Filipino Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. pocketed the top honors in the Asian Seniors +50 Championship 2020 (Final) at chess.com.
The Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro native Antonio collected seven points on six wins and three draws to win the nine-round tournament online chess championships.
Antonio scored victories over Fide Master John Duneas of New Zealand in the first round, Candidate Master Mohammed Ali Mahdial-Kinani of Iraq in the second round, GM Tair Vahidov of Uzbekistan in the third round, Fide Master Abbas Khakpoor of Iran in the fifth round, Bahadur Chhetri Ram of Nepal in the sixth round and Nassir Wajih of India in the ninth and final round.
He split the point with compatriot International Master (IM) Ricardo De Guzman in the fourth round, GM Alexei Barsov of Uzbekistan in the seven round and GM Saidali Iuldachev of Uzbekistan in the eight and penultimate round.
“Ito pong tagumpay po natin sa Asian Seniors ay alay ko po sa aking pamilya, at sa mga kababayan natin, sa mga kapwa ko po chess player at lalung lalu na po sa mga front-liner na po natin na isinasakripisyo ang kanilang buhay para sa bayan,” said the 13-time Philippine champion Antonio, who placed runner-up to eventual champion Peruvian GM Julio Granda Zuniga in the World Seniors Championship three years ago in Acqui Terme, Italy.
De Guzman placed fourth overall with 5.5 points, the same output of fifth placer Chhetri Ram and sixth placer GM Iuldachev. GM Vahidov took second place with 6.5 points followed by third placer GM Barsov who totes 6 points. Another Filipino entry, National Master (NM) Rudy Ibanez (4 points), placed tenth overall.
Meanwhile, GM Darwin Laylo ruled the Baby Uno Chess Challenge dubbed as Police Col. Jaime Osit Santos chess championship (Individual Open To All Title Master) held at the lichess.org over the weekend.
The San Roque, Marikina City resident Laylo defeated NM Jasper Rom in the penultimate round then halving the point with NM Elwin Retanal in the final round to notch 12 points on account of 10 wins, four draws and one loss to win the 15 round swiss tournament in the event organized by Bayanihan Chess Club headed by NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. and Genghis Katipunan Imperial and hosted by Police Col. Jaime Osit Santos, chief of Police of San Juan City.