Antonio topples So, rules blitz chess tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Joey Antonio flashed vintage form and beat GM Wesley So in the final round to capture the Gatherings of Knights and Kings Open chess crown at the Ramon Magsaysay Cubao HS in Quezon City recently.

Antonio, who hurdled Fide Master David Elorta to gain a crack at the championship in the Masters Division, held his own against So in a blitz game the latter was heavily fancied to win.

“I thought I had no chances against Wesley in a blitz game,” said Antonio of So, who went nine-of-nine to capture the gold medal in blitz chess in the last SEA Games. “But I did my best and it was a feel-good win.”

Antonio pocketed the top P6,000 purse in the one-day event hosted by Fianchetto Chess Club headed by sportsman Cesar Iligan and GM Eugene Torre and supervised by international arbiter Gene Poliarco and assisted by Fide arbiter Ilann Perez and Alex Dinoy.

Other champions in the tournament were Allan Cantonjos (non-master); Raul Villate (executive), Elias Lao (seniors), WNM Christy Lamiel Bernales (women’s), Carlo Caranyagan (kiddies) and Rodolfo Canonigo (visually impaired).