(672) PHOTOS (2003 AGE GROUP CHESS TOURNAMENT)

(208) OMEGA, LAGUMEN NOW LEAD CLASS A, B

JON VS. IVAN

Jon Lagumen vs. Ivan II Chess Computer using the tournament size chessboard because Ivan II is just 8 inches.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

OMEGA, LAGUMEN

NOW LEADS CLASS A, B

THE CLASS A and B Championships of 2003 Age Group Chess tournament became complicated when two previously unbeaten leaders lost at least a game to make Edgardo Enarsao the leader of Class A and Jon Lagumen in Class B.

Erstwhile undefeated Class A leader Roberto Hernandez loses to Jimmy Valenzuela in 30 moves of a Sicilian Defence and lost another game to Enarsao in 27 moves of a Caro-Kann Defence.

Enarsao, (6-1), can clinch the title if he'll win one of his 2 remaining matches against Bong Alipoon and Cyril Montel, Jr.

Alipoon finally won his first match by beating Ivan II Chess Computer in 29 moves of Benko Gambit while Montel, Jr. did the same to Ivan II in 26 moves of another Sicilian Defence. He also defeated Mariano Agustin, Jr. in 54 moves of Irregular Opening.

Menandro Manuel won his 4th straight game after losing his first 3 by beating Valenzuela and is now tied at 4th place with Montel, Jr. (4-3) and Valenzuela (4-2).

Previously undefeated Class B leader Jose Omega lost to Eugene Koh to drop to 2nd place and now tied with Mike Miguel, Jr. with 5.5 points each.

Lagumen now leads Class B with a win over Koh and can clinch the title if he wins his penultimate game against Omega and final day game with Amante Caballero. He is now toting a 6-1 slate.

OTHER RESULTS OF CLASS B MATCHES: Koh d. Tutii Joe Chilton and Miguel, Jr. d. Chilton.

DEFAULT WINS: Lagumen d. Chilton; Koh d. Norbert Villanueva; Lagumen d. Genaro Manlaya.

DEFAULT DRAWS: Chilton vs. Ivan II; Caballero vs. Koh, who is leaving Palau for Majuro this Saturday. He finished the tourney with 5.5 points.

IN THE KIDDIE CATEGORY: I. B. Misech showed up for the 2nd time since the start of the tournament. He lost 5 games to Kelvin dela Paz (2 games), Jayrome Soriano (2 games) and Ivan II Chess Computer. He won a game against Ivan II and a default win over Dmitri Villanueva.

OTHER RESULTS: Soriano d. dela Paz; Ivan II d. Chris Domingo; Soriano d. Rodnnie Dizon; Ricky Camacho d. Domingo; Dizon d. dela Paz; Soriano d. Camacho (2 games); Domingo d. Dizon and dela Paz; Soriano d. dela Paz.

DEFAULT WINNERS: Villanueva d. Michael Jordan Ngiratechekii; Camacho d. Villanueva; Soriano d. Ngiratechekii and Dizon d. Villanueva.

DEFAULT DRAW: Ivan II vs. Villanueva (2 games)

PENULTIMATE ROUND PAIRINGS: Class A- Alipoon needs to play 3 games; Mario Ramos, Jun Mahor, Valenzuela and Ivan II need to play 2 games each.

FIRST NAME TO PLAY WHITE: Enarsao vs. Alipoon; Montel, Jr. vs. Hernandez; Ramos vs. Manuel; Valenzuela vs. Ivan II; Alipoon vs. Mahor; Ramos vs. Valenzuela; Mahor vs. Ivan II and Agustin vs. Alipoon.

CLASS B PAIRINGS: Lagumen vs. Omega; Ben Ramos vs. Ivan II; Miguel Jr. vs. Norbert Villanueva and Caballero vs. Ivan II.

LAST REMAINING GAMES OF THE 12 YEARS AND UNDER CATEGORY: (Triple Round-Robin): D. Villanueva vs. Soriano (2 games), vs. Domingo, vs. Dizon (2), vs. Camacho (2) and vs. dela Paz (2); Soriano vs. Ivan II (2) and dela Paz (2); Domingo vs. Dizon and dela Paz (1 game each); Ivan II vs. Dizon (2), vs. Camacho (2) and vs. dela Paz (2); I. B, Misech vs. Ivan II, vs. Dizon (2) and vs. Camacho (2).

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Volume 12

Page 9

August 08-15, 2003

The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) Vice President Sergio Alemania making a short speech for the awarding of trophies to the winners of 2003 Age Group Chess tournament. It was held together with the awarding of trophies for the recently concluded basketball tournament.

Trophies sponsor Cris Gonzales, right, is ready to call the recipient of certificate of appreciation and trophies to the winners together with Knights and Rooks Chess Club chairman Roberto Hernandez.

Menandro Manuel receives another trophy for finishing 5th.

Jose Omega receives his Class B championship trophy.

Another runner-up finish for Cyril Montel, Jr.

First Palau Junior Champion Jayrome Soriano.

Runner-up finish for Christopher Domingo.

Rodnnie Dizon-- First tournament, runner-up finish.

Ricky 'Jun-Jun' Camacho--runner-up also.

(35) ENARSAO, OMEGA WIN CLASS A, B CHESS TITLES (TBN-Aug. 29-Sept. 05, 2003); ENARSAO-2003 AGE GROUP CHAMP

PRACTICE AND ANALYSIS
     Class A Champion Edgardo Enarsao (wearing white cap) practices with Class B Ben Ramos while current 1st runner-up Mike Miguel, Jr. plays on the other board.
                                                                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

ENARSAO, OMEGA WIN CLASS A, B CHESS TITLE

EDGARDO ENARSAO and Jose Omega topped the Class A and B championships respectively, of the 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament sponsored by The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP), its vice president Sergio Alemania and Cris Gonzales.

Enarsao lost his final game to Cyril Montel, Jr. in 37 moves of Sicilian Defence but won by default over Bong Alipoon that gave him the winning total of 7 points.

Jose Omega clinched the Class B title after beating Mike Miguel Jr. in a sudden-death match of one hour each.

Montel, Jr. and Jimmy Valenzuela are tied at 2nd place but he former won in a tiebreak over the latter (29.5-27.5). Using the Sonnenborn Berger system, winner get as additional the points of those they defeated.

Menandro Manuel and Roberto Hernandez drew their final round match in 54 moves of another Sicilian Defence to tie at 4th. A coin toss resulted in Manuel placing 4th and Hernandez 5th.

Ivan II Chess Computer placed 6th, Mario Ramos 7th, Mariano Agustin, Jr., Bong Alipoon and Jun Mahor are at 8th, 9th and 10th places respectively. Ramos won the $20.00 prize for a brilliancy game.

In Class B, Miguel, Jr. settled for 1st runner-up. Jon Lagumen placed 3rd after winning by default over Amante Caballero and Eugene Koh clinched 4th after Ben Ramos lost to Ivan II last week.

Kiddie champion Jayrome Soriano finished the triple round-robin of the 12 years and under category with 19.5 points. In a 3-way tie for 2nd place are: Chris Domingo, Rodnnie Dizon and Ricky 'Jun-Jun' Camacho with 14.5 points each in 14 wins, 9 losses and a draw.

The tiebreak resulted in Domingo with 43.5 points while Camacho and Dizon were tied again with both 28.5 points. It was decided to give the 2nd runner-up to Camacho for being the first player to beat the champion Soriano.

All the top 4 finishers of Class B and kiddie category will receive hand-carved trophies designed by Hernandez and Gonzales. The awarding of trophies, certificates and brilliancy prize will be announced later.

Ivan II actually finished 2nd to Soriano with 16.5 points but its participation is just for fill-in to give kids a chance to play with a chess computer.

After the completion of all final games, the format of the next tournament--the Senior and Junior Chess Tournament in Sept. 21, 2003 was discussed. It will be a 13-round Swiss system for seniors and double round-robin for juniors (18 years and below).

The time control for seniors is 2 hours for each player to make 40 moves, and 30 minutes each for juniors to finish the game.

The top 5 finishers in the senior division and the 4 juniors will receive trophies.

NOTEWORTHY FACT: The last 4 chess tournaments held since last year produced different champions--Eddie Grefiel, All-Filipino Chess Tournament, June 09, 2002; Philippine Consul General Julius Torres, 2002 Open Chess Tournament, September 15, 2002; Menandro Manuel, 2003 Open Chess tournament (Class A) and Chito Vargas (Class B); Edgardo Enarsao wins the 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament (Class A) and Jose Omega (Class B), and Jayrome Soriano, the first ever kiddie champion.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Page 13
            Volume 9
            Aug. 29-Sept. 05, 2003



ENARSAO--2003 AGE GROUP CHESS TOURNEY CHAMP

EDGARDO ENARSAO is this year's Age Group Chess Tournament champion after besting 10 other contestants in the Class A category.

Enarsao, with a 7-2 record, beat Cyril Montel, Jr. in the final round of the tournament held Aug. 24 at The Filipino Community in Palau offices.

Roberto Hernandez, tournament director, said that Montel, Jr. and Jimmy Valenzuela tied for the first runner-up with 6 wins, 3 losses card. A tiebreaker using a Sonnenborn Berger tiebreaking system in chess was used, with Montel emerging as the winner with 29.5 points. Valenzuela had 27.5 points.

Third runner-up went to Menandro Manuel while Roberto Hernandez got the 5th place after breaking another tie. With their last round a draw, organizers decided to toss a coin to decide who gets the 3rd runner-up place. Manuel eventually got it.

In Class B category, Jose Omega was declared the champion with 7.5 points. Another match was declared between Omega and Mike Miguel, Jr. to break the tie. Omega emerged as the champion after one sudden-death game.

Miguel received the 1st runner-up; Jon Lagumen 2nd runner-up and the 3rd runner-up went to Eugene Koh.

For the 12 years and under category, Jayrome Soriano was the champion with 19.5 points. Three players tied again for the 1st runner-up with 14.5 points each. Domingo eventually got the 2nd place with 43.5 points; Ricky Camacho, 2nd runner-up and Rodnnie Dizon, 3rd runner-up.

All winners will receive trophies. The tournament started last May 25 with the chess matches play every Sunday. The next tournament is slated on Sept. 21 this year.


With report from Agnes M. Abrau
                          (Horizon News Staff)

Source: Palau Horizon 
             Tuesday 
             August 26-28, 2003

The Filipino Community's 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament concluded last Sunday, Aug. 24. Photo shows Class A veterans Menandro Manuel, left, and Roberto Hernandez in a match during the final day of the tournament.

(Photo by John A. Conception)

Source: Palau Horizon   Tuesday  August 26-28, 2003

(32) IVAN II, HERNANDEZ LEAD CLASS A (TBN-July 11-18, 2003); VAL. KOH LEAD CLASS A, B (TBN-July 18-25, 2003)

          IVAN II, HERNANDEZ LEAD CLASS A

TOP SEED Roberto Hernandez defeated Bong Alipoon  in 52 moves of Sicilian Defence to tie Jimmy Valenzuela and Ivan II Chess Computer for the lead in the second round of the 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament sponsored by The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP), Cris Gonzales and Genaro Manlaya.

Ivan II executed all the right defence moves to repel Edgardo Enarsao's attack. It accepted Enarsao's knight sacrifice on the 25th move and held ground to notch its second win with the black pieces by using the King's Gambit Accepted.

Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. bounced back from first round upset and mated Jun Mahor in 37 moves of a Caro-Kann Defence. He sacrificed a rook on the 34th move to weave a mating net that Mahor failed to anticipate.

In Class B, Ben Ramos is now in 2nd place with 1.5 points after winning over Amante Caballero in a special match played in the former's residence because the latter doesn't have a Sunday off now. The tournament allows special arrangement such as this as long as both players have mutual concurrence.

Other Class B games results: Mike Miguel, Jr. d. Jon Lagumen; Eugene Koh d. Kelvin dela Paz (default); and Norbert Villanueva drew with Tutii Joe Chilton (default draw).

In the 12 years and under category, undefeated Jayrome Soriano defeated Ivan II Chess Computer to amass 4.5 points while Chris Domingo won by default over Michael Jordan (MJ) Ngiratechekii who showed up late in the afternoon.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
           Tia Belau Newspaper  
           Page 13
           Volume 9 
           July 11-18, 2003



                VALENZUELA, KOH LEAD CLASS A, B

EIGHTH SEED Jimmy Valenzuela and top seed Roberto Hernandez share the lead again after victories over separate opponents in the 3rd round of 2003 Age Group Chess Tournament held on Sunday, July 13, 2003 at the parking lot of TFCP office.

Valenzuela won his third straight upset win over 2nd seed Cyril Montel, Jr. in 58 moves of a Sicilian Defence, showing that he has regained his form that won him the first runner-up trophy in the 2002 All-Filipino Chess Tourney.

Hernandez took advantage of Mario Ramos' blunder on the 41st move and mated him on the next move of another Sicilian Defence. Ramos drew with Jun Mahor earlier where both have a king and a rook left on the board.

Menandro Manuel, the 2003 Open champion, defaulted 2 games to Edgardo Enarsao and Mariano Agustin, Jr., after failing to inform the tournament chairman (Hernandez) that he would not be able to play. He is still scoreless after losing his first game against Ivan II Chess Computer.

In Class B, Eugene Koh beat Ivan II computer and continue to lead the group with 3 points. Mike Miguel, Jr. is in second spot after winning by default over Genaro Manlaya. Jon Lagumen defeated Ben Ramos with a series of simplification moves.

Other results of Class B matches: Amante Caballero vs. Tutii Joe Chilton (default draw); Norvert Villanueva vs. Kelvin dela Paz (default draw).


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez 
              Tia Belau Newspaper 
              Page 9
              Volume 9 
              July 18-25, 2003

(5) MONTEL, JR. LEADS AGE GROUP TOURNEY (TBN-June 13-20, 2003)

MONTEL JR. LEADS AGE GROUP TOURNEY

SECOND SEED Cyril Montel, Jr. has grabbed the solo lead in the 3rd round of the 2003 Age Group Chess tournament sponsored by The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) by defeating Mario Ramos with the black pieces of a Ruy Lopez (Open Defence) last Sunday.

Idle Bong Alipoon and Menandro Manuel are in 2nd and 3rd places respectively while 2 newcomers fight it out in their very first after Allan Palomo defeated Jon Lagumen. The latter drew with Mariano Agustin, Jr. and Roberto Hernandez mated Ben Ramos in 26 moves of a Sicilian Defence (Alapin Variation).

Other results of adult category: Jun Mahor d. Norbert Villanueva; Agustin, Jr. d. Mike Miguel, Jr.; Eugene Koh d. Miguel, Jr.; Mahor d. B. Ramos; Mahor Jr. d. Palomo and B. Ramos lost his 4th straight game to Palomo. He finished the classification round with 1 point.

In the 12 years and under category, Jayrome Soriano beat top seed Dmitri Villanueva 2-1 in their best-of-three game while Chris Domingo was swept by Ivan II Chess Computer 3-0.

Chess computer programs are getting strong every year. Eight months ago, world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Deep Fritz, billed as the most powerful computer, drew their 8-game match, 4-4. Kramnik got $750,000 while Deep Fritz programmer Mathias Fiest received $250,000. A few months later, Gary Kasparov, who reigned as world champ for 12 years, battled Deep Junior, another powerful chess computer. Their match also ended in draw with each scoring a victory against.

4th round pairings: (First name to play white) Montel, Jr. vs. Manuel; Hernandez vs. Jimmy Valenzuela; Palomo vs. M. Ramos; Edgardo Enarsao vs. Miguel, Jr.; Genaro Manlaya vs. Lagumen; Agustin, Jr. vs. Ivan II; N. Villanueva vs. Manlaya; Lagumen vs. Ivan II; Manlaya vs. Agustin, Jr. and Tutii Joe Chilton vs. Manlaya.

The tournament is organized by TFCP Vice President and Sports Commissioner Sergio Alemania, assisted by Bong Torres and Cris Gonzales.

Solution to last week's puzzle:

1. Ng5+! Rxg5 2. Rf6+ Kxf6 3. Rd6 mate

This week's puzzles:

Source:

Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Page 13

Volume 12

June 13-20, 2003