Super-GMstatus Joey's next target

With his mission in the Chess Pambansa Millennium Grand Prix accomplished and his claim as the country's No. 1 player validated, GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. will soon embark on a European tour, not to spend his winnings but to pursue a long-cherished dream - reach the Super-GM status.

With a 2551 ELO rating in the current FIDE rankings, Antonio, indeed, has a lot of catching up to do to achieve his goal and he would need to compete in top-level tournaments abroad to gain the needed points in his Super-GM title bid.

"Balak ko talagang mag-campaign sa Europe para umabot ang rating ko sa 2600. Kasi pag nagkaganoon, marami kang makukuhang imbitasyon mula sa iba't ibang bansa para sumali sa mga tournaments nila," said Antonio.

Actually, GM Eugene Torre remains the country's highest-rated player with 2557 rating but the 38-year-old boyish-looking Antonio has since caught up with Asia's first GM in terms of performance and exploits, the latest of which was his emphatic victory in the just-concluded chess grand prix.

While Torre was unceremoniously booted out by a youthful player right in the first round, Antonio played true to form on his way to sweeping surprise title contender NM Enrique Paciencia in their best-of-four duel to claim the P1-million purse.

Antonio, who also won P.6 million in humbling Torre in their one-on-one duel two years ago, hopes to draw funds from his winnings to support his campaign abroad although he said he would be putting the bulk of it in the bank for his daughters' education and at the same time put up a family business soon.

"Mas maganda siguro ideposito ko muna sa banko para sa kinabukasan ng pamilya ko, lalung-lalo na sa edukasyon ng mga anak ko. Yung iba baka gamitin ko sa negosyo," said Antonio.

But first things first.

And the first step Antonio would be making this Lenten week is to rest with his wife Aileen and his two lovely daughters, seven-year-old Justine and three-year-old Jaleen.

"Pahinga muna siguro ng kaunti kasama 'yung pamilya ko dahil subsub ako masyado sa chess nitong mga nakaraang buwan sa paghahanda nga sa tournament na ito," said Antonio.