by Marlon Bernardino
TAGAYTAY CITY—IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad took sole possession of the top spot in the 12th Asian Senior Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel, Tagaytay City on Monday, October 16, 2023.
Bagamasbad, the defending champion, posted wins against Tony Weller of Australia and countryman National Master Quirino Sagario in the second and third rounds to remain undefeated with 3.0 points and fortified his title chances in the Open 65+ division.
Bagamasbad, 67, needed 39 moves of the King’s Indian Defense to beat Weller then followed it up with a crucial win over Sagario in the third round.
Bagamasbad, bagged his first of three GM norms and an outright IM title after winning the 2022 Asian Senior Chess Championship in Auckland, New Zealand last year.
A half-point behind Bagamasbad is compatriot FM Antonio Molina who totes 2.5 points, who beat Randolph Schain of Cambodia in the second round before halving the point with another Filipino entry FM Adrian Ros Pacis in the third round.
Bagamasbad won his first round match against AFM Biket Zharokov of Kazakhstan while Molina outclassed Pricha Srivatanakul of Thailand.
Bagamasbad and Molina will slug it out for the solo leadership board on Tuesday’s fourth round.
Six players, led by Pacis and Sagario, IM Aitkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan, Miles Patterson of Australia, NM Mario Mangubat and Joselito Dormitorio of the Philippines have 2.0 points out of a possible four.
IM Chito Garma, showing steady nerves, bested Ricky Navalta and FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia in the second and third rounds and wrested the lead with perfect 3.0 points in the Open 50+ division.
Garma, who topped the Asian Seniors in Tagaytay City in 2018, will face 2017 Acqui Terme, Italy World Seniors co-champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the next round.
Antonio halved the point with 2019 Bucharest, Romania World Seniors 8th placer IM Angelo Abundo Young in the second round before beating IM Barlo Nadera in the third round.
Young, on the other hand, defeated CM Helen Milligan of New Zealand in the third round to tie with Antonio.
Antonio and Young share 2nd to 3rd placers with 2.5 points apiece.
The weeklong event is hosted by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Cavite Vice Governor Athena Bryana Tolentino in close cooperation with the International Chess Federation, Asian Chess Federation and National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman and president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.
Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. (Coach). The Philippine chess team is scheduled to represent the country in the FIDE World Youth Chess Championship on Nov.12-25 in Montesilvano, Italy.