13-time National Open Champion Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. will hold 30 boards simultaneous chess exhibition, a side event of the Negros Open Chess Championship dubbed as 2022 GM Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr. Tournament gets underway on April 16 at the Lamberto Macias Sport Complex in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
“Play against GM (Rogelio) Antonio and help the Negros chess players at the same time," said Mr. Drigo Teves, the brain child of this grass roots chess activity.
The event aims to challenge the participants’ problem-solving abilities and is hosted by Governor Roel Ragay Degamo in close cooperation with Dr. Ariel B. Potot of Barkadahan Para sa Bansa Party List and Mam Jeanshen "Shen" Rosalem, backed up by Dr. Jose "Joe" Carreon Balinas and Engr. Antonio "Tony" Carreon Balinas, both co-founding chairman of Bayanihan Chess Club in memory of Grandmaster Rosendo Carreon Balinas Jr., the conqueror of the tough and prestigious 1976 Odessa, Ukraine International Chess Tournament.
“We’re doing this to promote chess in the grassroots level,” said GM Antonio, one of student of GM Balinas.
"We would like to thank by Dr. Jose "Joe" Carreon Balinas, Engr. Antonio "Tony" Carreon Balinas, Governor Roel Ragay Degamo and Dr. Ariel B. Potot of Barkadahan Para sa Bansa Party List for supporting this chess event," added GM Antonio.
Among the early entries are Isaiah Kaisier Gasiong, Edrian Torres, Ethan Torres, Dhoey Yussef Tumarong, Kirstin Blaire Bulfa, Mary Ai Sitti Otod, Kirstie Aldenor Aniñon, Lenora Bethrez Aniñon and Marguerite Rozene Solon.
"These kids are currently trained by UAAP stand-outs WNM Sara Francine Olendo, co-captain of De La Salle University women's varsity and AFM Alfonzo Louis Olendo of Adamson University collegiate varsity team," said co-organizer Mr. Antonio Martin Olendo, who is also the PCAP's Negros Kingsmen co-team manager.