(1190) 2011 RAPID CHESS FIRES OFF AT PRR (TBN-March 14, 2011)

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 12-13
             Volume 20
             Issue 11
             March 14, 2011

(1021) 2009 PAQUITO SURINGA CUP (July 05 -- Oct. 29, 2009)

From left to right (Participants of 2009 Paquito Suringa Cup)
     Jerome Ratunil, Morris Apresto, Paquito Suringa, Jr., Ferdie Altea and Rey Alenain.

                    2009 PAQUITO SURINGA CUP

                                 Rapid Chess Tournament

                           Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1

                               July 05 – October 29, 2009

FINAL STANDINGS ---   CLASS A

                                                                                                                Win         Loss        Draw       Total       Rank

1.       ROBERTO HERNANDEZ                                                        12           1              3              13.5        1

2.       NINO FLORES                                                                          9             5              2              10           2

3.       JOEL FLOR                                                                               8             5              3              9.5          3

4.       ARNEL OGALESCO                                                                 6             5              5              8.5          4

5.       PAQUITO SURINGA, JR.                                                        7             8              1              7.5          5

6.       JAIME GUEVARRA                                                                 4             7              5              6.5          6

7.       ANDRES MESTIZO II                                                              5             9              2              6              7

8.       ROBERT TUBICE                                                                     0             4             12             6              8

9.       JOMAR ALERTA                                                                     2             9              5              4.5           9

Top 4 semifinals –    November 29, 2009

No. 1 Roberto Hernandez vs. No. 4 Arnel Ogalesco   1-0

PAQUITO SURINGA CUP SEMI-FINALS

Nov. 29, 2009

White: ROBERTO HERNANDEZ (1830)

Black: ARNEL OGALESCO

            1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 c5 4. Bc4 Nf6 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. Qf3+ Ke8 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Qxe4 dxc3 11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. Nd5 Qd8 13. Nf3 Ne7 14. 0-0-0 b6?? 15. Nxe7 Rb8 16. Nc6 Bb7 17. Nxd8 Bxe4 18. Nf7 Kxf7 19. Ng5+ Ke7 20. Nxe4 Rhf8 21. g3 h6 22. f4 Ke6 23. Rd6+ Kf5 24. Re1 Rfd8 25. h3 h5 26. Nf6 Bb7 27. Nxh5 Rg8 28. g4#

                                No. 2. Nino Flores vs. No. 3 Joel Flor      0-1

FINALS –       November 29, 2009

                 Game 1 Roberto Hernandez vs. Joel Flor   (Draw)

                 Game 2 Joel Flor vs. Roberto Hernandez    0-1

CASH PRIZE – Roberto Hernandez -Champion   $30.00

                         Joel Flor –runner-up -                      15.00

                        FINAL STANDINGS --- CLASS B

                                                                                                                Win         Loss        Draw       Total       Rank

1.       REY ALENAIN                                                                         12           4              0              12           1

2.       MIGUEL GANCAYCO                                                             11           4              1              11.5        2

3.       JEROME RATUNIL                                                                 11           4              1              11.5        3

4.       ELIZALDE MADRINAN                                                          10           3              3              11.5        4

5.       FERDIE ALTEA                                                                        7              9              0              7             5

6.       RANDY SIOSON                                                                     6              9              1              6.5          6

7.       MAR JOEL GABRIS                                                                6              10           0              6              7

8.       GEORGE GABRIS                                                                   3              11           2              4              8

9.       RONEL GUTIERREZ                                                                2              12           2              3              9

Top 4 Semifinals –   November 29, 2009

No. 1   Rey Alenain vs. No. 4 Elizalde Madrinan   1-0

No. 2   Miguel Gancayco vs. No. 3 Jerome Ratunil   1-0

                                 Jerome Ratunil, left, setting the clock for his game vs. Rey Alenain. Robert Tubice, middle, is in deep thought against Andres Mestizo II, right.                       (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

                FINALS ---       November 29, 2009

         Rey Alenain vs. Miguel Gancayco   0-1

                CASH PRIZE -  Miguel Gancayco – Champion -- $30.00

                                         Rey Alenain – Runner-up                15.00

TIME CONTROL – 30 minutes for each player to finish the game.

Tournament Organizer – Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr.

Tournament Arbiter -- Roberto Hernandez

L-R  Mar Joel Gabris, Rey Alenain, Gracie Alenain, Randy Sioson, Roberto Hernandez, Paquito Suringa, Jr., Tonet Medillo and Miguel Gancayco.        (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

L-R  Mar Joel Gabris, George Gabris, Rey Alenain, Morris Apresto and Paquito Suringa, Jr.
(Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

L-R Miguel Gancayco, Rey Alenain, Gracie Alenain, Randy Sioson, Roberto Hernandez, Mar Joel Gabris, Jaime Guevarra, Ronel Gutierrez and Paquito Suringa, Jr.      (Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

   

Maricar Baules and Val Taylo are not contestants of Paquito Suringa Cup. They are just practicing chess using the vacant chess materials.
(Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

Mar Joel Gabris shakes hands with Rey Alenain before the start of their game. Ferdie Altea, left, and Paquito Suringa, Jr., right, watch the game from the sideline.

(Photo by: Roberto Hernandez)

Source:

The History of Chess in Palau

By Roberto Hernandez

June 09- October 29, 2009 

(1004) PINOY CHESSERS THRIVE IN PALAU (TIF-Dec.16-31,2009) (TBN-Feb. 15-21, 2010)

Participants of the Paquito Suringa Cup Invitational Rapid Chess Tourament shake hands before the start of their match in Oct. 24, 2009 at Dorm 1 of the Palau Royal Resort. From left, they are Miguel Gancayco; Gracie Alenain, the top seed in the women's division; her husband Rey; Randy Sioson; Roberto Hernandez; Joel Gabris; Jaime Guevarra; Ronel Gutierrez and the innovator of the event, Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr.

(Contributed photo by: Roberto Hernandez)




PINOY CHESSERS THRIVE IN PALAU
 

MANILA--Teen Grandmaster Wesley B. So is currently the Philippines' pride in international chess competitions.

The 16-year old prodigy from Bacoor, Cavite demonstrated his chessboard prowess in the ongoing World Chess Cup (WCC) in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia by ousting higher-ranked and senior GMs Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Gata Kamsky of the U.S. to become the first ever Filipino to reach the fourth round of the toughest chess tournament before bowing out against Russian Vladimir Malakhov.

So drew with Malakhov twice but lost to the 22nd-seeded GM in the following three rapid chess matches.

So is just one of many Filipinos who keep the Philippines a force to reckon with in a game dominated by Russia.

Interestingly, Filipino chessers are so good that they also represented other countries in international tournaments sanctioned by the world's top chess body, the FIDE.

For example, six Filipinos working in the Republic of Palau are recognized by FIDE as players of that tiny Pacific island country.

They are Menandro Manuel, Cyril Montel, Jose Omega, Gene Pastrana, Roberto Hernandez and Manny Nedic. But more than being among the top chess players in Palau, they started the ball rolling for chess in Palau.

Hernandez and Sergio Alemania, an official of the Filipino community, organized the first chess tournament in the island in 2002.

Hernandez helped establish the first local chess club and federation in the same year. From then on, he took the lead in organizing yearly tournaments, which he describes as the most flexible FIDE rated competition in the world.

The games are held in different volunteered venues and matches are played when the players are available to encourage more participants.

Palau participants to the game are very limited to this day, though other foreign workers in the island are becoming regulars.

Also, a local have yet to join an international competition, though the country had been represented for the first time by a Filipino, Hernandez himself, in the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Australia in June. That tournament was the qualifier for the WCC.

Under FIDE rules, a foreigner can represent a country in its tournaments.

"In chess, if you've been a resident of a country for at least 2 years, you can represent that country." Hernandez explains, adding that Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands were also represented by Filipinos in the Australian tournament.

Also, a player need not be good to join the contest. The real challenge is shouldering the cost of participating.

"Every time we have invitation to participate in other country, we ask the Palauans who are financially capable to join even though they don't have yet the capability to win it. You don't need to be in the top 5 to make it. It depends on your financial capability because you'll be shouldering your own airfare," according to Hernandez.

"I was able to represent Palau in Australia because Mr. Gary Bekker shouldered my airfare from Manila-Sydney and Sydney-Gold Coast through travel subsidy," he says referring to the president of the FIDE Oceania Zone.

Hernandez is dedicated in promoting chess in Palau not only to Palauans and Filipinos but also to other foreigners there.

In fact, he keeps all the records of the games since 2002. That includes his annotations of all his matches that he recorded himself while playing.

He also reports the results of matches, including the defense or opening used, in a column of a local weekly Tia Belau News and email the clippings to colleagues in other countries.

His efforts were supported by other Filipinos, who donate cash for the prizes of champion. Lately, the Palau Royal Resort hosted a Paquito Suringa Cup, a tournament named after the sponsoring employee of the hotel.

Australian GM David Smerdon topped the Australian Zonal to make it to the WCC. It was a long shot for Palau to rule the contest.

"I think it's still a long way before Palau can send a player in the World Chess Cup. Maybe in the Chess Olympiad, which we nearly made it in Turin, Italy (2006) and Dresden, Germany (2008)", Hernandez says.

If ever that happens, both Palau and Philippines will get the honor, he says.

Reporter: Windsor John Genova
Source: The International Filipino  
            Volume 1  
            No. 2  
            December 16-31, 2009



         PINOY CHESSERS THRIVE IN PALAU
       (Tia Belau Version -- Vol. 19  Issue 07  Feb. 15-21, 2010)

IN THE Vol. 1 No. 2 December 16-31, 2009 issue of The International Filipino, Palau chess players were featured in the Superstar column written by Windsor John Genova, a former reporter/writer of Tia Belau News. It is written as follows: (above)

The second article "Chess and Music -- Pioneering the game in a tiny nation" by Roberto Hernandez will be published next week.

In the resumption of Edgar Cayanan Cup Rapid Chess tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, Mohammad Manik Hossain continued his domination of lowly-rated PRR players as he swept Ronel Gutierrez and extracted a win over Eli Madrinan.

The Madrinan-Jojo Escapatoria, Jr. match for the consolation round (Class B) of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship was postponed again.

The awarding ceremony of 2009 NCC will be held at PRR Dormitory 1 on Saturday, February 20. Winning and non-winning players are requested to attend for group picture session.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez  
            Tia Belau Newspaper  
            Volume 19  
            Issue  07  
            Feb. 15-21, 2010

(915) DAVID, RIVERA, R. CAYANAN AND DIESTA LEAD CLASS B (TBN-March 14-20, 2008)

JESS David still has the best record in Class B of the Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess Tournament after scoring two more victories but Cafeteria Chief Cook Arnold Rivera and another cook Romy Cayanan are not far behind in the standings.

With the surging Francis Diesta almost finishing all of his games with disappointing results, he still has a chance to land in the top 3 depending on the performance of the frontrunners.

Diesta had a 10-7-1 win-loss-draw slate after sweeping Morris Apresto and splitting games with Armand Lelis and top seed Randy Sioson, David, Mark Apresto and Rivera. He was swept in return by Cayanan and has drawn with invited player Chat Miraflor, who played only 2 games and the only player who had not won a game yet as Delfin 'Scanamus' Mallare scored at least a point in 14 games.

Diesta drew with Edgar Cayanan in their first game and defeated him in the second round.


David nipped Edgar Cayanan when the latter captured a piece with his queen instead of a knight to be a full piece ahead while his nephew Romy lost to Rivera and won over Morris.

With Mark Apresto going home for good last Friday, his remaining 4 games were all declared draws against Romy and Rivera and finished with 13 points. 

It will be almost enough to land in the top 3 if Morris and Randy will play poorly in their last games and that will decide the final outcome.

The Class B active players were promoted to Class A due to hesitance of more than half of them to play in their Division.

When Laurence Abuton agreed to cancel the Class B, Elizalde Madrinan, Paquito Suringa, Jr., Darwin Nisperos and Abuton were added to Class A.

With the withdrawal of Nino Flores, Nisperos took his spot and Eli took the spot of Craig Dittrich, the other invited player. The Class C now will become Class B. 

In Class A action, top seed Roberto Hernandez dealt Dennis Lara his first loss to avenge his first defeat and clobbered 2nd seed Jaime Guevarra in 2 games of Sicilian and Pirc Defence.

A day later, Hernandez dealt also the first loss of Madrinan in another Sicilian encounter.

Suringa, Jr. drubbed Robert Tubice in both games with the same result as in the Lara vs. Arnel Pama (his first 2 games).

Guevarra tested the strength of Eli's game and the latter's inexperience with time management cost him to lose both games by time forfeit with an overwhelming advantage.


Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 9-10
               Volume 17
               March 14-20, 2008
 

(562) MORRIS SWEEPS JESS, FORGES 4-PLAYER CONTENTION (TBN-Mar. 21-27, 2008)

FOUR players in the Class B division of Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess tournament are in a tight battle for supremacy in the resumption of play where Morris Apresto made the contest interesting after dealing erswhile leader Jess David his 3rd and 4th losses. 

Apresto showed signs of brilliant attacking prowess in defeating David in their first game when he refused an exchange advantage and sustained his mating attack. He did the same in their 2nd game and in a shorter time.

Chief cook Arnold Rivera now holds the least loss record and can clinch the title if he will defeat Morris, David and the other contender Romy Cayanan, who is not far behind in the standings.

Rivera ousted top seed Randy 'Buhawi' Sioson of contention after sweeping him the 2 games. 

They played 2 games earlier but it is declared unofficial as only two of them were around when they played it and Rivera lost both games.

Cayanan's hectic schedule didn't allow him to play a single game. 

In the Class A division, 4th seed Paul Garcia kept his chances intact for the title with a two-game sweep of Eli Madrinan, who haven't won a game since moving to Class A.

During practices with Class A players, he showed his toughness especially in defense that is why he is called "Petrosian" by friends. A name derived from the former Soviet world chess champion in 1960 Tigran Petrosian, the master of defense.

Top seed Roberto Hernandez lend Eli a book, "Tigran Petrosian, His Life And Games".

Arnel Pama, the elected Chairman of King Royal Chess Club of PRR played rapidly against Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. and lost a piece in the middle game.

He sustained his attack with accuracy but missed the chance to regain the piece and lost after Pax simplified the game. 

Pama, who is a Reti Opening advocate, bounced back from defeat and took the measure of Suringa in their 2nd game. He uses "Pamareti" alias at chess.com.

Suringa squeezed another victory over Laurence Abuton in their 2nd round match to gain a respectable 5-4-0 win-loss-draw card. He lost to Abuton in their first game.

Other Class A players Hernandez, Jaime Guevarra, Dennis Lara, Darwin Nisperos, Zaldy Ranopa and Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II didn't see action last week.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 13 & 15
               Volume 18 
               March 21-27, 2008