Antonio, kampeon sa PSC Chess tilt
NAKOPO ni Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr.ang kampeonato ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chess Tournament nitong weekend sa Dasma 2 Central Elementary School sa Dasmariñas City, Cavite.
Nakalikom ang 13- time Philippine Open champion ng kabuuang 7.5 puntos mula sa pitong panalo at isang tabla para madomina ang Open division ng eight-round tournament na bahagi ng grassroots sports program ng PSC.
Si Francis Roy Parro (7 pts.) ang hari sa Junior division habang si Cedric Macato (7.5 pts.) naman ang kumuha ng kiddies crown.
Ang tubong Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro na si Antonio ay nagwagi kina Eduardo Campos Jr. sa first round, Vladimir Gonzales sa second round,
Michael Constantino sa third round, National Master Michael Gotel sa fourth round, Jerome Villanueva sa fifth round, National Master Carlo Lorena sa sixth round at Sherwin Tiu sa seventh round bago tinapos ang kampanya sa tabla kay Fide Master Nelson “Elo” Mariano III.
“I would like to thank God for winning this prestigious PSC chess tournament. My wife who is always beside me and my relative and friends as well,” sabi ni Antonio, ang Vice Champion ng 27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 (50+ and 65+ Open-men and women) na ginanap sa Acqui Terme, Italy nitong Nobyembre.
Naiuwi ni Antonio ang top prize P12,000 plus gold medal sa two-day rapid chess tournament na sinuportahan nina PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez Jr. at PSC commissioner Arnold Agustin kung saan nagsilbing punong abala sina Dasmariñas City Mayor Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. at congresswoman Jenny Barzaga na pinangasiwaan naman nina International Master Roel Abelgas, Mr. Arman Subaste at Mr. Jhoner Egenias.
Nagpakitang gilas din si Philippine chess wizard at Dasmariñas City bet Daniel Quizon na nahablot ang second overall na may 7.0 puntos mula sa anim na panalo at dalawang draw.
Ang mga nakapasok sa top 11 ay sina 3rd place Jerome Villanueva (6.5 pts.), 4th place International Master Roderick Nava (6.5 pts.), 5th place Fide Master Nelson “Elo” Mariano III (6.5 pts.), 6th place NM Michael Gotel (6 pts.), 7th place IM Chito Garma (6 pts.), 8th place Rowel Canaveral (6 pts.), 9th place Lloyd Rubio (6 pts.), 10th place Menandro Redor ( 6 pts.) at 11th place Genesis Mateo Borromeo (6 pts.).