NAKALIKOM i Grand Master Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. ng 1.5 points sa last two rounds para tanghaling overall champion sa first edition ng Cesar Orbe Memorial Chess 960 blitz series online sa famous chess website: “www.chess.com“ na ginanap kamakailan.

Ang 13-time Philippine Open champion na si Antonio ay giniba si National Master (NM) Joey Florendo sa 10th at penultimate round at nakipaghatian ng puntos kontra kay National Master (NM ) Rolzon Roullo sa eleventh at final round.

Tumapos si Antonio ng 9.5 points mula eight wins at three draws para makopo ang titulo sa 197-player online tournament na inorganisa ni Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, ang executive director ng National Chess Federation of the Philippines na nasa magiting na pamumuno ni chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.

Sa katunayan si Severino ay nakapagtala din ng kaprehas na 9.5 points output subalit nagkasya sa runner-up honors dahil sa lower tiebreak score.

Nakaungos din si Roullo kay Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo kasama ang dalawa pang players sa tie-break para masikwat ang third place.

“I’m very happy and proud to have won this tournament made by my kumpadre Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe,” sabi ni Antonio na tinalo sina International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon, International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamina at Fide Master (FM) Arden Reyes tungo sa prestigious title.

Nagbigay naman ng pahayag si tournament organizer Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe: “Congratulations to our Living Legend Grandmaster GM Joey Antonio for ruling the 1st edition of the Cesar Orbe Memorial Chess 960 blitz series! The former Senior Vice- World Champion went undefeated with 8 wins and 3 draws in the tournament participated by 197 chess aficionados comprising virtually the best Philippine players including Olympic-bound GM Darwin Laylo and IM Paulo Bersamina, as well as WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, IM Daniel Maravilla Quizon and many others. FIDE Master Sander Severino tied with GM Joey with the same output of 9.5 points but lost on tie-break to settle for 2nd place. NM Rolzon Roullo edged 3 other players including GM Laylo on tie-break to capture third place.”