GM Antonio rules Tuguegarao chessfest
10/11/2010 05:10 PM

TUGUEGARAO, CAGAYAN – Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio is knocking on the doors of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines for his possible last-minute inclusion in the national chess team vying in the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

Antonio made notice of his strong intention of representing the RP woodpushers after ruling the first PACE-Tuguegarao Open Chess Festival held at the Paseo Reale Mall here.

Antonio finished with a nine-round total of eight points on seven wins and two draws to capture his first major title in local soil this year.

The multi-awarded campaigner from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, who is hoping to regain his spot in the team following the suspension slapped on him by the NCFP, finished in a two-way tie for the top spot with top seed GM Wesley So with eight points.

By virtue of a superior tiebreak score, Antonio was adjudged the champion.

Antonio and So, who drew their match in the sixth round, pocketed P17,5000 from the combined first and second cash prizes in this two-day festival organized by the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence (PACE) in cooperation with Compuserve Land Surveying Company and the Cagayan and Tuguegarao provincial and city governments.

In the ninth and final round, Antonio outplayed NM Rolando Nolte, while So whipped IM Oliver Dimakiling in a pair of keenly-watched matches.

“I really prepared hard for this tournament,” said Antonio, who appealed to NCFP president /chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay for his possible reinstatement with the national team in time for the Asian Games.

“I really want to help our national team in the Asian Games. I do hope my appeal to be reinstated to the team will be considered,” added Antonio, who was dropped from the national team for his failure to participate in the recent Pichay Cup and Campomanes Memorial held in Manila recently.

Comebacking IM Oliver Barbosa trounced upset-conscious NM Ronald Llavanes to clinch solo third place with 7.5 points. He earned P10,000.

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv

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