Hopes high as Team PH looks to make history in Portugal World Senior Games
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 27 Oct 2024
Manila---THE THREE-ATHLETE Philippine contingent leaves for the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal on November 15 optimistic that it can measure up against the world’s finest woodpushers athletes in the competition scheduled Nov. 16-29.
“We can feel the pressure but we’re very excited,” said International Master Chito Danilo Garma, tipped as the country’s brightest hope for a medal.
The 60-year-old Garma, a two-time Asian Senior Chess Champion, is competing in the 50 above class.
The Sampaloc, Manila athlete will be joined in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship by International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad and FIDE Master Mario Mangubat.
“It’s going to be tough, but I prepared long and hard for the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal," said Garma, who is eyeng for his third and final Grandmaster norm.
It shall be recalled that Garma won the 2019 Asian Senior Championship in Tagaytay City where got his first Grandmaster norm.
He also topped the 50 and above category in the 2023 Asian Senior Championship in Tagaytay City en route to his second Grandmaster norm.
For Bagamasbad on his part, the pride of Quezon City is also setting his third and final Grandmaster norm.
The 68-year-old Bagamasbad made his name in the chess world by ruling the 65 over category of the 2022 Asian Senior Chess Championship in Auckland, New Zealand to obtain his first Grandmaster norm and an outright International Master title.
He also ruled the 65 over category of the 2023 Asian Senior Chess Championship in Tagaytay City to obtain his second Grandmaster norm.
"It's been my obsession to compete in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship because we knew that the world's top chess players are playing in the Portugal soil," said Bagamasbad.
"To play against the best maybe makes me stronger and a better player," he added.
Mangubat, the pride of Minglanilla, Cebu is the 2023 Tagaytay Asian Senior bronze medal winner in the 65 over category got an outright FIDE Master title.
“Representing the Philippines is one of the greatest feelings you can even imagine. A lot of Filipinos are cheering for us all over the world and it’s really the best feeling,” said the 65-year-old Mangubat.
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 which were held in Intramuros, Manila en route to his coveted National Master title.
Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. who will serve as PH coach and delegation head, believes that the triumvirate will perform well in the said chessfest.
"We’re confident they will do well in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal," said Bernardino, a certified Filipino and United States chess master.
The Filipinos, whose trip is being financed by the Philippine Sports Commission through chair Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco, backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines chair/president Butch Pichay Jr.
Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. took the runner-up honors in the 50-and-above division of the 27th World Seniors Chess Championship in Acqui Terme, Italy in 2017. Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, meanwhile settled for 7th overall in the 65 above category.
Defending champion is GMs Michael Adams and John Nunn of England in the 50-and-above and 65 above class, respectively.-Marlon Bernardino-
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