PORTO:Filipino chess players Chito Garma and Efren Bagamasbad are set to compete in the 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships from November 16-29, aiming to secure the grandmaster title by topping the tournament. The event, hosted in Porto, Portugal, gathers the world’s elite senior chess competitors, where victory could elevate the Filipino players to grandmaster status.
According to Philippines News Agency, Garma and Bagamasbad earned their spots on the national team by performing excellently in their respective age brackets during the 12th Asian Senior Chess Championships held last year in Tagaytay City. Garma, a two-time Olympian and International Master, will compete in the 50-above category, while Bagamasbad, also an International Master and a two-time Asian Seniors champion, will participate in the 65-plus category. Joining them is Mario Mangubat, a National Master from Cebu, who secured third place in the same qualifying event.
During their appearance at the Philippine Sportswriters Association
(PSA) Forum, Garma discussed the significance of their participation, not only for personal achievement but also as an inspiration for younger players. He stressed the importance of maintaining focus and resilience, sentiments echoed by Bagamasbad who emphasized the need to perform their best without succumbing to pressure.
The Filipino delegation is hopeful about their chances at the championship, inspired by recent successes in the chess world, such as 20-year-old Daniel Quizon who became a grandmaster after his performance at the last World Chess Olympiad. The FIDE World Senior Chess Championships, first held in Germany in 1991, has been a prestigious platform for senior chess players worldwide to showcase their enduring skill and strategic acumen.