Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. is gearing up to defend his titles at the 6th Gov. Henry Oaminal Chess Championships on July 11-12 at the Ozamiz City Gymnasium in Misamis Occidental.
Antonio, a 13-time Philippine Open champion, recently excelled at the Asean Seniors Chess Championships in Penang, Malaysia, where he secured eight medals, including four golds.
Aiming for New Heights
I hope to perform well and gain some elo rating points in Ozamiz City.
GM Rogelio Antonio Jr.
Having also claimed a gold in blitz at the World Seniors Chess Championships in Italy and a silver in Spain, Antonio looks forward to competing against the nation's elite chess players.
The festival is not just a competition; it will feature renowned figures in chess, such as Eugene Torre, Asia's first grandmaster, who will deliver an inspirational talk and participate in the ceremonial opening moves.
- Individual tournaments for Open, High School, and Elementary categories
- A 'Tatluhan' team tournament as a side event
The tournament coincides with Ozamiz's Charter Day celebration. It boasts a cash prize pool of P500,000, making it the largest chess event in Mindanao this year.
Organized by the Asenso Misamis Occidental Chess Association (Amofca), the event is expected to attract significant participation and attention from the chess community.
Before the competitive rounds, simultaneous matches will be held featuring GM Torre, GM Antonio, GM Jayson Gonzales, GM Daniel Quizon, and Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna against local youth.