(1627) 12 REPS OF PALAU TO 2019 OZCC IN GUAM; 2019 PRCC TO START MARCH 03 (TBN-Feb. 25, 2019)

            2019 OCEANIA ZONAL CHESS                          CHAMPIONSHIP KEY PEOPLE

                  From left to right—Tito Cabunagan, Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., Dennis Gonzales, all from Palau, (?), Shaun Press, Roger Orio, President of Guam Echecs, Paul Spiller, re-elected Oceania Chess Confederation President, Zhu Chen, the new Treasurer of FIDE and former World Women Chess Champion, Jamie Kenmure, (?) and Leon Ryan, former President of Guam Echecs.

12 REPS OF PALAU TO 2019 OZCC IN GUAM;
       2019 PRCC TO START MARCH 03

Originally, there are 33 players that are interested to join in the 2019 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Guam on Feb. 17-24 but only 12 made it. They are Palau Chess Federation President and Delegate Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps, Tito Cabunagan, CM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., WFM Angelica Parrado, Dennis Gonzales, Ksau Anthony Flores Whipps, Remrel Dizon, Angelil Sisior, Destiny Sisior, Kayah Iblai Flores Whipps, Reece Reklai and Mohammad Manik Hossain, who will proceed to Japan to participate in the prestigious Tokyo Marathon on March 03.

                The newly elected President of World Chess Federation (FIDE) Arkady Dvorkovich visited the event that gave a big boost for the Oceania Zone’s chess development with financial funds to help all deserving federations.

                There are 10 players in the women’s division with top seed WGM from Australia Julia Ryjanova (2289) leading the way followed by the WFM from New Zealand Vjanla Punsalan (1951), Australian Rebecca Stones (1822), Guam’s Olga Szekely, WFM Parrado (1554), Guam’s Myra Ollet (1454), Angelil (1439), Destiny (1432), Kayah (1083) and Guam’s Grace Co Estur (no rating).

                There are 36 players in the Open division with Palau players Cyril seeded 12^th, Tito—18^th, Dennis—23^rd, Ksau—24^th, Remrel—25^th, Manik—26^th and Reece—28^th. The top seed is GM Max Illingworth of Australia, whom I met in the 2009 OZCC where he doesn’t have a title yet. Some notable participants are 6^th seed CM Elmer Prudente, where we met him at 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia. He’s got his CM title there while PNG’s FM Stuart Fancy is 7^th seed followed by Enofre Efren Manuel of Guam whom I have drawn my game against him in 2014 WCO in Tromso, Norway.

                New Zealand CM Paul Spiller, the re-elected President of Oceania 3.6 Zone is seeded 9^th while at 10^th is FM Shaun Press of PNG. CM Leon Kempen of Australia, a regular participant in all Oceania Zonal, is seeded 11^th. Rudolph Soriano, Elias Tirador and Malcolm McFarland, all from Guam, are seeded 13^th-15^th respectively. I and McFarland were both team captains in 2018 WCO. He’s got a National Instructor title there after attending Trainers’ Seminar.

                CM Rogelio “Roger” Orio of Guam, President of Guam Echecs, is seeded 16^th while another player from Australia, CM Aurel John Buclu is 17^th. The 29^th-36^th seeded players from Guam are all unrated.

                As of 7^th round, Max is still undefeated with 6 points. Cyril has 3.5 points, Dennis and Ksau—2.5 points  each; Remrel (2), Manik (1) and Reece (1.5) had a BYE for an automatic 1 point score.

                The 2019 Palau Rapid Chess Championship will commence on March 03 till March 31 in this 9-round Swiss system event. Tito will be assigned as the Chief Arbiter for the next 2 tournaments in Palau for him to obtain an FA (FIDE Arbiter) title within this year. The time control is 15 min. + 5 sec. increment. The registration fee is $10.00 if paid already of one year membership fee of $20.00. There will be 2 games every Sunday except the last Sun. where there would be only 1 final round game and awarding will ensue.

             THE FOLLOWING ARE THE POSSIBLE                  CONTESTANTS WITH THEIR 
                       RAPID RATINGS:

1.       Cyril (1861) 2. Jeff Balbalosa (1792) 3. Me (1779) 4. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (1778) 5. Bobot Tan (1734) 6. Rustum Cabuso (1728) 7. Dennis (1694) 8. Angie Parrado (1692) 9. Angelo Salvadora (1646) 10. Gonzalo Escapatoria (1600) 11. Mohammad Manik Hossain (1595) 12. Samuel Palingcod (1567-Standard) 13. Angelito Mintar, Jr. (1554-S) 14. Remrel (1541) 15. Bheng (1525) 16. Neph Macasaet (1501) 17. Jun Mahor (1498) 18. Eugene Labarda (1483) 19. Jello Aguaras (1467-S) 20. Destiny (1458) 21. Rafael Paloma (1436) 22. Glen Navarroza (1424) 23. Ksau (1422) 24. Angelil (1397) 25. Joan Gemota (1372) 26. Reece (1345-S) 27. Leif Toribiong (1323-S) 28.Gian Gabriel Claronino (1290-S) 29. Charley Patris (1274-S) 30. Morton Sawaichi (1206) 31. Jennifer Angeles (1153) 32. Kyarii Sisior (1097) 33. Angelica Magno (1066) NO RATING TO THE FOLLOWING—34. Aome Angeles 35. Gian Paloma 36. Rommel Gulla 37. Michael Gulla 38. Nicholas Nehez 39. Flavin Andres 40. Joel Gemota 41. Brandon Kyle Soriano 42. Mary Jane Bojo 43. Mary Grace Capili 44. Jedidia Marinas 45. Wakako Sisior 46. Dave Cristobal 

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
               Tia Belau Newspaper
               Pages 9-10
               Volume 28
               Issue 16
               February 25, 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 -- February 25, 2019

             The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             June 09, 2002 -- February 25, 2019

               

                   

(1625) MEDALS, GC, CERTIFICATES AWARDED ON FEB. 10 (TBN-Feb. 18, 2019)

THE FUTURE OF PALAU CHESS

                    The current cream of the crop of Palau young chess players (L-R) Kayah Iblai Whipps, Kyarii Sisior, Gian Gabriel Claronino, Michael Gulla, Brandon Kyle Soriano, Wakako Sisior, Destiny Sisior, Angelil Sisior, Gian Paloma and Rommel Gulla during the awarding ceremony of the winners of the last 3 tournaments in Palau held in Feb. 10, 2019.   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

            MEDALS, GIFT CERTIFICATES,                   CERTIFICATES OF PARTICIPATION                        AWARDED ON FEB. 10

                Awarding for the last 3 major chess tournaments in Palau was held at Eric Ksau Whipps’ residence in Surangel Dock on Feb. 10, 2019 with almost all of the awardees present. It started at 4 pm with the arrival of guests and players. While waiting, chess boards and clocks were set for them to practice. At 4:30, the awarding started with me doing the Opening Prayer.

                First to be awarded were the winners of the 1^st Surangel Chess Team Tournament won by the Dark Grey team of Angelo Salvadora, held from Aug. 05-Sept. 16. His team members are John Malinao, Angie Parrado, Rommel Gulla, Pedro Parmisano, Albino and Lieslie Taksiau, Meriur N. The 1^st runner-up goes to the Royal Blue team of Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. and his team members Eugene Labarda, Jennifer Angeles, Reece Reklai, Carlos Manuel, Benerica Daligdig, Bendel Daligdig, Jamie Remoket and Aome Angeles. The 2^nd runner-up honor goes to the Light Blue Team of Rustum Cabuso with team members Manuel Mahor, Jr., Angelica Magno, Michael Gulla, Ultei Surangel, Arnold Undecimo, Margie Magro and Lancy Lazarus.  All of them received Surangel gift certificates.

                Certificates were given to the Top Women Finishers in the 2018 PNCC—the perennial No. 1 woman chess player of Palau Angie Parrado (1554 FIDE rating) and her 2 daughters Angelil (1439) and Destiny Sisior(1432).

                The Junior Division Top 3 finishers were given gold, silver and bronze medals—1. Gian Gabriel Claronino 2. Michael Gulla 3. Kyarii Sisior. The Open division winners are 1. Bobot Tan (1871)—gold medal;  2. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr.(1877)—silver medal and me 3. Roberto Hernandez (1707)-bronze.

                Certificates were given to the Biggest Improvement in FIDE Rating list—Angelica Magno for gaining 80 rating points in standard rating and 65 rating points in blitz rating.

                For the Top Performing Newcomer, my guitar/chess student Brandon Kyle Soriano received a certificate for scoring 4 points in the recently concluded 2019 Palau Blitz Chess Championship—tied from 19^th to 27^th spot while the Highest Rating for Newcomers goes to Samuel Palingcod (1567) for 11^th place among Palau top active chess players.

                The Top 3 Palau Chess Players in FIDE Rating List for the month of January 2019 were also given recognition with certificates—Men—1. Cyril (1877) 2. Bobot (1871) and 3. Tito Cabunagan (1717). Women—1. Angelica Parrado (1554) 2. Baby Edna Mission (1389) 3. Joan Gemota (1283). Juniors—1. Ksau Anthony Flores Whipps (1519) 2. Angelil Sisior (1439) 3. Destiny Sisior (1432).

                The 3 new Titled Players were given certificates—Angelica Parrado for the first ever Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title for Palau which she earned from 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia; 2^nd Candidate Master (CM) to Cyril from the same Olympiad, too. The first CM title of Palau was gained by CM Bernardo Garcia in the 2012 WCO in Istanbul, Turkey. The 2^nd FIDE Arbiter title was awarded to me for gaining my 3^rd norm from the 2019 PBCC. Palau’s first FIDE Arbiter is Eric from 2013 World Youth Chess Championship in Al Ain, UAE in December.

                And finally, 3 medals were awarded to the 3 winners of 2019 PBCC—1. Bobot (1898 new FIDE Blitz rating) 2. Jeff Balbalosa (1691) and 3. Rustum Cabuso (1719).

                In the middle of the awarding, me being the host, announced a short break to have dinner and I performed at the keyboard with Brandon Kyle Soriano with guitar to the song “Beautiful Sunday”, followed by performance also by my guitar/piano/ukulele/chess student Angelica Magno to the song “Stand By Me”.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3832: 1. Nc6+ Kb7 2. a6+! Kxc6 3. b5#

               This week’s puzzle No. 3481: White to move and mates in 2 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 28

               Issue 14

               February 18, 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 -- February 18, 2019

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- February 18, 2019

(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

(1599) TOP 6 SEEDS PREVAIL; JEFF LOSES TO MINTAR, JR. (TBN-Nov. 05, 2018)

: 3 NEWCOMERS IN THE OPEN DIVISION

                  Angelito Mintar, Jr., 3^rd from right, upset Jeff Balbalosa in Round 1 of 2018 PNCC Open division with the other newcomer Samuel Palingcod drawing with Dennis Gonzales. The 3^rd newcomer in this division is Reece Reklai, right, who wants to try stronger opposition instead of playing in the junior section, where he lost to Jojo Escapatoria. He will be facing Glen Navarroza in the 2^nd round.                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

         TOP 6 SEEDS PREVAIL;

     JEFF LOSES TO MINTAR, JR.

 In the opening round of 2018 Palau National Chess Championship, the top 6 seeds prevailed over their lowly rated rivals with top seed and Palau’s newest CM Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. upended Neph Macasaet while 2^nd seed Bobot Tan clobbered Manuel ‘Jun’ Mahor, Jr.

                Mohammad Manik Hossain arrived 30 minutes late and was defeated by 3^rd seed Angelo Salvadora with 4^th seed Tito Cabunagan nipped Glen Navarroza. 5^th seed Paquito Suringa, Jr. touted Charley Patris and me, nipping newcomer Jello Aguaras in 21 moves of Sicilian Defense. Aguaras only consumed 9 minutes of his 90 minutes when he overlooked a queen move that resulted in an inevitable mate of his king.

                The 7^th seed Jeffrey Balbalosa suffered the only casualty among rated players, bowing to newcomer Angelito Mintar, Jr. in 48 moves of French Defense. Another newcomer, Samuel Palingcod, drew with 8^th seed Dennis Gonzales in the longest game of the day. I have to leave them to teach a guitar student from 5:30-6:30 and work at PRR from 7-11pm. Dennis just informed me that they drew their match.

                Reece Reklai decided to try the Open division instead of junior division to try his mettle against stronger opponents. He paid only $20.00 as 1 year membership fee. I volunteered to lend him $20.00 as registration fee so that the Open division will have an even 20 participants. He can pay me in the coming weeks. He lost his first round game to Jojo Escapatoria. Tenth seed Remrel Dizon, who is sure to come to Guam for the 2019 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship, mated Morton Sawaichi in 41 moves of another French Defense.

                While waiting for other games to be finished, I taught Angelito Mintar, Jr. how to annotate the game using the dreaded Danish Gambit. He didn’t write his moves. Only Jeff wrote their moves.

                After the last game between Dennis and Samuel were decided, I was able to get the 2^nd round pairings as follows: (First name to play the white pieces) 1. Me vs. Cyril 2. Bobot vs. Paquito 3. Remrel vs. Angelo 4. Tito vs. Jojo 5. Angelito vs. Samuel 6. Dennis vs. Jeff 7. Neph vs. Jello 8. Charley vs. Jun 9. Manik vs. Morton and 10. Reece vs. Glen

                On Nov. 1, Paquito asked me if he can play his game vs. Bobot at his house. I said they cannot play if there is no arbiter around. He asked if Jun can act as an arbiter in their match. I said yes as Jun attended the Arbiters’ seminar held last year by Jamie Kenmure. Cyril is also around when they played their game. Bobot prevailed to have another perfect 2-0 start while in the junior section only 1 game was played between Michael Gulla and Aome Angeles where the former prevailed. Only 1 game, too in the women division where Destiny Sisior subdued Jennifer Angeles.

                The new FIDE rating of Palau Chess players for November 2018 is now published with titles for Cyril (CM) and Angelica Parrado, Palau’s first Woman FIDE Master:

#	Name	Title	Fed	Rating	G	B-Year
1	Montel Jr, Cyril Tomas	c	PLW	1877	8	1970
2	Tan, Santiago Jr		PLW	1817	9	1978
3	Cabunagan, Tito		PLW	1724	0	1959
4	Suringa Jr, Paquito		PLW	1714	0	1973
5	Hernandez, Roberto		PLW	1708	0	1956
6	Cabuso, Rustum		PLW	1701	7	1984
7	Balbalosa, Jeffrey		PLW	1694	0	1979
8	Salvadora, Angelo		PLW	1686	7	1968
9	Gonzales, Dennis		PLW	1625	0	1978
10	Escapatoria, Gonzalo		PLW	1593	0	1967
11	Macasaet, Neph		PLW	1555	0	1974
12	De Jesus, Nilo		PLW	1545	0	1962
13	Mahor Jr, Manuel		PLW	1533	0	1970
14	Parrado, Angelica	wf	PLW	1524	3	1968
15	Mission, Baby Edna		PLW	1436	6	1967
16	Sisior, Destiny		PLW	1432	0	2004
17	Sisior, Angelil		PLW	1414	5	2003
18	Barrameda, Wilson		PLW	1404	0	1976
19	Gemota, Joel		PLW	1396	0	1990
20	Gemota, Joan		PLW	1354	5	1985
21	Toribiong, Leif		PLW	1304	4	1984
22	Angeles, Jennifer		PLW	1187	0	1982
23	Sisior, Kyarii		PLW	1147	0	2008
24	Magno, Angelica		PLW	1079	5	1994

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3793: 1. Bxg7+! Kxg7 2. Qg5+ Kh8 3. Qf6#

This week’s puzzle No. 3794: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

               Tia Belau Newspaper

               Pages 9-10

               Volume 27

               Issue 84

               November 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 -- November 05, 2018

               The History of Chess in Palau

               By Roberto Hernandez

               June 09, 2002 -- November 05, 2018