(1147) 13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE; 671 ISSUES (TBN-Dec. 28, 2015)

:   PLAYING CHESS AT BETHLEHEM PARK

                  Palau Chess Federation has found a perfect place to hold chess tournaments. A friendly atmosphere, located at the heart of downtown Koror, next to Palau National Gymnasium and chess games can be played even with players standing or sitting. A WALK IN THE PARK, BETHLEHEM PARK!                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

     13th YEAR OF CHESS MATE;

                 671 ISSUES 

 

THIS is a special issue of Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez. From the first issue to the 671^st have links for easy referral of those who would like to have a glance of what inspire Roberto to write those 671 issues without compensation. Those thousands of hours of typing and preparing every article didn’t bother him at all. He even spent from his own pocket for the gas in submitting the articles at the office of Tia Belau Newspaper, Palau’s first newspaper. It’s because—FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME.

                The first issue of Chess Mate is this –

1.         CM001                    Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez           Dec. 29, 2002-Jan. 04, 2003

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2013/11/chessmate-first-issue-tia-belau-dec-29.html

       http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/first-issue-of-chessmate-by-roberto.html

       On the 54^th issue, the column is one year old –

54.  CM054     We Are 1 Year Old                                                               Jan. 02-09, 2004

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

On its 106^th issue, it’s 2 years old –

106. CM106     We’re Now 2 Years Old                                                    Dec. 31, 2004-Jan. 07, 2005

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/we-are-1-year-old-chessmate-by-roberto.html

The 158^th issue marks the 3^rd year of Chess Mate –

158. CM158     Chess Mate Marks 3rd Year                                           Dec. 30, 2005-Jan. 06, 2006

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/02/chess-mate-marks-3rd-year-tbn-dec-30.html

Before leaving Palau for good, Rey Lapuz wins a blitz chess tilt on CM 210^th issue—

        210. CM210   Chess Mate Marks 4^th Year; Lapuz Wins Blitz Tilt    Dec. 29, 2006-Jan. 05, 2007

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-4th-year-lapuz-wins.html

The 5^th year of Chess Mate is found on Issue No. 263—

263. CM263     Chess Mate Marks 5 Years                                              Jan. 04-10, 2008

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-5-years-tbn-jan4-10.html

 On its half dozen years, the 314^th issue read as –

        314. CM314     Chess Mate Marks 6^th Year                                        Dec. 29, 2008-Jan. 04, 2009

  http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/03/chessmate-marks-6th-year-tbn-dec292008.html

The 12^th year of Chess Mate features all 12 years anniversary issues including this 7^th year—

367. CM367     Chess Mate Marks 7^th Year                                         Jan. 04-10, 2010

                           (Front Page—“All Palau Connected”)

http://palauchess.blogspot.com.au/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

        The 8^th year will be found on Issue No. 419—(The links is not yet done)

419. CM419     Chess Mate Marks 8^th Year                                          Jan. 03, 2011

                           (Front Page—“MOH Chew, Smoke Free Zone”)

        In the 471^st issue, the 9^th year of Chess Mate is found—

471. CM471     Chess Mate Marks 9^th Year                                          Jan. 02, 2012

         http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/01/chessmate-marks-its-9th-year.html

        Roberto is 57 years during the 10^th year of Chess Mate—

519. CM519     10 Years of Chess Mate; 57 Years of Roberto          Dec. 31, 2012

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2012/12/10-years-of-chessmate-57-years-of.html?updated-min=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2013-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=50

                On its 11^th year, Chess Mate got a very big boost in page views around the world with the introduction of Palau Chess Federation website http://palau-chess.blogspot.com with the help of Papua New Guinea’s Joselito Marcos. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, Joselito… Maraming Salamat (Philippines), Mesulang (Palau), Doumo Arigatou Gozaimasu (Japan), Xie Xie (China), Muchos Gracias (Spain, Mexico), Kamsamida (Korea), Afkaristo (Greece), Shukran(Arab), Selamat (Indonesia)…

570. CM570    Chess Mate is 11 Years; PCF Website-2 Years Old           Jan. 06, 2014

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2014/01/chessmate-marks-11th-year-pcf-website.html

        And finally last year, the 12^th year of Chess Mate with its 620^th issue. Only Roberto knows how many issues has been published in those 12 years.

620. CM620     CHESS MATE Marks 12^th YEAR with ITS 620^th ISSUE            Dec. 28, 2014 (Sunday)

http://palau-chess.blogspot.com/2015/01/chessmate-marks-12th-year-with-its.html

Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3800: 1. Qxh7+!! Nxh7 2. Bxh7+ Kh8 or Kf8 3. Ng6 mate.

SPECIAL 13^th ANNIVERSARY PUZZLE: Roberto will give $13.00 each for the first 3 persons who will solve this puzzle. There will be an additional $7.00 for each person who will solve the 2^nd solution to this puzzle.

WHITE TO PLAY AND MATES IN 2:

This position allegedly occurred during a tournament in the old USSR. White looks to have no hope but suddenly finds a move that leaves Black staring at an unstoppable mate. A couple of clues: Firstly, the board is the right way around, etc. Secondly, the mating idea would not be allowed these days (since 1988 at least) but may have worked at a time the tournament was supposed to be held.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 9 & 11

              Volume 24

              Issue 104

              December 28, 2015

             Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)

             The Beginning of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

             To be published as a book in the future

             The History of Chess in Palau

             By Roberto Hernandez

             June 09, 2002 -- December 28, 2015

              Music and Me

              By Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              March 15, 2012 -- April 2013

              http://palau-chess.blogspot.com

              April 2013 -- December 28, 2015   

(467) VILLA OUTWITS AZANA (TBN-Feb. 02-08, 2007)

THE FIRST chess tournament of 2007 finally started last Sunday, January 28 with only one division due to low turnout of players in the unrated division.

Rey Lapuz, the Christmas blitz chess festival champion, showed up early in the morning and played blitz chess with Tony Villa.

He was offered a job in Dubai and will be leaving in March. He will not participate in the current tournament that will last till April.

The organizers decided to have only one division with the same time format of 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 20 seconds increment per move. It will be a double round-robin event.

The first game was played between Villa and the combacking Joel Azana, who didn't finish his last remaining games of 2006 Rapid Chess tournament.

With the position equal with rook and pawns ending, Azana missed a drawing line move that will have his king opposing his opponent's king.

The last tricky move that he played was countered by Villa to avoid stalemate.

The game lasted 66 moves of a Modern Defence with Azana having only 3 minutes left in his clock.

The 2nd game featured Azana and Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich.

The waiting game was equal till the 23rd move when Dittrich blundered away his bishop and through simplification, Azana scored his first win when Dittrich resigned to stop the agony of continuing to play a hopeless position.

All players are requested to annotate their game in whatever notations they choose.

Dittrich wrote his moves in English or descriptive notation while everybody else is doing it in Algebraic notation which is internationally being used.

Anselmo Idol practiced writing chess notations while playing a practice game with Roberto Hernandez.

It slows down Idol's game but he still plays good till the end of the unfinished practice game.

The tournament is still open to those who would like to catch up and they have to play at least 2 games and come at 1 pm.


Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 11
Volume 17
February 02-08, 2007

(464) SCHEDULE CONFLICT )TBN-Jan. 26-Feb. 01, 2007)

THE FIRST round of the rated and unrated tournament didn't proceed as planned because of conflicting schedules of at least 8 players --Rey Lapuz, Emmie Buyacao, Anselmo Idol and Craig Dittrich in the unrated division.

Lapuz and Buyacao came in the morning while Dittrich was waiting early in the afternoon.

When he left, Idol came in the afternoon and no single game was played.

In the rated division, Tony Villa and Cyril Montel, Jr. came early in the afternoon but left after an hour and came back late in the afternoon.

Second seed Jose Omega showed up for a few minutes and didn't play a game as his schedule for this week is tight.

National Master (NM) Manny Nedic came in late also and practiced blitz chess with Villa while waiting for other players to come.

Fourth seed Roberto Hernandez came in at 2:00 pm and played blitz chess with Dittrich, who defeated venue host Gene Pastrana twice and scored his 3rd win over Hernandez.

Top seed Menandro 'Boy' Manuel didn't show up also as well as the other 3 rated players while 12-year-old Dmitri Villanueva, the youngest contestant, didn't make it likewise.

Dittrich cited that the $20.00 registration fee might have been one of the reasons for the low turnout of players.

If next week's schedule continues, there will be no separate divisions of players and the registration may be reduced to $10.00 or $15.00.

The prospect of sending at least 2 chess players to Fiji for the Oceania Zonal Chess Championship looks dim as players are not financially capable of producing $2,000.00 for airfare/accomodation just to represent Palau in the biennial event to be held from May 5-12, 2007.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Page 11
Volume 17
January 26-February 01, 2007

(437) ALL SET FOR RAPID CHESS TILT OCT. 01 (TBN-Sept. 29-Oct.06, 2006)

THREE newcomers have registered for the last tournament of the year that will start on Independence Day, October 01 at Jean's Boutique and Store premises.

This will be the first time that no trophies will be awarded to the top 4 finishers.

Edwin Eti donated $100.00 for cash prize and the brilliancy prize of another $100.00 for the still unfinished 2006 National Chess Championship will be added to the pot as agreed by the organizing Knights and Rooks Chess Club.

Registration is still going on through Roberto Hernandez at tel. no. 488-3694/2997 or Gene Pastrana at 488-4640.

REgistration fee is $15.00. The $10.00 will be added to the cash prize and the remaining $5.00 will become fund of the KRCC.

Rey Lapuz and Anselmo Idol confirmed their participation in the event while Eti's friend will also join the field of newcomers.

Inactive Gerry Sermeno will join the fray of other inactive players like Joel Azana. Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich practiced with other players the other week and may join again.

Time control of the tourney is 30 minutes for each player to finish the game.

Eti will be late in the opening round as he will be busy on Independence Day.



CONTINUATION OF "HIGHLIGHTS OF P. I. C. C."

The 2nd half of the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship was full of surprises.

Jose Omega dealt Gary Bekker his 2nd lost of the tournament in 27 moves while Roberto Hernandez refused the draw offer of eventual champion Hilton Bennett thinking that he had a winning position. He lost instead in a marathon 81 moves of Modern Defence.

USA and Philippines National Master Almario Marlon Bernardino clobbered Cyril Montel, Jr. in 36 moves.

Palau's top player Menandro Manuel drew with New Zealand bet Paul Spiller in 15 moves of Sicilian Defence while Pastrana and Nedic drew their game in 24 moves of Ruy Lopez.

Hernandez offered 4 pawns to Bekker but obtained a rapid pieces development. Bekker committed a blunder on the 11th move but Hernandez missed a neat knight sacrifice on the 16th move that could have won him the game.

Bekker was able to simplify the game and won in 55 moves of Danish Gambit.

On the eve of September 02, many thought that not all players can complete their games on time but when Montel, Jr. showed up in the last day of the tournament, everything was working well with Montel, Jr. needing a whole point to get international ranking.

He defeated Bekker in 24 moves and drew with Bennett in 12 moves to finished 7th.

Bernardino got a full point from Nedic while Omega and Manuel. halved their game.

Pastrana was able to squeeze half point from Spiller and the Bernardino-Bennett, Manuel-Hernandez and Nedic-Spiller games all ended in draws.

Pastrana drubbed Omega in 25 moves of Sicilian Defence and finished 6th despite his last game lost to Hernandez.

Bennet nipped Bekker in 18 moves of Bishop Opening and Manuel took the measure of Montel, jr. in 52 moves in a game played on Sept. 02.

Finally, Omega and Nedic drew their game and Bernardino and Spiller split the point in just 3 moves to end the tournament in good results for Palau's to 6 players as all of them scored at least 3 points.

The final standings and their win-loss-draw record:
1. Hilton Bennett (5-4-0) 2. Marlon Bernardino (4-5-0) 3. Paul Spiller (3-6-0) 4. Menandro Manuel (2-2-5) 5. Gary Bekker (4-4-1) 6. Gene Pastrana (1-3-5) 7. Cyril Montel, jr. (1-3-5) 8. Jose Omega (2-4-3) 9. Manny Nedic (0-3-6) 10. Roberto Hernandez (2-5-2).



Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
September 29-October 06, 2006

(405) Tourney Organizer Issues Format for 1st Chess Tourney of 2007

TOP CONTENDERS OF BOTH DIVISION
Palau's top player NM Menandro Manuel, standing left (back row), will lead the rated division of 2007 first chess tourney with fellow NM Manny Nedic, 3rd from left back row, and venue host Gene Pastrana, right, back row, with 3rd seed Cyril Montel, Jr., left. American Craig Dittrich, right, will be the top seed in the unrated division as he prefers the tourney's time control format of 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 20 seconds increment per move. He's playing against newcomer Emmie Buyacao while another newcomer Andy Estargo is executing a move against Val Vidar of Palau Pacific Resort (PPR) during the Christmas Blitz Chess Festival won by Rey Lapuz, 2nd from right, back row. Sole lady is the muse of the festival.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



    TOURNEY ORGANIZER ISSUES
     FORMAT FOR THE 1ST CHESS
         TOURNAMENT OF 2007
                                          (From Report of Roberto Hernandez)

THE FOLLOWING is the format for the first chess tournament of 2007-- the rated and unrated qualification chess tourney for the spot to represent Palau in Oceania Zonal Chess Championship in Fiji on May 5-12, 2007:

1. The tournament will be a double round-robin in both divisions. In case that there will be 15 or more players in the unrated division, it will become a single round-robin event.

2. The time control for both divisions is 90 minutes for each player to finish the game with 20 seconds increment per move. It means that everytime a player moves and presses his clock, an additional 20 seconds will be added to his time.

3. Writing chess notation is mandatory either in algebraic, English or descriptive notation. Players will be given score sheets to be signed by both players after the conclusion of the game and submit the score sheets to arbiter Jess Toldoya or Roberto Hernandez. Protests may also be referred to the arbiters.

4. The tournament venue will be at Jean's Boutique and Store premises. Playing day is Sunday at 1:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon. Some games may last longer depending on the schedule of players.

5. Touch move rules will be applied. Once a piece is touched, it must be moved so players are advised to analyze the moves with their mind and not with their hands.

6. Registration fee is $20.00. Half of the fee will be utilized as cash prize for the top finishers and the other half will be used for the expenses of the Palau's representative to Fiji or for Palau's annual payment of membership to the World Chess Federation.

7. No tiebreak will be used to break the tie. Instead, the players will play on sudden death game or just split the cash.

8. Registration is still going on. Please contact Roberto Hernandez at 488-3694 or Gene Pastrana at 488-4640 for more information and details. The unrated division is also open to kids and women chess players.

Andy Estargo, left, vs. Craig Dittrich; Val Vidar vs. Emmie Buyacao; watching the game--Menandro Manuel, Manny Nedic, Rey Lapuz and Cyril Montel, Jr.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Emmie Buyacao, left, vs. Val Vidar' Craig Dittrich vs. Andy Estargo.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto Hernandez, 3rd from right, organized the rapid chess tournament being won by Rey Lapuz, beside him. Craig Dittrich finished 1st runner-up to Lapuz.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



Source: Island Times Newspaper Sports Page
From report of Roberto Hernandez
January 18-24, 2007

(97) CHESSMATE MARKS 4TH YEAR; LAPUZ WINS BLITZ CHESS TILT

            CHESSMATE MARKS 4TH YEAR;
                LAPUZ WINS BLITZ TILT

THE END of 2006 marks the 4th year of this column.

Three major tournaments were held this year with the 2006 Palau Invitational Chess Championship being the highlight in the success in having Palau's top players to earn international ranking by playing FIDE rated players from New Zealand, Australia and Philippines.

This year also produced the first Palau National Master: Menandro 'Boy' Manuel and Manny Nedic, who earned their titles by topping the 2006 Palau National Chess Championship.

In the last tournament of the year, the 2006 Rapid Chess tourney, veteran-newcomer Tony Villa shared the title with Manuel, who won five titles since 2003.

He is the second multi-titled chess player in Palau. The first one was Eddie Grefiel with three, who left Palau for greener pasture.

The other chess champions with one title each are Consul General Julius Torres, Edgardo Enarsao, Roberto Hernandez, Jess Toldoya, Nedic, Villa and Jose Omega, who won 2 consecutive Class B Championship before winning his first one in the 2005 Open.

During the Christmas party of Knights and Rooks Chess Club held o Sundau, December 24 at Jean's Boutique and Store premises, newcomer Rey Lapuz topped the blitz chess festival for unrated players.

He hesitated to join in two previous tournaments as he is to be playing against Palau's best.

With lower rated players in the field, he showed his wares against fellow newcomers Emmie Buyacao and Andy Estargo.

He lost only one game, to Val Vidar, the first runner-up in the unrated division of Ambassador Marino Cup Rapid Chess tournament.

He clobbered Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in their first game of this double round-robin event. That sets up the climactic championship match in their last game.

If Dittrich will win, they will share the cash and title. If Lapuz will win, he will win his first ever chess title.

It is meant to be as he outwitted Dittrich, who is also in time trouble as usual but had a great start with two straight victories.

FINAL STANDINGS OF THE PLAYERS & THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW SLATE:
1. Rey Lapuz (7-1-0) 2. Craig Dittrich (5-3-0) 3. Val Vidar (4-4-0) 4. Emmie Buyacao (2-6-0) 5. Andy Estargo (2-6-0)

Anselmo Idol paid his registration fee of $5.00 but his job responsibilities didn't allow him to play even a single game. His fee will be returned.

The rated division's blitz chess tourney didn't push through as there were not enough players. Edwin Eti and Tony Villa went to Philippines with Villa coming back on January 04.

Palau's best junior player Dmitri Villanueva also didn't make it in the unrated division's blitz tourney. His mother called Roberto Hernandez and informed him that Dmitri is willing to participate in the next tournament where the top players of Palau will be participating.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper December 29, 2006 - January 04, 2007