Filipino GM Antonio beats Serbia's IM for share of lead in Caberra Chess Tournament
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Apr 2025
Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. crushed International Master Mihajlo Radovanovic of Serbia to seize a share of the lead almost halfway through the Premier division of the 2025 O2C Doeberl Cup Chess Tournament in Canberra, Australia, on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
This victory, with Antonio defending well against Radovanovic's tactics, put him on top alongside Grandmaster Guha Mitrabha of India, who defeated Grandmaster Jacek Stopa of Poland.
"I hope I can sustain the momentum," the 63-year-old Antonio said, who finished second behind eventual champion Mitrabha in the rapid competition of the Melbourne International Open Chess Championship last week.
Antonio and Mitrabha both have tallied 5.0 points apiece in six outings.
FIDE Master Arteaga Alexis Vargas of Colombia beat International Master Gary Lane of Australia to score 4.5 points, the same output as Grandmaster Das Sayantan of India, Grandmaster Zhao Zong-Yuan of Australia, and Zhu Harvey of Australia.
Sayantan split the points with Zong-Yuan, while Harvey dismantled FIDE Master Kai Jie Soo of Australia.
Another Filipino entry, International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, wasn't fortunate this time, losing to Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Thi Mao Hung of Vietnam.
Elize Cafirma, a Filipino based in Sydney who visits Canberra to show her support to GM Antonio and IM Bagamasbad, hosted dinner and breakfast.
"We (Rogelio Antonio) are very grateful to Elize Cafirma who bought my favorite hamburger for our dinner and hosted breakfast," said the 68-year-old Bagamasbad, who is eyeing his third and final GM norm in the Australian chess circuit.
The Filipinos' Australian chess circuit campaign is supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Col. Jaime Osit Santos, David Almirol, Bert Cunan, the Quezon City government headed by Mayor Joy Belmonte, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chairman and CEO Alejandro "Al" Tengco, and Thick and Thin Cafe.
Antonio and Bagamasbad, both residents of Quezon City, are scheduled to play in the Sydney International Open to be held from April 23 to 27, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.
Antonio and Bagamasbad will also represent the country in the FIDE (World Chess Federation) World Seniors Chess Championships from October 20 to November 2, 2025, in Gallipoli, Puglia, Italy. -Marlon Bernardino-
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