Barcenilla to get GM title next month
abs-cbnNEWS.com 02/09/2010 7:58 PM

MANILA, Philippines – Rogelio “Banjo” Barcenilla has something to cheer about next month.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. said the Arizona-based Barcenilla will finally get his “long overdue” grandmaster title next month.

“Maa-award na din ang GM (grandmaster) title ni Banjo next month,” said Pichay, who has seen the 5 Filipinos securing GM title during the his past 3 years as NCFP president. The list includes Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez and Joseph Sanchez.

The former Asian Junior champion Barcenilla, the top player of San Sebastian College and the country’s No. 4 player, has an ELO rating of 2518. He will soon join the ranks of RP’s elite group of GMs which includes So, Laylo, Gonzales, Gomez, Sanchez, Eugene Torre, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, Mark Paragua and the late Rosendo Balinas Jr.

“This is good news to Philippine Chess. We welcome him,” said Antonio, a 12-time national open champion.

Barcenilla achieved his 1st GM norm in 1993 in Jakarta and picked up his 2nd norm 5 years later in Subic. His won his 3rd GM norm in 2000 in New York and his 4th in 2009 in Phoenix.

Aside from being a very good chess player, Barcenilla also holds a black belt in Judo. He is currently based in Chandler, Arizona with his wife, former Olympian Woman National Master (WNM) Lilibeth Lee.

— by Marlon Bernardino
as of 02/09/2010 7:58 PM

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