Antonio rules Tuguegarao chess

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr., out to prove something, re-staked his claim as the country’s top rapid player when he nipped world-ranked GM Wesley So in the tiebreak to rule the first PACE-Tuguegarao Open Chess Festival at the Paseo Reale Mall in Tuguegarao, Cagayan Sunday.

Antonio, seeking to regain his spot in the Asian Games-bound RP team, finished with a nine-round total of eight points on seven wins and two draws to annex his first major title on local soil this year.

The veteran campaigner from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, who failed to see action in the recent Olympiad while serving suspension slapped on him by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), finished tied for first with the top-seeded So but won the title with a superior tiebreak score.

Antonio and So, who drew their match in the sixth round, pocketed P17,500 each from the combined first and second prizes in the two-day festival organized by the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE).

In the final round, Antonio outduelled NM Rolando Nolte, while So whipped IM Oliver Dimakiling.

 “I want to help the national team in Asian Games, that’s why I’m hoping the NCFP would reconsider my appeal to be reinstated to the team,” said Antonio.

Jennifer Baquiran, who represented Gov. Alvaro Antonio, awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the winners, assisted by GM Eugene Torre and PACE founder GM Jayson Gonzales.

Torre and Gonzales did not compete and instead conducted simultaneous exhibition matches and clinic to young participants.

Comebacking IM Oliver Barbosa trounced upset-conscious NM Ronald Llavanes to clinch solo third place with 7.5 points. He won P10,000.

Seven players, led by Far Eastern University assistant coach NM Alex Milagrosa, finished tied for fourth with seven points. They included GM John Paul Gomez, IM Oliver Dimakiling, GM Darwin Laylo, Merben Roque, Richard Natividad and NM Carlo Lorena.

IM Barlo Nadera led a big group of players with 6.5 points.

Olympiad veteran Rulp Ylem Jose finished with six points to emerge the top female player. Other category winners were Mark Lester Asejo (top unrated); Liza Agustin, (top female Tuguegarao player); Epifanio Castro (top senior open); and Percival Baclig (top senior Tuguegarao player).