GM Joey Antonio keeps Philippine flag alive, posts hard-earned win in Canberra chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 04 Apr 2026
Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. kept the Philippines alive, posting a hard-earned win over FIDE Master Kai Jie Soo of Australia after the fifth round of the 2026 O2C Doeberl Cup Premier Division at the Southern Cross Club, Woden Canberra, Australia on Saturday, April 4,2026.
Antonio defeated Soo in 37 moves of Bishops Opening using the white pieces.
" I hope I can sustain the momentum," said the 64-year-old Antonio, who won the gold medal in the 2025 World Senior Blitz Chess Championship in Gallipoli, Italy and took the silver medal in the 2025 Thailand Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.
After five rounds of play, the undefeated Antonio tallied three wins and two draws.
Earlier, Antonio beat FIDE Master Michael Kethro of Australia in the first round and William Rumley of Australia in the third round.
He split the points with Candidate Master Justin Xia of Australia in the second round and Candidate Master Ryan Lane in the fourth round.
After the Doeberl Cup (April 2-6) in Canberra, Antonio is set to compete in the Sydney International Open (April 8-12), followed by the Melbourne International Open (April 14-19).
Antonio's participation was supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman/president Cong. Prospero Pichay Jr.; the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) chaired by Alejandro Tengco;
Games and Amusement Board (GAB) Chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick Gregorio; Senator Bong Go; Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III; Mandaluyong City Mayor Carmelita 'Menchie' Aguilar- Abalos, Vice Mayor Anthony Suva, Congw. Queenie Gonzales, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte -Alimurung; Vice Mayor Gian Sotto; Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Tereso Panga; and Mr. Alvin Chu Teng of Cellboy.
The Australian chess circuit campaign is a part of the preparation of the 13 Times Philippine Open Chess Champion Antonio who is scheduled to represent the country in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships on November 2-15 in Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia. (Marlon Bernardino)
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