PHILIPPINE ARMY TOP PLAYER VYING FOR TOUGH NORTH AMERICAN OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA—FILIPINO Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. joined compatriot and reigning US Open champion IM Enrico “Ikong” Sevillano, US masters Bart Navarro and Ruben Ondangan to lead the Philippine charge at the start of 18th Annual North American Open Chess Championship set to open on December 27 at the Bally’s Casino Resort Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The North American Open features a $150,000 projected prize fund (based on 750 paid entries)—$100,000 minimum guaranteed according to the official website Continental Chess Association (CCA). The champion here in the Open section will bring home $12,000.

The twelve (12)-time National Open Champion Antonio, the top player of multi-titlist Philippine Army Chess Team under the baton of Philippine Army (PA) Commanding General Lt. Gen. Victor S. Ibrado is seeking to continue his winning streak in the US Chess Circuit.

“Sana ipagpatuloy n’yo po ang pagdasal sa akin at sa iba pa nating kababayan na maglalaro sa North American Open Chess,” Antonio told to this writer on Tuesday at the Pastor Ruben Ondangan’s resident here in Lancaster.

The former University of Manila (UM) stand-out Antonio whose stint here is being supported by NCFP president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Filipino boxing idol Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is in a roll in the US Chess Circuit.

Antonio, who hails from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro recently topped the 10th annual Joseph Ileto Memorial Open Chess Championships here at the Monterey Park over the weekend for his seventh chess crown.
Also expected to play are defending co-champions Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura and IM David Pruess, GMs Zviad Izoria, Varuzhan Akobian, Alexander Shabalov, Julio Becerra, Gildardo Garcia, Ildar Ibragimov, Melikset Khachiyan, Jesse Krai, Dashzheveg Sharavdorj, Michhael Rohde, Anatoly Lein, Yuriy Shulman, among others.

BY: MARLON BERNARDINO