(384) THE RETURN OF GEORGE ANZAWA (TBN-Feb. 11, 2013)

GEORGE VS. ROBERTO
This scenario is not possible anymore as George Anzawa, right, who's making a comeback, will be playing against fellow junior players Ksau Anthony Whipps, Destiny Sisior, Zachary Techall Whipps and Angelil Sisior in the 2013 Rapid Chess tournament to start on Feb. 24, 2013. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)




       THE RETURN OF GEORGE ANZAWA

ON FEBRUARY 05, 2013, Roberto Hernandez is shopping at Surangel’s when he saw Adele Anzawa shopping also. They had a short talk about chess, her son George and the coming Rapid Chess tournament on Feb. 24 where junior chess players like George will have a separate division as well as the women.

Adele confirmed that George will be joining and she will be with George on the opening day a day after coming back from her trip 2-week trip to England.

George will be joining Ksau Anthony Whipps, Zachary Techall Whipps and the Sisior sisters (Angelil and Destiny). JUNIOR CHESS IS BACK AGAIN IN PALAU! THE FUTURE CHESS MASTERS IN THE MAKING!

Adele also paid the $20.00 registration fee of George for the 3rd Palau Invitational Chess Championship held at Palau Royal Resort from Dec. 14-19, 2011 where George played against the top 8 chess players of Palau and one invited player from Papua New Guinea, Joselito Marcos.

This time, George will be playing against players of his level and he might get his first ever chess title. But Ksau is also ready for his first attempt of a chess plum. His participation in the 2013 Guam International Open Chess tournament on Feb. 15-20, 2013 is a big advantage over his other 4 opponents. Jeff Balbalosa and Ms. Joy Flores Whipps will join Ksau in Guam.

Hernandez has contacted the following to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Palau Chess Federation at Palau Royal Resort on Feb. 10, 2013 from 2-5 pm: 1. CM Bernard Garcia 2. Dennis Gonzales 3. Cyril Montel, Jr. 4. Tito Cabunagan 5. Jose Celiz 6. Jeff Balbalosa 7. Baby Edna Mission 8. Angie Parrado 9. Tutii Joe Chilton 10. Nilo de Jesus 11. Elpidio Manaligod 12. Mohammad Manik Hossain 13. Gonzalo Escapatoria 14. Paquito Suringa, Jr. 15. Jaime dela Cruz

16. Paz Ngiratechekii and her grandson Michael Jordan (MJ) Ngiratechekii, will both be joining the Rapid tournament. MJ had participated in the 2003 Age Group Chess tournament at age 11. He’s not qualified now in the junior division.

18. Genaro Manlaya 19. Luciano Sibayan 20. Dan Roldan 21. Ma. Florida Hernandez

The Awarding Ceremony of the 2012 Palau National Chess Championship will be held before the start of AGM with PRR GM Masayuki ‘Mike’ Kawaguchi and his wife Midori to give the prizes to the top 2 finishers of the 2012 PNCC. Other presenters are Ms. Joy Flores Whipps – 5^th place in Class B Baby Edna Mission; Mr. Geoff Martin –4^th place Miguel Hilario, Jr. and Mr. Eric Ksau Whipps – 3^rd place Angie Parrado.

The Class B champion is Dennis Gonzales and the 1^st runner-up is Jeff Balbalosa

Ms. Joy Flores Whipps – 4^th place Class A – Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr and Mr. Eric Ksau Whipps –3^rd place – Jose Celiz. Class A champion is Tito Cabunagan and the 1^st runner-up is Roberto Hernandez.

Some bad news about the prizes – the Class A champion’s prize of 1 room accommodation, 1 dinner for 2 gift certificate (for Dennis Gonzales) and 1 brunch for 2 gift certificate (for Jose Celiz) at Palau Pacific Resort has expired already because it was given on October 13, 2012, the opening day of 2012 PNCC.

A lot of controversies delayed the awarding ceremony which is supposed to be held on the last day of the tournament. Even before the end of 2012, the awarding is still uncertain.

Bernard Garcia was able to get those prizes together with 4 PPR t-shirts. Because of this unfortunate incident, only t-shirts will be given to those 3 top finishers. Meanwhile, Roberto was able to get 1 room accommodation at PRR, 1 dinner gift certificate for 2 persons and 1 lunch gift certificate for 2 persons last week and it will expire on April 30, 2013.

Hernandez will receive the room accommodation, Balbalosa will get the gift certificate of dinner for 2 and Cyril will get the gift certificate of lunch for 2 at PRR.

The 4^th t-shirt will be given to Angie Parrado. Hernandez will donate a PRR t-shirt and a magnet from Istanbul for Miguel Hilario, Jr. and Baby Edna Mission respectively.

Solution to last week’s puzzle: 1. Rh1+ Rh2 2. Rh7+! Rxh7 or Nxh7 2. g7 mate.

Source:
Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 9 & 11
Volume 22
Issue 12
February 11, 2013

(341) HERNANDEZ IS 6-0

GEOFF MARTIN -- FUTURE ICON OF PALAU'S CHESS
According to Geoff Martin, Palau Mission Academy has a strong chess team last year and had some talented chess players that can be at par with FIDE rated members of Palau Chess Federation. His participation in the 2012 PNCC might be the start of ever growing popularity of the sport in Palau especially that kids now are being trained through tournaments. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)


                     HERNANDEZ IS 6-0

THIRD seed Roberto Hernandez subdued Jose Celiz in 31 moves of Danish Gambit to earn his 4^thstraight victory. Jose deviated from capturing the 2^nd offered pawn and pushed the d pawn instead to d3.

Hernandez won the exchange on the 9^th move and held on to that advantage. He is ready to give back the exchange but Celiz blundered a touched piece. He asked Hernandez if he can still move it back but he already let go off the bishop. And even if he still hung on holding it, he should move that touched piece and that will lead to a mate in one.

Mary Frances Lopez finally showed up and played 3 games on Sunday, Oct. 28. She clobbered the Sisior sisters (Destiny and Angelil) but lost her 3^rdgame to Dennis Gonzales, who is now at solo 2^nd place in Class B after trouncing the Sisior sisters likewise.

9-year-old Zachary Techall Whipps won his first game by drubbing neophyte chess player Jon Manuel Reyes in 65 moves of French Defence. The 32-year-old Reyes bounced back from defeat and dealt Destiny Sisior her 4^th loss to have an even 1-1 win-loss slate in his first serious chess competition.

Gonzales completed the sweep of the Sisior family by nipping the mother of Sisior sisters Angie Parrado in 62 moves of King’s Pawn Opening. But Angie took the measure of Ksau Anthony Whipps earlier in the afternoon for a total of 1.5 points in 4 games.

Paz Ngiratechekii, Nilo de Jesus, Jaime dela Cruz, Elpidio Manaligod, Freddie Gloria and Manuel Mahor didn’t show up.

In the Top 8 (Class A) division, Tito Cabunagan neatly handled the endgame of 5 pawns against a bishop and 2 pawns vs. Menandro Manuel and outlasted the skidding Manuel, who was swept for the 2^nd time. He now has 3 wins and 4 losses.

And in the last game of the day, Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia clustered a crucial victory over Cabunagan in 26 moves of English Opening. Hernandez and Garcia are the 2 remaining unbeaten players in their division.

Hernandez and Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. played their 2 games on Oct. 31 at 8:20 am at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1. Both games were Sicilian Defence. Pax deviated in Game 1 on the very 2^ndmove and in Game 2, on the 3^rd move.

In both games, Pax was behind by a whole rook and 3 pawns where he resigned on the 41^st move of both games! DÉJÀ VU IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS!

The 2 victories improved Hernandez’ record to 6 straight wins.

IN THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT – Hernandez thought of an idea to have Geoff Martin join the tournament: He pursued Ferdinand ‘Bong’ Gutierrez (FIDE rating of 1567) to join the tournament even though he is leaving Palau for good on Nov. 27. He will still have more than 4 weeks to play 19 games. Even if he will not finish all his games, those will be declared draws and his registration fee will be waived.

His day off now is Monday and works at 12:00 noon – 9:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday). Players who are available on this day are requested to play with him at Palau Royal Resort Dormitory 1 during these available times. If he will win a prize, which he believes he has a chance for the title, it will be given to his brother Ronel, the Purchasing Supervisor of PRR.

Another player was added in the Class B to complete the line-up of 21 players with 7 rated players. He is Lenge Gibbons and he will play as many games as he can on Sunday, Nov. 04 upon the recommendation of Angie Parrado. She came on Sat. Nov. 03 with her 3 daughters and played an official game against Luciano Sibayan. She won in 39 moves of Gioucco Piano. Her daughters, 8-year-old Destiny and 9-year-old Angelil Sisior played their official game with Angelil prevailing after winning his sister’s queen in the middle game and prevailed in 30 moves of Queen’s Pawn Opening.

The only game for the Class A (Top 8) division was between 2^nd seed Menandro Manuel and 5^th seed Paquito ‘Pax’ Suringa, Jr. where Manuel suffered his 5^th loss against only 3 wins. Pax won a piece in the middle game and held on to his advantage and mated the skidding Manuel on the 43rd move of another Queen’s Pawn Opening.

Hernandez, Suringa, Jr. and Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. suggested that on the final day of the event, Dec. 02, (Sunday), the Palau Chess Federation will hold also their Christmas Party after the Awarding Ceremony. Each player is asked to bring one dish for the event.

Source:
 Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
Pages 18-19
Volume 21
Issue 79
November 05, 2012

(331) GAME OF THE WEEK: CELIZ VS. MANUEL

THE COUSINS
Ksau Anthony Whipps practices with cousin Zachary Techall Whipps on October 14, 2012. The entry of Techall become official when Manuel 'Jun' Mahor confirmed his participation in the Class B of 2012 PNCC. Another lady was added to the field of 18 players-- Mary Frances Lopez.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)



            GAME OF THE WEEK:
            CELIZ VS. MANUEL

THERE are only 3 games played in the 2^nd week action of 2012 Palau National Chess Championship but the match between 7^th seed Jose Celiz and 2^ndMenandro Manuel was one for the ages as they battled it out till the last 2 minutes of their game that lasted almost 4 hours.

In their Queen’s Gambit Declined encounter, Celiz missed a forced exchange of queens and the recovery of the go-ahead pawn of Menandro. A positional maneuvering ensued with Manuel’s king travelling 5 squares. With a little over 2 minutes left in each of their clock, Manuel was able to penetrate his queen with a check followed by a well-posted knight check that is ripe for a wonderful smothered mate.

Roberto Hernandez and Paquito Suringa, Jr. are watching their game. Manuel missed the clean smothered mate on the 50^th move of Nh3++ instead of the actual 50. … Nd3+, Hernandez showed him the most spectacular ending by sacrificing his queen without material consideration with 51. … Qg1+. If Celiz will capture with either rook or knight, the smothered mate of the knight on f2 is inevitable.

THE MOVES: Jose Celiz (White) vs. Menandro Manuel (Black) 1. D4 d5 2. C4 Nc6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bf4 Nd7 5. C5 Nh5 6. Bd2 e5 7. E3 Nf6 8. F3 Be7 9. Bd3 b6 10. B4 Qc7 11. Ne2 h5 12. 0-0 Nf8 13. Qc2 Ne6 14. A4 Bd7 15. Ng3 exd4 16. Ne2 bxc5 17. Exd4 c4 18. Bf5 Bd6 19. Re1 h4 20. Nf1 Rb8 21. Rab1 Kf8 22. Rb2 Rg8 23. Rb1 g6 24. Bh3 g5 25. Bf5 g4 26. Bh6+ Ke7 27. Bxe6 Bxe6 28. F4 Ne4 29. Ne3 f6 30. Nxc4 Rg6 31. Nxd6 Qxd6 32. F5 Rxh6 33. Fxe6 Qxe6 34. B5 f5 35. Rc1 Rb6 36. Qb3 Qd6 37. Rxc6 Rxc6 38. bxc6 Qxc6 39. Re2 Qd7 40. Qb8 Rc6 41. Qe5+ Kd8 42. Qh8+ Kc7 43. … to be continued next issue.

Latest results of Sunday’s games:

Angie Parrado defeated Freddie Gloria in 30 moves of King’s Pawn Opening; Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia played his first game after gaining his CM title against Jojo Escapatoria and prevailed in 38 moves of English Opening.

Nilo de Jesus was asked to come in case American lawyer Scott Hess become very busy and can’t play 17 games in 6 weeks. He played an official game vs. Dennis Gonzales and prevailed in 42 moves of another King’s Pawn Opening; Dennis bounced back from defeat and dealt Angie her first loss with a 62 moves conquest of a Ruy Lopez Opening.

Neophyte 9-year-old Zachary Techall Whipps played his first tournament game and lost to 6-year-old Destiny Sisior, who gained her 2^nd win and still undefeated until she lost to Ksau Anthony Whipps, who earlier clobbered Destiny’s 9-year-old sister Angelil in 28 moves of Bishop Opening.

Techall lost to Angelil in just 5 moves of another Bishop Opening.

Jeff Balbalosa nipped Luciano ‘Bong’ Sibayan in 56 moves of another Ruy Lopez.

2^nd seed Menandro Manuel was not aware that the time control is only 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment and lost to Tito Cabunagan by time forfeit. Tito still has 37 minutes left in his clock. The time forfeit was noticed after they have made 62 moves already of their Sicilian Defence game.

Roberto Hernandez took the measure of Palau’s top chess player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. in 48 moves of Danish Gambit where Hernandez had a whole rook advantage going into the endgame.

Paquito Suringa, Jr. and Escapatoria are still playing at press time as well as the top 2 seeds (Manuel vs. Montel, Jr.).

Jeff Martin visited the tournament venue and would like to be a member of Palau Chess Federation and to join also but the limited number of rated players prevented him to join outright. If there will be a withdrawal from the unrated players, then he could be accommodated.

Elpidio Manaligod called Hernandez and he would like to come in the evening to play his first game. After the regular games are finished, a blitz contest is planned between available players.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez

              Tia Belau Newspaper

              Pages 13 & 15

             Volume 21

             Issue 75

             October 22, 2012

(323) 2012 PNCC (2ND WEEK) PHOTOS

9-year-old Angelil Sisior, left, lost to 9-year-old Ksau Anthony Whipps in 28 moves of Bishop Opening. Possible teammates to 2014 World Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway?
(Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

6-year-old Destiny Sisior, left, won over 9-year-old Zachary Techall Whipps in undetermined
number of moves as they didn't wrote down their moves.
(Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

Angie Parrado, left, the mother of Angelil and Destiny Sisior, suffered her first loss to Dennis Gonzales in 62 moves of King's Pawn Opening. (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

First game (a win) of Candidate Master Bernardo Garcia, left, against rusty Gonzalo Escapatoria. A weekday match is being arranged so that Bernard can catch up.

Menandro Manuel, left, thought that the time control is still the same as Istanbul Olympiad and lost by time forfeit to Tito Cabunagan.

Roberto Hernandez (FIDE 1858) successfully used the same Danish Gambit opening against Palau's top player Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. (1943) and gets the same result as his first game vs. 2nd seed Menandro Manuel (1883). Cyril blundered a piece on the 12th move and down by a whole rook when he resigned on the 48th move. (Photo by Jeff Balbalosa)

Surangel and Sons chess players have their own t-shirt uniform while playing in the 2012 PNCC. The black t-shirt has a line at the back that says "You Live and Die with the Pawn".

Photo by Jeff Balbalosa

Photo by Jeff Balbalosa

Photo by Jeff Balbalosa

FIRST GAME OF JOSE CELIZ VS. MENANDRO MANUEL 0-1. A VERY GOOD GAME THAT BECOMES THE GAME OF THE WEEK IN "CHESSMATE" by Roberto Hernandez

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

First game of Dan Roldan on Saturday, Oct. 20 vs. Freddie Gloria. 0-1

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

James, the Jack of all trade, vs. Jeff Balbalosa.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

Freddie Gloria vs. Angie and her youngest daughter.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

First game of Palau's first titled player CM Bernardo Garcia vs. Gonzalo Escapatoria. 1-0

Nilo de Jesus, right, has been inactive in chess since he left Palau in 2005. Now he's back and would like to participate in the Class B. A withdrawal from Scott Hess will make him the official replacement to the very busy American lawyer. He's practicing with a friend here.

Destiny Sisior practices with her youngest sister.

Nilo de Jesus, left, vs. Dennis Gonzales 1-0

Destiny Sisior vs. Zachary Techall Whipps. 1-0

Angelil Sisior, left, vs. Ksau Anthony Whipps. 0-1

Angie Parrado vs. Dennis Gonzales 0-1

Ksau Anthony Whipps vs. Destiny Sisior 1-0

Zachary Techall Whipps vs. Angelil Sisior 0-1

Menandro Manuel, left, and Jeff Balbalosa have to go back to their staff house to get their own chess sets because of too many players. A total of 6 chess sets were used and 12 players played at the same time, the busiest day so far. Menandro lost to Tito Cabunagan, right, by time forfeit. They already made 62 moves when Menandro's time expired. He thought that the time control is the same as Istanbul Olympiad. The 2012 PNCC time control is 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment for Class A and 75 minutes + 30 seconds increment for Class B.

(Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

Roberto Hernandez, left, vs. Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. 1-0

Jeff Balbalosa vs. Luciano 'Bong' Sibayan 1-0

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

Gonzalo Escapatoria vs. Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. 0-1

First victory for Pax against 2 losses to Menandro Manuel and Cyril Montel.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

In the last 3 Palau National Chess Championship, this match is always the highlight of the event with Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. prevailing in 2009 and 2011 and Manuel bagging the PNCC crown and $80.00 cash prize in 2010. Manuel won this time in just 22 moves of Giocco Piano when Cyril badly blunders in this double round-robin Class A (1651 rating and above).

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

Last game of the 2nd week. Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr. lost to Cyril Tomas Montel, Jr. when Pax knight was impotent at the edge of the board while Cyril's active knight dominated the other side of the board. Their game lasted till 8:30 pm.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

Elpidio Manaligod, right, found a way to play 2 games from 7:00 pm onwards. He lost his first game to James dela Cruz but won over Luciano Sibayan, left, in this photo.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez

Luciano Sibayan, left, dealt James dela Cruz his first loss in 6 games. Sibayan has an equal 2-2 win-loss record while James has 3 wins, 2 draws and this loss.

Photo by Roberto Hernandez