Turqueza, sabak sa Batumi Chess Olympiad
HINDI masukat ang kasabikan ni Fide Master at International Master (IM) elect Mari Joseph “MJ” Logizesthai Turqueza sa kanyang unang pagkakataon na makapaglaro sa Philippine Team sa nalalapit na 43rd Chess Olympiad sa Batumi, Georgia mula Setyembre 23 hanggang Oktubre 6, 2018.
“I’m excited, it’s my first time playing there (World Chess Olympiad),” sabi ng 25-years-old Turqueza, top player ng San Beda University (SBU) na kumukuha ng kurso na BS Marketing.
“Every athlete’s dream is to represent his country in the world’s biggest stage and to compete against the best players in the world. It feels great that the time I’ve spent on training has paid off, now I am looking forward for more training,” sambit ni Turqueza.
Inihahanda ni Turqueza, anak ni Atty. Gene Turqueza ng pamosong V. Luna Chess Club, ang sarili para maidiskarte ang paborito niyang Catalan Opening.
Tanyag sa mundo ng chess bilang ‘MJ’, nakuha niya ang una sa tatlong IM norm sa Asian Zonal Chess Championships nitong 2013 sa Tagaytay City.
Habang nasundan naman sa taong din yun ang pagsukbit ng dalawang IM norms sa tinampukang $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship na ginanap sa Midas Hotel and Casino sa Pasay City.
Kinakailangan ni Turqueza mapataas ang kanyang ELO ratings 2360 tungo sa 2400 para maging full-fledged International Master ( IM) ayon kay Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe, treasurer at spokesperson ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
Ang iba pang miyembro ng men’s team ay sina US based Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino “Ino” Sadorra, Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez, International Master (IM) Haridas Pascua at International Master ( IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
Habang binubuo naman ang womens squad nina country’s first Woman Grandmaster ( WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna, Woman International Master ( WIM) Catherine PerenaSecopito, Woman International Master (WIM) Marie Antoinette San Diego, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas at Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza. Si Asia’s First Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre ang head coach.