(241) MERCADO NIPS GARCIA AND DITTRICH; ON TO THE FINALS

PALAU ROYAL RESORT HAS 21 CHESS PLAYERS
Maricar Baules, left, practices fun chess with Vhal Taylo using the only one tournament size chess board available. The others are being used in the 2009 Palau National Chess Championship where 4 of 21 chess players of Palau Royal Resort are participating: Roberto Hernandez, Jaime Guevarra, Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. and Elizalde Madrinan. Other PRR players are Erick Ventinilla, Edgar Cayanan, Nino Flores, Robert Tubice, Tony Penas, Randy Sioson, Jess David, Morris Apresto, Miguel Gancayco, Jerome Ratunil, Ferdie Altea, Joel and George Gabris, Rey Alenain and the other lady May Floribel Olis.
INSET: Tito Cabunagan -- A win is not enough.
Val Vidar -- Better luck at Class B.
Craig Dittrich -- Needs at least a draw.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

               MERCADO NIPS GARCIA
        AND DITTRICH; ON TO THE FINALS

MICHAEL Mercado stayed undefeated after scoring his 4th consecutive victories in the penultimate round of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship held on Sunday, September 20 at D. J. Cruz General Merchandise premises. He clobbered Bernard Garcia in 34 moves of King's Pawn Opening.

Thus, Mercado became the first qualifier with Garcia still will make it even if he'll lose his final round game against Jun Mahor, who also qualifies after a marathon 64-move conquest of Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II.

The other 3 matches were defaul losses to Tutii Joe Chilton, Flavin Andres and Zaldy Necia, who will now be replaced by Panfilo Pepito, Jr.

Victories were given to Masum Billah, Val Vidar and Mario Ramos respectively.

THIS IS THE FINAL ROUND PAIRINGS: (First name to play the white pieces)
1. Michael Mercado (4 pts.) vs. Craig Dittrich (3) 2. Bernard Garcia (3) vs. Jun Mahor (3) 3. Elpidio Manaligod (3) vs. Joel Flor (2) 4. Jaime Guevarra (2.5) vs. Masum Billah (2.5) 5. Mario Ramos (2) vs. Tutii Joe Chilton (1.5) 6. Andres Mestizo II (2) vs. Romeo Caballes (2) 7. Tito Cabunagan (2) vs. Flavin Andres (1.5) 8. Jose Misael de Jesus (1) vs. Panfilo Pepito, Jr. (0) 9. Mohammad Manik Hossain (1) vs. Elizalde Madrinan (0).

The Val Vidar vs. Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. match was played on Monday evening September 21 at the tournament venue and it was a draw in another 64-move clash that resulted in Pax going to the finals and ousted Vidar.

Palau Chess Federation Secretary/Treasurer Roberto Hernandez set a match between Jaime Guevarra and Masum Billah on Friday evening, Sept. 25.

Jaime missed more than 6 winning or drawing lines and lost in another marathon 67 moves of Queen's Gambit Declined. Thus, Masum made it to the finals and the last spots will be contested by 5 players -- Mestizo II, Tito Cabunagan, Craig, Romeo and Elpi.

The most crucial match is the Mestizo II vs. Caballes encounter that whoever wins will make it to the finals.

Even if Joel will beat Elpi, his tiebreak points will not be enough to make it. The same with Mario while Tito needs to win and hopes that Manik will score a victory to add to his total points.

After the 2 regular games were played, 6 players compete in a round robin blitz chess contest at the tournament venue. Palau's top player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel, venue host Gene Pastrana, Roberto Hernandez, Tito Cabunagan, Romeo Caballes started with Jun Mahor hesitant to join because he thought it's a knockout system.

The time control is 10 minutes for each player to finish the game for the top three. A different time format for playing the new ones: 5 minutes for the veterans and 10 minutes to the new ones.

After Tito beats Roberto, Gene and Boy drew their game. Jun joined the group. In the 2nd round, Tito almost defeated Manuel when he won a whole piece but left his 2 rooks unprotected and were captured without compensation.

Meanwhile, Roberto made short work on Romeo, winning in just 8 moves of Danish Gambit where Romeo is not familiar with. Roberto then bested Menandro and Gene and his last game against Jun is crucial.

If he will win it, the others can't catch up with him anymore. And he did! With still 13 minutes left to report for work at 6:00 pm, he made it and brought home another blitz chess title.

The PALIBHASA group of Bobby and Ogie Pineda and Jun dela Cruz gave Hernandez the $60.00 for the cash prize of the PNCC.

On the next tournament in February 2010, they will sponsor the 1st prize of round trip ticket to Manila or Guam!

Bhoey Gopez, Lucio Bandibas and Ed Martinez are the only 3 APO (Alpha Phi Omega) members in Palau. They are sponsoring 5 trophies.

Mr. Gopez is now asking for the PCF logo and name of the tournament for engraving on the trophies which may be divided into 3 for the top 3 finishers of the 2009 Palau NCC finals and the other 2 to the top 2 finishers of the Class B (non-qualifiers).

Cash prizes might also be $30.00 for the champion, $20.00 to the 1st runner-up and $10.00 to the 2nd runner-up.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
            Tia Belau Newspaper
            Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18
            Issue 39
            September 28- October 04, 2009

(195) Hernandez is Pax Cup Champ; Cyril Nips Elpi

PAX CUP CHAMP AND RUNNER-UP
Roberto Hernandez, sitting right, bags the Class A title of Paquito Suringa Cup Invitational Rapid Chess tournament at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. His runner-up, Joel Flor, sitting left, almost beat him in the first game. Standing from left to right, Vhal Taylo, Ferdie Altea, Paquito Suringa, Class B champion Miguel Gancayco and Joel Gabris.                                                                            (Photo by Paquito Suringa, Jr.)

HERNANDEZ IS PAX CUP CHAMP;
CYRIL NIPS ELPI

PRIOR TO the start of Paquito Suringa Cup semifinals at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1, a drama unfolds when semifinalist and invited player Joel Flor informed the organizers that he will not make it at 4:00 pm because he was asked to work overtime.

Top seed Roberto Hernandez decided to replace Joel with no. 5 Paquito Suringa but 2nd seed Nino Flores rejected the idea. He would be very happy to make it to the finals without sweat.

At 4:15, Hernandez started his semifinal game against Arnel Ogalesco and the news that Joel is on his way to play against Nino incited the crowd of non-qualifiers.

In the middle of Hernandez-Ogalesco match, the Flores-Flor match ensued. Hernandez is annotating their game and castles on the 14th moves. Arnel blundered away a knight and was mated by a pawn on the 28th move of Danish Gambit.

Nino is struggling with a passive position and resigned when he can't stop Joel from obtaining a new queen.

The Game 1 of the finals show how tough Joel is. He won 3 pawns after only 13 moves of solid attack. Although Hernandez recovered 2 of those pawns 17 moves later, Joel can't convert his h pawn advantage to a win and settled for a draw after 70 moves.

Hernandez stopped writing their chess moves when he got into time trouble with more than 4 minutes left in his clock while Joel still have 16 minutes. Roberto's roommate Jaime Guevarra wrote 3/4 of their moves.

In the second game, a Sicilian Defence, Hernandez exchanged his knight for 2 pawns to avoid losing his queen but obtained a strong attack and mobility of his pieces.

Joel was mated on the 28th move after a neat bishop sacrifice a move earlier.

Joel received $15.00 as runner-up and Hernandez pocketed $25.00. He donated $10.00 for treat to other participants and prepared for his match against Palau's number one chess player Menandro 'Boy' Manuel in the resumption of 2009 Palau National Chess Championship at D. J. Cruz General Merchandise premises.

After having dinner, Hernandez called venue host Gene Pastrana but nobody answered. He called Manuel's 2 cell phone numbers and no response also. He thought the players left early.

Finally, after four days, Hernandez was able to get the results of Sunday's games (November 29). Second seed Cyril Montel, Jr. is on a roll and nipped Elpidio Manaligod in 32 moves of Center Counter and stayed undefeated with 5 straight wins.

In the other game (Class B), Tito Cabunagan adjourned his match against Gonzalo Escapatoria because the power went off after only 12 moves.

Their game will be resumed after Escapatoria comes back from Philippines to buy construction materials for Masang, his employer.

Edgar Cayanan, the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager of PRR, is sponsoring $20.00 for cash prize or trophy plus $10.00 cash for the next PRR chess tournament for employees only to start on December 10.

It is to be called Edgar Cayanan Cup Rapid Chess tournament. No invited players this time and Hernandez will not be allowed to participate.

It will be a double round-robin without Class A or B. Players will use the 56 By The Book Chess Openings prepared by Hernandez to familiarize the players to what kind of openings or defence they will use that fit their style.

Ivan II Chess Computer will join the field with its strength at EASY against beginners and AVERAGE against top seed Guevarra and Pax.

The 2009 Palau National Chess Championship is sponsored by Bhoey Gopez of Island Logistics, Lucio Bandibas of WCTC and Ed Martinez of Print Zone -- (5 trophies) and by Bobby Pineda, Ogie Pineda and Jun dela Cruz of PALIBHASA group of macho men.


Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
             Tia Belau Newspaper
             Pages 13 & 15
            Volume 18 Issue 49
            December 07-13, 2009