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.