(214) PHOTOS -- KHANTY-MANSIYSK, RUSSIA

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(210) INVITATION TO 2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

                    INVITATION TO
        2010 WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD

THE 2010 World Chess Olympiad will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia in Sept. 20-Oct. 04, 2010. The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has sent invitations to all FIDE-affiliated federations including Palau, a member since 2005.

In his welcome remarks, FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov noted that in 2005, the Ugra region opened its doors for the first time to the Grandmasters (GM) of the world.

Since then many players have experienced the culture and kind hospitality of the people of this beautiful part of Siberia. Again the people of the Ugra region are ready to welcome all of you for the Chess Olympiad and Congress.

The Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous okrug-Ugra Natalya Komarova also noted: "The Congress of the World Chess Federation delighted one of the largest oil producing regions of the world, when it awarded the 39th Chess Olympiad to Ugra. Leading GMs of the world will be challenging for the main prize of the tournament--The Golden Challenge Cup--when they meet at the chess table.

Chess has become more and more popular among Ugorian people. Khanty=Mansiysk hosted World Chess Cups in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The Chess Federation of Ugra is working actively. The okrug Internet Centre has been opened and World Governor Cups are held.

The Chess Olympiad 2010 will take place in the Tennis Center. Everything necessary will be provided for the participants.

I wish the participants of the World Chess Olympiad success in achieving great results and in the creation of masterpieces on the chess board!"

The Chess Olympiad is the largest team contest for chess players from FIDE member federations. Olympiads have been held since 1927. Before 1940 they were called "tournament of the nations".

Over the years, the terms and programs of Olympiads have been changed. Open Olympiad have been held every other year since 1931. Separate competitons for women, also with biannual events, have been held since 1972.

All the world champions, beginning with Capablanca, and majority of the leading GMs have taken part in the Olympiads.

Soviet, and later Russian chess teams won the Open Olympiad many times, including a sequence of 13 times in a row from 1952 to 1976. The women's team also won 11 Olympiad titles.

In the last 3 Olympiads, the Open has been won by Ukraine (Calvia, Spain 2004), Armenia (Turin, Italy 2006) and again Armenia (Dresden, Germany 2008). Honors for the women's team went to China (2004), Ukraine (2006) and Georgia (2008).

Daily average temperature in Khanty-Mansiysk in September is +18 - 0. It is situated in Western Siberia on the river Irtysh, only 15 km from the confluence with the river Ob. It is 1076 km by road from Tyumen and 2759 km from Moscow.

The town is built on seven pine clad hills and is reminiscent of Scandinavian resorts. Nowadays, Khany-Mansiysk is not only the centre of the oil region but is becoming more and more a centre of business activity, sport and national culture. The official website is www.admhmansy.ru

The Chess Olympiad is open to all Federations affiliated with FIDE, each of which can nominate one team for the open and the women's section, respectively.

Each team consists of 4 players and one reserve. Each team shall nominate a captain who may also be one of the players. National Federations planning to participate in the Chess Olympiad 2010 have to register on-line (http://chessresults.com/olympiad/) by May 20, 2010 on the website by July 20, 2010. The photos of the participants must also be loaded.

During the Olympiad, each team (6 persons) will be provided with 2 double, and 2 single rooms, including full board, free of charge.

Delegates are accomodated free for the whole period. They will have to pay the whole fare for the charter, if they decide to use it, and the seat cannot be guaranteed until all the team registrations are know at the end of May.

Participants that require a visa for entry into the Russian Federation will need to obtain the visa from the Russian Consular Institutions. They have been recommended to excempts the participants from visa fees. In case a visa fee is required by the Consular Institution, the Organizing Committee will reimburse it in Khanty-Mansiysk after sight of the receipt.

The Organizing Committee of the Chess Olympiad and the people of Khanty-Mansiysk look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful town in Septermber."

The 5 possible members of Palau Chess Team -- Board 1 Roberto Hernandez, Board 2 Cyril Montel, Jr., Board 3 Bernard Garcia, Board 4 Tito Cabunagan and reserve Gene Pastrana had a meeting on Wed. April 21 at Migrant Center.

Preparations were meticulously discussed. A task project was created by Garcia to put the preparation in order including the support, training, helps from individuals and companies, flight plans and team captain, who have 2 applicants--Jamie Kenmure and WIM Cristine Rose Mariano.

They have to buy their own airfare. The 3rd option is to have Francis 'Sno' Temaungil as team captain. Hernandez already requested for additional fund from a GM friend.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 19 Issue 17
            April 26 - March 02, 2010


                        BIBLE VERSE OF THE WEEK:
                                  Acts 2:38-42

38 And Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the aposltles' doctrines and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.

(101) CHESSMATE MARKS 8TH YEAR

PALAU TEAM OF 2 IN RUSSIA
Tito Cabunagan (left) and Roberto Hernandez (right)
(Contributed photo of Brian Jones from Australasian Chess Magazine)


                      CHESSMATE MARKS 8TH YEAR

THE HIGHLIGHTS on the 8th year of Chessmate were the participation of Palau in the 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia and the ongoing 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship.

Although they were not allowed to play due to shortness of a single player, Roberto Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan were able to make it to Russia. A minimum of 3 players is required for a team that started in 2008 World Chess Olympiad in Dresden, Germany.

The duo just became observers and tourists with free food and hotel accomodation in the twin Hotel Olympic. Their Australian team captain, Jamie Kenmure, was not allowed to play for Palau also as there is a process in changing federation.

Their Swedish Delegate, Jan Berglund, was not allowed also to play when he can't show proof that he's been to Palau at least once.

The Olympiad was held from Sept. 20 - Oct. 04, 2010 with 144 countries participating in the best -hosted Olympiad ever.

Since the first issue of ChessMate in Dec. 29, 2002, 17 major chess tournaments were held, 2 were invitational with foreign players from New Zealand, Australia and Philippines participated and enabled the top 6 players of Palau to gain international rankings.

Today, in Sept. 2010 FIDE ratings list, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and Menandro 'Boy' Manuel are in the top ten of Other Oceania Players with Cyril at no. 6 with 1942 and Boy at no. 9 with 1906.

Joselito Marcos is still the top in this division followed by Shaun Press, also of PNG.

The FIDE rated 2009 Palau National Chess Championship enabled Hernandez (1883) to dislodged Gene Pastrana as No. 3 chess player of Palau with an improvement of only 3
points and Pastrana dropping at 4th after losing 116 points because of his withdrawal more than halfway from the event.

Manuel 'Jun' Mahor got his international rating of 1662 followed by Romeo Caballes, Bernardo Garcia and Michael Mercado with identical 1629 rating.

Palau Royal Resort's Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. is in solo 9th place with 1602 followed by Craig Dittrich (1569) and Elpidio Manaligod with 1540.

In the resumption of play at PRR Dorm 1 on Sunday, Dec. 26, Jun Mahor is now 2-2 (win-loss) after subduing Jeffrey Negrillo in 35 moves of King's Pawn Opening. Jeff is still looking for the elusive first point.

He is now eager to face another Jeff on Sunday, Jan. 02 at 1:00 pm. Jeff Balbalosa, an employee of Surangel's, was accomodated to replace the slot of Jimboy de Jesus, who has withdrawn from the event 3 weeks ago. Jeff will play Ferdinard 'Bong' Gutierrez after his game with Negrillo.

The prospect of having 2 players from Palau to participate in the 2011 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Rotorua, New Zealand will be known on Sunday after the employer of Mohammad Manik Hossain come back from Hawaii.

If Manik will be allowed to go, he will replace Tito for the chance to play in his first international event participation. The Zonal will be held from Jan. 25-31, 2011. An airfare subsidy of $300.00 each is offered to both players.

Paul Spiller, the President of New Zealand Chess Federation, chatted with Hernandez on Dec. 31 about the latest development asking: "Hello, Roberto, are you able to confirm your trip to NZ yet or does it look as though that you will not be able to come. I need to confirm or cancell accomodation bookings very soon."

Hernandez replied: " I have just sent you an email 5 minutes ago." It reads as follows:

"Dear Paul and Brian, I wish you both and your family a prosperous and terrific new year 2011. Mohammad Manik Hossain, who will replace Tito, will know on Sunday, Jan. 02, if he will be allowed by his employer to go with me in Rotorua. I know his boss, Uchel Tmechtul. I played piano in the reception of his wedding at Airai View Hotel in 1995. I might talk to him to let Manik go. He gave me $20.00 tip last Dec. 3 after requesting 2 Filipino songs. He's with Palau President Johnson Toribiong and a Congressman that night at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. The other day (Dec. 29) was the 8th year that I've been writing "Chessmate" by Roberto Hernandez at Tia Belau Newspaper, Palau's first newspaper. I've been doing it for free but I was able to promote chess in Palau for 8 years. These last 4 years, they are not editing my writing. Whatever I write, they will publish it. Whatever picture I want to be published, they will publish it.

On Jan. 02, also, is my 55th birthday. There are games to be played in the resumption of 2010-2011 Palau National Chess Championship and I'll be happy to accomodate a late entree to play as many games as he can to catch up.

This PNCC is limited only to 15 players but 2 have withdrawn and now there is one late entree so we're 14 now. That's all for now and again, thank you so much for helping Palau chess move forward. Best wishes for the year 2011!!! Roberto

In the latest development, Manik played an official game against Jeff Balbalosa, the late participant at 1:00 pm instead of Jeff-Jeff match because Manik has to work at 3:00 pm.

In a show of defensive prowess and attacking style, Manik clobbered Balbalosa in 40 moves of Scandinavian Defence. He's now won 7 games and lost 5.

In his delight, he promise to buy one case of soda for all employees of PRR living in Dorm 1 if he will beat Palau's top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in his last game.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper Volume 20 Issue 1 January 03, 2011