GM ANTONIO AND IM SEVILLANO

FILIPINO GM ANTONIO WINS MICHIGAN CHESS TOURNEY

FILIPINO GM ROGELIO "JOEY" ANTONIO JR. added another feather in his cap by winning the 2007 Michigan Open Chess Championships last August 31 to September 3 in Flint, Michigan, USA.

The 47-year-old Antonio who hails from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, the country's No.2 GM in the RP-Fide rating list with 2532 finished undefeated with 6 wins and a draw to raise his total to 6.5 points in seven games of play in a field composed of 46 players.

American IM Benjamin Finegold, who held GM Antonio to a draw in the sixth round settled for solo second place with 6.0 points.

Antonio is aiming to follow the foot steps of compatriot GM Mark Paragua to reach the 2600 Elo barrier. Parague did this in last year's Fide rating list by finishing tied for second place along with three others in the 12 th Pacific Open Chess Championships in Agoura Hills, California last July 19 to 22.

Antonio is the top player of the multi-titled Philippine Army Chess team, and was the 2006 Motor City Open Chess Championships runner-up last Nov. 24 to 26 in Warren, Michigan.

The Super GM campaign of Antonio in the US soil would be possible with the undying support of NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and NCFP secretary-general Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr., the Philippine Army and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) headed by William "Butch" Ramirez Jr.


CEBUANO IM SEVILLANO TIE FOR FIRST IN LA OPEN CHESS

CEBUANO International Master Enrico "Ikong" Sevillano scored two consecutive draws in the last two rounds to finish in a tie for first along with two others at the conclusion of 29 th Annual Southern California Open Chess Championship held last September 1 to 2 at the LAX Hilton in Los Angeles, California USA.

The California based Sevillano, who hails from Mandaue, Cebu finished undefeated with 4 wins, and 2 draws to raise his total to 5.0 points in six games of play, the same output of IM Timothy Taylor and US Master John Daniel Bryant, both from the United States.

Actually, Sevillano, a prodigee of sportsman/ national master Bombi Aznar was in solo lead after four games of play but settled for a draw with Russian IM Andranik Matikozyan and American IM Taylor, in round 5 and 6, respectively, in this field composed of 57 players.

(Report from MARLON BERNARDINO)