(1109) CYRIL, GLEN, ANGIE LEAD 2015 PNCC (TBN-Nov. 02, 2015)

WOMEN AND JUNIOR DIVISION COMBINED

                   Because of lack of players in the women and junior division, they are now combined with a single round-robin format. Roxanne Parco, right, defeated Robert Godwin Sola while Angelil Sisior, the reigning Junior Champion, outwitted Joan Gemota in the 3^rd round of 2015 PNCC.  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

       CYRIL, GLEN, ANGIE LEAD

                  2015 PNCC

 

There is a gathering of religious organizations at Bethlehem Park on Oct. 25, 2015 so the venue of the 3rd round of 2015 Palau National Chess Championship was held at the nearby vacant space of Finance Department of Palau Government. We ran out of tables because we only have 3 and 8 chairs. We combined the 3 benches there to make a table for 6 players, mostly juniors and women.

We combined also the 3 tables so that 8 chessboards were set instead of only 6. It was decided by the Palau Chess Federation Board Members (Roberto Hernandez, Jeff Balbalosa, CM Bernardo Garcia, Dennis Gonzales and Tito Cabunagan) to buy 2 more tables and 8 more chairs and we will do the next rounds in the same place now. Bethlehem Park will be occupied during the Christmas season.

Remelym Pascual is persuaded by Roberto and Jeff Balbalosa to join the tournament and to replace Kent, who didn't show up in the first 3 rounds.

Balbalosa has to wait for a vacant chessboard and clock to play his 3rd round match with Allan Alcid. When they do, Alcid prevailed after winning Jeff's bishop.  THE MOVES:

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 h6 6. Bh4 Nc6 7. e3 a6 8. Bd3 Nb4 9. cxd5 Nfxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Bb1 Bd7 12. a3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Nd5 14. Qb3 b5 15. O-O c5 16. Ne5 cxd4 17. cxd4 Rc8 18. Be4 Nf6 19. Bb7 Rb8 20. Bxa6 Rb6 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. a4 Rxa6 23. axb5 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 O-O 25. b6 Rb8 26. Qb1 Qb7 27. h3 Qxb6 28. Qd3 Qb2 29. Re1 Qa2 30. Qd1 Ne4 31. Qf3 Qc2 32. h4 Rb1 33. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 34. Kh2 f5 35. g4 Nf6 36. g5 Ng4+ 37. Kg2 Qe4 38. Kg3 Qxf3+ 39. Kxf3 hxg5 40. hxg5 Kf7 41. Ke2 Kg6 42. f4 Kf7 43. Kf3 g6 44. e4 Ke7 45. e5 Kd7 46. Ke2 Kc6 47. Kd3 Kd5 48. Kc3 Nf2 49. Kb2 Kxd4        0-1

Another heartbreaking loss by Roberto (Black), this time against 3rd seed Tito Cabunagan (White) in their Sicilian Defence game.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. h3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. a3 b5 6. e5 dxe5 7. Nxe5 Qc7 8. Nf3 Bb7 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. d3 e6 11. Be3 Bd6 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. Nd1 Nd5 14. O-O b4 15. c4 bxc3 16. Nxc3 Nxe3 17. fxe3 O-O 18. Rac1 Ne5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Na4 Bxg2 21. Rxc5 Bh2+ 22. Kxg2 Qg3+ 23. Kh1 Qxh3 (23... Rxc5 24. Nxc5 Qxh3 25. Rf3 (25. Bf3 Qxf1+ 26. Kxh2 Qxf3) (25. Bg4 Qxf1+ 26. Kxh2 f5 27. Bh3 Qf3 28. Nxe6 Rf6 29. Nf4 Rh6 30. Qc2 Rc6 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Nxg2 Rc2 33. Bxf5 Rxb2 34. d4 g6 35. Be6+ Kf8 36. d5 Ke7 37. e4 Rb3 38. a4 Kd6 39. Nf4 Rb4 40. Kg3 Rxe4) 25... Bg3+ 26. Kg1 Qh2+ 27. Kf1 Qh1#) 24. Rh5 Qg3 25. Rxh2 Rc7 26. Nc3 Rfc8 27. d4 Qd6 28. Bd3 f5 29. Qe2 g6 30. Qg2 Rxc3 31. bxc3 Rxc3 32. Qa8+ Kg7 33. Qb7+ Rc7 34. Qb4 Qd7 35. Rg2 Rb7 36. Qc5 Rc7 37. Qe5+ Kg8 38. Bxa6 Ra7 39. Bb5 Qf7 40. a4 h6 41. Rxg6+ Kh7 42. Rxe6 Qh5+ 43. Qh2 Qxh2+ 44. Kxh2 Rf7 45. Rf4 1-0

Glen Navarroza is leading the Reserves Division with 3 straight wins. He won this time over Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. THE MOVES:

Navarroza, Glen (1292) - Escapatoria, Jr., Gonzalo (1608) [B20]

2015 PNCC (3), 25.10.2015

           1.e4 c5 2.Bc4 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 h6 5.Bd5 Bd6 6.Be3 Nge7 7.Bb3 b5 8.a3 Bb7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Qd2 Kh7 11.Nh4 f5 12.exf5 Nxf5 13.Nxf5 Rxf5 14.Bd5 Kh8 15.Be4 Rf6 16.Nc3 a6 17.Nd5 Nd4 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Bxb7 Rf8 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Bxa6 Qh4 22.g3 Qh3 23.Rae1 Rf5 24.f4 h5 25.Bxb5 Rf6 26.Qe2 Rg6 27.Qe8+ Kh7 28.Bxd7 Rxg3+ 29.hxg3 Qxg3+ 30.Kh1 Qh4+ 31.Kg2 Bxf4 32.Qe4+ Kh6 33.Rxf4     1–0

Eugene Labarda, 2nd from left, was outsmarted by Felix Oling in a marathon 57 moves of Semi-Slav game. THE MOVES: Oling, Felix (1465) - Labarda, Eugene (1565) [D43]

2015 PNCC (3), 25.10.2015

          1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3 Bd6 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.c5 Qc7 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.b4 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.h3 Ne4 12.Qd4 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Nf6 14.Rg1 0–0 15.Qxf6 g6 16.h4 Qh2 17.Rg2 Qc7 18.h5 Qd8 19.Qd4 Bf5 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Qh4 22.hxg6 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qxg2 24.gxh7+ Kh8 25.Qd4+ Qg7 26.Qd3 f5 27.Rh1 Rae8 28.Kf1 Rf7 29.f4 Rfe7 30.Rh5 Rf7 31.a3 Qf6 32.Ke1 d4 33.Ne2 dxe3 34.fxe3 Rxh7 35.Rxh7+ Kxh7 36.Nd4 Kg6 37.Kd2 Rd8 38.Kc3 Qf7 39.Qc2 Rg8 40.Qg2+ Kf6 41.Qh3 Rg4 42.Qh8+ Kg6 43.Qe5 Rh4 44.Nf3 Rh3 45.Ng5 Qa2 46.Nxh3 Qxa3+ 47.Kc2 Qa2+ 48.Qb2 Qc4+ 49.Kd2 Qd5+ 50.Ke2 Qc4+ 51.Kf2 a6 52.Ng5 Qd3 53.Qd4 Qc2+ 54.Kg3 Qb1 55.Qd6+ Kh5 56.Nf3 Qxb4 57.Qf6         1–0

            Other results of the 3^rd round: Rafael Paloma and Nilo de Jesus drew their game after realizing that there are no breakthrough to the game; Josef Karlo Moyet and 11-year-old Destiny Sisior won by default over Rey Sanchez and Angelica Berlene Magno respectively; John Mark Tamayo lost to another John, (Malinao); Arnolfo Inres outwitted newcomer Joel Gemota with his sister Joan losing also to Angelil Sisior; Angelo Salvadora missed a winning 17^th move (Bd6) and was mated instead when he blundered with Re4; he rebounded and defeated CM Bernardo Garcia in his 4^th round game; Top woman seed Angie Parrado clustered a crucial win over pregnant 3^rd seed Gladys Anne Paloma; Robert Godwin Sola lost his first match against Roxanne Parco. He lost his 1^st game by default and won the 2^nd by default likewise; Pax and Dennis game was reset for weekday match in the future.

            Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3792: 1. Qg4+!! Bxg4 2. Rxh6+! gxh6 3. Bf7 mate.

            This week’s puzzle No. 3793: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

                   Tia Belau Newspaper

                   Pages 9-10

                   Volume 24

                   Issue 88

                   November 02, 2015

 

(872) PHOTOS -- WEEK 9, 10 OF THE 2014 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

Marcial Santander, left, the dark horse of the event, won his first 6 games and on track for the Open division title. But in a sudden turn of events, he lost to Eugene Labarda in the 7th round, to Felix Oling in the 8th round and here on the final round against Christopher Kitalong, right, to finish a disappointing 5th place.
                                                           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

WITH 2 CAMERAS TAKING THIS PHOTO AT THE SAME TIME, Roberto Hernandez, 2nd from left, is looking the other way as eventual champion Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., is looking at the camera of his wife Annabelle Libo-on Montel. Manuel 'Jun' Mahor, left, is looking at the other camera before playing against Glen Navarroza, right. Mahor prevails to finish 3rd in the Open Division (Swiss system).
                                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

NO NEED TO EXPLAIN OR PUT CAPTION TO THIS PHOTO...

The stingy defense of Eugene Labarda, left, costs Felix Oling, right, the title of 2014 Palau National Chess Championship Open Division Champion. Oling is ahead by 2 pieces in the middle game but somehow Labarda generated a counter play and was able to salvage a draw with the endgame of king vs. king and bishop. Oling is somehow overconfident and in a little bit in time trouble --- 8 minutes left to finish the game. The draw enabled Gonzalo 'Jojo' Escapatoria, Jr., middle, to clinch the title via tiebreak (Direct Encounter) as he defeated Oling in the 2nd round. Labarda lost by default in the 6th round because he didn't see that the venue was moved about 10 meters from the site because there is a Christmas party going on of The Filipino Community in Palau. He didn't look around when he comes thrice to check the players. He played in the last round of 2013 Palau National Chess Championship in that venue! He lost by default to Joey Jaime Balute, who didn't show up. But because he didn't report to the organizers, both of them lost by default ( -  - ) double forfeit. Had he shown up to the organizers, he could have tied Oling and Escapatoria at 7.5 points each. In that case, Escapatoria would still be the champ because Labarda lost also to him. But he could have been the 3rd placer instead of Mahor.
     Roberto Godwin Sola, 2nd from left, talks to his brother while waiting for his opponent in the junior division. Sola did good in his first participation of a chess event in Palau..    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

: 3^rd PNCC TITLE FOR CYRIL TOMAS MONTEL, JR.

                   National Master Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., left, subdued Roberto Hernandez, right, in the final round of 2014 PNCC, and earned his 3^rd PNCC title. He previously won the 2009 and 2011 PNCC. A trophy and $175.00 cash prize is awaiting him at the awarding on Jan. 25 or Feb. 01, 2015.

                                                               (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE CHAMPS OF 4 DIVISIONS

                   Women’s Division champion WNM Angie Parrado, left, practices with youngest daughter Kyarii during the 10^th week of 2014-2015 PNCC. Top 10 Division champ Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., 2^nd from left, practices blitz chess with a bystander while Open Division champion Gonzalo Escapatoria, Jr. is watching them. Junior Champion Angelil Sisior, middle, edged her sister Destiny to the plum.

                                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

               

Baby Edna "Bheng" Mission, left, practices with teammate in Norway Olympiad Gladys Anne Paloma during the 10th week of 2014-2015 PNCC. At the far-end right are the remaining official games in the junior division. Mission finished 2nd to undefeated women's champ WNM Angelica Parrado, whose 2 daughters Angelil Sisior and Destiny Sisior finished 1st and 2nd in their division respectively. Ultei Angelie Surangel, who is being taught of chess by FIDE Instructor (FI) Roberto twice a week, surprisingly finished 3rd to the Sisior sisters. She will received a certificate, trophy and $50.00 cash prize on Jan. 25, 2015 (Awarding Day)
                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Ultei Angelie Surangel, 2nd from left, lost (3-1) to eventual junior champion Angelil Sisior, middle. She drew with Destiny Sisior, left, and Roberto Godwin Sola, 2nd from right. She swept Kayah Iblai Flores Whipps and won over Cyrelle Ann Montel (3-1) to finished with 12 points followed by Robert with 11.
                                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

The second to the last official game of the junior division of 2014-2015 Palau National Chess Championship --between Ultei Angelil Surangel, left, and current top junior player Destiny Sisior, who is a member of women's team of Palau in the 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway together with her mom, WNM Angelica Parrado, right.                              (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: The History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             January 2015
            To be published as a book in the future

(855 )PHOTOS-- WEEK 6 (2014 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP) -- Dec. 21, 2014

There is an ongoing Christmas party of The Filipino Community in Palau (TFCP) at Bethlehem Park so the Palau Chess Federation's resumption of 2014 Palau National Chess Championship was held in front of the government's Finance Office. 9-year-old Robert Godwin Sola clashes wits with Angelil Sisior on the first table while Ultei Angelie Surangel (2nd from right, splits her 2-game match with top seed Destiny Sisior with one win apiece. At the other table, women's top seed Angelica Parrado outclassed 2nd seed Baby Edna Mission while Gonzalo Escapatoria clobbered Tuloy Rengiil in their encounter.
                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Women's Division 3rd seed Gladys Anne Paloma, standing left, discusses something other than chess with top seed Angelica Parrado, with two of Parrado's daughter playing against a boy and a girl (daughter of Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr.)                            (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Standing (left to right) -- Glen Navarroza and Felix Oling are waiting for their opponents.
Tuloy Rengiil faces off against Gonzalo Escapatoria, 2nd from right. Rare appearance of Roxanne Parco, right, avoided a default loss to Baby Edna Mission but suffered the same fate as she loses to the 2nd seed and a member of Palau Chess Team to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.
                                                 (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Four Palau women chess players collide in the 7th week of 2014 PNCC with all wearing PCF Polo shirts. Angelica Parrado, right, wears a new one courtesy of the organizers, polo shirt with Kasparov Foundation (Asia Pacific Region) logo on her left shoulder. Baby Edna Mission wears a yellow-collared one supposed to be worn during the Norway Olympiad but not finished yet the printing of Olympiad and PCF logo. It was given to the Olympiad team members 4 months after the Olympiad. Parrado and Mission both prevailed over Gladys Anne Paloma and Roxanne Parco respectively.           (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tuloy Rengiil, right, clashes with one of the frontrunner of the Open Division Gonzalo Escapatoria.
                                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Tito Cabunagan, left, outsmarted Jeff Balbalosa in the 7th round encounter. Tito moves so fast that the remaining time in his clock is 78 minutes. The time control is 75 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move starting from move 1. It means that Tito just consumed the increment for every move. Jeff said he was carried away by fast moves of Tito and moves fast likewise that he misses some drawing lines. Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. outlasted fellow newcomer Leif Toribiong at the other board.
                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Lucio Bandibas, left, Dennis Gonzales, right, and Rafael Paloma, 2nd from right, watch the game of Tito and Jeff while Glen Navarroza practices with a bystander.                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

THE MOVES:

White: Jeffrey Balbalosa (1721)   Black: Tito Cabunagan (1825)     Round 6       Dec. 21, 2014

     1. e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qe5+ 4. Nge2 Nc6 5.d4 Qh5 6.g3 Bg4 7.h3 0-0-0 8. Be3 Bf3 9. Rh2 Nf6 10.h4 Ng4 11. Bh3 e6 12. Bxg4 Qxg4 13. Qd3 Bb4 14. 0-0-0 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Qf5 16.g4 Qa5 17. Ne4 Qxa2 18.c3 Be7 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20.dxc5 Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Rd8 22. Qe2 Qa1+ 23. Kc2 Qa4+ 24. Kc1 e5 25.f3 f6 26. Rf2 Rd7 27. Rf1 a6 28. Rd1 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qxd1+ 30. Kxd1 Kd7 31. Kd2 Ke6 32. Kd3 Ne7 33.c4 c6 34.b4 f5 35.g5 f4 36. Bf2 Kf5 37. Be1 h6 38.gxh6 gxh6 39. Bf2 Ng8 40. Be1 Nf6 41. Bd2 e4+ 42.fxe4 Nxe4 43. Be1 f3 44. Ke3 f2 45. Bxf2 Nxf2 46. Kxf2 Kg4 47. Ke3 Kxh4 48. Kf4 h5 49. Kf3 Kg5              0-1

10th seed Rafael Paloma, right,  hasn't won a game yet in the Top 10 Division. The same result in his game here against 3rd seed Roberto Hernandez as he was outplayed by Roberto in 24 moves of Sicilian Defence.
Leif Toribiong, 2nd from left, and Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. are about to start their game likewise.
                                                          (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Source: History of Chess in Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             December 2014
             To be published as a book in the future

(841) CHESS NEOPHYTES OF PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP (TBN-Dec. 08, 2014)

 Arnold Undecimo

                                     Felix Oling            Marcial Santander

                                     

                                        



                                     Leif Toribiong                                    



                            Robert Godwin Sola





CHESS NEOPHYTES OF PALAU NATIONAL
              CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP  

THE 2014 Palau National Chess Championship has the biggest number of participants – 39, in which 15 of them are first timers to compete in the annual and mostly year-ending chess event in Palau.

                The Top 10 Division is composed of top seed Menandro Manuel (1852 rating), who is on a 2-month contract in his return to Palau. He played his last game of the tournament and of the day against 2^nd seed Tito Cabunagan (1825) on Sunday, Nov. 30. He prevailed in 58 moves of Center Counter in an exciting game watched by 3 of chess neophytes (Felix Oling, Tuloy Rengiil and Leif Toribiong), 8^th seed Paquito Suringa, Jr. (1701), 3^rd seed Roberto Hernandez (1815) and 6^th seed Jeffrey Balbalosa (1721).

                Cabunagan subdued 7^th seed Dennis Gonzales (1701) earlier in the day in 54 moves of Ruy Lopez. Manuel was able to finished 5 games –2 wins (against 10^th seed Rafael Paloma (1612) and Tito), 2 draws (vs. Jeff and Paquito) and lost to Hernandez in the opening round. His last 4 games will be recorded as - + (for un-played games) to 4^th seed Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., 5^th seed CM Bernardo Garcia, Gonzales and 9^th seed Nilo de Jesus (1624).

                Montel refused to play against Manuel earlier because he is scheduled to play against Paquito, who arrived at 4pm because he doesn’t have Sunday off till next year. Montel refused also to play against Manuel, maybe knowing that he can win by default over Manuel if he will not play him on that day. But he will miss his last chance to play the top player of Palau for 5 consecutive years (2005-2009). His reason is… he doesn’t have enough sleep because of PPR Christmas party.

                Paquito accepts his default loss to Cyril, who insisted that he waited for more than 30 minutes (defaulting time), which is applicable only in the Swiss system Open division because the round must be finished so that the next pairings will be available.

                Paquito’s first 2 games were played at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, both on Thursday afternoon. He lost to Roberto on Nov. 13 and drew with Manuel on Nov. 20. Manuel drew also to Jeff on Nov. 15 (Sat.), while the Garcia-Balbalosa match was rescheduled on a later date.

                This means that the Top 10 division is round-robin and there’s no default losses or wins except in the last day. Cyril will give Paquito a chance to play at 4pm on Dec. 7 after Roberto refused his suggestion that him and Bernard will play on Dec. 7 because he thought that the rule about players of the same company must play in the first 3 rounds. But Roberto has played already with Dennis (Cyril’s opponent) so he will stick with the schedule to play Bernard.

                OTHER RESULTS OF 3^RD ROUND: Paloma lost to Garcia in 37 moves of Sicilian Defence; Arnold Undecimo whipped Nelson Sablan in 47 moves of another Sicilian Defence; Glen Navarosa scored a win over Eric Ksau Surangel Whipps in 56 moves; Felix Oling recovered from a queen-less disadvantage and outlasted Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. in 42 moves of Two Knights Game; Angelil Sisior dominated Cyrelle Ann Montel (3-1) in their quadruple round-robin junior division clash; Tuloy Rengiil played for the first time and subdued Chris Kitalong in 33 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening; Robert Godwin Sola lost to junior top seed Destiny Sisior in 41 moves of Irregular Opening and dark horse Marcial Santander clobbered Gonzalo Escapatoria to lead the Open division with 3 points,  same as Manuel Mahor, Jr.

                4^TH ROUND PAIRINGS – OPEN DIVISION 1. Mahor vs. Santander 2. Undecimo vs. Oling 3.Escapatoria vs. Navarosa 4. Eugene Labarda vs. Toribiong 5. Geoff Martin vs. Rengiil 6. Sablan vs. Joey Balute 7. Kitalong vs. Whipps, Jr. 8. Eric Whipps vs. Remrel Dizon 9. Cris Ulap – BYE.

                Solution to last week’s puzzle No. 3757: 1. Ng4+! Rxg4 2. Rf5+!! Kxf5 3. Rd5 mate.

               This week’s puzzle No. 3758: White to move and mates in 3 (Solution next issue)

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

             Tia Belau Newspaper

             Page 10

             Volume 23

             Issue 98

             December 08, 2014 

(840) PHOTOS (Week 3 -- 2014 PALAU NATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

First game of week 3 -- Destiny Sisior vs. Robert Godwin Sola, who's got perfect attendance.
                                                   (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

First victory of CM Bernardo Garcia, right, against winless Rafael Paloma, left. Cyrelle Ann Montel, 2nd from left, was almost swept by Angelil Sisior by 1-3 score in this quadruple round-robin junior division, if not for the default loss of the latter during the Pacquiao-Algieri boxing match on Nov. 23.                                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Felix Oling, right, didn't know that his opponent is Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. He lost his queen in the middle game but the Senator gave it back in the endgame. IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!   TIME TO GIVE.
                                       (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

Newcomer Nelson Sablan, right, clashes with fellow newcomer to PNCC Arnold Undecimo, left, while Tito Cabunagan, 2nd from right, outwitted Dennis Gonzales before bowing to top seed Menandro Manuel in the last game of the day that lasted till 6:30pm.                     (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Newcomer Kevin Huang of Taiwan practices with available players in the 3rd round of 2014 Palau National Chess Championship. He will join the next tournament in 2015.    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Last game of top seed Menandro Manuel (1852), left, against 2nd seed Tito Cabunagan (1825). Manuel's 2-month contract is finished and left Palau on Dec. 05. He score 2 wins (against 10th seed Rafael Paloma and Tito), drew 2 games (vs. 6th seed Jeff Balbalosa and 8th seed Paquito Suringa, Jr.) and lost 1 game to 3rd seed Roberto Hernandez on Nov. 16, 2014 (Opening Day of 2014 PNCC).                                                                                                                                  (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Eric Ksau Whipps, left, vs. Glen Navarozza. They didn't notice that their set-up of chess pieces is not correct (the white pieces are set up to the side where it should be for black pieces). Tuloy Rengiil scored a win over Chris Kitalong while Leif Toribing is reading a book while watching the games.
                                                              (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

Another Jr. (Junior) of Palau Chess -- Manuel 'Jun' Mahor, Jr. He defeated Senator Surangel Whipps, Jr. in the first round on Nov. 16, 2014. The other juniors in this event are Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr., and Paquito Suringa, Jr.                                                              (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

                                               DARK HORSE MARCIAL SANTANDER
                                                                       3 straight wins
                                                               (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

10th SEED RAFAEL PALOMA   --- STILL SEARCHING FOR HIS FIRST POINT.

Nelson Sablan  --- one of newcomers in Palau National Chess Championship.

Typical of youngsters, Ultei Angelie Surangel's games are finished within a few minutes. Roberto's suggestion to them ---"IN CHESS, THE SLOWER YOU MOVE, THE FASTER YOU'LL LEARN".
                                             (Photo by Jeffrey Balbalosa)

Kyarii Sisior, right, and one of the sons of Paloma couple, enjoying the foot long hotdog while their parents are playing  their official games of 2014 Palau National Chess Championship at Bethlehem Park.
                                                     (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa) 

   Solo shot of Angelil Sisior.                            (Photo by Jeffrey Balbalosa)

Kevin Huang had his arms full against Jun Mahor in his first practice game with the PCF members. Kevin will join the next tournament in 2015. He emailed Roberto Hernandez, left, asking about chess tournaments, practice and other info about chess in Palau. Bheng is seriously watching in the middle.
                                                     (Photo by Jeffrey Balbalosa)

Posing from left to right -- Jeff Balbalosa, Arnold Undecimo, Gladys Anne Paloma and WNM Angie Parrado.                                     (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

Father and daughter practicing after their games. Palau Chess Federation Honorary member Koichi Matsuda is watching the bonding through chess.                       (Photo by Jeffrey Balbalosa)