GM Antonio defends Lifecore Enterprises Open chess title

Thirteen-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. will defend his title in the 2019 Lifecore Enterprises Open Chess Championships set at the Bulwagang Panlalawgian, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on September 15.

“Mas mabigat ang field ngayon, pero gagawin ko ang aking best,” said the Calapan City, Oriental native Antonio, the country’s representative in this year’s World Seniors Chess Championships to be held on November 11 to 24 in Bucharest, Romania.

Other leading Filipino chess masters in the event backed up by Nicolas Ramil Castro of Lifecore Enterprises Inc. are David Elorta, Randy Segarra, Emmanuel Emperado and Romeo Alcodia.

Photo shows 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (third from left) receive the championship's trophy after winning the 2018 Lifecore Enterprises Open Chess Championships on September 9, 2018 at the Xetro Mall, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Photo shows 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. (third from left) receive the championship’s trophy after winning the 2018 Lifecore Enterprises Open Chess Championships on September 9, 2018 at the Xetro Mall, Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.

The one-day rapid format is open to all players, organized by Mr. Emmanuel “Noel” Bandelaria Asi, president of United Chess Players of Calapan Inc. in close cooperation with Province of Oriental Mindoro with a top purse of P25,000.

The second to fifth placers will receive P10,000, P5,000, P3,000 and P1,000, respectively. Sixth to tenth placers will get P500 each.

Special prizes of P500 each will be given to the top performer such as Top Kiddie, Top Junior, Top Female and Top Senior.