MANILA, Philippines – For senior players Chito Garma and Efren Bagamasbad, it’s never too late to become a grand master.
The two Filipinos will try to achieve the remarkable feat as they represent the country at the coming 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Porto, Portugal from November 16-29.
A two-time Olympian, Garma is competing in the 50-above category, Bagamasbad in the 65-plus, and another member in Mario Mangubat is also entered in the 50-plus division.
Garma, Bagamasbad, and Philippine delegation member Marlon Bernardino appeared in Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum and gauged the country’s chances of competing against the world’s best senior chess players next month.
Topping the tournament meant outright grand master title for the Filipinos.
“Masarap pakinggan yung maging world senior champion ka kasi kaakibat niyan yung grand master title,” said Garma, who represented the country in the 1990 and 1992 Chess Olympiad held in Yugoslavia and Manila, respectively.
“Kaya nga ito inspiration din para sa mga bata, kasi kung kami ngang matatanda puwede pa, e di lalo na yung mga bata,” added the International Master who just turned 60 last July.
The two elder players will try to become the Philippine’s latest GMs after 20-year-old Daniel Quizon, who earned the title after beating GM Igor Efimov of Georgia in the last World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
Both Garma and Bagamasbad earned the right to represent the country in the two-week meet after topping their respective categories in the 12th Asian Senior Chess Championships held in Tagaytay City last year.
During the same meet, both International Masters earned their second GM norms.
Mangubat, a National Master who is based in Cebu, finished third behind Bagamasbad in the same tournament — with IM Aitkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan placing runner up — to complete the three-man Philippine team to the annual world competition first played in Germany back in 1991.
“Sisikapin namin ni Chito na makuha yung best finish. Definitely, we will go out there to do our best. Sabi ko nga kalimutan na ang pressure and just stay focused,” said Bagamasbad, a two-time Asian Seniors champion like Garma in the Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Smart/PLDT, Milo, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.
GM John Nunn of England topped the 65-and-above category in last year’s edition of the meet in Terrasini, Italy, while countryman GM Michael Adams ruled the 50-and-above category.
“Malaki ang chance natin. Kaya sana we will be fortunate pagdating doon,” added Garma.