(191) PALAU REGISTERED; 43 MORE UNREGISTERED YET

A GM NORM FOR MAX ILLINGWORTH
      Max Illingworth of Australia, left, scored 5.0 points in the 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship and finished 26th among 73 others. He is just a Candidate Master (CM) then with FIDE rating of 2243. He achieved a GM norm when he won a tournament in Hungary in September 2011. He lost here to FM Endre Ambrus, right, in the 5th round.                                                        (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


         PALAU REGISTERED; 43 MORE    COUNTRIES UNREGISTERED YET

THE 3^rd invitation from Turkish Chess Federation, host of 40^th World Chess Olympiad, was sent to Palau Chess Federation confirming its registration for the coming Olympiad to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from Aug. 27-Sept. 10, 2012. The 3^rd invitation read as follows:

Dear Friends, since we have sent the 1^st invitation for Istanbul Olympiad 2012, till now (30.05.2012), 134 FIDE member federations have registered and got their usernames and passwords. The list of countries which have not registered yet is given as attachment.

Some of those federations have contacted us but due to their arrears they have not been registered.

We would like to remind you that, 10^th June 2012 is the deadline for 1^st registration. After that date, there is no chance for us to accept any federation to Olympiad, even if they pay accommodation.

Therefore, we kindly remind you again to hurry and make your registration if your federation name is on attached list.

Sorry if you made your registration between the time this letter is prepared till it has been sent.

Best regards, Ali Nihat YAZICI – Head of Organizing Committee

In the attachment, the 43 countries which haven’t registered yet are 1. Afghanistan 2. Albania 3. Angola 4. Bahamas 5. Bangladesh 6. Belize 7. Bhutan 8. Bosnia-Herzegovina 9. British Virgin Islands 10. Brunei Darussalam 11. Burundi 12. Cambodia 13. Central African Republic 14. Colombia 15. Comoros Island 16. Cuba 17. Cyprus 18. Denmark 19. Dominican Republic 20. Estonia 21. Guatemala 22. Guyana 23. Honduras 24. Ivory Coast 25. Kazakhstan 26. Kenya 27. Kuwait 28. Laos 29. Malaysia 30. Mali 31. Morocco 32. Myanmar 33. Palestine 34. Paraguay 35. RUSSIA 36. Rwanda 37. Senegal 38. Solomon Islands 39. Swaziland 40. Thailand 41. Turkmenistan 42. Venezuela 43. Zimbabwe

It’s interesting to note that Russia is not registered yet. Some sort of strategy?

Menandro Manuel, a member of Palau Chess Team to Istanbul, emailed Roberto Hernandez about the additional requirement that the Turkish Embassy in Manila is asking to all members of the team. It’s a bank certification showing enough deposits to show the financial capability of an applicant. This certification has to be confirmed by the Philippine Ambassador.

Menandro is also asking if the Russian Embassy require this in getting Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan’s visa in going to 2010 World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Hernandez replied with this:

Hi Menandro, I think there is no problem with embassy requirement of submitting a bank certification showing enough deposits to show our financial capability. We have to do it next month because the Phil. Embassy will close on July 31, 2012. I have a Bank of Hawaii and Bank of Guam bank accounts (visa card) with more than $2,000 combined total. I think that will be enough. Tito, Bernard and Manik, I think, have enough also.

When Tito and I applied for Russian visa, this is not required but we have to appear there in person. Police clearance (Palau) and NBI clearance though are required. The first question that the Russian Consul asked me is "Do you play chess?"I said, yes and he asked me again, "How many days it will take to get Russian visa", and then pointed at a posted sign on my left. It says there 10 days so I said "10 days, sir." He asked again, "Then, why you only apply now?" I replied, "We applied online, sir, one month ago." He said, "We don't accept online application." I replied again, "That's why, sir, we are asking for the one day issuance of Russian visa because we came from Palau on Wed. evening, got our NBI on Thursday and here we are now asking for consideration.”The one day issuance of Russian visa is on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

He looked again at our passport. He saw in there my Australian visa, Tito has USA visa, and my police clearance stated I've been in Palau for 18 years... then he said, “Ok, you pay this amount to United Coconut Planters Bank and then you proceed to Magallanes Village and I'll call my secretary to assist you.

After paying $78.00, we proceed there and when we submit all the papers including the visa payment, I included there the letter of Ambassador Marino, the xerox copy of our team captain from Australia Jamie Kenmure's visa that he got from Australia and a calling card of mine that states I'm writing a chess column in Tia Belau Newspaper and that I'm the Secretary/Treasurer of Palau Chess Federation.

With all those documents, there's no requirement of bank certification. I think embassies have different requirements. When I get my Australian visa, I included in the documents that I've sent to Ponhpei my 2 bank statements (Bank of Hawaii and Bank of Guam) even though the amount there were $318.20 and $310.93 only. Also included is my pay slip for the month of March 2009, the invitation from Gary Bekker and itinerary (Palau-Manila-Palau) (Manila-Sydney-Manila) and Sydney-Gold Coast-Sydney). That's all.

I saw Tito at Pinoy Restaurant last Friday, May 20 when I had lunch there with my wife. He's talking to the 2 ladies at their table about our coming trip to Istanbul, previous trip to Russia and in 2014 Tromso, Norway.

We will buy our ticket when we get the official invitation from Turkey. One of the requirements in getting Turkish visa is the eticket. About Manik, I have to talk to his employer first. If he will let Manik to go and have a 3-month vacation to Bangladesh after the Olympiad, that depends of Manik's employer. He didn't have a vacation yet in 7 years so I think I can convince him. I played piano on his wedding day at Airai View Hotel.

That's all that I can share for now. Good luck to all and best regards. Roberto.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 10-11
             Volume 21 Issue 37
            June 03, 2012

(8) PALAU OPEN TEAM (2010 World Chess Olympiad--Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) + Chess Mate Marks 8th Year (TBN-Jan. 03, 2011)

MINIMUM OF 3 PLAYERS
     To be allowed to play in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia 2010 World Chess Olympiad, a team must have at least 3 members. In Palau's case, only 2 players made it--Roberto Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan. They were not allowed to play because their team captain Jamie Kenmure is listed under Australia while their Delegate Jan-Olav Berglund is not listed in Sweden and USA but can't show any stamp in his passport that he's been to Palau at least once.
                                                                                                 Source: Australasia Chess Magazine








 

PALAU TEAM OF 2 IN RUSSIA
     Tito Cabunagan (left) and Roberto Hernandez (right)

MINIMUM OF 3 PLAYERS
     To be allowed to play in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia 2010 World Chess Olympiad, a team must have at least 3 members. In Palau's case, only 2 players made it--Roberto Hernandez and Tito Cabunagan. They were not allowed to play because their team captain Jamie Kenmure is listed under Australia while their Delegate Jan-Olav Berglund is not listed in Sweden and USA but can't show any stamp in his passport that he's been to Palau at least once.
                                                                                                 Source: Australasia Chess Magazine
                                                             (Contributed photo of Brian Jones from Australasian Chess Magazine)


                      CHESS MATE MARKS 8TH YEAR

THE HIGHLIGHTS on the 8th year of Chess Mate 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 accommodation 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 Chess Mate 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 accommodated to replace the slot of Jimboy de Jesus, who has withdrawn from the event 3 weeks ago. Jeff will play Ferdinand '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 cancel accommodation 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 "Chess Mate" by Roberto Hernandez at Tia Belau Newspaper, Palau 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 accommodate 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 Defense. 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 top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in his last game.


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