MANILA, Philippines - Nagbalik sa kanyang pamatay na porma si 12-time national open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Jr. matapos pagharian ang 5th Gatherings of Knights and Kings Open Chess Tournament na ginanap sa Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School kamakailan sa Quezon City.
Si Antonio, top player ng multi-titled Philippine Army chess team, ay nanaig laban kay top rated player GM Wesley So sa finals para angkinin ang P6,000 top prize sa one-day event.
“It was a great feeling beating GM Wesley So in one game blitz final of 5th Gathering of Knights in Ramon Magsaysay Cubao. I thought i have no chances of beating him,” wika ng 49-anyos na si Antonio.
Para maitakda ang kanilang finals game ni So, kinailangan muna ni Antonio na talunin si Fide Master David Elorta.
Ang iba pang nagkampeon sa kani-kanilang dibisyon ay sina Allan Cantonjos ng Philippine Airforce (Non-Master); businessman Raul Villate (Executive), International Arbiter at National Master Elias Lao (Seniors), Woman National Master Christy Lamiel Bernales (Women), Carlo Caranyagan ng Arellano University (Kiddy) at Rodolfo Canonigo (Visually Impaired).