IM Young powers Mind Power in GM Eugene Torre FIDE Rapid Seniors Chess Team Tournament Victory

INTERNATIONAL Master Angelo Young (left) in action against Bayanihan Chess Club legal counsel Atty. Rodolfo Enrique Rivera. (Contributed Photo)

 

Final Standings: (Six Round Swiss System)

14.0 points—Mind Power Chess Team

13.5 points—RG Warriors

12.0 points—Cavite Knights

10.0 points—Zugzwang Knights Kimurs

9.5 points—Team Balinas, Magic Mandaluyong Tigers

8.5 points—DPWH1

7.5 points—Senior Incontrovertible

7.0 points—    Team Duterte, DPWH 2

6.0 points—The Legends

3.5 points—Djsiayngco Chess Club Team

 

IMUS, Cavite, Philippines – The Mind Power Chess Team swept the last two rounds to clinch the team rapid title to cap a fruitful stint in the GM Eugene Torre FIDE Rapid Seniors Chess Team Tournament held at Robinson Townville Buhay na Tubig Branch on Sunday, March 26, 2023.

 

The Mind Power Chess Team pulled an identical 2.5-1.5 wins over Zugzwang Knights Kimurs and Team Balinas in the fifth and0 final rounds, respectively, boosting their tally to 14.0 points to top 11 other squads, and bagged the top pot of P20,000 and a Perpetual Trophy.

 

The team is made up of IM Angelo Abundo Young, Roberto Biron and Gary Legaspi bagged the crown in the event organized by Inter-Agency Chess Group and sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

 

“This was a tough tournament, but we are proud and grateful that we will be bringing home the honours for our squad,” said Young, an 8-time Illinois USA Champion.

 

“It was truly a team effort on our part. Everybody did his share in winning the rapid championship,” added Young, who is best to remember winning an over-all eight place finish in the +50 division of the 2019 World Seniors Chess Championships in Bucharest, Romania.

 

In round 5, it was Young and Legaspi who carried the Mind Power Chess Team on their shoulders with wins over their highly touted rivals.

 

Young outplayed fellow IM Chito Garma in Board 1 while Legaspi upended Eugene Trasfiero on Board 3. Biron and Jerry Areque fought to a draw on Board 2.

 

On the other hand, Biron and Legaspi were the heroes in the Mind Power Chess Team’s conquest of powerhouse Team Balinas in Round 6

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Biron subdued Rodolfo “Jun” Panopio Jr. while Legaspi outplayed Ronnie Sebastian.

 

Young settled to a draw with GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. on top board.

 

Meanwhile, the Atty. Rodolfo Enrique Rivera supported RG Warriors headed by NM Edmundo Gatus, Dennis San Juan and Primitivo Virtudazo could only muster a runner up finish with 13.5 points total output to bring home the runner-up purse of P10,000.

 

The RG Warriors tied with Cavite Knights, 1.5-1.5, in Round 5 then blanked Senior Incontrovertible, 3-0, in Round 6.

 

Against Cavite Knights, Gatus split the points with IM Barlo Nadera in Board 1 while San Juan dismantled Eduardo Tunguia in Board 2.

 

However, Virtudazo was beaten by Alfred Jumanan on Board 3. Against Senior Incontrovertible, Gatus, San Juan and Virtudazo crushed Anthony Avellaneda, Agrifino Camposano and Esmael Abas, respectively.

 

Meanwhile, IM Garma pocketed the top honors in the Blitz individual event.

 

The Tondo, Manila native IM Garma collected six points in six outings to went home 1,500 PHP plus trophy. Garma scored victories over Queen Angelus Dacallos in the first round, Biron in the second round, Vincent Paolo Constantino in the third round, IM Young in the fourth round, IM Nadera in the fifth round and GM Antonio in the sixth and final round. – Marlon Bernardino.