GM ANTONIO’S SIXTH STRAIGHT TITLE IN THE US CHESS CIRCUIT

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—THERE’S no stopping Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr.
The Many-Time RP Open champion garnered 8.5 out of ten games to emerged over-all champion in this year’s Super Blitz Open Chess Championships was held recently at the famous Chess Palace here.
Antonio, the pride of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, whose stint here is being supported by National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Filipino boxing idol Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, next stop is the prestigious Joseph Ileto Memorial Open Chess in Monterey, California on Sunday.

“Sana patuloy po akong ipagdasal ng mga kababayan natin, gaya ng nauna ko na pong nasabi, para sa bansa ang tagumpay po natin sa US chess circuit,” said Antonio, during his visit here in Lancaster, California, where former University of Manila (UM) team mate Ruben Ondangan hosted the stop of Antonio here along with US Master Bart Navarro and IM Enrico Sevillano, the reigning US Open champion. The South Western University stand-out Sevillano, the protégé of sportsman/ NM Matias “Bombi” Aznar, meanwhile settled a runner-up place in the 2008 Bakersfield Open with undefeated 3.5/4. His next stop is the 2008 San Diego Open on Sunday.

On the other hand, It was Antonio’s sixth straight title in the United States following his triumphs in the 2008 Motor City Open at the Universal Chess Club in Auburn Hills, Michigan on November 28 to 30, 17th North American Fide Invitational at the Skokie, Illinois on November 15 to 21, 2008 Los Angeles Open on October 31 to November 2 in Los Angeles, California, 8th Universal Annual Swiss Chess Open on September 28 in Auburn Hills, Michigan and the G/19 on October 19 in Scottdale, Georgia.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO