MJ Turqueza to play in the 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 23 Jul 2018
MANILA, Philippines---FIDE MASTER (FM) and International Master (IM) elect Mari Joseph "MJ" Logizesthai Turqueza is excited for his first Philippine Team experience in the upcoming 43rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia to be held on September 23 to October 6, 2018.
"I'm excited. It's my first time playing there (World Chess Olympiad)," said the 25-years-old Turqueza, top player of San Beda University (SBU) taking up BS Marketing under the watchful eye of San Beda University athletic director Ato Badolato, Prefect Student Athletes Michael John Rubio and head chess coach Ildefonso "Ponching" Datu.
"Every athlete's dream is to represent his country in the world's biggest stage and to compete against the best players in the world. It feels great that the time I've spent on training has paid off, now I am looking forward for more training," added Turqueza who now in a rigid training, six hours a day.
Turqueza, the son of Atty. Gene Turqueza of the famous V.Luna Chess Club, is reviewing his petline Catalan Opening for white side and Sicilian-Najdorf for black pieces.
Fondly called "MJ" in the chess world, he got his first of the three IM norm during the Asian Zonal Chess Championships in 2013 in Tagaytay City, hosted by chess patron Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Ng Tolentino Jr.
He earned two IM norms in the same year during the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship that was held at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Pasay City.
Turqueza needed to improve his ELO ratings 2360 to 2400 to become a full-fledged International Master (IM) according to Atty. Cliburn Anthony A.Orbe, treasurer and spokesperson of the of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by it's chairman/president Rep. Prospero "Butch" Arreza Pichay Jr. and secretary-general Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Ng Tolentino Jr.
NCFP tresurer and spokesperson Atty. Cliburn Anthony A.Orbe added that other member's of the men's team are US based Grandmaster (GM) Julio Catalino "Ino" Sadorra, Grandmaster (GM) John Paul Gomez, International Master (IM) Haridas Pascua and International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
The women's squad is composed of country's first Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna, Woman International Master (WIM) Catherine Perena-Secopito, Woman International Master (WIM) Marie Antoinette San Diego, Woman International Master Bernadette Galas and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza.
Asia's First Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre is the head coach.
Former Olympian member and Asian Junior Champion International Master (IM) Domingo Razo Ramos had something to say in the final line up of the Philippine chess team.
"Maganda line up ng Philippine chess team, puro mga bata para mabigyan sila ng pagkakataon makapaglaro at maka gain ng experience sa World Chess Olympiad," said the Singapore-based IM Ramos who played for the country twice in Chess Olympiads (1980 Valleta, Malta and 1984 Thesaloniki, Greece), and three-times (1994 Moscow, Russia, 1996 Yerevan, Armenia and 1998 Elista, Kalmykia, Russia) Japan National Team board 1 player.(Marlon Bernardino)
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