(946) MANUEL TOPS BLITZ CHESS TILT (TBN-Sept. 17-24, 2004)

2003 OPEN Chess champion Menandro Manuel captured the 4th speed (blitz) chess tourney of the year, with a 4-1 win-loss record. The one-day tourney was held Sunday, September 12 after the conclusion of all regular games of the 2004 Open Chess Tournament held at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal and sponsored and hosted by Nestor Canaria, who is also donating cash prizes for the top 3 finishers in Class A.

Manuel lost his first game against Eddie Grefiel but swept his last 4 opponents to win the half of the registration fee of $5.00 from each player. The other half was spent for the drinks of the other 5 participants. 

In the last game of the exciting and fun tourney, Roberto Hernandez (3-1) and Bong Alipoon (1-3) were in a complicated middle game and everybody were watching as the result would determine the champion.

If Hernandez would win, he will tie Manuel for the title but he missed a bishop sacrifice that would have won him the game. After further analyses by some players, the result was another blitz champ in 4 different occasions. 

Grefiel, Hernandez and Jimmy Valenzuela finished with identical 3-2 slates while Alipoon had 2-3 and Joel Azana was scoreless in five games.

In the 5th round of regular games, Grefiel, with a 5-0-1 win-loss-draw record, defeated Valenzuela (3-2-2) to solidify his hold of the lead with 5.5 points. 

Defending champion Jess Toldoya (2-1-1) clobbered Azana (1-4-1); Hernandez (3-2-0) took the measure of Ivan II Chess Computer (3-2-0) in 36 moves of Modern Defence and Alipoon (1-3-1) survived a mate in two and was lucky to beat Azana when the latter blundered away his queen with a d7 check instead of an f7 check.

In the Class B division, Ivan II Chess Computer (4-0) defeated Mariano Agustin, Jr. (4-3) and remains the only undefeated player in the field.

Agustin, Jr. later whipped newcomer Den Canaria (3-4) while top seed Jose Omega and another newcomer Jerry Sermeno were absent for different reasons.

Dyan Castillejo and Mark Nelson, two popular hosts of the Philippine weekly TV show "Sports Unlimited," were here in Palau for 3 days to shoot some scenes for their show. 

On Friday night, they had dinner at Image Restaurant with their cameramen and crew. All service staff of the restaurant had a field day with autographs and taking pictures.

           Dyan's sister, Jackie, sitting right, with Image staff at the back (L-R) Gladys, Flor and Nilda.
                                                       (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Dyan Castillejo, sitting left, with Image Restaurant staff (L-R) Alicia Medalla, Ma. Florida Hernandez, Gladys and 2 ladies in uniform of a tour company.              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Before they left, Hernandez gave Dyan two copies of Tia Belau and a video (VHS Cassette tape) entitled "Chess in Palau 2002-2004)".

Sports Unlimited covers all kinds of sports and Dyan was interested to know that Filipinos started chess tournaments in Palau.

Dyan's sister, Jackie, likes music and requested Hernandez a song by Elvis Presley and later sang "This Masquerade" with him. 

THE MEETING WITH DYAN AND COMPANY WAS ANOTHER WAY TO PROMOTE CHESS WITH MINIMUM EXPENSE.

     

 Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                 Tia Belau Newspaper
                  Pages 9-10
                  Volume 13
                  September 17-24, 2004

(376) RAPID CHESS TILT TO START OCT. 24

THE VENUE HOST, SPONSOR AND THE CHAIRMAN
Nestor Canaria, left, sponsored the 2004 Open Chess tournament in his Filco Thrift Mart. He is handing the cash prize of Roberto Hernandez, who finished 1st runner-up to eventual champ Eddie Grefiel. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)





                  RAPID CHESS TILT
           TO START OCT. 24, 2004

THE AWARDING ceremony of the 2004 Open Chess tournament was held Sunday, October 10 at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

Cash prizes to the top 3 finishers in Class A and certificates were given to the participants and to the host and sponsor Nestor Canaria who also treated the players with a snack of spaghetti, sandwich and fruit punch prepared by his wife, Lolit.

The 6 trophies for the winners didn't arrive in time and it will be given on the opening of the 2004 Rapid Chess tournament to start October 24 with at least 19 players expected to compete.

The new venue for the tournament is the Parish Center For Migrant Workers beside the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

The format will be 30 minutes for each player to finish the game. The players must play at least 2 games each week in this single round-robin event.

Current champion Eddie Grefiel and his co-employee Joel Azana must play 4 games each week because they can play only every other week.

Sonnenborn Berger System of tiebreak will be used to break the tie among top 5 finishers. There will be no Class A and B division and if there are at least 5 junior players who will participate, there will be a double round-robin for juniors (18 years and below).

Ivan II Chess Computer will participate in both divisions. Registration fee is $10.00 and the half of the collected fee will go to The Filipino Community in Palau who will sporsor the event.

Margarita Borja Dalton, a senatorial candidate, will provide the lemon tea drink every Sunday for the players while another senatorial candidate Carlos 'Hiros' Salii has not yet committed as of press time.

Jimboy de Jesus, the 2nd runner-up in the 2002 Open Chess tournament is expected to join this coming tournament after being inactive in the last 4 tourneys. His barrack is just beside the tournament site.

Mario Ramos, Danny Dandoy and Mike Miguel, Jr., all trophy winners in the 2004 Non-master Chess tilt are joining again after missing the last tournament due to job schedule conflict.

Father and son Norbert and Dmitri Villanueva were also invited. Norbert is a very busy man nowadays and so as Tutii Joe Chilton, the first Palauan trophy winner of the 2003 Open Chess tournament at Image Restaurant and Sports Bar and hosted by Margarita Borja Dalton.

Before the awarding of certificates and cash prizes last Sunday, some players watched the raffle drawing of Shell where a jet ski is the grand prize. White waiting, most of the players practice speed (blitz) chess at Rip Tide.

Only after the grand prize was won that the players proceed to the awarding ceremony and after the snack, Grefiel and Azana left and the planned 10-minute blitz chess tourney was cancelled.

A few years ago, rapid chess is called active chess and speed chess is called blitz. Internationally, it is now called rapid instead of active and speed instead of blitz but some players still use the old one.

The recently concluded 2004 Open Chess tourney have a record of 6 newcomers -- Den Canaria, Morton Sawaichi, Edward Agravante, Jerry Sermeno, Dennis Gonzales and Azana.

There's almost 3 months rest after the 2004 Non-Master Chess tourney and 2004 Open. And now, it's only 3 weeks before the start of the last tournament of the year.

Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Qxf7+! Kxf7 2. Bc4+ Qd5 3. Bxd5 mate.

This week's puzzles:
White to move and mates in 3 White to move and mates in 2
(Solution next issue)


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
October 15-21, 2004

(234) USA YOUNGEST MASTER AT 10 -NAKAMURA

U.S.A. YOUNGEST MASTER AT 10 --
HIKARU NAKAMURA

AT THE 100th U. S. Open Chess tournament, the sensation of the tournament was 11-year-old Hikaru Nakamura, who made history at age 10 by becoming the youngest American ever to attain the rank of chess master.

In the last round, he upset Argentinean Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman with a wild attack to finish a point out of the lead.

Overall, in 9 games, Hikaru lost to two Grandmasters, held one to a draw and won 6 games outright.

HERE IS THE GAME'S NOTATION WHERE NAKAMURA HAD THE BLACK PIECES, IN 1999 AT RENO:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 0-0 5. Bf4 this offbeat counter to the King's Indian Defence never gained favor because it develops the bishop too soon. More usual is 5. e4 or g3. 5. ... d6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 restraining black from freeing his game by ... b5.
8. ...Nh5 9. Bd2 f5 10. e3 e5 11. dxe6 e.p. Bxe6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 f4 14. Nd5 Bh6 not an active post, but it increases the pressure on e3.
15. Ra3 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Nd7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qb1 g5 19. a5 more pertinent is 19. b4 right away. Now both sides proceed to attack the opposite wings, and the question becomes, who will penetrate first?
19. ... Ng6 20. b4 cxb4 21. Bxb4 Ne5 22. f3 stopping the attack cold. 22. ... g4 23. Nd4 Nh4 gxh3 drops a piece after 24. Nf5.
24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. Ne6 neglecting his kingside. 25. f3 would prevent black's stunning reply 25. ... Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. fxg4 Qxg4+ 28. Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Kf7 32. Bc3 b5 stopping Qxb7 once and for all. If 32. ... Rg8 33. Bg7 staves off checkmate.
33. Bg7 the only hope is 33. Rc1. 33. ... Qg4+ 34. Kh2 f3 35. Rg1 Qh4 mate.

Will Nakamura achieve greater glory or, like so many other child prodigies before him, fall by the wayside?

The 2004 Open Chess tournament will start on July 11 at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

The sponsor and trophies donor this time is Nestor Canaria, who approached Knights and Rooks Chess Clur Chairman Roberto Hernandez last year to offer his sponsorship.


At that time, Lin de Guzman had already offered to host the 2004 Non-Master Chess tourney that has just concluded a few weeks ago.

De Guzman so far is the best ever host of the six tournaments that were held in Palau since June 09, 2002.

Danny Dandoy, the 1st runner-up in the 2004 Non-Master Chess tournament, will miss the first few weeks of this coming tourney.

He had a vacation on May 15 and will be back in August. He can still catch up but he has to play at least 2 games every week.

Ben Ramos, who missed the last 2 tournaments, is making a comeback participation as he has moved residence from Airai to Koror.

Stu, a Palauan friend of Roberto Hernandez, is planning to participate in this coming tourney. He said he is an avid chess player but needs to sharpen his skills a little more as he can only analyze 2 moves ahead.

Another Palauan working at the Palau International Coral Reef Center suggested that the clud should have a clinic regularly to help beginners improve their game. This is great idea!


Source: 
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
June 04-11, 2004

(156) BAPTISM OF FIRE (TBN-Sept. 24- Oct. 01-, 2004)

Dyan Castillejo and Mark Nelson (seated), hosts of weekly Philippine TV Show Sports Unlimited, pose with Tia Belau chess columnist Roberto Hernandez and his wife Flor during a dinner at the Image Restaurant in Meyuns after three days of shooting in Palau.
                                         (Contributed photo by Roberto Hernandez)

FIRST TIMER Dennis Gonzales got his baptism of fire in his first ever tournament games. He lost his first 4 games against Ivan II Chess Computer (twice), against Mariano Agustin, Jr. and vs. Jerry Sermeno.

Gonzales celebrated his birthday with 9 friends last Wednesday at Image Restaurant singing karaoke while having dinner and Roberto Hernandez is operating the karaoke while practicing with Ivan II.

Before they left, Gonzales approached Hernandez and said he is interested in joining  the chess tournament that is one month away from concluding.

He was offered to participate in Class B and have to play at least 3 games every week. He said the first 2 games with Ivan II drained him to the fullest as he had the initiative in the first game but lost it eventually.

He was not able to play three other Class B players waiting in line -- Morton Sawaichi, top seed Jose Omega and Den Canaria.

In the other Class B game, Agustin, Jr. defeated Sermeno to share the lead with Ivan II who is still undefeated w/6 straight wins.

Agustin, Jr. now has a 6-3 win-loss record while Sermeno is 4-4.

In Class A division, Cyril Montel, Jr. suffered his 5th straight defeat from Hernandez in 39 moves of a Modern Defence. It seems Hernandez found a winning defence for Black as he won all of his games with the black pieces by using the Modern Defence against Jimmy Valenzuela and Ivan II.

Montel, Jr. later scored half point by drawing against defending champion Jess Toldoya who was a pawn ahead in queen and pawns endgame.

After Montel, Jr. recovered the pawn, Toldoya offered a draw as he was ready for a perpetual check.

In the last game of the day of the 2004 Open Chess tourney sponsored by Nestor Canaria held this Sunday, September 19, Valenzuela scored his first ever win over Ivan II Chess Computer in their Giocco Piano game.

He has now a 1-2-1 win-loss-draw record against the formidable machine and finished the tourney with a 4-2-2 slate.  He is now a top candidate for at least 2nd runner-up depending on the results of Hernandez vs. Eddie Grefiel match on the 7th round and against Toldoya in the final round.

Toldoya (2-1-2) and Hernandez (4-2-0) are the two players who can catch up with Grefiel (5-0-1).

With the addition of another player in the Class B division, Hernandez has decided to add another trophy for Class B courtesy of Nestor Canaria, who is also donating $60.00 as cash prize for Class A ($30.00 for the champion, $20.00 for the first runner-up and $10.00 fir tge 2nd runner-up).

The additional $15.00 from Class A players for cash prize was cancelled and will be discussed before the next tournament.



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            September 24 - October 01, 2004

(76) CM46 DEJA VU

                                                          October 8-15, 2004

                                          Deja vu

THE 2004 Open Chess tournament concluded last Sunday, October 3 with the winners almost matching the standings of the 2002 All-Filipino Chess tilt.

Eddie Grefiel, with a 6-1-1 win-loss-draw record, had won the title since last week and the last crucial game between defending champion Jess Toldoya (3-1-4) and Roberto Hernandez (5-2-1) ended in a fighting draw in 58 moves of Dutch Defence.

With the draw, Hernandez clinched the 1st runner-up and Jimmy Valenzuela (4-2-2) got the 2nd runner-up honor after winning the tiebreak over Toldoya (19-13) using the Sonnenborn Berger system of tiebreak.

The points of Valenzuela and Toldoya's opponents whom they defeated were added to their points.

Solkoff system is now being used worldwide in tournaments held under the Swiss system format.

The current tourney is single round-robin in Class A and double round-robin in Class B.

Toldoya settled for 4th place while former champion Menandro Manuel (3-4-1) edged Bong Alipoon (3-4-1) for 5th to 6th place respectively.

Alipoon defeated Ivan II Chess Computer and Manuel in his last games of the tournament while Toldoya trounced Ivan II Chess Computer (3-5-0) in the first game.

WINDING UP THE CLASS A DIVISION ARE: Ivan II (7th), Cyril Montel, Jr. (8th) and Joel Azana (9th).

In the 2002 tourney, Valenzuela was the 1st runner-up and Hernandez, 2nd.

The last game of the 2004 Non-master chess tilt between Toldoya and Hernandez also ended in a draw that made Toldoya the champion.

In the Class B division, newcomer Dennis Gonzales, a 26-year-old accountant of Hanpa, spoiled Mariano Agustin, Jr. (or JR as he is commonly known) bid for a first chess title by defeating him in their 2nd game.

A win is all JR needs to tie Jose Omega to force a sudden death match that will determine the champion.

Omega clinched his 2nd Class B title by defeating Gonzales twice. The 2nd game was the turning point with Gonzales ahead by a knight.

Omega could have drawn the game by repetition of moves but found a winning endgame tactic to force a victory because Gonzales' knight could not prevent the promotion of Omega's 2 isolated pawns on both wings.

Jerry Sermeno and Morton Sawaichi were both absent and their games aginst Gonzales were defaulted.

Gonzales garnered at total of 5 points to tie Den Canaria who was not able to play because of job requirement. They decided to split their matches.

Canaria clinched the 2nd runner-up honor by drawing his last 2 games against Ivan II Chess Computer (arbiter's decision).

The awarding of trophies, cash prizes and certificates will be held on Sunday, October 10 at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal, the site of the tournament sponsored by Nestor Canaria, who will donate also the cash prizes for the champion ($30.00), 1st runner-up ($20.00) and 2nd runner-up ($10.00).

The format and date of the next tournament will be discussed after the awarding ceremony.

There might be time for a blitz chess competition (10 minutes) to be called The Consul General Julius Torres Blitz Chess Festival in honor of Torres who introduced blitz chess tourneys to be held after the completion of every tournament in Palau.

Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Bxg5+! Kxg5 2. Qg7+ Kh5 3. g4 mate.

This week's puzzles: White to play and mates in 2
(Solution -- 1. Qh6 Kd7 2. Qe6 mate. If 1. ... Kb7, then 2.
Qa6 mate)

White to play and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)


(PHOTO)

VENUE HOST, SPONSOR
Nestor Canaria, left, tournament venue host and trophies sponsor, poses with Mr. Domingo in the penultimate round of 2004 Chess tournament. Jerry Sermeno and Cyril Montel, Jr. face separate opponents (background). (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
October 08-15, 2004

(73) MANUEL TOPS BLITZ CHESS TILT (TBN-Sept. 17-24, 2004)

2003 OPEN Chess champion Menandro Manuel captured the 4th speed (blitz) chess tourney of the year, with a 4-1 win-loss record. The one-day tourney was held Sunday, September 12 after the conclusion of all regular games of the 2004 Open Chess Tournament held at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal and sponsored and hosted by Nestor Canaria, who is also donating cash prizes for the top 3 finishers in Class A.

Manuel lost his first game against Eddie Grefiel but swept his last 4 opponents to win the half of the registration fee of $5.00 from each player. The other half was spent for the drinks of other 5 participants. 

In the last game of the exciting and fun tourney, Roberto Hernandez (3-1) and Bong Alipoon (1-3) were in a complicated middle game and everybody were watching as the result would determine the champion.

If Hernandez would win, he will tie Manuel for the title but he missed a bishop sacrifice that would have won him the game. After further analyses by some players, the result was another another blitz champ in 4 different occasions. 

Grefiel, Hernandez and Jimmy Valenzuela finished with identical 3-2 slates while Alipoon had 2-3 and Joel Azana was scoreless in five games.

In the 5th round of regular games, Grefiel, with a 5-0-1 win-loss-draw record, defeated Valenzuela (3-2-2) to solidify his hold of the lead with 5.5 points. 

Defending champion Jess Toldoya (2-1-1) clobbered Azana (1-4--1); Hernandez (3-2-0) took the measure of Ivan II Chess Computer (3-2-0) in 36 moves of Modern Defence and Alipoon (1-3-1) survived a mate in two and was lucky to beat Azana when the latter blundered away his queen with a d7 check instead of an f7 check.

In the Class B division, Ivan II Chess Computer (4-0) defeated Mariano Agustin, Jr. (4-3) and remains the only undefeated player in the field.

Agustin, Jr. later whipped newcomer Den Canaria (3-4) while top seed Jose Omega and another newcomer Jerry Sermeno were absent for different reasons.

Dyan Castillejo and Mark Nelson, two popular hosts of the Philippine weekly TV show "Sports Unlimited," were here in Palau for 3 days to shoot some scenes for their show. 

On Friday night, they had dinner at Image Restaurant with their cameramen and crew. All service staff of the restaurant had a field day with autographs and taking pictures.

Before they left, Hernandez gave Dyan two copies of Tia Belau and a video (VHS Cassette tape) entitled "Chess in Palau 2002-2004)".

Sports Unlimited covers all kinds of sports and Dyan was interested to know that Filipinos started chess tournaments in Palau.

Dyan's sister, Jackie, likes music and requested Hernandez a song by Elvis Presley and later sang "This Masquerade" with him. 

THE MEETING WITH DYAN AND COMPANY WAS ANOTHER WAY TO PROMOTE CHESS WITH MINIMUM EXPENSE.

     

 Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
                 Tia Belau Newspaper
                  Pages 9-10
                  Volume 13
                  September 17-24, 2004

(69) Chessmate 43 CANARIA LEADS CLASS B

(58) CHESSMATE 32 NAKAMURA, YOUNGEST U.S. MASTER AT 10

U.S.A. YOUNGEST MASTER AT 10 --
HIKARU NAKAMURA

AT THE 100th U. S. Open Chess tournament, the sensation of the tournament was 11-year-old Hikaru Nakamura, who made history at age 10 by becoming the youngest American ever to attain the rank of chess master.

In the last round, he upset Argentinean Grandmaster Alejandro Hoffman with a wild attack to finish a point out of the lead.

Overall, in 9 games, Hikaru lost to two Grandmasters, held one to a draw and won 6 games outright.

HERE IS THE GAME'S NOTATION WHERE NAKAMURA HAD THE BLACK PIECES, IN 1999 AT RENO:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 0-0 5. Bf4 this offbeat counter to the King's Indian Defence never gained favor because it develops the bishop too soon. More usual is 5. e4 or g3. 5. ... d6 6. h3 c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 restraining black from freeing his game by ... b5.
8. ...Nh5 9. Bd2 f5 10. e3 e5 11. dxe6 e.p. Bxe6 12. Be2 Nc6 13. 0-0 f4 14. Nd5 Bh6 not an active post, but it increases the pressure on e3.
15. Ra3 Bxd5 16. cxd5 Nd7 17. e4 Nf6 18. Qb1 g5 19. a5 more pertinent is 19. b4 right away. Now both sides proceed to attack the opposite wings, and the question becomes, who will penetrate first?
19. ... Ng6 20. b4 cxb4 21. Bxb4 Ne5 22. f3 stopping the attack cold. 22. ... g4 23. Nd4 Nh4 gxh3 drops a piece after 24. Nf5.
24. hxg4 Nxg4 25. Ne6 neglecting his kingside. 25. f3 would prevent black's stunning reply 25. ... Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. fxg4 Qxg4+ 28. Kh2 Qh4+ 29. Kg1 Qg4+ 30. Kh2 Qh4+ 31. Kg1 Kf7 32. Bc3 b5 stopping Qxb7 once and for all. If 32. ... Rg8 33. Bg7 staves off checkmate.
33. Bg7 the only hope is 33. Rc1. 33. ... Qg4+ 34. Kh2 f3 35. Rg1 Qh4 mate.

Will Nakamura achieve greater glory or, like so many other child prodigies before him, fall by the wayside?

The 2004 Open Chess tournament will start on July 11 at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

The sponsor and trophies donor this time is Nestor Canaria, who approached Knights and Rooks Chess Clur Chairman Roberto Hernandez last year to offer his sponsorship.


At that time, Lin de Guzman had already offered to host the 2004 Non-Master Chess tourney that has just concluded a few weeks ago.

De Guzman so far is the best ever host of the six tournaments that were held in Palau since June 09, 2002.

Danny Dandoy, the 1st runner-up in the 2004 Non-Master Chess tournament, will miss the first few weeks of this coming tourney.

He had a vacation on May 15 and will be back in August. He can still catch up but he has to play at least 2 games every week.

Ben Ramos, who missed the last 2 tournaments, is making a comeback participation as he has moved residence from Airai to Koror.

Stu, a Palauan friend of Roberto Hernandez, is planning to participate in this coming tourney. HYe said he is an avid chess player but needs to sharpen his skills a little more as he can only analyze 2 moves ahead.

Another Palauan working at the Palau International Coral Reef Center suggested that the clud should have a clinic regularly to help beginners improve their game. This is great idea!


Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
June 04-11, 2004

(57) CHESSMATE 31 2004 OPEN TILT STARTS JULY 11

WILL there be an new champion again in the 7th chess tournament sponsored this time by Nestor Canaria?

Will there be a repeat champion for the first time?

Defending champion Jess Toldoya seems to be in top shape to defend his title while 2003 Open champion Menandro Manuel is also a favorite and 2003 Senior and Junior Champion Roberto Hernandez will be fresh from a 42-day vacation and will have barely a day to prepare the event to be held at Filco Thrift Mart in Malakal.

On the opening day of the tournament, July 11, the pairings in the senior division is the top seed (Ivan II Chess Computer) against the lowest seed.

The 2nd seed Hernandez will be up against the second lowest and so on. The 11-round Swiss system tourney will use a time control of one hour for each player to finish the game.

The junior division will have 30 minutes for each player to finish the game and a double round-robin format.

If there are less than 6 contestants in the kid's division, there will be no more junior division (18 years and below). Instead, the kids will join the seniors in the Swiss system format.

The top 2 finishers of the juniors will receive trophies and an extra trophy will be awarded to the Most Improved Player.

Canaria is sponsoring the trophies for the top 4 finishers in the senior division and 3 trophies in the kid's division. He asked Hernandez to buy the trophies in Philippines during his vacation.

Game time is 1:00 to 5:00 pm every Sunday. Registration fee is $10.00.

With the majority of the strongest junior players gone, this is the chance for hesitant kids to join and have fun playing chess with players of their own level.

Calling the attention of Dmitri Villanueva, John Page, I. B. Misech, Omkar Tangelbad, Tommy Tutii, Scout Adelbai, Jovani Adachi and many more who have shown interest but maybe afraid of strong competition.

After this tournament, the next venue will be the Parish Center for Migrant Workers near Osiaol and Catholic Church to be sponsored again by The Filipino Community in Palau, who sponsored the first 4 tournaments.

The Chairman of Knights and Rooks Chess Club was approached by the newly elected officers of TFCP to use the facility and designated Hernandez as chairman of chess tournament under the Sports Commission of the TFCP.

With 2 months left before the end of 2004, the tournament will be shorter and therefore will use the active chess time control of 30 minutes for each player to finish the game.

It will be a round-robin format and players will have to play 2 games every Sunday.


Solution to last week's puzzle: 1. Rd2! Any bishop move 2. Qa7 mate. If 1. ... Ka6 2. Rd6 mate. Or 1. ... Kc5 2. Qd4 mate. If 1. ... Kc7 2. Qxa5 mate.


THIS WEEK'S PUZZLES:

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
May 28- June 04, 2004

(56) CHESSMATE 30 CANARIA IS NEW HOST, SPONSOR

THE 2004 Open Chess tournament will kick off on July 11 with a new venue and new host-sponsor.

Nestor Canaria has willingly agreed to host the chess event and he will sponsor the trophies of the top 4 finishers in the senior division and the top 3 in the juniors.

The new site is the Thrift Mart in Malakal.

THE FOLLOWING FORMAT IS AS FOLLOWS:

1. It will be an 11-round Swiss system for seniors. Winners in the first round will play against winners in the second round.
The Juniors (18 years and below)will have a double round-robin if there are at least 6 contestants.

2. The time control for adults is one hour for each player to finish the game and 30 minutes for each player to finish the game for the junir division.

3. There will be a registration fee of $10.00.

4. Ivan II Chess Computer will participate in both adults and kids division. Ivan II is now the property of Knights and Roooks Chess Club and members can borrow it for $2.00 for a minimum of one week.
It will also be the top seed in the senior division with a rating of 1991 followed by Roberto Hernandez (1885), Menandro Manuel (1864), Mike Miguel, Jr. (1843), Jess Toldoya (1811), Cyril Montel, Jr. (1804), Danny Dandoy (1793), Mario Ramos (1743), Jimmy Valenzuela (1739), Jose Omega (1718), Bong Alipoon (1676), Lin de Guzman (1672) and Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1640).

5. Newcomers will start at 1500 rating and inactive players who wish to participate again will start with their own rating.

6. When playing against the computer, touch move rules will also apprlied so human players can not touch any piece not intended to be moved, whether in the tournament size board or the computer's board.

7. The Sonnenborn Berger system of tiebreak will be applied in case of a tie for 1st to 4th prize. The Median and the Solkoff tiebreak systems will be used if there is still a tie after applying the 1st tiebreaker.

8. Questions may be coursed to Jess Toldoya at phones 779-1007 (cell) or 488-1007 or 488-3064 (office).


Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 14
May 21-28, 2004

(17) 2004 OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT

2004 OPEN CHESS TOURNAMENT

July 11 – October 03, 2004

Sponsored by: Nestor Canaria (Cash Prizes & Trophies)

Venue: Filco Thrift Mart, Malakal, Koror, Palau

FINAL STANDINGS

Class A

                                                               Rating            Win   Loss   Draw       Total

1.      EDDIE GREFIEL                           1954                6        1         1             6.5

2.      ROBERTO HERNANDEZ            1885                5        2         1             5.5

3.      JIMMY VALENZUELA                1739               4        2        2              5

4.      JESS TOLDOYA                            1811               3        1        4              5

5.      MENANDRO MANUEL               1864                3        4         1             3.5

6.      BONG ALIPOON                          1676                3        4         1             3.5

7.      IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER      1991                3        5         0             3

8.      CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                   1804                2        5         1             2.5

9.      JOEL AZANA                                1500                1        6         1             1.5

                                                               Class B

                                                              Rating             Win   Loss   Draw       Total

1.      JOSE OMEGA                              1718                 8        4         0               8

2.      MARIANO AGUSTIN, JR.          1640                 7        5         0              7

3.      DEN CANARIA                            1500                 3       5         4               5

4.      DENNIS GONZALES                   1500                 4        6         2               5

5.      JERRY SERMENO                       1500                 4        8         0              4

6.      MORTON SAWAICHI                 1500                 3        9         0              3

7.      IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER      1991                 9        1         2             10

ROUND 1 (Classification)

July 11, 2004

1. Menandro Manuel v Jose Omega (1-0) 2. Roberto Hernandez vs. Bong Alipoon (0-1)

3. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1-0)  4. Jess Toldoya vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0)  5. Den Canaria vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (1-0)

ROUND 2                                                                     July 18, 2004

1. Joel Azana vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (0-1)  2. Jose Omega vs. Eddie Grefiel (0-1)

3. Eddie Grefiel vs. Jess Toldoya (1-0)  4. Morton Sawaichi vs. Joel Azana (0-1)

5. Menandro Manuel vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1)  6. Den Canaria vs. Jose Omega (0-1)

7. Menandro Manuel vs. Ivan II (1-0)  8. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Joel Azana (1-0)

9. Bong Alipoon vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (1-0) 10. Edward Agravante vs. Eddie Grefiel (0-1)

11. Joel Azana vs. Den Canaria (1-0)  12. Edward Agravante vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (1-0)

White: Menandro Manuel                                            July 18, 2004

Black: Roberto Hernandez

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 0-0 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. Qd2 c5 8. Nge2 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nb6 10. h4 h5 11. Be2 Kh7 12. 0-0 Bd7 13. Rac1 Rc8 14. b3 a6 15. a4 Ng8 16. a5 Na8 17. Nd5 e6 18. Nb6 Nxb6 19. axb6 Qxh4 20. Bg5 Bxd4+ 21. Qxd4 Qxg5 22. Qxd6 Qe3+ 23. Kh2 Bc6 24. Rc2 Qxb3 25. Bd1 Qxb6 26. Qa3 Qd4 27. Be2 Rfd8 28. c5 Nf6 29. Qa5 h4 30. Kh1 Qe5 31. Rc4 Nh5 32. Kg1 Bb5 33. e4 Nxf4 34. Qe1 Nxe2+ 35. Qxe2 Bxc4 36. Qxc4 Qd4+ 37. Qxd4 Rxd4 38. Rxf7+ Kh6 39. Rxb7 Rxc5 40. Rb6 Rxe4 41. Rxa6 Rc2 42. Ra5 h3 43. g3 Re1#           0-1

ROUND 3                                                                    July 25, 2004

1. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Jose Omega (1-0)  2. Jose Omega vs. Roberto Hernandez (1-0)

3. Jess Toldoya vs. Bong Alipoon (1-0) 4. Menandro Manuel vs. Edward Agravante (0-1)

5. Morton Sawaichi vs. Ivan II 6. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Menandro Manuel (1-0)

ROUND 4                                                                   August 01, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1-0)  2. Eddie Grefiel vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (1-0)

3. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (0-1) 4. Roberto Hernandez vs. Den Canaria (1-0)  5. Edward Agravante vs. Ivan II (0-1)  6. Joel Azana vs. Jess Toldoya (1-0)

7. Bong Alipoon vs Eddie Grefiel (Draw) 8. Mariano Agustin vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0)*

INVITATIONAL BLITZ CHESS TOURNEY

August 01, 2004

Single Round Robin

FINAL STANDINGS

                Players                                                        Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. ANDREA BURIANI (Italy)                             5       0         0              5
2. MENANDRO MANUEL                                 3        1        1              3.5
3. EDDIE GREFIEL                                             3        2        0              3
4. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                              1        3        1              1.5
5. JOEL AZANA                                                  1        3       1               1.5
6. JIMMY VALENZUELA                                 0        4        1               .5

ROUND 5 (Final Round – Classification)

August 08, 2004

1. Morton Sawaichi vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1)  2. Ivan II vs. Den Canaria (1-0)

3. Edward Agravante v Bong Alipoon (0-1)* 4. Jess Toldoya v M. Agustin, Jr. (Draw)*

FINAL STANDINGS (Classification)

Class A

                                                                                  Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. EDDIE GREFIEL                                           4        0         1            4.5
2. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER                      4        1         0            4
3. BONG ALIPOON                                          3        1         1            3.5
4. JIMMY VALENZUELA                               3        2         0            3
5. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                   3        2         0            3
6. JOEL AZANA                                               3        2         0            3
7. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                           3        2         0            3
8. JESS TOLDOYA                                           2        2         1            2.5
9. MENANDRO MANUEL                              2        3         0            2

                                                                  Class B

1. JOSE OMEGA                                                      2        3          0            2

2. MARIANO AGUSTIN, JR.                                  1        3          1            1.5

3. DEN CANARIA                                                    1        4          0            1

4. MORTON SAWAICHI                                         0        5          0            0

5. EDWARD AGRAVANTE                                    2        3          0            2

        (Withdraw- Go on Vacation)

ROUND 1 (Class A)                                                     August 15, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Joel Azana (1-0)  2. Menandro Manuel vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (1-0)                 3. Eddie Grefiel vs. Ivan II (1-0)  4. Joel Azana vs. Roberto Hernandez (1-0)

5. Jess Toldoya vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (0-1)  6. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Eddie Grefiel (0-1)

ROUND 1 (Class B)                                                    August 15, 2004

1. Jose Omega vs. Jerry Sermeno (1-0)  2. Jerry Sermeno vs. Jose Omega (1-0)

3. Morton Sawaichi vs. Jerry Sermeno (0-1) 4. Jerry Sermeno vs. Morton Sawaichi (0-1)

ROUND 2 (Class A)                                                   August 22, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Menandro Manuel (1-0)  2. Roberto Hernandez vs. Bong Alipoon (1-0)

3. Bong Alipoon vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (Draw) 4. Menandro Manuel vs. Jimmy Valenzuela (0-1)

ROUND 2 (Class B)                                                  August 22, 2004

1. Mariano Agustin, Jr. v Jose Omega (1-0) 2. Jose Omega vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1-0)

3. Jerry Sermeno vs. Den Canaria (1-0)  4. Den Canaria vs. Mariano Agusitn, Jr. (0-1)

5. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0) 6. Morton Sawaichi vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1-0)

ROUND 3 (Class A)                                                 August 29, 2004

1. Eddie Grefiel vs. Menandro Manuel (1-0)  2. Jess Toldoya vs. Eddie Grefiel (Draw)

3. Menandro Manuel vs. Joel Azana (1-0)  4. Eddie Grefiel vs. Bong Alipoon (1-0)

5. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Joel Azana (Draw)  6. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1)

ROUND 3 (Class B)                                                August 29, 2004

1. Den Canaria vs. Jerry Sermeno (1-0)  2. Morton Sawaichi vs. Den Canaria (0-1)

3. Den Canaria vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0)  4. Morton Sawaichi vs. Ivan II (0-1)

5. Ivan II Chess Computer vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0)

ROUND 4 (Class A)                                                September 05, 2004

1. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Ivan II (0-1)  2. Roberto Hernandez vs. Menandro Manuel (0-1)

3. Bong Alipoon vs. Jess Toldoya (0-1) 4. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (1-0)

White: Roberto Hernandez                                      September 05, 2004

Black: Menandro Manuel

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. 0-0 e6 6. e3 Bd6 7. Nc3 0-0 8. d3 a6 9. e4 Bb8 10. e5 Nd7 11. Ng5 h6 12. Nh3 Nd4 13. g4 Ba7 14. Be3 15. Ne2 f6 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. g5 Ng4 18. Bd2 h5 19. c4 Rb8 20. a4 Nb4 21. g6 Qd2 22. Ng3 dxc4 23. dxc4 Qd4+ 24. Kh1 Nd3 25. Qe4 Qxe4 26. Nxe4 Bd7 27. Bc3 Bc6 28. Rad1 Rbd8 29. Nf6+ Nxf6 30. Bxf6 Bxg2+ 31. Kxg2 Rd7 32. Kg3 Rff7 33. Rf3 Nb4 34. Rxd7 Rxd7 35. Re3 Kf7 36. Nf2 Nc2 37. Rd3 Nd4 38. Kg2 Bb8 39. Bxd4 Rxd4 40. Rxd4 cxd4 41. Kf3 e5 42. fxe5 Bxe5 43. Ke4? Bxh2 44. Nd3 Bg3 45. Kxd4 h4 46. Ke3 h3 47. Kf3 h2 48. Kg2 Ke7 49. Nc5 Kd6 50. Nxb7 Kc7 51. Na5 Bd6 52. b3 Kb6 53. b4 Bxb4 54. Nb3 Be7 55. Kxh2 Bxg5 56. a5+ Kc6 57. Kg3 Bf6 58. Kf4 Be7 59. Ke5 g5 60. c5 Kb5 61. Ke6 Bd8 62. Kd6 g4 63. c6 g3 64. c7 Bxc7+ 65. Kxc7 g2 66. Nd4+ Kxa5 67. Kb7?? G1=Q 68. Nc6+ Ka4 69. Kxa6 Qb1 70. Ka7 Kb5 71. Nb8 Kc5 72. Na6+ Kc6 73. Nb8+ Kc7 74. Na6+ Kc8 75. Nc5 Qb5           0-1

ROUND 4 (Class B)                                               September 05, 2004

1. Jose Omega vs. Den Canaria (1-0)  2. Jose Omega vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (0-1)

3. Morton Sawaichi vs. Jose Omega (1-0)

ROUND 5 (Class A)                                               September 12, 2004

1. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Eddie Grefiel (0-1) 2. Joel Azana vs. Jess Toldoya (0-1)

3. Ivan II vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1) 4. Joel Azana vs. Bong Alipoon (0-1)

White: Ivan II Chess Computer                              September 12, 2004

Black: Roberto Hernandez

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c3 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 0-0 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. b4 a6 8. Nbd2 e5 9. a3 Nh5 10. Nb3 Nf4 11. Bc2 Ne7 12. Bd2 Bg4 13. d5 Kh8 14. g3 Nh3+ 15. Kh1 f5 16. Kg2 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Rf6 18. Be3 Qf8 19. c4 Bh6 20. Bxh6 Qxh6 21. Nbd2 Raf8 22. Qb1 Nf4+ 23. gxf4 Qh3+ 24. Kh1 Rxf4 25. Ng5 Qh5 26. Ne6 Bxe6 27. dxe6 Rh4 28. Bxb7 Rxh2+ 29. Kg1 c6 30. Bxc6 Nxc6 31. Qe4 Rf4 32.e7 Nxe7 33. b3 Rxe4 34. f4 Ree2 35. Rf2 Rexf2 36. Nb3 Qg4#               0-1

ROUND 5 (Class B)                                               September 12, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (1-0) 2. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Den Canaria (1-0)

BLITZ CHESS TOURNAMENT

September 12, 2004

Single Round Robin

         Players                                                            Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. MENANDRO MANUEL                              4       1          0             4
2. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                           3       2          0             3
3. EDDIE GREFIEL                                          3       2          0             3
4. BONG ALIPOON                                         2       3          0             2
5. JOEL AZANA                                               0       5          0             0

ROUND 6 (Class A)                                               September 19, 2004

1. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Roberto Hernandez (0-1) 2. Jess Toldoya vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (Draw)  3. Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (1-0)

White: Cyril Montel, Jr.                                          September 19, 2004

Black: Roberto Hernandez

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bd3 0-0 6. 0-0 Nbd7 7. Re1 c5 8. Nbd2 cxd4 9. cxd4 e5 10. d5 Nc5 11. Bc2 Bg4 12. h3 Bd7 13. Nc4 Bb5 14. b3 Nh5 15. a4 Bxc4 16. bxc4 Rc8 17. Be3 f5 18. Bxc5 Rxc5 19. Rb1 Rxc4 20. exf5 gxf5 21. Rxb7 Qe8 22. Rb2 Nf4 23. Ng5 e4 24. Ra2 Rd4 25. Qb1 h6 26. Ne6 Nxe6 27. dxe6 Qxe6 28. Qb7 Rf7 29. Qb8+ Kh7 30. Bb3 d5 31. Rae2 Be5 32. Qb5 Rg7 33. f4 Bxf4 34. Rf2 Bg3 35. Qc5 Bxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rd3 37. Re3 Rxb3 38. Qc2 d4 39. g4 d3             0-1

ROUND 6 (Class B)                                               September 19, 2004

1. Dennis Gonzales vs. Ivan II (0-1) 2. Ivan II vs. Dennis Gonzales (1-0)

3. Dennis Gonzales vs. Jerry Sermeno (0-1) 4. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Dennis Gonzales (1-0)  5. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Jerry Sermeno (1-0)

PENULTIMATE ROUND (7^TH) (Class A)           September 26, 2004

1. Eddie Grefiel vs. Joel Azana (1-0) 2. Roberto Hernandez vs. Eddie Grefiel (1-0) 

3. Menandro Manuel vs. Jess Toldoya (Draw) 4. Joel Azana vs. Cyril Montel, Jr. (0-1)

5. Cyril Montel, Jr. vs. Bong Alipoon (1-0)

White: Roberto Hernandez                                    September 26, 2004

Black: Eddie Grefiel

1. f4 c5 2. e4 d5 3. exd4 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qd8 5. Bc4 Nf6 6. Nf3 e6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Kh1 0-0 9. Ne5 a6 10. a4 Nbd7 11. Rf3 Qc7 12. Qe2 b6 13. Rh3 Bb7 14. d3 Bd6 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Ne4 Qe7 17. Bd2 Rad8 18. Rf1 g6 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bc3 Qe7 21. Qe3 Rfe8 22. Rxh7! f6 23. Rxe7 Bxe7 24. Qxe6+ Kg7 25. Qf7+ Kh6 26. Re1 b5 27. axb5 axb5 28. Bxb5 Bd5 29. Qxe8 Rxe8 30. Bxe8 Bd6 31. Bxf6 Bxf4 32. h4 Kh5 33. Re7 c5 34. dxc5 Ba8 35. Bd7 g5 36. hxg5 Kh4 37. Rh7+ Kg3 38. Rh3+ Kf2 39. Bd4+ Kf1 40. Rf3+ Bxf3 41. gxf3 Bxg5 42. b4 Ke2 43. b5 Kd2 44. c3 Kd3 45. c5 Kc4 46. c6 Bf4 47. Kg2 Kd3 48. Kh3 Kc4 49. Kg4              1-0

PENULTIMATE ROUND (7^TH) (Class B)          September 26, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Jose Omega (0-1) 2. Den Canaria vs. Jose Omega (0-1) 3. Mariano Agustin, Jr. vs. Ivan II (0-1)  4. Jerry Sermeno vs. Mariano Agustin, Jr. (0-1)  5. Jose Omega vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0)

SUNDAY BLITZ CHESS TILT

September 26, 2004

Single Round Robin

                 Players                                                    Win   Loss   Draw      Total

1. MENANDRO MANUEL                             4         1        0              4
2. JIMMY VALENZUELA                              3        2        0               3
3. EDDIE GREFIEL                                         3        2         0              3
4. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                          2        3         0              2
5. JOEL AZANA                                              2        3        0               2
6. BONG ALIPOON                                        1        4         0              1

FINAL ROUND (Class A)                                  October 03, 2004

1. Ivan II vs. Jess Toldoya (0-1)  2. Bong Alipoon vs. Ivan II Chess Computer (1-0)

3. Jess Toldoya v Roberto Hernandez (Draw) 4. Menandro Manuel v Bong Alipoon (0-1)

FINAL ROUND (Class B)                                  October 03, 2004

1. Dennis Gonzales vs. Jose Omega (0-1) 2. Jose Omega vs. Dennis Gonzales (1-0)

3. Dennis Gonzales vs. Marinao Agustin, Jr. (1-0) 4. Den Canaria vs. Dennis Gonzales (Draw) 5. Dennis Gonzales vs. Den Canaria (Draw) 6. Den Canaria vs. Ivan II (Draw)*

7. Ivan II vs. Den Canaria (Draw)* 8. Morton Sawaichi vs. Dennis Gonzales (0-1)*

9. Dennis Gonzales vs. Morton Sawaichi (1-0) 10. Ivan II vs. Jerry Sermeno (1-0)*

11. Jerry Sermeno vs. Ivan II (0-1) 12. Jerry Sermeno vs. Dennis Gonzales (0-1)

N E W   R A T I N G

(October 24, 2004)

           PLAYERS                                             Old Rating      Gained/Lost    New Rating

  1. EDDIE GREFIEL                                          1954                  116                2070

  2. IVAN II CHESS COMPUTER                     1991                    16                2007

  3. ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                           1885                    74                1959

  4. JESS TOLDOYA                                           1811                   72                 1883

  5. MENANDRO MANUEL                              1864                    11                1875

  6. MIKE MIGUEL, JR.                                     1843                     0                 1843

  7. JIMMY VALENZUELA                               1739                   83                 1822

  8. CYRIL MONTEL, JR.                                  1804                    -5                 1799

  9. DANNY DANDOY                                      1793                     0                  1793

10. JOSE OMEGA                                              1718                    63                 1781

11. BONG ALIPOON                                         1676                   84                 1760

12. MARIO RAMOS                                           1746                    0                  1746

13. JIMBOY DE JESUS                                      1710                    0                  1710

14. LIN DE GUZMAN                                       1672                     0                  1672

15. MARIANO AGUSTIN, JR.                          1640                   12                  1642

16. JUN MAHOR                                                1620                    0                  1620

17. DEN CANARIA                                            1500                   99                 1599

18. JOEL AZANA                                               1500                    86                 1586

19. JERRY SERMENO                                       1500                    83                 1583

20. AMANTE CABALLERO                             1579                     0                  1579

21. DENNIS GONZALES                                   1500                    78                 1578

22. MORTON SAWAICHI                                 1500                    58                 1558

23. BEN RAMOS                                                1515                     0                  1515

24. TUTII JOE CHILTON                                  1510                     0                  1510

25. NORBERT VILLANUEVA                          1510                     0                  1510

26. ROLANDO FUNA                                        1510                     0                  1510 

RECORDED GAMES

ROUND 8                                                                           October 03, 2004

White: Jess Toldoya

Black: Roberto Hernandez

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bd2 0-0 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. 0-0 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. d5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 exd5 11. Qxd5+ Kh8 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Qxe5 d6 14. Qb5 c6 15. Qb3 Qe7 16. e3 Be6 17. Qb4 a5 18. Qb2 Bc4 19. Rfd1 d5 20. a4 Rf6 21. Rab1 Rb8 22. Qb6 c5 23. Qa7 Qc7 24. Bxd5 Ra6 25. Rxb7 Rxa7 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Bxc4 g6 28. Rd6 Rb2 29. Rd2 Kg7 30. Kf1 Kf6 31. Ke2 Kg5 32. Kf3 Re7 33. h4+ Kh5 34. Bb5 Rb7 35. c4 h6 36. Re8 R7xb5 37. cxb5 Rxc2 38. Rd5 Ra2 39. b6 c4 40. Rxa5 c3 41. Rc5 Rb2 42. a5 c2 43. b7 Rxb7 44. Rxc2 Ra7 45. Rc5 Ra6 46. g4+ Kxh4 47. gxf5 g5 48. e4 Kh3 49. e5 g4+ 50. Ke2 h5 51. e6 h4 52. e7 Ra8 53. f6 Kg2 54. a6 h3 55. Rg5 h2 56. Rxg4+ Kh3 57. Rg3+ Kh4 58. Rg7 Rh8 59. f7 h1=Q 60. f8=Q 61. Qe4+                (Draw)

Source:   The   History   Of   Chess   In   Palau    by    Roberto   Hernandez    Part 7     July 11, 2004

Left to right, Joel Azana, Roberto Hernandez, Eddie Grefiel, Cyril Montel, Jr.
                                                                   Photo: Roberto Hernandez

UPPER PHOTO: Menandro Manuel vs. Bong Alipoon; Den Canaria vs. Jimmy Valenzuela.

LOWER PHOTO: Jimmy Valenzuela vs. Menandro Manuel. Mariano Agustin, Jr. watches from the sideline.

                                                                                                         (Photos by: Roberto Hernandez)

INDOOR CHESS

     The second round of the 204 Non-Masters Chess Tournament play partially indoors due to heavy rain. At left is Nilo de Jesus, sponsor of cash prize in the kid's top 3 finishers, playing the white pieces against Cyril Montel, Jr. who won four straight games.                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

NINTH SEED Danny Dandoy, a teacher at Palau High School, dealt 3rd seed Menandro Manuel his first loss of the tournament in the 5th round of the 2003 Non-Masters Chess tournament held on Sunday, February 08, at Paul Brothers Tri-M General Merchandise and Food Retail in Malakal.

He scored another upset later in the afternoon by beating 5th seed Jimmy Valenzuela. Dandoy now totes a 4-1-0 win-loss-draw record and is tied for 2nd place with idle and undefeated Cyril Montel, Jr. (4-0-0).

The surprise of the day was Mario Ramos' much improved play. He defeated co-host Lin de Guzman after being down by a rook, then beat 2nd seed Roberto Hernandez in 43 moves of Sicilian Defence (Najdorf Variation).

Ramos also almost won over 8th seed Mike Miguel, Jr. when he failed to convert his material and positional advantage and lost instead. Ramos (2-2-0) tried to play as many games as he could because he is now assign indefinitely in Melekeok and could not play every week.

He got a chance to play after voting in the TFCP election of new officers where 2 players (Hernandez and Jess Toldoya) ran for auditor and board of director post respectively.

Hernandez made it with 654 votes in the unofficial count but Toldoya didn't make to the top 15.

Tenth seed Nilo de Jesus (1-4-0) used his favorite defence when handling black, the Benko Gambit, against Ivan II Chess Computer. He made a poor defensive play on the 16th move and did not recover after Ivan II (2-2-1) unleashed a series of simplification moves and won 2in 8 moves in less than an hour of play.

OTHER RESULTS OF SENIORS 5TH ROUND:

Miguel Jr., (3-2-0) defeated Valenzuela (2-6-0); Valenzuela lost another game to Bong Alipoon (1-3-1) and finally, Jose Omega (2-1-0) won over de Guzman in which the only game that Omega could play with his available time. His adjourned game with Toldoya will be resumed this Sunday.

In the kid's division, former champion Jayrome Soriano (2-0-1) defeated Ricky 'Jun'Jun' Camacho (0-3-0) in just one game. Lone female contestant Karen Hernandez (3-0-1) swept 9-year-old Georby Domingo (2-0) to stay at second place.

Chris Domingo (1-3-1), the older brother of Georby, already in the mating position against Ivan II  Chess Computer when some junior players distracted his composure and Ivan II escaped with a draw by stalemate. It means he has no legal move and is not under check, so stalemate occurs and it is a draw.

Defending champion Charles Aquino (6-0-1) used the same level as Domingo has set up against Ivan and won to keep on top of the standings.

Finally, 16-year-old Michael Velarde (2-2-0) defeated Chris Domingo and now in solo third spot.

There will be a meeting this Saturday, Feb. 14 at Paul Brothers to discuss the election of new officers of the Knights and Rooks Chess Club, the next tournament, club's financial report, expenses and other related matters.

All available players are requested to attend this meeting that will start at 2:00 pm.

Source:

Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 17 & 19

February 13-20, 2004