(1253) PASTRANA TO MISS 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD (TBN-July 19-25, 2010)

BOTH WILL MISS THE 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD
                        WITH VARYING REASONS
Eugenio Pastrana, left, and Menandro Manuel both skipped the once-in-a-lifetime-chance to play in an Olympiad due to varying reasons. Here, Manuel is receiving one of his numerous chess championships in Palau.


           PASTRANA TO MISS THE 2010
             WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD 

Since the last Palau Chess Federation’s Board Meeting in April 28, 2010 that chose Jamie Kenmure as Team Captain of Palau Chess Team to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, Gene Pastrana’s passport is still in the process of renewing. It is with the Immigration Division and it will take 45 days in Palau to renew a 2-year contract.

                Passport and working permit are the 2 main documents needed to come and participate in the 2010 Olympiad. It looks dim now for Pastrana to make it the team that includes Roberto Hernandez, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Bernardo Garcia and Tito Cabunagan.

                Menandro Manuel doesn’t like to sacrifice 2 weeks of unpaid vacation because he already spent his annual leave earlier. Although the airfare is not a problem, he’s still hesitant to come and finally will skip this Olympiad.

                In the April 26-May 02, 2010 edition of Chess Mate, the invitation to participate to the 2010 World Chess Olympiad was sent to Palau Chess Federation. In that invitation, the weather in Khanty-jamieMansiysk in Sept. is +18  -0. It is situated in the Western Siberia.

                With 2 months to go before the Olympiad (Sept. 20—Oct. 04), the only 2 players that are determined to go are Hernandez and Cabunagan.

                Cyril will have a vacation with his family in Philippines and will come back to Palau a few days before departure for Russia. It will be tight to his budget for pocket money and Khanty-Mansiysk airport tax to deal with.

                Garcia has a 2^nd option to this trip: If he will not make it to Russia, he will go instead to Bali, Indonesia with his Indonesian wife for vacation.

                Getting Russian visa in Philippines is also rigid as you have to get it personally when it is given on the same day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11am onward.

                The flight of Continental Airlines to Manila is Wed. and Saturday. Jamie will get his Russian visa in Australia while Joselito Marcos will have to get it also in Philippines as he is a holder of a Philippine passport.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

            Pages 9-10

            Volume 19

           Issue 29

           July 19-25, 2010

   
   

(1101) 2011 PIICC Recap (An Int'l. Chess Championship Where the 'Rainbow Ends') TBN-Jan. 30, 2012)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 9-10
             Volume 20
             Issue 05
             January 30, 2012

(1078) DR. ALFREDO PAEZ CONFIRMED TO 3RD PICC (TBN-Nov. 14, 2011)

AUSTRALIA'S CHESS FUTURE
     Daniel Lapitan, left, won the under 12 years Australian Junior Chess Championship this year and will now represent Australia in the World Youth Chess Championship in Brazil on November 14-24, 2011. At right is Alex Stahnke, another strong candidate to be one of Australia's best junior players.        (Photo by Raymond-Nancy Lapitan)

LETTERS of invitation to join in the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship has been sent by organizer Roberto Hernandez to 7 invited participants -- FIDE Master Christopher Castellano; USA and Philippines Master Almario Marlon Bernardino, Jr.; FIDE Arbiter Dr. Alfredo Paez and his wife; International Arbiter (IA) Erwin Carag; Papua New Guinea's Joselito Marcos, his wife and daughter; Jamie Kenmure of Australia and another one (male or female) from Australia.

Dr. Alfredo Paez was the first one to confirm his participation by email that says: "Dear Mr. Hernandez, Greetings! It is my pleasure to join in the Palau Invitational Chess Championship. I'm now preparing for the event. Pls. include me in the list of participants. Thank you for the invitation. Kind regards, Dr. Paez".

invited and local players were asked to give their comments and suggestions about the 3rd PICC and erstwhile top player of Palau Menandro 'Boy' Manuel suggested the following: 
(1). The entry fee must be a requirement before any player can play his first game. This is an international event and prizes will be very important for the players to aim for. Maybe some amount in the club can be added to the prize. The tournament venue is quite important here. The site should be convenient and should have amenities standard for an event like this.
(2). The tournament will be a single round-robin event with 2 games to be played every playing day. The foreign participants will have no problem with this schedule but Palau-based players will definitely have. Almost all players here work from 7am-5pm and can be available only during weekends and maybe 6pm onward on weekdays. Maybe you adjust the locals playing time accordingly. Also locals should play full time during Sat. and Sunday as these are their day offs. If necessary, 2-3 games can be played in these days.
(3). I suggest Angie be included among the participants since she has confirmed her participation in the Istanbul Olympiad. If we will send a women's team and if she will be there 100%, we should give her all the exposures she needs to improve her game. She can take the place of Mohammad Manik Hossain and he will just be a reserve in case other participants back out.

Joselito Marcos also gives comments regarding these: "Please be advised that Palau players should make "sacrifice" if needed by asking their employers for day offs during the competition. The foreign participants are making lots of sacrifices themselves--do you think it was only a holiday for them (us)? If so, you are completely mistaken. Why not ask the assistance from the OCC for prizes? OCC should extend its hands to PCF even if there are no other Oceania participants except for me and Jamie Kenmure.
The invitational is an international tournament and should not be treated like the way games are scheduled in the Palau National Championships. It should remain as a closed tournament and as such the Palau local participants should be finalized at the soonest. No apologies for being blunt here."

Hernandez wrote an email to the president of Oceania Zonal Chess Confederation (OCC) Brian Jones. He responded with the following: "Dear Roberto and Gary Bekker, OCC is happy to provide support to contribute towards Oceania travel expenses provided that: (1). The host federation is not in arrears with FIDE and OCC. (2). The event is FIDE rated. (3). The The player is a member of an Oceania Federation. (4). Receipts from the Oceania travel expenses incurred are provided. For the Palau tournament, we would be happy to consider making a contribution to the travel expenses of any player from Australia, Guam or PNG. But I am not sure about Marlon Bernardino? Also, what is the $2,000? Maybe you need a proper budget? What is the target to be raised for Istanbul? Good luck! Brian Jones, President, FIDE Zone 3.6 (Oceania).

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 9-10
            Volume 20
            Issue 47
            November 14, 2011
   

 

(1050) FIRST 50 ISSUES OF CHESS MATE by ROBERTO HERNANDEZ and the LINKS

                                                     CHESS MATE ISSUES

1.       CM001      Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez                                     Dec. 29, 2002-Jan. 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/11/chessmate-first-issue-tia-belau-dec-29.html

2.    CM002     2003 Open Chess Tournament to Start Jan. 12                  Jan. 04-11, 2003                               

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/12/2003-open-chess-tournament-to-start-jan.html?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

3.    CM003     Grefiel, Dumlao Score 2 pts. 2003 Open Chess Tilt          Jan. 11-18, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/grefiel-dumlao-score-2-pts-in-opening.html

4.    CM004    Classification Rd. 2 Results-2003 Open Chess Tourney   Jan. 18-25, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/classification-round-2-results-of-2003.html

5.    CM005    Rd. 3-2003 Open (Manuel Whips 2 Former Champs)      Jan. 25-Feb. 01, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/round-3-2003-open-chess-tournament.html

6.    CM006    Rd. 4 --Kris, Ben, Mario Ramos Lost 7 Games Overall      Feb. 01-07, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/round-4-2003-open-chess-tournament.html

        7.    CM007      Valenzuela Now Leads Chess Tilt                                          Feb. 07-14, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/01/valenzuela-now-leads-chess-tilt-tbn-feb.html

         8.    CM008    2003 Open- 16 Qualified to Class A, 12 to Class B              Feb. 14-21, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/2003-open-16-players-qualified-to-class.html

         9.    CM009    2003 Open—Class A, B Round 1 Results                               Feb. 21-28, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/2003-open-class-and-class-b-round-1.html

        10.   CM010    Alipoon Leads Class A, Caballero in B (Orig. Draft)           Feb. 28-Mar. 07, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/10/alipoon-leads-class-caballero-in-class.html

        11.   CM011    2003 Open-Rd. 4 & 5 (Class A); Rd. 3 (Class B)                   Mar. 07-14, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/02/2003-open-round-4-5-class-round-3-class.html

12.   CM012  Resumption of Rd. 6 & 7 of 2003 Open Chess Tourney   Mar. 14-21, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/02/resumption-of-round-6-7-of-2003-open.html

13.   CM013     Manuel, 8 Pts.; Vargas, K. Ramos Lead B (Or. Draft)      March 21-28, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/10/manuel-8-pts-vargas-k-ramos-lead-b-tbn.html

14.   CM014      Torres Now Leads A, Vargas in Class B (Or. Draft)           Mar. 28,-Apr. 04, 2003

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/10/torres-now-leads-vargas-in-class-b-tbn.html

15.   CM015  Rd. 12, 13 Miguel, Jr. Played 5 Games (Won 1, Lost 4)     April 04-11, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/2003-open-round-12-13-miguel-jr-played.html

16.   CM016   Rd. 14, 15 Dumlao is 2-2 in 2003 Open and 5-5 in Blitz    April 11-18, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/1020-round-14-15-dumlao-is-2-2-in-2003.html

        17.   CM017     Manuel Is Class A Chess Champ (Original Draft)              April 18-25, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/10/manuel-is-class-chess-champ-tbn-april.html?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

        18.   CM018 Vargas Bags Class B Crown (Original Draft)                 April 25-May 02, 2003    

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/10/vargas-bags-class-b-crown-tbn-april-11.html?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

        19.   CM019     Cross-table of 2003 Open Chess Tilt (Jan.12-Apr.27)     May 02-09, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/crosstable-of-2003-open-chess.html

        20.   CM020     Blitz Chess After Regular Games                                           May 09-16, 2003

                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/946-blitz-chess-after-regular-games-tbn.html

21.   CM021     Watch Out For Edgardo Enarsao                                            May 16-23, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post.html

        22.  CM022      Age Group Chess Tilt Start May 25                                        May 23-30, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/8-year-old-scores-first-win-tbn-may-30.html

        23.  CM023      8-year-old Scores First Win                                            May 30-June 06, 2003

                http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/8-year-old-scores-first-win-tbn-may-30.html

        24.  CM024      Manuel, Montel, Jr., Ramos Undefeated                          June 06-13, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/951-manuel-montel-jr-ramos-undefeated.html

        25.  CM025     Montel, Jr. Leads Age Group Tourney                                 June 13-20, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/953-montel-jr-leads-age-group-tourney.html

        26.  CM026     Alipoon Leads Tourney                                                       June 20-27, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/03/9955-alipoon-leads-tourney-tbn-june-20.html

        27.  CM027     Hernandez and Chilton Top Seeds                                 June 27-July 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/10/hernandez-and-chilton-top-seeds-tbn.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

28.  CM028     Upsets Mark 1^st Round                                                         July 04-11, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/10/hernandez-and-chilton-top-seeds-tbn.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

29.  CM029     Ivan II, Hernandez Lead Class A                                           July 11-18, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/08/cyril-tito-unbeatables-tbn-dec-14-20.html

30.  CM030     Valenzuela, Koh Lead Class A, B                                          uly 18-25, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/01/valenzuela-koh-pacing-class-b-tbn-may.html

      31.  CM031     Enarsao Now in Second Spot                                      July 25-Aug. 01, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/08/1036-enarsao-now-in-second-spot-tbn.html

32. CM032     Beating a Formidable Machine (Edited)                               Aug. 01-08, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/08/1039-beating-formidable-machine-tbn-aug.html

33.  CM033     RAMOS CONQUERS COMPUTER                               Aug. 08-15, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/08/1040-ramos-conquers-computer-tbn-aug-08.html

34.  CM034     Enarsao, Lagumen Now Lead Class A, B                           Aug. 15-22, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/06/enarsao-lagumen-now-lead-class-b-tbn.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

35.  CM035     Montel, Jr., 4 Others for Title                                              Aug. 22-29, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/01/montel-jr-4-others-for-title-tbn-aug-17.html

      36.  CM036     Enarsao, Omega Win Class A, B Chess Titles             Aug. 29-Sept. 05, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/enarsao-omega-win-class-b-chess-title.html

      37.  CM037     Format 2003 Senior & Junior Chess Tournament               Sept. 05-12, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/1021-format-2003-senior-and-junior.html

38.  CM038     Participants of Senior & Junior Chess Tournament            Sept. 12-19, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/07/1028-participants-of-2003-senior-and.html

39.  CM039     5^th Chess Tourney to Start Sept. 21                                 Sept. 19-26, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/04/5th-chess-tourney-to-start-sept-21-tbn.html

      40.  CM040      12 Games Played on Opening Day                           Sept. 26-Oct. 03, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/12-games-played-on-opening-day-tbn-sept.html

      41.  CM041     Top 3 Seeds Unbeaten (Original Draft)                               Oct. 03-09, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/11/top-3-seeds-unbeaten-tbn-oct-03-09-2003.html?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

42.  CM042     Manuel, Omega – Draw in 44 moves                                    Oct. 09-16, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/manuel-omega-draw-in-44-moves-in-rd-3.html

       43.  CM043    A Very Busy 4^th Round –23 Games Played                          Oct. 16-23, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-very-busy-4th-round-23-games-played.html

       44.  CM044      Round 5-- Omega, Hernandez Subdued Ivan II                 Oct. 23-30, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/976-round-5-omega-hernandez-subdued.html

        45.  CM045     Hernandez Nips Omega in Round 6                           Oct. 30-Nov. 06, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/hernandez-nips-omega-in-round-6-tbn-oct.html

       46.   CM046     2 Special Games on All Saints Day (Sat.)                         Nov. 06-13, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/982-2-special-games-on-all-saints-day.html

       47.   CM047     Mahor Dealt Hernandez His First Loss in Rd. 8                Nov. 13-20, 2003

               http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/04/mahor-dealt-hernandez-his-first-loss-in.html

       48.   CM048     5 Drawn Games in the 9^th Round (Sat. & Sun.)                Nov. 20-27, 2003

        http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/992-5-drawn-games-in-9th-round-sat-and.html

49.  CM049     Touch Move Violation in the 10^th Round                     Nov. 27-Dec. 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/995-touch-move-violation-in-10th-round.html

50.  CM050     Know Your Opponent                                                         Dec. 05-12, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/01/know-your-opponent-tbn-dec-05-11-2003.html

***Many thanks to Joselito Marcos for teaching me the right way to get the links. Before, it's started with https:// in which I am the only one that can open the links. ANOTHER GOLDEN ADVISE TAKEN!

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Volume 12

               December 29, 2002 -- December 05-12, 2003

              The History of Chess in Palau

              By Roberto Hernandez

              June 09, 2002 -- December 05-12, 2003

             To be published as a book in the future 

(1022) AUSTRALASIAN CHESS MAGAZINE FEATURES 3RD PIICC (TBN-March 19, 2012)

          PALAU INTERNATIONAL INVITATIONAL
In the bottom photo of the Australasian Chess Magazine, Tito Cabunagan, left, shakes hands with Joselito Marcos of PNG. The other photo was already published in this column on Dec. 26, 2011 issue of Tia Belau with caption "Winners and presentors of 3rd PIICC".


              Australasian chess magazine
                     features 2011 PIIC

THE MARCH/April 2012 issue of Australasian Chess Magazine has featured the 2011 Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Palau Royal Resort from Dec. 14-19, 2011. Two colored photos were featured. The one in the awarding ceremony (group) and the other one is the game between Tito Cabunagan and Joselito Marcos, where the flag of Palau (for Tito) and flag of Papua New Guinea were seen very clearly.

Three games with annotations were also featured – the Montel, Jr. vs. Manuel clash, the Montel vs. Marcos encounter and the Marcos vs. Manuel instructional game. In the 3^rd and last page, the final standings are shown in the cross-table.

The text of the report is as follows: The ten-player closed championship, Palau’s 3^rd international tournament, was held in the conference room of the five-star Palau Royal Resort from 14-19 December 2011. The event was jointly won by top seed Joselito Marcos of Papua New Guinea and third seed Menandro Manuel of Palau.

The single round robin event turned out to be a race between Marcos and Manuel as they both registered seven straight wins in as many rounds. Curiously after seven rounds, the top four finishers were already decided (except for their placing) as the other participants could no longer catch them up.

In his penultimate game, Manuel suffered his only loss to Montel that boosted Marcos’ chance to win the event all by himself with a possible draw against Manuel.

 In a conduct that bewildered most observers, it was Marcos instead of Manuel who played all out for a win. The former maintained the advantage of the first move and had the draw for the taking any time in the ensuing knight and pawns endgame until the crucial blunder that cost him the game.

 Manuel, buoyed up by the unexpected win, displayed magnanimity by volunteering to the organizer that he and Marcos be declared joint winners without him realizing that the latter still has a delayed game in hand against Hernandez himself.

Marcos eventually won his final game but only after overcoming some scary moments caused by the resulting pressure of a “must-win” game. Hernandez wound up fourth following losses in his last two games.

The event was the best organized invitational international chess championship ever in Palau. The participants appreciated the tremendous contribution and generosity of Joselito Marcos for the success of the tournament.

The final standings are shown in the accompanying cross-table.

THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF PALAU CHESS FEDERATION WOULD LIKE TO THANK MR. BRIAN JONES, THE PRESIDENT OF OCEANIA CHESS CONFEDERATION, FOR GIVING SPACE IN HIS AUSTRALASIAN CHESS MAGAZINE THE REPORT OF ROBERTO HERNANDEZ AND JOSELITO MARCOS ABOUT THE 3^RD PALAU INVITATIONAL INTERNATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP. WE THANK YOU ALSO FOR SENDING FREE COPIES OF THE MAGAZINE TO US.  THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN.  SULANG!!!

Source:
Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez    
Tia Belau Newspaper   
Page 12    
Volume 21   
Issue 13    
March 19, 2012

(1018) MONTEL, MANUEL JOIN OTHER TOP 10 OCEANIA OTHER PLAYERS

PALAU Chess Federation now has two players among the top ten chess players in Oceania other than Australia and New Zealand. Cyril Tomas Montel Jr with a rating of 1943 was listed as number 8 while his compatriot Menandro Manuel, rated 1922, was on 9th spot.

The list include countries such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Palau and Guam. The last named country has recently been accepted as the newest member of the Oceania zone.

In another list, Palau Angie Parrado (1551) and Karen Lee (1250) were listed as the only active rated women in other Oceania countries.

(Source: Australasian Chess Magazine, March 2012 issue)

Karen Lee is not sure if she can make it to 2012 World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey. Financial constraints is the first obstacle she has to tackle, that is the expensive airfare. Good luck to you in finding sponsors.

Photo by: Roberto Hernandez

Angie Parrado was listed as one of the only two active rated women player in other Oceania countries. She had a controversial game here against Palau's No. 4 Gene Pastrana regarding another touch move violation by Gene.
 

        Photo by: Roberto Hernandez

Menandro Manuel in deep thought against Joselito Marcos. He defeated Marcos to tie him for the title of 3rd Palau Invitational International Chess Championship --Dec. 14-19, 2011 in the City of Koror, Palau.

Photo by: Jamie Kirstie Marcos

Palau top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. poses for a profile picture before the start of his game.

      (Photo by Joselito Marcos)

(1017) PIICC REPORT AND PICTURES IN 2012 MARCH AUSTRALASIAN CHESS MAGAZINE

AS mentioned in the earlier post, the third Palau International Invitational Chess Championship was featured in the March 2012 issue of Australasian Chess Magazine.

The magazine allocated page 38 for two colored pictures and two pages (pages 39 and 40) for the joint report by Roberto Hernandez and Joselito Marcos of PNG including the tournament crosstable and three games among the top three finishers. The event was jointly won by PNG's Joselito Marcos and Palau's Menandro Manuel. Cyril Tomas Montel Jr, currently Palau's number one ranked player, came in third.

The featured pages are posted in this blog.