by Marlon Bernardino
MANILA---Hotel Sogo is throwing its full support behind GM Rogelio Madrigal Antonio Jr. and company led PH chess team campaign to the 2023 Bob Wade Masters and Challengers to be held on January 13 to 21, 2023 at the Howick Community Church Complex in Auckland, New Zealand.

Antonio will be joining National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., Woman National Master Antonella Berthe Murillo Racasa and Roberto Manggaran Racasa.
"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hotel Sogo by throwing its full support to PH chess team campaign to the 2023 Bob Wade Masters and Challengers to be held on January 13 to 21, 2023 at the the Howick Community Church Complex in Auckland, New Zealand," said Roberto Manggaran Racasa, Team Delegation Head.
" We would like also thanks to New Zealand Chess Federation Inc. Vice President International Organizer Paul Spiller for inviting us to participate in the said International Chess Tournament," added Roberto, a certified FIDE National arbiter and the father/coach of WNM Antonella Berthe Racasa.
The 60-year-old Antonio (Elo 2397) will be playing in the Masters division, Standard Event, Single Round Robin Format that includes GM Elshan Moradiabadi of the USA (Elo 2514), GM Samy Shoker of Egypt (Elo 2491), FM Ben Hague of New Zealand (Elo 2381), IM Gary Lane of Australia (Elo 2343), IM Herman C. Van Riemsdijk of Brazil (Elo 2265), FM Stephen Lukey of New Zealand (Elo 2130), FM Robert W. Smith of New Zealand (Elo 2130) and CM  Felix Xie of New Zealand (Elo 2103).
The 45-year-old Bernardino (Elo 2035), a veteran sportswriter and radio commentator is the second seed in the Challengers 2 section while the 15-year-old Racasa (Elo 1504) is ninth seed.-Marlon Bernardino-