Antonio, Bernardino, Racasa lalahok sa Auckland, New Zealand chessfest

MANILA — Nakatakdang lumahok sina Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Madrigal Antonio, Jr., National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino, Jr., at Woman National Master Antonelle Berthe Murillo Racasa sa 2023 Bob Wade Masters and Challengers na gaganapin sa Howick Community Church Complex sa Auckland, New Zealand sa 13-21 Enero 2023.

“I’m very happy to play in Auckland, New Zealand. I was invited to play in the Masters division,” sabi ng 60-anyos na si Antonio na sariwa pa sa ninth place finish sa FIDE World Senior Individual Chess Championship nitong 15-16 Nobyembre 2022 sa Assisi, Italy.

Ang 13-time Philippine Open Champion Antonio (Elo 2397) ay masisilayan sa Masters division, Standard Event, Single Round Robin Format na kinabibilangan nina GM Elshan Moradiabadi ng USA (Elo 2514), GM Samy Shoker ng Egypt (Elo 2491), FM Ben Hague ng New Zealand (Elo 2381), IM Gary Lane ng Australia (Elo 2343), IM Herman C. Van Riemsdijk ng Brazil (Elo 2265), FM Robert W. Smith ng New Zealand (Elo 2130), at CM  Felix Xie ng New Zealand (Elo 2103).

Habang ang 45-anyos na si Bernardino (Elo 2035), veteran sportswriter at radio commentator ay top seed naman sa Challengers 2 section habang ang 15-anyos na si Racasa (Elo 1504) ay seventh seed.

Si Roberto Manggaran Racasa, ama ni Antonelle Berthe ay naimbitahan ni New Zealand Vice President Paul Spiller na maging bahagi bilang arbiter. (MB)