by Marlon Bernardino
Manila, Philippines---Grandmaster Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. expressed readiness and confidence that he will be having a better results in the upcoming Grandmaster and Attorney Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Death Anniversary Free Registration Online Chess Tournament on September 27, 2020, Sunday, 11 am Manila Time at lichess.org.

Bethesda, Maryland USA based frontline Dr. Joe Balinas and his older brother engineer Antonio "Uncle Paps" Balinas put up a total pot prize of P50,000 plus another P43,000 for the honorarium of 132 master seeing in action in the 21 rounds Swiss System, 2 minutes plus 2 seconds increment time control format, organized by Bayanihan Chess Club headed by Arena Grandmaster Marlon Bernardino and Mr. Genghis Imperial.

“It’s a prestigious tournament kaya medyo excited ako. I’ll do my best to win," said Chandler, Arizona, USA based Barcenilla, a two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Junior  champion in India and Dubai and 1991 Bronze medalist in World Juniors championship in Romania.

It shall be recalled that Barcenilla won his first national title in 23 years, by winning the 2019 National Open dubbed as Battle of the Grandmasters, which was held at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence in Quezon City. He won the 1996 Far East Bank-Philippine Open. He was a member of the team that ended in seventh place, the highest by the Philippines, in the 1988 Olympiad in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Last September 6, the 47-year-old Barcenilla finished runner-up place behind eventual champion New York, USA based Grandmaster Mark Paragua, an event in honor of the 79th birthday celebration of GM and Atty. Balinas.

All games were aired live thru the Youtube channel of Arena Grandmaster Voltaire Marc Paraguya as well Atty. Cliburn Anthony Orbe’s Official National Chess Federation of the Philippines Facebook channel.-Marlon Bernardino-
A file photo shows Grandmasters Julio Catalino Saddora, Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. and Wesley So.