Team is only 2.5 points ahead of Dennis Gonzales' Navy Blue Team (16.5-14). 

TEAM DARK GREY OF Angel Salvadora is the Champion of 1st Surangel Chess Team Tournament; Roberto Hernandez' Yellow Team is 2nd; Rustum Cabuso's Light Blue Team is 3rd

 Our total points is 20.5 and when Light Blue Team scored only half point (a draw between John Malinao and Manuel Mahor), we edged the Light blue team by half point! Jeff Balbalosaplayed his first game of the event vs. me and after he blundered away his queen for a bishop, I prevailed in 35 moves of French Defense (Tarrasch Variation). My teammate Glen Navarroza, middle, shaking hands with Jello, also prevailed over Jello Augaras and my youth (Board 4) gold medalist Nicholas Nehez won by default over Lenge Gibbons and the Board 3 (woman) has already been played 3 weeks earlier with Angelil Sisior prevailing over Jhoan Gemota, who is on vacation since Sept. 14, together with the other 3 members of Palau Chess Team to 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia Bobot Tan, Bheng Codinera Mendoza and Rustum. Another 5 members left too on Sept. 18: Angelica Morales Magno, Salvadora, me, Angie Sisior and her daughter Angelil. The rest, 5 of them will fly to Manila on Fri. Sept. 21: Eric Ksau Whipps, Joy Balute Flores, Leif Toribiong, Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel and Tito Cabunagan and we will all fly to Istanbul on Sat. Sept. 22 and will arrive in Batumi at 7pm just in time for the Opening Ceremony at 9 pm.

[Event "2018 1st Surangel Team Tourney"]

[Site "Mason's Hardware Do-it-Center Premises"]
[Date "2018.09.16"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Hernandez, Roberto"]
[Black "Balbalosa, Jeffrey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C06"]
[WhiteElo "1708"]
[BlackElo "1694"]
[Annotator "Roberto"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Ngf3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Bd3 Qb6 8. Nf1
(8. O-O cxd4 9. cxd4 a5 10. Re1) 8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. f4
Bb4+ 12. Ke2 O-O 13. Qc2 f5 14. Be3 Qxe3+ 15. Nxe3 b6 16. g4 fxg4 17. Bxh7+ Kh8
18. Qg6 Ba6+ 19. Kd1 Rxf4 20. Qh5 Rc8 21. Bg6+ Kg8 22. Qh7+ Kf8 23. Qh8+ Ke7
24. Qxg7+ Kd8 25. Qg8+ Nf8 26. Nc2 Be7 27. Bf7 Kd7 28. Rc1 Bb5 29. Re1 Bh4 30.
Rg1 Rf2 31. Qxg4 Rxh2 32. Nd4 Rxc1+ 33. Kxc1 Bd3 34. Bxe6+ Kc7 35. Qg7+ 1-0

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- September 19, 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 -- September 19, 2018

              The History of Chess in Palau
              By Roberto Hernandez
              June 09, 2002 -- September 19, 2018

(1556) S.C.T.T. ROUND 1 RESULTS VARIES (TBN-Aug. 13, 2018)

: AVERTING A SHUTOUT

                  Nick Nehez, right, my piano/chess student, averted a shutout of our Yellow Team when he defeated/mated Rommel Gulla, right, in the 1^st round of the very successful 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament held on Aug. 5. Angie Parrado, 2^nd from left, is executing a move vs. her daughter Angelil Sisior while Dims Alexander (partly hidden) is pondering his move against John Malinao. Team Captain Angelo Salvadora completes the Dark Grey Team with reserve player Pedro Parmisano looking on.

             S. C. T. T. ROUND 1 
               RESULTS VARIES

                There’s a unique variation in the results of Round 1 of 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament held on Sunday, Aug. 05, 2018 at Mason’s Hardware Do-It Center premises. There’s a 2-2 draw with the Red Team and Navy Blue Team; a sweep by Light Blue Team over Teal Team; a 3-1 victory of Dark Grey Team over my Yellow Team; a 1.5-.5 win by Royal Blue Team against Black Team and a 4-0 win via BYE by Purple Team.

                The top 2 players of Red Team—Bobot Tan and Charley Patris subdued the Navy Blue Team of Dennis Gonzales and Joel Gemota respectively but their woman and youth players Joan Gemota and Ksau Anthony Whipps both scored the equalizing points over Baby Edna Mission and Jai.

                The Light Blue Team of Rustum Cabuso, Manuel Mahor, Jr., Angelica Magno and Michael Gulla swept the Teal Team of Tito Cabunagan, Gabriell Garcia, Joy Flores Whipps (off island) and Kyarii Sisior respectively. Rustum-Tito (1-0) 56 moves of Philidor’s Defense; Mahor-Garcia (1-0) 54 moves of French Defense (Exchange Variation); I was not informed that Magno has played vs. Melvin Parinas, which is not allowed because no male player can play with woman player. But she won anyway with her victory over Joy Flores Whipps. Michael Gulla-Kyarii Sisior (1-0) in 42 moves of d4-d5 Unusual Lines.

                The top 3 players of Dark Grey Team of Angelo Salvadora won over my Yellow Team but the Youth player Nicholas Nehez averted a shutout by mating Rommel Gulla on the 26^th move of d4-d5 unusual line. Salvadora defeated me in 46 moves of Sicilian Defense while newcomer Dims Alexander was outwitted by John Malinao in 41 moves of Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit. The mother and daughter adversaries resulted in a win of the mother (Angelica Parrado) over Angelil Sisior in 36 moves of Gioco Pianissimo and the team saver Nicholas Nehez won in just over 30 minutes of chess action.

                Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.’s Royal Blue Team’s woman and youth player are still on vacation as well as their counterpart in Paquito Suringa, Jr. Black Team. They both have 0-0 record. The lone point was scored by Eugene Labarda over Elizalde Madrinan in 42 moves of Philidor’s Defense. The top board match-up between the 2 captains was the longest game of the day—until 7pm that ended in a draw with Paquito ahead by 3 connected pawns.

                The Purple Team of Leif Toribiong had a BYE and his teammates Chris Kitalong, Tau’o Ngirmeriil and Shem Paulus scored whole points.

                ROUND 2 PAIRINGS:

                                      Team Black                                          Team Purple                      

                       Paquito Suringa, Jr.                                   Leif Toribiong

Elizalde Madrinan                                     Chris Kitalong

Gladys Anne Paloma                                Tau’o Ngirmeriil

     Gian Paloma                                                 Shem Paulus

Team Yellow                                   Team Light Blue

1.     Roberto Hernandez         Rustum Cabuso

2.     Glen Navarozza                 Manuel Mahor, Jr.

3.     Angelil Sisior                      Angelica Magno

4.     Nicholas Nehez                 Michael Gulla

Team Navy Blue                            Team Dark Grey

1.     Dennis Gonzales               Angelo Salvadora

2.     Joel Gemota                        John Malinao

3.     Joan Gemota                       Angelica Parrado

4.     Ksau Anthony Whipps     Rommel Gulla

Team Royal Blue                           Team Red

1.     Cyril Montel, Jr.                 Bobot Tan

2.     Eugene Labarda                 Charley Patris

3.     Jennifer Angeles               Baby Edna Mission

4.     Aome Angeles                   Jai

Team Teal – BYE

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 4421: 1. …Qe1+! 2. Bxe1 Rxe1 3. Rf1 Rxf1#

This week’s puzzle No. 4422: Black to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

(1555) ROUND 1 OF 1st SURANGEL CHESS TEAM TOURNAMENT (Aug. 05, 2018)

ROUND 1

1st SURANGEL CHESS

TEAM TOURNAMENT

(Aug. 05, 2018)

The biggest chess event in Palau in terms of turnout of participants has started on Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018 at Mason's Hardware Do-It Center premises. 8 teams played with the 9th team (Leif Toribiong) having a 1st round bye. 

. Rustum Cabuso, middle, won over Tito Cabunagan in 56 moves of Philidor's Defense.

The shortest game is between Ksau Anthony Whipps, left,  who drubbed Jai in just 18 moves of Dutch Defense. 

First timer Gabriell Garcia, 2nd from left, lost to Manuel Mahor in 54 moves of French Defense (Exchange Variation);

 Kyarii Sisior lost to Michael Adette Gulla; 

Bobot Tan, right, nips Dennis R Gonzales in 21 moves of Hungarian Defense. 

 Bheng Codinera Mendoza, 2nd from left, succumbed to Joan Jhoan Gemota in 48 moves of Latvian and Elephants Gambits; 

 Elizalde Madriñan of Palau Royal Resort lost to Eugene Labarda in 42 moves of another Philidor's Defense; and the longest game that lasted till 7pm is between Paquito Suringa Jr. and Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel, where Pax is ahead by 3 pawns but Cyril defended well to draw the game after more than 70 moves. 

 Team Angel Salvadora played vs. my team with its captain (Angel) defeating me in a Sicilian defence encounter; newcomer Dims Alexander also lost to John Malinao while Angelil Sisior, 2nd from right, vowed to her mom Angie Sisior, 2nd from left, in 36 moves. Nick Nehez, right, saved the day for the Yellow team by winning/mating Rommel Gulla, left, in 26 moves of d4-d5 unusual lines to avert a sweep.

The game between Angelica Morales Magno and Melvin Parinas is not valid as they played without my permission. Men cannot play in the women division. Angel should be playing Joy Flores Whipps, who is off-island. A default win for Angel although she won over Parinas.

Dims Alexander, right, in his first ever serious chess tournament in Palau. I am teaching him how to annotate the game while playing against Angelo Salvadora at Board 1.

and the longest game that lasted till 7pm is between Paquito Suringa Jr. and Cyril Tomas Almitante-Montel, where Pax is ahead by 3 pawns but Cyril defended well to draw the game after more than 70 moves. 

Sources:

Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

December 29, 2002 -- August 08, 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 -- August 08, 2018

The History of Chess in Palau

By Roberto Hernandez

June 09, 2002 -- August 08, 2018