National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chairman and president Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. (3rd from left) awards trophies and medals in the Asian Senors 65+ Chess Championships. From left are Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo, NCFP Director Martin Gaticales, Pichay, runner-up IM Aitkazy Bauimurzin, champion IM Efren Bagamasbad and third player Mario Mangubat, both from the Philippines.
by Marlon Bernardino
TAGAYTAY CITY—Filipino International Masters Jose Efren Bagamasbad and Chito Garma split the points in the 65+ and 50+ divisions, respectively to claim the crowns for the Philippines at the Asian Seniors Chess Championship held on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City. the event was supported by the FIDE Planning and Development Commission.
Bagamasbad, a habitue of Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) Chess Club in Monte De Piedad Street in Cubao, Quezon City, successfully defended his 2022 crown and again emerged winner for the 65-and-over division of the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championship.
He drew with Tuleubek Demezhanov of Kazakhstan after 48 moves of an English Opening using the white pieces in the ninth and final round.
Bagamasbad is set to leave on Monday for Terrasini, Italy for the 2023 World Seniors Chess championships from October 24 to November 6 where he is gunning for his third and final GM norms.
Garma, a two-time Olympian, bagged the 50-and-over division title after halving the point against Candidate Master Joseph Ebenezer of India in their Guico Piano skirmish held at the Knights Templar Hotel, Tagaytay City.
NCFP Chairman and President Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. (third from left) awards trophies and medals for the Asian Seniors 50+ Chess Championship. From left are Asian Chess Federation Executive Director Casto Abundo. NCFP Director Martin Gaticales, Pichay, champion IM Chito Garma of the Philippines, runner-up FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia and GM Joey Antonio of the Philippines.
Bagamasbad and Garma capped their performance with similar six wins and three draws (7.5 points) in nine outings.
Pocketing the top prize of $350, the 67-year -old Bagamasbad told the media, “I’m very happy to win again, especially in an international tournament like this Asian Seniors. Christmas came early!.”
The 59-year-old Garma won the $500 cash prize after winning this title he won in the 2018 edition also in Tagaytay.
More importantly, Bagamasbad and Garma, both earned their second Grandmaster norms plus a free hotel accommodation in the 2024 World Seniors Chess Championship.
The Tagaytay tournament had 18 players in the 50-and-over division and 17 players in the 65-and-over division in the weeklong event 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.
Filipino Arbiters at the Asian Seniors Chess Championship, from left, FA Michael Pagaran, Deputy Chief IA Patrick Lee, Chief Arbiter Casto Abundo, Dr. Alfredo Paez, Lito Abril and Hubert Estrella.