by Marlon Bernardino
Manila---Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is scheduled to compete in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Porto Santo Island, Portugal from Nov. 19 to 26.
"I will just try my very best and we'll see what will happen," said the 65-year-old Mangubat this Monday.

Mangubat secured his slot for the World Seniors Chess Championships after securing the second overall spot in last year's Asia Seniors Championship held at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City.
Mangubat, the pride of Minglanilla, Cebu is set to embark on a journey to become the next Filipino International Master.

Mangubat who is a Cebu prodigy. He is the youngest chess champion, winning an open tournament at the age of 10.
At the age of 20, Mangubat made big noises in the Philippine sports scene when he defeated Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre and National Master Glenn Bordonada in the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships held in Intramuros, Manila to take his coveted National Master title.

Mangubat won against Torre with white checks after 36 moves by the Sicilian defense in the third round of the tournament which resulted in the latter (Torre) dimming his chances with a special bonus.
Toyota car dealer Autosphere has announced a special bonus for the tournament that whoever wins all his games will receive a new Toyota Corolla.
"I am so happy beating Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre during the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships as well as National Master Glenn Bordonada," recalled Mangubat who also won 1 gold and 1 silver in the Senior division of the 19th ASEAN+ Age Groups Chess Championships that held in Davao City in 2018.-Marlon Bernardino-