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Defending champion IM Efren Bagamasbad of the Philippines (left) drew with top seed Randy Schain of Cambodia (right) in the penultimate round 8 to clinch the crown in the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championship 65+ group at the Knights Templar hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Bagamasbad earns his second Grandmaster norm. Visit chess-results.com for round by round results and standings and to download games.

Bagamasbad, a veteran in world chess the past 40 years, solidified his pawn structure and made a surprise move Bd7 with black in the opening allowing a 21-move draw in the French Defense, Tarrasch variation.

The draw enabled Bagamasbad to hike his output to seven points on account of six wins and two draws in eight rounds.
That gave him a 1.5-points advantage over his closest pursuers going into the final round of the 65-year-old and above category.
Bagamasbad, a habitue of Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines (IIEE) Chess Club in Monte De Piedad Street in Cubao, Quezon City, will go for a win in the ninth and final round on Saturday.

After the Tagaytay Asian Senior Chess Championship, the 67-years-old Bagamasbad is set to leave on Monday  for Terrasini, Italy for the 2023 World Seniors Chess championships from October 24 to November 6 and gunning for his third and final GM norms.

Bagamasbad is eyeing to set a Philippine record as the country’s oldest Grandmaster.

International Master Aitkazy Baimurzin of  Kazakhstan, FIDE Master Adrian Ros Pacis and National Master Mario Mangubat of the Philippines are tied for 2nd place with 5.5 points each after eight rounds.
Baimurzin nipped FIDE Master Antonio Molina, Pacis crushed Miles Patterson of Australia while Mangubat beat National Master Quirino Sagario.

Over in the 50-above category,  former Asian Seniors champion International Master Chito Garma (above right) defeated Candidate Master Helen Milligan of New Zealand to retain his top post after eight rounds.
The Tondo Manila resident Garma has a record of 7.0 points on six wins and two draws to move closer to the championship.
Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. drew with FIDE Master Carlos Edgardo Garma while FIDE Master Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia halved the point with International Master Barlo Nadera, both earning 6.0 points.

Nadera, on the other hand, notched 5.0 points for solo four spots.
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.
The total cash prize pool amounts to $3,000, with the champion receiving the largest portion, which is US$500.
The runner-up and third-place finisher will earn $400 and $300, respectively.
All top three finishers will also be awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals.
-Marlon Bernardino-

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.

The Chess Federation of Sri Lanka under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and FIDE invites National Chess Federations affiliated to Asian Chess Federation to participate in the Western Asian Junior Chess Championships 2023 to be held from 28th November to 6th of December 2023 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Entitled to participate are Chess players from Western Asian Chess Federations affiliated to the Asian Chess Federation, namely FIDE Zones 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 3.7 and 3. 8 The participant must not have reached his 20th birthday, before January 1st 2023.

The Gold medalist in Standard Chess event shall receive a Grandmaster (GM/WGM) norm. Equal first
(best 3 after tie break) shall receive the title of International Master (IM/WIM), with silver and bronze
medalists to receive FM/WFM title and IM/WIM norms in accordance with FIDE title regulations.

Download Western Asian Junior CC 2023 -Regulations

Download Registration_Form_Western Asian_Juniors_2023

The Tehran Chess Association will hold the 6th Paytakht cup, International Chess Festiva9th to 15th Nov. 2023 in Tehran,Iran, Download Paytakht Cup 2023-Regulation-En(2)

Defending champion IM Efren Bagamasbad beat IM Aitkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan to pull away with a perfect 6 points after as many ruonds of the Asian Seniors Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines. Three players follow with 4 points each, namely Baimurzin and Mario Mangubat and FM Adrian Pacis of the Philippines.

IM Chito Garma of the Philippines beat compatriot IM Barlo Nadera to climb back on top with 5 points after 6 rounds of the Asian Seniors 50+ championship.

IM Chito Garma (right) vs. IM Angelo Young.

Bagamsbad maitained his solo lead in the 65+ category while a 3-way tie ensued in the 50+ group among IM Chito Garma and GM Joey Antonio of the Philippines and FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia.

 

Defending champion IM Efren Bagamasbad (right) beat compatriot Tony Molina to grab solo lead with perfect 4 points after as many rounds of the Asian Seniors 65+ Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

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.

IM Chito Garma (right) held top seed GM Joey Antonio to a draw to grab solo lead with 3.5 points after 4 rounds of the Asian Seniors 50+ Chess Championship.

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.

Defending 65+ Seniors champion Efren Bagamasbad, tony Molina and Quirino Sagario of the Philippines share the lead with 2 points each after 3 rounds of the Asian Seniors 65+ Chess Championship. IM Chito Garma of the Philippines and FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia share the 50+ lead with 2 points each after 2 rounds.

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.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Mayor Abraham Tolentino of Tagaytay City makes the ceremonial opening moves with Kazakhstan Chess Federation Vice President Biket Zharakov in the 12th Asian Seniors Chess Championship which started 15th October in Tagaytay City, Philippines. Looking on are representatives of participating countries, from left, FM Rudin Hamdani of Indonesia, Pricha Srivatanakul of Thailand, Lim Kian Hwa of Malaysia, CM Helen Milligan of New Zealand, IM Enrique Paciencia of Singapore, GM Joey Antonio of Phiippines, Randolph Schain of Cambodia, Miles Paterson of Australia, Badrakh Bat-Erdene and Tovuudor Oyuntsetsegh of Mongolia and Casto Abundo, Executive Director of the Asian Chess Federation.

Top seed GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. and IM Chito Garma got off to a blazing start by posting victories in the opening round of the 12th Asian Senior Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel, Tagaytay City on Sunday.
Antonio defeated countryman Ferdinand Olivares after 21 moves of a Sicilian defense while Garma subdued Galymzhan Ibrayev of Kazakhstan after 40 moves of another Sicilian defense.

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.

Antonio, who finished second in the World Seniors in Acqui Terme, Italy in 2017, is top seed in the 50+ category.
“We hope to perform well in this event and gain some ElO rating points aside from GM norms,” added Garma, who topped the Asian Seniors 50+ in Tagaytay City in 2018.
IM Barlo Nadera, IM Angelo Abundo Young, and FM Carlos Edgardo Garma also opened with wins.
Nadera scalped Bat-Erdene Badrakh of Mongolia after 47 moves of a Queens Gambit Declined, while Young toppled Dubai, UAE based Danilo Reyes after 58 moves of a Catalan Opening. Edgardo Garma outplayed Irina Bulanova after 40 moves of a Sicilian defense.
Other opening day winners in the 50 years old and above division were Singapore based IM Enrique Paciencia and Ricky Navalta.
Defending champion IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad outclassed AFM Zharokov Biket of Kazakhstan to lead the opening round winners in the 65-above division that includes FM Adrian Ros Pacis, FM Antonio Molina, NM Mario Mangubat, NM Quirino Sagario, Joselito Dormitorio, Miles Patterson of Australia and IM Baimurzin Aitkazy of Kazakhstan.

In the 65+ cagegory, top seed Randolph Schain of Cambodia beat IM Aitkazy Baiurzin of Kazakhstan while defending champion Efren Bagamasbad of the Philippines beat Biket Zharokov of Kazakhstan to share early lead with eight other players.

The weeklong event is hosted by Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and 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.