Filipino takes 6th place, impresses at Asian Seniors Chess Championships

A Filipino “later-comer” in the world of chess left a remarkable performance and placed 6th in a recently concluded international tournament in Mongolia.

Jose Efren Bagamasbad, 67, competed in the Asian Seniors Chess Championships and went up against players in the 65-year-old-and-above category in Ulaanbaatar from August 9-19, 2024.

It was not the first time Bagamasbad played in the Asian Seniors Chess Championships; He earned the title of “International Master” when it was held in New Zealand in 2022, while he was declared champion when it was held in the Philippines last year.

Chess started as a hobby for Bagamasbad, he said, when he spoke with the Philippine Embassy in Beijing, which covers the Philippines’ diplomatic relations with Mongolia.

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According to him, he started playing chess as early as 8 years old and would always find the time to play the oldest and most popular board game even while his father pressed him to focus on his studies.

Eventually, he earned a Chemical Engineering degree in 1979.

“Chess was a hobby of mine during that time,” he said.

His first international tournament was in 1990, and he was only able to join because it was held in Manila. He reached the finals of the Far East Chess Open, and earned the title of “National Master.”

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In 2006, he joined another international tournament in Malaysia – by then he already retired from his day job.

Philippine Ambassador Jaime A. FlorCruz congratulated Bagamasbad for his chess victories.

“Efren’s triumph is proof of the importance of pursuing one’s passions because there can be no limits if we put our minds to it,” FlorCruz said.

The Filipino chess master hopes to compete in the World Senior Championships in Portugal this coming November.