Cebuano FM Mario Mangubat to join World Senior Chess Championship in Portugal
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 20 Aug 2024
Manila---Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is set to compete in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Porto Santo Island, Portugal from Nov. 19 to 26.
"I will just try my very best and we'll see what will happen," the 65-year-old Mangubat said on Monday.
Mangubat earned his slot for the World Seniors Chess Championships after claiming the second overall spot in the Asia Seniors Championship last year held at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City.
Mangubat, the pride of Minglanilla, Cebu is set to embark on a journey to become the next Filipino International Master.
He will carry the country flag’s as he takes on some of the world’s best senior chess grandmasters in Portugal. These will include the defending champion Grand Master (GM) John Nunn, a long-time British champion and number player.
"We all know how difficult it is to become an IM. But with the support of my family and sponsors like Minglanilla mayor Rajiv Enad, Congresswoman Rhea Gullas and Barangay Ward 2 Capt. John Floyd Castañares, I can reach my dream,” he added.
Mangubat was a Cebu prodigy. He was the youngest chess champion, winning an open tournament at the age of 10.
By the age of 20, Mangubat made waves in the Philippine sports scene when he upset Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre and National Master Glenn Bordonada in the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships that wa held in Intramuros, Manila en route his coveted National Master title.
Mangubat won against Torre using the white pieces after 36 moves of Sicilian defense in the third round of the tournament that resulted in the latter's (Torre) dimming his chances with a special bonus.
The Toyota car dealer Autosphere announced a special bonus for the tournament that anybody who wins all his games will receive a brand new Toyota Corolla.
"I was so happy beating Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre during the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships as well National Master Glenn Bordonada," recalled Mangubat who also won 1 gold and 1 silver in the Senior division of the 19th ASEAN+ Age Groups Chess Championships held in Davao City in 2018.-Marlon Bernardino-
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