Palau Chessmate: Zaldy Ranopa

The new logo has been published without the author’s photo starting on Jan. 05-11, 2007. The 2 puzzles were gone and even the title of issues have been shortened. In June 22-28, 2007, the puzzle is back but only one now.

THE 'DARK AGE' OF CHESS MATE

STARTING with the 179^th Chess Mate issue in May 26-June 02, 2006, the chess column of Roberto Hernandez took a back seat when the succeeding issues were reduced in terms of pages and chess puzzles. There’s still a photo of the author in the logo.

Hernandez contributed an article at Island Times Newspaper on their Sept. 28-Oct. 04, 2006 issue that has a photo of Edwin Eti, who donated $100.00 for the champion of Rapid Chess Tournament to be held this September 2006.

In the 236^th issue on June 29-July 05, 2007, photo of Roberto is now back with a newly design logo. This is maybe largely due to the fact that Roberto will be holding the Palau Royal Resort Rating Chess Tournament among PRR employees with its Food and Beverage Manager Allan Tuppil sponsoring the $100.00 for the top 3 finishers, a trophy for the champion and 3 medals for 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th finishers.

Four issues later (240^th), Jaime Guevarra’s picture was published with a caption “Jaime Guevarra –Perfect 3-0 Start”. Some issues have even 2 photos on it –“Nino Flores –Tough Nut to Crack”; “Zaldy Ranopa—Will donate his cash prize to KRCC” (Issue 243) and in Issue 247, the father and son Allan Diez and Boris Michael Diez were featured with a title “Father and Son Lead Ambassador Marino Cup Chess Tilt”.

No photos in the 255^th and 256th issues because during the Awarding Ceremony of the PRR Rating Chess Tournament, the camera that was used is not Roberto’s. After a photo of Koror State Legal Counsel Craig Dittrich in the 257^th issue, the photos in the column are occasional till the start of 2008 PRR Rapid Chess Tourney and the 2008 Palau National Chess Championship.

Source: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez

Tia Belau Newspaper

Pages 9-10

Volume 21

Issue 33

August 15, 2011

Monday, September 2, 2013

(566) 'AYING' SURGES TO 2ND SPOT (TBN-April 11-17, 2008)

INVITED player Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II played 6 games in one day and took solo 2nd place in the resumption of Palau Royal Resort Rapid Chess tournament held at PRR Dormitory 1 on Sunday, April 06.

He started with a sweep of 2nd seed Jaime Guevarra where in the first game, Guevarra overlooked a mate in one that would have finished him off in just over 5 minutes of play.

He played badly again in their 2nd round match maybe due to inactivity or lack of practice.

Next in line was Robert Tubice, who drew first blood when Aying failed to sustain his overwhelming advantage into a win.

He trounced "Tube Ice" in their 2nd round match while Paul Garcia is watching their game. They played practice game while waiting for another available player.

Zaldy Ranopa's first tournament game of the year was spoiled by Aying when he lost in their first game.

He had his chances in the 2nd game with a mate in one but he captured with a pawn that leaves them with both a queen and a king and agreed to draw the game.

With 4.5 points scored in just one day, Aying had 6.5 points and only a mere half point behind top seed Roberto Hernandez.

His last remaining opponents are Paquito 'Pax' Suringa, Jr., Eli Madrinan, Laurence Abuton and Darwin Nisperos, who is going home on May 04, 2008 and will not renew his contract.

Garcia, on the other hand, has resigned and will be leaving on April 30, 2008.

Players who are hesitant to play against Garcia are advised that if they have not played him within 3 weeks, it will be declared as wins for Garcia, the most feared player in PRR.

He has shown the biggest improvement due to his everyday practice with Ivan II Chess Computer, the talking and taunting chess machine that has a rating of 2000 (United States Chess Federation).

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
   Tia Belau Newspaper
   Pages 13 & 15
   Volume 18
   April 11-17, 2008

Thursday, August 29, 2013

(565) IDLE WEEK OF PRR RAPID CHESS TILT (TBN-April 04-10, 2008)

NOT A single game was played in this week's rapid chess competition within the Palau Royal Resort's employees at Dormitory 1 as most of participating players are busy or have played already the available players.

Zaldy Ranopa had not played a single game in Class A division and whenever he said that he will play to anyone that's available, nobody believes him anymore as he said it more that ten times.

In the Class B division, the top contenders are still waiting for the final results with chief cook Arnold Rivera leading Romy Cayanan, Morris Apresto and Francis Diesta.

The invited player Chat Miraflor is still busy even on his day off (Wednesday). The same as the other invited player in Class A division Andres 'Aying' Mestizo II.

I would like to share the story behind the 1991 Berean Bible Baptist Church Chess tournament held from February 24 - March 24, 1991.

It was a 5-round Swiss system tournament participated by 20 chess players around Muntinlupa City in the Philippines.

I lost my first round game to Leandro Valdez but won the next 4 to finish 1st runner-up to eventual champion Angelo Agbuya, who was the National Games (Palarong Pambansa) regional champion.

Valdez is complaining at the time of awarding that he defeated me and he didn't finish in the top 5. The question is: after beating me, how did he perform in his last 4 games?

My last game against Ramon Ragas was a cliffhanger and controversial in my own perspective...

Playing the black pieces, I needed a win to land at least 1st runner-up and can be the champion depending on the outcome of the other crucial match.

I preferred the Dutch Defence, which I have used successfully in other tournaments in Philippines and Palau.

With a few seconds remaining in my clock, I was able to promote the c pawn to have 2 queens and mated Ragas on the 62nd move.

If my time expires, I will lose that game and I will not finish in the top 5. If I drew that game, I can be no better that 4th place.

After the game, the arbiter checked how much time I have left in my clock. And it's just a mere 7 seconds that separated me between my first chess trophy!

The controversial part is that the arbiter let our game to be finished before setting the other crucial game between the other 2 contenders.

Now, Agbuya has to win his game against his opponent as a draw will make me the champion. And he did!

I think something is wrong about it. It's also a good feeling that my practice partner Gary Galang finished 4th.

And during the awarding ceremony, the Muntinlupa City Mayor Ignacio Bunye, now the Presidential Speaker of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroya, awarded the trophies and little cash prizes from his own pocket to the winners.

I was asked to perform a special piano performance during the awarding.

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
   Tia Belau Newspaper
   Pages 13 & 15
   Volume 18
   April 04-10, 2008

Sunday, August 4, 2013

(528) GARCIA STILL IN CONTENTION (TBN-Nov. 02-08, 2007)

PLAYING 2 players at a time becomes a trend in the last week of Palau Royal Resort rating chess tournament with Paul Garcia playing the 2 chess computers simultaneously and beating Excalibur in 54 moves of Dutch Defence and Ivan II in 19 moves of Queen's Pawn Opening.

He lost to Robert 'Tube Ice' Tubice when he missed a rook check that would have given him a whole piece advantage in the endgame.

Instead, he played passively and lost to his catalyst in a Bishop Opening game but still in contention for the top 8 slot.

Another 3 medals were added to the prize donated by Mr. Allan Tuppil, the Food & Beverage Manager of PRR.

OTHER RESULTS OF THE PENULTIMATE ROUND OF THE TOURNEY:

   Top seed Roberto Hernandez played 2 players at a time and beat them both.
   He clobbered Zaldy Ranopa in 42 moves of Modern Defence and survived a strong resistance from Laurence Abuton in 31 moves of Sicilian Defence.

   Another simultaneous game was played by Arnel Pama versus Dennis Lara and Jaime Guevarra but lost both games one the eve of his departure for emergency leave.

   Ranopa scored the quickest victory over Ivan II when he sacrificed a rook and a bishop without any material consideration except to maintain his initiative in mounting a bewildering attack.

   He unified his forces into perfect harmony so that when his heavy artillery ignited the first salvo, the belligerent forces were in frenzy dodging the spitfire. Pandemonium broke loose as continuous shelling ravage Ivan's territory and was mated on the 19th move.

   With the tournament to be concluded on Oct. 31, 2007, many players will not be able to finished their remaining games and organizers will decide if they will forfeit those games to the players who refuse to play when asked to like Arnold Rivera, Abe Francisco and Randy "Buhawi" Sioson.

   Awarding of cash prizes, trophy and medals will be held after Mr. Tuppil's short vacation. He and Pama will be back on Nov. 10, 2007.

   Two weeks after the awarding, a rapid chess tournament will be held again with players having the pleasure of not annotating their moves anymore.

   On November 18, 2007, the Knights and Rooks Chess Club (Palau) will have their own rapid chess tournament which will conclude on Dec. 16, 2007.

   If there are still games to be played, it will be held on Dec. 23 to coincide with KRCC Christmas Party and Blitz Chess Festival.

   Jaime Guevarra showed interest in participating as his time schedule can have him play a game on Saturday and another game on Sunday, most probably morning.

   STANDINGS OF PLAYERS AND THEIR WIN-LOSS-DRAW RECORD:
   1. Roberto Hernandez (25-4-1) 2. Jaime Guevarra (18-5-3) 3. Nino Flores (19-4-0) 4. Zaldy Ranopa (17-6-2) 5. Arnel Pama (17-12-2) 6. Dennis Lara (16-5-0) 7. Robert Tubice (16-10-2) 8. Paul Garcia (14-7-0) 9. Laurence Abuton (14-10-2) 10. Paquito Suringa, Jr. (12-17-0) 11. Abe Francisco (10-6-0) 12. Tony Penas (9-11-0) 13. Erick Ventinilla (8-15-1) 14. Randy Sioson (6-16-0) 15. Manny Dulay (6-20-0) 16. Excalibur (4-13-5) 17. Ivan II (2-14-4) 18. Arnold Rivera (2-5-0) 19. Zuenie Mirabueno (0-32-4).

Source: Chessmate by Roberto Hernandez
   Tia Belau Newspaper
   Page 13
   Volume 17
   November 02-08, 2007

Palau Chessmate

Friday, May 27, 2016

(1221) CHESS MATE ISSUES No. 201-250 and their LINKS

(1219) THE 'DARK AGE' OF CHESS MATE (TBN-Aug. 15, 2011)