Garma, kampeon sa Asian Seniors
TAGAYTAY CITY – Nakatuon ang pansin ni two-time Olympiad veteran International Master Chito Garma sa 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships (Open and Women’s Championships) matapos magkampeon sa 9th Asian Seniors Chess Championship (Standard event) sa Tagaytay International Convention Center nitong Linggo.
“I have an ELO rating of 2317 at the moment and have one GM. All I need is to get two more (GM) and raise my ELO rating to 2500 in order to be called a Grandmaster. My next target will be to get my second GM norm.” pahayag ni Garma na pambato ng Marikina Chess Club ni sportsman Thaddeus Antonio “Boy Bolok” Santos Jr.Ang dating University of Manila (UM) standout Garma ay nanaig kontra kay Arena Grandmaster Angelito Camer ng Australia sa ninth at final round para maghari sa 9th Asian Seniors Chess Championship (Standard event) na may eight points mula seven wins at two draws sa torneong ito na inorganisa ng Asian Chess Federation kung saan nagsilbing punong abala ang Tagaytay City government sa magiting na pamumuno nina Cavite 7th District Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Ng-Tolentino Jr. at Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino.Nakamit ng 54anyos ang US$500 sa total purse US$3,000, pero ang pinaka importante ay pagsukbit ng first sa three GM norm.
“Again IM (Chito) Garma made the country proud, in behalf of the Marikina Chess Club we would like to congratulate him for his feat,” sabi ni long-time supporter Sportsman Thaddeus Antonio “Boy Bolok” Santos Jr.
Magkasalo naman sina Fide Master Oleg Rinas ng Kazakshtan at International Master Angelo Young sa third hanggang fourth places na may tig six points, habang si National Master Carlo Lorena ay fifth na may 5.5 points.
Ang last year’s champion na si Grandmaster Eugene Torre ay nagwagi kay International Master Aitkazy Baimurzin ng Kazakhstan para tumapos ng seven points. Nakopo ni Torre ang US$350 prize sa paghahari sa over-65 category.
Magkasalo naman sina National Master Caturla at fellow Olympian National Master Rosendo Bandal Jr. sa second at third na may tig 6.5 at 5.5 points, ayon sa pagkakasunod sa over-65 category. Nakamit ni Caturla ang outright Fide Master title.
Si Woman Fide Master Helen Milligan ng New Zealand ang itinanghal na top female player sa fourth consecutive time. Nakaungos siya kay Almagul Chakeyeva ng Kazkahstan tungo sa US$300 top prize.
Nakamit naman ni Olympian Milagros Emperado ang US$100 prize para sa over65 category.
Si Mike Lapitan ang nagsilbing tournament director, habang si Patrick Lee ang supervising arbiter, kasama sina Elias Lao, Lito Abril, Hubert Estrella, Ricky Navalta, Jojo Lumbania at Dr. Alfredo Paez.
Nagbigay naman ng pahayag si Philippine Executive Chess Association (PECA) president Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, close confidante ni Garma. “Strike while the iron is hot, and keep it hot by striking.” ani sa upcoming tournament ni Garma sa 17th Asian Continental Chess Championships (Open and Women’s Championships) mula Disyembre 10 hanggang 18, 2018 na gaganapin sa Tiara Oriental Hotel Malugay corner Talisay Streets sa San Antonio Village, Makati City.