by Marlon Bernardino
12-Times National Open Champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. defeated National Master Emmanuel Emperado last Saturday for his fifth straight victory in the 1st Eugene Torre Chess Cup - SEA Games Luzon Qualifying Leg 2019 (Rapid event) held at the Mapua University Gymnasium in Muralla Street, Intramuros, Manila.
The Quezon City ace Antonio, crafted the win with the black pieces to create a two-way tie for first with International Master Barlo Nadera, winner over International Master Ronal Dableo.
Ten woodpushers are among those with 4.5 points including International Masters Paulo Bersamina, Jan Emmanuel Garcia, Ronald Bancod and Daniel Quizon, Fide Masters David Elorta, Randy Segarra, Adrian Ros Pacis and Mari Joseph Turqueza, National Master Alcon John Datu and Sherwin Tiu.
Hans Ezekiel Olorosisimo, Franchesca Largo, Erick Spencer Valdez and Jeremy Marticio are leading the way in the High School division with 4 points each in as many rounds.
Cyrus James Damiray and Kaye Lalaine Regidor, meantime remained on top in the Elementary division with 5 points apiece after five games of play.
No less than Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association, headed by President Edmond Aguilar, Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Mapua University President Dr. Rey Vea and Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr.made the twin ceremonial moves to usher the start of the competition holds the record-breaking tournament ever with 490 players in the history. Joining them are , Far Eastern University head coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, former Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association President Victor Lau and engineer Nelson Salazar, among others.
In the Open Division, there are 252 participants composed of bunch of masters and varsity players of different universities while in the High School Division, there are 92 players and for elementary, 146 players have joined in the 2-day tournament, hosted by Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association in close cooperation with National Association of Mapua Alumni (NAMA) and National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by it's Chairman/President Surigao Del Sur Rep. Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.
"Co-Tournament Officials, Thank you very much for all our effort to make the 1st Eugene Torre Chess Cup - SEA Games Luzon Qualifying Leg 2019 a successful evet. There is still more projects to come." said Mapua University head coach Boyet Tardecilla.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo caption: No less than Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association, headed by President Edmond Aguilar, Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, Mapua University President Dr. Rey Vea and Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. made the twin ceremonial moves to usher the start of the competition holds the record-breaking tournament ever with 490 players in the history. Joining them are Far Eastern University head coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, former Mapua Filipino-Chinese Alumni Association President Victor Lau and engineer Nelson Salazar, among others.