Antonio, nakaresbak kay Mariano sa Face Off

NAKAUNGOS si Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. kontra kay Fide Master Nelson “Elo” Mariano III sa first-ever Philippine Chess Blitz Online Face Off Series nitong Sabado sa Alabang Hills Village, Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

Namayani ang Quezon City resident Antonio kontra kay Bacoor, Cavite bet Mariano, 7-4, sa blitz chess individual event na inorganisa ni Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) founding president Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe.

“Chess players, enthusiats can watch live and reply at YouTube cliburn Anthony orbe’s channel,” sambit ni Atty. Orbe na newly-installed treasurer ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Matamis ang pagkapanalo ng 13-times Philippine Open champion Antonio na nakaranas ng pagkatalo kay Mariano sa kanilang unang pagtatagpo noong 2012.

“Masayang-masaya po talaga ako, kasi nanalo din ako kay Elo (Nelson Mariano III),” pahayag ng pambato ng Calapan, Oriental, Mindoro at 27th World Seniors Vice Champion sa Acqui Termi, Italy nitong Nobyembre.

Magugunita noong 2012 ay panalo si Mariano kay Antonio sa fourth round ng 6th Gathering of Knights and Kings (Fianchetto Blitz Chess Tournament) na ginanap sa Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School sa Quezon City.

Si Mariano na graduate ng Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication major sa Broadcasting sa University of the East (UE) Recto, Manila ang nagkampeon sa Open division sa nasabing chessfest.

Sa side event ay panalo naman si Atty. Orbe kontra kay Jerson Bitoon, nakababatang kapatid ni US based Grandmaster Richard Bitoon, 2-0.

Ang first-ever Philippine Chess Blitz Online Face Off Series ay magpapatuloy ngayung Pebrero 10, 2018 , Sabado, sa bangaan ng koponan ni Antonio at koponan ng Laylo and Friends All Star Chess squad sa unique Team format.

Pangungunahan ni Antonio ang defending UAAP Champions (Senior), National University (NU) chess team bilang guest player.

Nasa gabay nina sportsman Samson Go at head coach Jose “Jojo” Aquino, certified United States Chess Federation (USCF) master kanbilang sa miyembro ng NU Bulldogs ay sina Fide Master Austin Jacob Literatus, 18th ASEAN age group Pahang, Malaysia gold medallist Jayson Danday at Neil Conrad Pondoc.

Habang ang Laylo and Friends All Star Chess squad ay ipaparaad sina Grandmaster Darwin Laylo, International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Fide Master David Elorta at International Joel Pimentel, ang hahalili kay GM elect Ronald Dableo na hindi makakapaglaro dahil sa school team building activity.