Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. scored 1.5 points in the last two rounds to emerge as the overall champion in the first edition of the Cesar Orbe Memorial Chess 960 blitz series online at the famous chess website: “www.chess.com” recently.
Antonio, the 13-time Philippine Open champion defeated National Master (NM) Joey Florendo in the tenth and penultimate round then halved the point with National Master (NM) Rolzon Roullo in the eleventh and final round.
He finished with 9.5 points on eight wins and three draws to capture the title in the 197-player online tournament, which was organized by Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe, the executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by chairman/president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Arreza Pichay Jr.
Actually, Severino tallied the same 9.5 points output but settled for runner-up honors due to lower tiebreak score.
Roullo edged Grandmaster (GM) Darwin Laylo and two other players on tie-break to clinch third place.
“I’m very happy and proud to have won this tournament made by my kumpadre Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe,” said Antonio, who beat International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon, International Master (IM) Paulo Bersamina and Fide Master (FM) Arden Reyes to go home with the prestigious title.
Tournament organizer Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe praised Antonio for his achievement.
“Congratulations to our Living Legend Grandmaster GM Joey Antonio for ruling the first edition of the Cesar Orbe Memorial Chess 960 blitz series which included some of the best players in the Philippines,” said Orbe.
Participants included Olympic-bound GM Darwin Laylo and IM Paulo Bersamina, as well as WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, IM Daniel Maravilla Quizon and many others.
