by Marlon Bernardino
TAGAYTAY CITY—IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad drew with compatriot FM Adrian Ros Pacis to retain his top post after seven rounds in the homestretch of the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel, Tagaytay City on October 19, 2023.
At stake are the International Master title and Grandmaster norm and $3,000 in cash prizes. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.
Seeing that the title is within his grasp, the 67-year-old Bagamasbad chose a quieter and Silent English Opening using the white pieces and veered away from the riskier e5 defense and successfully steered the game into a draw.
It kept Bagamasbad at the helm with 6.5 points, two points ahead of Pacis, National Master Mario Mangubat of the Philippines, IM Aitkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan and Randolph Schain of Cambodia who tote 4.5 points each.
Mangubat drew with Baimurzin while Schain subdued Pricha Srivatanakul of Thailand.
“Draw is okay. I don’t want to take a risk because not only focus on the title plus the 2nd of three GM norms,” said Bagamasbad, who is using the tournament as part of his preparations for the 2023 World Seniors Chess championships in Terrasini, Italy from October 24 to November 6.
It shall be recalled that Bagamasbad won the 11th edition of the Asian Seniors held in Auckland, New Zealand last year.
Thus, Bagamasbad earned an outright International Master title plus his first Grandmaster norms because of his efforts.
With two rounds to go, Bagamasbad needs only a draw in his penultimate round match against Schain on Friday to secure the crown plus his second Grandmaster norms.
Also making their presence felt on another big day for the Filipinos in the 65-year-old and above category were FIDE Master Antonio Molina and National Master Quirino Sagario.
Molina split the point with Kian Hwa Lim of Malaysia while Sagario outclassed Arena FIDE Master AFM Biket Zharokov.
Molina, Sagario and Miles Patterson of Australia were tied at 6th to 8th places with 4.0 points each.
Meanwhile, former Asian Seniors champion IM Chito Garma defeated IM Enrique Paciencia of Singapore to remain in sole possession of the top spot with 6.0 points, a half point ahead of his closest pursuers, namely GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia who notched 5.5 points apiece in the Open 50-above category.
Antonio trounced FM Ahmad Ismail of Malaysia while Hamdani nipped Galymzhan Ibrayev of Kazakhstan.
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.