Antonio pips So for Tuguegarao Open title

Final standings:

8.0 points—R. Antonio, W. So; 7.5—O. Barbosa; 7.0—A. Milagrosa, J. Gomez, O. Dimakiling, D. Laylo, M. Roque, R. Natividad, C. Lorena; 6.5—R. Llavanes, R. Nolte, B. Nadera, M. Asejo, B. Vehemente

TUGUEGARAO, CAGAYAN—Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. lived up to his reputation as the country’s top rapid player when he ruled the first Pace-Tuguegarao Open Chess Festival held at the Paseo Reale Mall here late Sunday.

The 48-year-old Antonio, making a final push to be reconsidered for the Philippine team to the Asian Games in Guangzhou next month, finished with 8 points in nine rounds on seven wins and two draws to capture his first local title this year.

The 12-time national champion from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, who is hoping to regain his spot in the team following his suspension by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, ended up joint first with top seed GM Wesley So, but earned the title by virtue of higher tiebreak score.

Antonio and So, who drew their match in the sixth round, pocketed P17,500 each from the combined first and second cash prizes in the two-day tournament.

In the ninth round, Antonio bested National Master Rolando Nolte, while So whipped IM Oliver Dimakiling. 
Antonio is appealing to NCFP head Prospero Pichay to be reinstated to the team.

“I want to help the national team to the Asian Games,” said Antonio, who was dropped from the team for failing to participate in two recent international events.

Jennifer Baquiran, representing Gov. Alvaro Antonio, awarded the trophies and cash prizes to the winners. She was assisted by Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre and Pace founder GM Jayson Gonzales.

IM Oliver Barbosa trounced NM Ronald Llavanes to clinch third, worth P10,000.

The tournament was organized by the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence, in cooperation with Compuserve Land Surveying Co. and the Cagayan and Tuguegarao local governments.