Rubens Cup Championship -2017

Ruben's Cup Chess Tournament Championship 2017

NAURU CHESS 

The Tournament: 

The Rubens Cup Chess Championship 2017 marks the fourth year of this annual event. 
Each year the Ruben’s Cup Chess Championship is proudly sponsored by the Ruben Kun Family   and facilitated by NCF.

A Tribute:
The annual championship was initially sponsored by the late Ruben Kun in 2014 and is now carried on by this family as an event held in his honor and memory, He is known and dubbed as a founding father of the Nauru Chess Federation.

Ruben Kun was an avid and high-level Chess player who proved his love for the game in his contributions to its growth. His place was open to all, with chessboards and refreshments for the enthusiast, the challengers, and the cocky upstarts who gathered each Sunday in his humble garden at his home in Buada. The Sicilian Defence is one of his favourite and strongest defence, humbling even the most vicious attacks.

Ruben's passion for the game had motivated him, and a few to develop a working committee to organise consistent national tournaments at every Nauru’s national day celebration each year.

The current operating chess committee to this date has carried 
on his torch which is known today as the Nauru Chess Federation (NCF) and we give tribute by participating in the event.

The Event:

On the 1st of April 2017 Saturday, Sixteen (16) of the most powerful Chess players on the island gathered together to honor Ruben’s memory by participating in the all-out battles of strategic carnage on the chess board and take away the spoils of war for the Ruben’s Cup title.

It is a hard core down right serious for the opportunity to have their name engraved as “champion” on the perpetual Ruben’s Shield.

Of course, let’s not forget the spoils of war in cash (1st prize of $500, Consolation prize in a sealed envelope)

The Venue:

The tournament was held at the Bay Restaurant Anibare, where a section was allocated 10 tables, (Compliments of Capelle and Partners in support to the Federation) and facilitated by the current Nauru Chess Federation Administration.

The Bay Restaurant was suggested as a the Tournament venue to NCF to host the tournament by Mr Crispen Mariano, one of the old greats of Nauru Chess in the early 2000. NCF recommended that he scope its possibility of Management for the venue after which, a meeting ensued with Kenneth Oppenheimer and NCF President in a very positive dialogue, the venue without fees was granted as a sponsored support, and even future tournaments would also be considered.

The Opening - Australian DAP Chess Project:

The Rubens Cup 2017 was also an opportune occasion for the DAP 2016 award presentation.

Deputy High Commissioner Dan Helding presents to NCF President the Australia DAP for Chess

His Excellency the Deputy High Commissioner of Australia Dan Heldon opened the event by his presentation of the congratulatory DAP certificate to Nauru Chess President Mr Ricko Depaune, acknowledging the grant of $2.5K to support NCF developments.

The Deputy High Commissioner Dan Heldon gave a speech of congratulations to the NCF President for his successful grant, and that the High Com office is looking forward to seeing the support grant catalytic effects in the evolution of NCF, specifically towards the developments for the wider range of categories in chess tournaments for women, kids, and even in schools extra-curricular.

The DAP funding for NCF proposes to provide the equipment and promotions to increase participation, initiate community chess clubs, involve women and children categories and to increase grassroot support for its developments. (link: How Chess meets Society requirements for development)

The General Secretary for NCF announced that the DAP support fund will secure 50 chess sets, and 25 chess clocks, the items are in transhipment to be received within the month.  The DAP support has also secured two promotional banners which are already in use, and seen displayed during the presentation and the Tournament.

The Draw:

The competition draw remained as the standard double knockout elimination, where successful players progress onwards towards the finals. The only difference on the day was the chess clock. It was history in the making of the first Nauru Chess Official Tournament to have a chess clock ticking away in every match/round from move one.

All players were instructed to be aware of the standard rules

Open entry - All gender/age categories permitted.  

A player will be eliminated by double knockout,

Rules of Play - Standard Chess rules will apply.

• Tournament games will be clocked at 20min per player.
• No increments, a player wins when the opponent runs out of time, resigns or is checkmated.
• The chess-clock must be handled by the same hand that moved the chess piece. Failure to this rule will render the player loss of the game by disqualification.
• A game will be drawn when either player is unable to checkmate his opponent, stalemate by three perpetual moves, unable to move a piece legally, or both agree to a draw.
• A player must address the Arbiter (referee) for any in-game complaints. The ruling by the arbiter is final.

Round 1: Exhibition match

The Ruben’s Cup Tournament started with the first game by The Australian Deputy High Commissioner Dan Heldon playing off an exhibition blitz game with the 2017 Independence Day National Champion David Dabuae.  Australia held his own through to the middle game, but quickly realized that Nauru was too strong, even with a 5-min time handicap on the clock for Nauru.

Round 2:

Miss Belle Heldon the youngest and only female chess player at the event played a match against the Deputy High Commissioner and reminded him the importance of chess to a growing mind. Chief Arbiter Mr Ricko Depaune kept a close watch for any illegal moves that the High Com may commit.

The Final Results:

Rubens Cup Champion was Yarsir Mohammad defeating David Dabuae in the finals. The Rubens Cup Chess Championship award was presented by Ruben's eldest daughter Mrs Floria Detebene.

(watch this space for more details on elimination matches results)

Message from the blog-editor: This current blog will have edit changes overtime as it is improved with better quality images, updated information and relevant links.

Independence Day - Tournament

2017 Independence Day Tournament

Independence day celebrations was in full swing, Flag raising ceremony, Parade marching and Guard of honor General salute and inspection. It was followed by Island wide clean up competition, Community color light display competition, Nauruan wrestling, Cross fit championship, fishing and a galore of other activities including whats important to us.. CHESS!!

It was a full week of hard core battle at the usual venue Nauru College. Sponsored only by the Nauru Govenment and JHSS company, Taiwan and Digicel Nauru.

NCF President Ricko Depaune organised a double knock out elimination tournament filtering through only the polished players into the round robin bouts.

This time however, the clock was placed on the table for any of those still maneuvering the battle grounds above the allocated time. After the allocated time has expired (1-1/2 hours in a game play), 10 minutes was given to each player where they will need to defeat their opponent before their own 10min runs out.

The total lot of 17 players were halved by the end of the elimination rounds and the eligible players were given their program for the week, listing their opponent, time and place for each.  One round was played each day in the round robin. 8 players and 7 rounds.

The Scores

    The Championship goes to David Dabuae!!

    NCF President presents the cash prize and top-up bonus from Digicel

   Yarsir Collects the Runner up prize!

Jed Selu is one of the old greats, still reaping the benefits of his chess prowess

   Andrew made a fatal move causing a collapse of his defenses under Yarsir relentless seige.

   Yarsir Under heavy seige that could cost him his queen in a single move.

Jed's Kingside was ripped open with a passed pawn now pinning down his knight        

   Chris defence was formidable, but collapsed under the clock in the end game.

    Alofa defended against Atta's relentless attacks and forced a draw.

(Edit) The final top total round robin scores went to Yarsir and David. Both these players have shown that they were the cream of the crop on that day at with 6 wins each and one loss.

There needed to be a tie-breaker!!  This part of the tournament was fast and furious with an allocated 10 minutes to each player on the clock, it starts from the first move, the tie breaker is a three round match for most scores. This means the total game will never be any longer than 20 minutes.  Yarsir finished off David in less than 8 minutes in the first game.

David had to step outside for a bit to catch a bit of the local island breeze and to calm his nerves. Yarsir waited patiently at the table when David returned for the second game. David won after using up all his time on the clock with a check mate and only 3 seconds to spare.  He confidently overwhelmed Yarsir in the final game and was declared the 2017 Independence Day Chess Tournament Champion.  

After receiving the awards, the champion bought lunch for all (thanks David).

More updates to be posted.. but for now enjoy.

OUR SPONSORS
We extend our appreciation to our supporters and donors who made this event possible. Digicel, Taiwan, JHSS and The Nauru Sports Department. Tubwa kor!!

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Nauru Chess Federation Congratulated by ACF

The Nauru Chess Federation (NCF) has established its position in the international scene. In 2016 Mr Ricko Depaune pushed for membership for the World Chess Federation aka FIDE. To be a member Nauru Chess must be a member for the Continental Chess Federation of Asia aka ACF. Nauru corresponded with the Zonal Chess Confederation of Oceania aka OCC to enable all of the above.

Mr Rene Dube who was the predecessor of NCF had initiated the bridges towards this achievement which took many months of dialogue and research.

Finally by December 2016 Nauru was confirmed a member of FIDE, ACF and OCC.

Nauru Chess Angam Day 2016

Angam Day 2016. 

Mr Ricko Depaune, The President of the National Chess Federation receives a donation from the Nauru Sports Department Brenda Waidubu during the Angam Day Chess Tournament 2016, Nauru College.

October 22nd 2016 AGM

The NFC general election was over-due as it should be held once a year. The NFC predecessor Mr Rene Dube has performed admirably as the President for the past few years. He had requested that the general elections be held where every other chess enthusiast were present, during the Angam Day Tournament.

The general election took place at the Nauru College around 10am before the commencement of the eliminations rounds for the Angam Day Tournament.

A total of seventeen (17) active chess enthusiasts were present at the AGM elections.

Rene Dube

Richie Halstead

Ricko Depaune

Linkbelt Detabene

David Dabuae

Andrew Gadeanang

Johnny Walker

Jed Taleka

Alofa Foilape

Anderson Andre

Shansky Dame

Arthur Jeremiah

Vandella Gadeanang

James Scotty

Mike Vobach

Mohammed Yarsir

Sharko Bill

Nominations and elections

President – Ricko Depaune  (nominated by Rene Dube and 2nd by Linkbelt Detabene and accepted the votes were unanimous)

General Secretary – Richie Halstead (nominated by Linkbelt, 2nded by Andrew, accepted, voted in unopposed)

Treasurer – Linkbelt Detabene (nominated by David, 2nded by Richie, accepted, voted in unopposed)

Vice President – David Dabuae (nominated by Rene, 2nded by Ricko, accepted, voted in unchallenged)

Vice General Secretary – Rene Dube  (nominated by Richie, 2nded by Ricko, accepted, voted in unopposed)

Vice Treasurer – James Scotty aka Bwibi (nominated by Alofa, 2nded by Linkbelt, accepted, voted in unanimously) 

Angam Day Chess Tournament

October 26th is our Angam Day National Holiday and we have completed our Chess Tournament National Championship with a total of 16 entrants in a 3 round sets of double knockout elimination draw, after which only eight finalists were left to compete in the round robin for the most win for the championship. 

The NCF had managed to gain sponsors for the Angam Day tournament with a cash prize $1000 and runner up $200 plus a shopping Voucher and Windows touch smart phone. For the record I would like to acknowledge all our sponsors in this update to express our appreciation:

Eigigu Holdings

Taiwan Embassy

Digicel Nauru  

Central Meridian

Nauru Sports

Nauru Rehab Corporation

Mr Jim Gearing

Connect

Broad Spectrum

Capelle and Partners

The tournament was also an opportunity for NCF to identify our top five players to be selected for a regional challenge in Fiji. It is a current objective of the executive to engage our players in regional and international events.  NCF have announced to our local players that the Top five winners will be given the opportunity to compete in an international event as part of the Angam Chess Championship incentive.  

However due to limited resources we cannot go too far.. like Russia.  So for now our most viable option is Fiji being an established Chess Federation member of the FIDE to be our first competition.

The Angam Day Chess Championship were held on three separate Days:

22nd October 2016 for the elimination Rounds

26th October 2016 for the round robin (most wins)

29th October 2016 for the tie breaker rounds

RESULTS

Angam Day Champions by draw:  

- Vandella Gadeanang

- Mohamed Yarsir

(Shared Cash Prize $1000)

Runner-Up by tie breaker  (S200)

- Ricko Depaune

Second Runner-Up:   (Voucher Gift)

- Jed Taleka