RP chess team due to Russia for World Chess Cup
abs-cbnNEWS.com 11/18/2009 6:58 PM
MANILA — The Philippine Chess Team is scheduled to fly to Russia on Thursday to compete in the 2009 World Chess Cup, a qualifier for the World Championship.
The three-man team is composed of Grandmasters (GM) Wesley So, Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., and Darwin Laylo.
The 15-year-old So, seeded 59th in the 128-player event, will face So, will face 70th seed GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan.
Chess veteran Antonio will have defending champion GM Gata Kamsky of the US as his first assignment.
“Sana ipagdasal n’yo po kami,” said the Calapan, Oriental Mindoro native.
Laylo, meanwhile, will test GM David Navara of Czech Republic.
If So and Torre score a successive series of wins, there is a chance that they might compete against each other.
“Magkasama kami ni Wesley sa bracket at posible kaming magtapat sa third round kung pareho kami mananalo sa 1st at 2nd round,” said Antonio.
Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr., National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) chief, said he is confident that the three Pinoy pawn pushers will give out a good performance.
“Umabot lamang sa fourth round magandang achievement na po ito,” said Pichay.
The World Chess Cup, which has a total prize fund of $1,600,000, is slated to run from November 20 to December 15 in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia. By Marlon Bernardino
as of 11/18/2009 6:58 PM
Go Wesley!
“If So and Torre score a successive series of wins, there is a chance that they might compete against each other.”
It should read “…So and Antonio …”
Bernardino needs to proof read his articles.