by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA—Filipinos GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. of Quezon City and FM Nelson Villanueva of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental finished first and second, respectively, in the MRSM Tun Mustapha Rapid Chess Championship 2022 (Open) held last Sunday, 18th September 2022 at the MRSM Tun Mustapha Tawau in Sabah, Malaysia. Photo shows Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. of Quezon City (Champion), tournament director Muss Berto and Fide Master Nelson Villanueva of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental (2nd place).
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Antonio defeated Singaporean IM Chan Peng Kong in the ninth and final round to finish with 7.5 points on six victories and three draws in the nine-round Swiss System event, the same output of Villanueva, who drew with Indonesian Kamalsyah Muhammad.
Antonio ranked first in the tournament clinched the title and the top purse of 3,500 RM (Malaysian ringgit) and trophy by virtue of higher tie break points while Villanueva pocketed the runner-up purse of 2,500 RM, trophy in the contest which lured 92 woodpushers from five countriees.
On his way to the title, GM Antonio beat Yaakub Nov Genevia Pslam of Malaysia in the first round, Ladimal of Malaysia in the second round, Ahmad Md Siraj Munir of Brunei in the third round and Wising Abdul Sahim Malaysia in the fourth round and FM Yee Soon Wei of Brunei in the fifth round.
He split the point with FM Villanueva in the sixth round, IM IM Andyka Pitra of Indonesia in the seventh round and Kamalsyah Muhammad of Indonesia in the eight round before beating IM Chan in the last round.
GM Antonio’s next tournament will be the Rapid Chess Championships hosted by Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Officer-In-Charge Director General Teroso “Theo” O. Panga in partnership with JC Premiere Marikina Business Center to be held on September 30 at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Main Office Double Dragon Center, West Building, DD Meridian Park, Diosdado Macapagal Blvd, Pasay City.