By Marlon Bernardino – International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad will defend his title in the Asian Seniors chess championships set October 14 to 22 at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
Others leading the Philippine contingent to Tagaytay hosted by Tagaytay City mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr. and Cavite vice governor Athena Tolentino are GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., IMs Angelo Young, Petronio Roca, Barlo Nadera, Ricardo de Guzman, Chris Ramayrat, among others.
“Mas mabigat ang field ngayon, anyway sana Filipino pa din ang magkakampeon, (the field will be stronger this year, but hopefully a Filipino will win again.” said Bagamasbad, who won the Asian Senior Chess Championships held at Auckland Rose Park Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand last year. In photo above are former New Zealand Chess Federation president GM Murray Chandler (left) and Bagamasbad.
See Join Asian Seniors Chess Championships 14-22 Oct 2023, Tagaytay City, Philippines – Asian Chess. At stake are a total of $3,000 in cash prizes and Direct IM titles and GM norms.
With a score of 7.5/9 points, Bagamasbad took the first place in the Over 65 category plus an outright International Master title and Grandmaster norm.
The 66-year-old Bagamasbad also snatched third place in the Merv Morrison Memorial 2022 Open, a six-round chess tournament that took place at the Auckland Chess Centre last year.
“Victory doesn’t depend on your age, it’s on your move. If you need a good move, you need training. Training doesn’t depend on the coach, it doesn’t depend on the teacher, it’s on the player,” said Bagamasbad.
Bagamasbad will embark on a series of international competitions, starting with the 18th IGB Malaysian Chess Festival 2023 scheduled from August 25 to September 3 in Cititel Mid Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bagamasbad is also set to compete in FIDE World Senior Championships 2023 in Terrasini, Italy, from October 24 to November 6, and the Penang Open this December 18-24 in Penang, Malaysia.
Bagamasbad is also set to compete in the Grandmaster Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Open Chess Tournament on September 30, 2023 at the second floor Open Kitchen Foodhall, Rockwell Business Center, Sheridan Street, Mandaluyong City.