IM Chito Garma and Efren Bagmasbad, and Marlon Bernardino during the PSA Forum on Tuesday. Garma and Bagmasabad will compete in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship next month. -handout photo
MANILA, Philippines – For senior players Chito Garma and Efren Bagamasbad, it is never too late to become a Grand Master.
Both Filipinos will look to achieve remarkable feats while representing the country at the upcoming 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto, Portugal from November 16-29.
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Garma, a two-time Olympian, is competing in the over-50 category, Bagamasabad in the over-65, and another member in Mario Mangubat is also entering the over-50 category.
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Garma, Bagmasabad and Philippine delegation member Marlon Bernardino appeared at Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum to assess the country’s chances of competing against the world’s best senior chess players next month.
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Topping the tournament meant the outright Grand Master title for the Filipino.
“It feels great to be called World Senior Champion because it comes with the Grand Master title,” said Garma, a Filipino who represented the country in the Chess Olympiads held in Yugoslavia and Manila in 1990 and 1992.
“That’s why it’s also an inspiration for the young players, because if us older players can still do it, it’s even more so for the young ones,” said the international master, who turned 60 last July. Went.
Both big players will be trying to become the Philippines’ latest GM after 20-year-old Daniel Quizon, who defeated Georgia GM Igor Efimov to capture the title in the last World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.
Both Garma and Bagmasabad earned the right to represent the country in the two-week competition after topping their respective categories in the 12th Asian Senior Chess Championship held in Tagaytay City last year.
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During the same meet, both International Masters earned their second GM norms.
Mangubat, a national master based in Cebu, finished third behind Bagmasbad in the same tournament – IM Etkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan was the runner-up – completing the three-man Philippine team at the annual world championship first played in Germany in 1991. For .
“Chito and I will try our best to get the best results. Definitely, we will go there and give our all. Like I said, forget about the pressure and just stay focused,” Bagmasabad said.
England GM John Nunn won the 65 and above category at last year’s event in Terrasini, Italy, while his countryman GM Michael Adams dominated the 50 and above category.
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“We have a big opportunity. I hope we get lucky when we get there,” Garma said.
