(1616) 62 POSSIBLE CONTESTANTS OF 2019 P.B.C.C. (TBN-Jan. 14, 2019)

BOBOT TAN—NEW PALAU KING OF CHESS

                   The emergence of Bobot Tan, 2^nd from right, resulted in him ruling all chess tournaments in Palau in the last 2 years although by FIDE rating, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. is still number one. This one-day Palau Blitz Chess Championship on Jan. 13, he’s the favorite to win this tourney. Hopefully, there will be more than 30 players who will make it to make this PBCC the biggest ever in terms of participants. Last year, there were only 24 players.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

     62 POSSIBLE CONTESTANTS OF

                2019 P.B.C.C.

                This might be the biggest turnout of participants in any blitz chess championship in Palau. A total of 62 chess players have been listed by me for this one day event on Jan. 13, 2019 at Bethlehem Park that will start at 2pm for registration in this 9-round Swiss system event.

                Since 2013, all Palau Blitz Chess Championship (PBCC) were held in the month of Jan. to be followed by Palau Rapid Chess Championship (PRCC) in April or May and Palau National Chess Championship (PNCC) as the last tournament of Palau Chess Federation.

                In 2014, there was no PBCC with the arrival in Palau of Geoffrey Borg and Toti Abundo in Jan. and Brian Jones’ participation in the Micronesian Open that replaced the PRCC. Prior to the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway in Aug. 1-14, PCF held the Palau Open and Palau Olympians tourney. After we come back from Norway, the PNCC was held.

                The next 4 years in PCF Calendar of Events showed that PBCC is always being held in Jan.

THESE ARE THE POSSIBLE PARTICIPANTS WITH THEIR BLITZ RATINGS: 1. Bobot Tan (1868) 2. Tito Cabunagan (1777) 3. CM 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—off island (1648) 11. AFM Jeff Balbalosa (1615) 12. Angelo Salvadora --withdraw(1607) 13. Gonzalo Escapatoria (1603) 14. Remrel Dizon (1596) 15. WFM Angelica Parrado (1580) 16. Samuel Palingcod (1567) 17. Angelito Mintar Jr. (1556) 18. Mohammad Manik Hossain (1529) 19. Destiny Sisior (1500) 

20. Neph Macasaet (1498) 21. Baby Edna Mission (1478) 22. Jello Aguaras (1465) 23. Luciano Sibayan (1462) 24. Gladys Anne Paloma (1452) 25. Joan Gemota (1433) 26. Angelil Sisior (1387) 27. Glen Navarroza (1382) 28. Michael Gulla (1379) 29. Gian Gabriel Claronino 

30. Ma. Florida Hernandez (1363) 31. him (1357) 32. Reece Reklai (1345) 33. John Malinao (1343) 34. Ksau Anthony Whipps (1331) 35. Joel Gemota (1327) 36. Leif Toribiong (1304) 37. Charley Patris (1284) 38. Morton Sawaichi (1206) 39. Jennifer Angeles (1182) 

40. Kyarii Sisior (1148) 41. Dichem Tmetchul (1145) 42. Angelica Magno (1129) 43. Gian Paloma (1073) 44. Gabriell Garcia 45. Aome Angeles 46. Rommel Gulla 47. Elizalde Madrinan—withdraw  48. Jeyrald Lomboy 49. Chioko Yang Derbai 

50. Yu Hsuan Kuo 51. Xiancheng (Lincoln) Liao 52. Yi Lang Liu 53. Mariah Coline Miclat 54. Aya Osada 55. Diana Rechucher 56. Joram Renguul 57. Neil Roberto 58. Alik Jared Senior 59. Sowon Shin 60. Kikuo Sumang  61. Jannah Islam and the latest one to join—my guitar/chess student 62. Brandon Kyle Soriano.

There is still possible chance to join for Christopher Kitalong, Eryn Reklai, David Wong, Arnold Undecimo, Eugenio Pastrana, Genaro Manlaya, Herbert Galiza, Jade Mariur, Jaime Balute, John Mark Tamayo, Melvin Parinas, Benerica Daligdig, Albino Taksiau, Jon Manuel Reyes, Jose Misael de Jesus, Miguel Gancayco, Nelson Sablan, Nilo de Jesus, Robert Sola, Rey Sanchez, Sofronio Mahor, Thomas Hayes, Joy Flores Whipps…

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3827: 1. Rh1+ Rh2 2. Rh7+!! Rxh7 3. g7#

This week’s puzzle No. 3828: 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 02

               January 14, 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 14, 2019

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- January 14, 2019

(1610) PENULTIMATE ROUND OF 2018 P.N.C.C. (TBN-December 17, 2018)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANGIE PARRADO—WOMEN DIVISION CHAMPION

                  Angie Parrado, left, has been Palau women champion of all Palau National Chess Championship except when she decided to join the Top 10 Division of PNCC to gain more experience with stronger players. At that point, Baby Edna Mission, right, took advantage of her absence to claim her only PNCC championship. The teammates at 2014 and 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway and Batumi, Georgia respectively have shown dedication to uplift the quality of chess in Palau, thereby gaining the first and only titled player of Palau (Women FIDE Master) for Angie.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

   PENULTIMATE ROUND OF 2018 

          Palau National Chess 

               Championship

AFTER the completion of the round 7 of the ongoing 2018 Palau National Championship on Dec. 09, the penultimate round was set up after the completion of the 7^th round as follows: Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. was upset by Jeff Balbalosa; 2^nd seed Bobot Tan took the measure of Glen Navarroza; Angelo Salvadora nipped Manuel “Jun” Mahor, Jr. in a match held on Dec. 05; Paquito Suringa, Jr. defeated Gonzalo “Jojo” Escapatoria; Tito Cabunagan and Samuel Palingcod halved the point; Dennis Gonzales missed the threat of mate by Anglito Mintar, Jr. with him ahead of 2 pawns; I defeated Charley Patris in 26 moves of Danish Gambit; Jello Aguaras scored another point when Mohammad Manik Hossain missed the right king move to g7 instead of f7 to lose a whole rook via knight fork; Neph Macasaet dealt Morton Sawaichi his 7^th straight loss and Remrel Dizon upended Reece Reklai.

                With these results, the penultimate round (8^th) was set as follows: 1. Jeff vs. Bobot  2. Cyril vs. Angelo 3. Paquito vs. Me (0-1 played on Dec. 14 at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, where I won in 49 moves of Bird’s Opening) 4. Sam vs. Jello 5. Jun vs. Tito 6. Jojo vs. Angelito 7. Neph vs. Reece 8. Dennis vs. Morton 9. Manik vs. Glen and Charley vs. Remrel.

                In the women’s division, Angie Parrado defended her title again with a perfect 6/6 defeating all other 6 contestants. Angelica Magno likewise finished all her games with an equal 3 wins and 3 losses slate. Her victory over Parrado is void as explained in the letter of Jamie Kenmure that there would be a single round robin of a National Championship if the participants in a division is only 6 players.

                The rusty Joan Gemota finished all her 6 games as well, losing 4 and drawing 2 for one point total. Angelil Sisior is set to clinch the 1^st runner-up plum if she would win one of her 2 remaining games vs. Jennifer Angeles and Baby Edna Mission, who still needs to play Jennifer and Destiny Sisior, the younger sister of Angelil. Destiny need to play her last game against Mission.

THE MOVES: Suringa, Jr.,Paquito (1714) - Hernandez,Roberto (1708) [A85]

2018 PNCC Open Division (7), 14.12.2018 

    1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.Qc2 Nc6 6.e3 0–0 7.Bd3 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.Nge2 d5 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Ne7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.0–0 Bd7 14.Ne2 Ng6 15.Qxc7 Bc6 16.b4 b6 17.b5 Rfc8 18.Qg3 Be8 19.Rac1 Ne7 20.a4 g5 21.Bb1 Rc4 22.Rxc4 dxc4 23.Rc1 Bh5 24.Nf4 Bf7 25.Ba2 Rc8 26.Ne2 Kh7 27.h3 Bh5 28.f3 Bf7 29.Nc3 Nd5 30.Qe1 Nb4 31.Bb1 Kg7 32.Qd2 Re8 33.e4 Nd3 34.Bxd3 Qxd4+ 35.Kh1 Qxd3 36.Qxd3 cxd3 37.exf5 d2 38.Rd1 Re1+ 39.Kh2 Rxd1 40.Nxd1 Bb3 41.Nc3 d1Q 42.Nxd1 Bxd1 43.Kg1 Bxa4 44.g3 Bxb5 45.Kf2 a5 46.Ke1 Kf6 47.h4 gxh4 48.gxh4 Kxf5 49.Kd2           0–1

            Solution to last week puzzle No. 3495: 1. Qc3! Bxc3 2. Rh2#

             This week puzzle No. 3496: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)




Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Page 9
               Volume 27
               Issue 100
               December 17, 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 -- December 17, 2018

             The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 09, 2002 -- December 17, 2018

(1609) ROUND 7 PHOTOS AND RESULTS OF 2018 P.N.C.C.

ROUND 7 PHOTOS

AND RESULTS OF

2018 P.N.C.C.

Neph Macasaet, left,  dealt Morton Sawaichi his 7^th straight loss.

Tito Cabunagan, left,  and Samuel Palingcod halved the point

This is just a practice session by Mohammad Manik Hossain, left, and Jeff Balbalosa while they are waiting for their opponents. At the middle is Angelica Morales Magno.

Dennis Gonzales, right, missed the threat of mate by Anglito Mintar, Jr. with him ahead of 2 pawns.

Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. , right, was upset by Jeff Balbalosa.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 18, 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 -- December 18, 2018

             The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 09, 2002--December 18, 2018

(1607) PHOTOS AND RESULTS OF 6TH ROUND OF 2018 P.N.C.C. -December 02, 2018

PHOTOS AND RESULTS --

6th ROUND

2018 Palau National Chess

Championship

December 02, 2018

The longest game of the day was between Dennis Gonzales, 2nd from left, and Angelo Salvadora, right, that lasted till 6:30 pm. Bobot Tan and another chess player used the flashlight of their cell phones so that the protagonists can cope with darkness. Eventually, Dennis offered a draw with him having a king and 2 pawns against Angelo's king, a knight and a pawn. DRAW ACCEPTED!

Top seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., right, snapped the 4-game winning streak of Paquito Suringa, Jr., left, while it is another draw between Manuel Mahor, Jr., 2nd, from left, and Jeff Balbalosa in an endgame of bishop of opposite color.

The Sisior sisters, Angelil, left, and Destiny, played their game with the former, a member of 14-member delegation of Palau to 2018 Batumi, Georgia World Chess Olympiad, prevailing over her younger sister Destiny, a member of Palau Team in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. The two are almost sure members of Palau Women's Team to 2020 WCO in Russia.

Rustum Cabuso, standing in the middle, came back from vacation and participation in 2018 WCO in Batumi, Georgia after getting married in Nov. 28. He missed the 2018 PNCC Open Division where the champion gets an automatic inclusion to the 2020 WCO in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               December 29, 2002 -- December 05, 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 -- December 05, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau
               By Roberto Hernandez
               June 09, 2002 -- December 05, 2018