NAKATAKDANG sumabak si Pinoy Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. sa FIDE World Seniors 2019 Chess Championships simula ngayon sa Rin Grand Hotel sa Bucharest, Romania.
Ang 19th seed Antonio (Elo rating 2427), ay runner-up sa 2017 edition sa Italy, kung saan nakaharap niya sina top seed GM Kiril Georgiev (2582) ng Republic of Macedonia, second seed GM Darcy Lima (2540) ng Brazil, third seed GM Zurab Sturua (2540) ng Georgia, fourth seed GM Alexander Shabalov (2528) ng United States, fifth seed GM Mihail Marin (2521) at sixth seed GM Vladislav Nevednichy (2518) ng Romania, seventh seed GM Ivan Morovic Fernandez (2505) ng Chile, eight seed GM Alex Yermolinsky (2498) ng United States, ninth seed GM Semen I. Dvoirys (2490) ng Russia at tenth seed GM Artashes Minasian (2486) ng Armenia at iba pa.
Suportado ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Philippine Sports Commission at ng Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, ang 57-years-old Antonio na tangan ang record bilang 13-time Philippine Open Champion ay magtatangka na lagpasan ang kanyang runner-up finish sa 27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 (50+) na ginanap sa Acqui Terme, Italy nitong 2017.
“I’m ready. It’s a big challenge for me, but I will do my very best for flag and country,” sabi ni Antonio na nagtala ng undefeated record 41 wins at tabla sa 4 games sa rare 45 board simultaneous exhibition nitong Sabado na ginanap sa Xavier School sa San Juan City.
Si Jericho Winston Cu na grade 4 pupil ng Xavier School ay nakatangap ng chess set at medal matapos makakuha ng tabla kay Antonio habang ang nakatatandang kapatid na si Ivan Travis Cu na grade 5 student ng Xavier School ay nakapag-uwi naman ng medal bilang last man standing.
“Let’s hope and pray GM (Rogelio) Joey (Antonio) will continue to play well and again bring honor to the country this year,” sabi ni Abraham “Abe” Tecson.