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GM Joey Antonio is out of Philippines’ roster for Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open

Philstar reported last Monday:

Grandmaster Joey Antonio, the reigning national champion, will not be joining the Philippine team bound for the 42nd World Chess Olympiad set Sept. 1-14 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The explanation offered by the NCFP: that GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Jr. will be playing in the 2016 World Seniors Championship in November.

Ed Andaya writes in Journal Online:

Conspicuously absent is Battle of GMs national champion Rogelio Antonio, Jr., who reportedly begged off from taking his place in the national team to Baku.

Infiesto said Antonio decided to represent the country in the 2016 World Seniors Championsips in the Czech Republic in November, along with Torre.

If you don’t smell something fishy about these developments, let me point out to you what Antonio posted on his Facebook account just last month:

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad (Open)

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad

Philippines Contingents to the Buka 2016 Chess Olympiad

More details can be found here.

UPDATE:

The line up has been updated, as follows:

Philippines Team in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open

TitleNameRating
GMJulio Catalino Sadorra2538
GMJohn Paul Gomez2492
GMEugenio Torre2447
GMRogelio Barcenilla2455
IMPaulo Bersamina2402

Read: GM Joey Antonio is out of Philippines’ roster for Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Open.

World’s Youngest FIDE Master

Alekhine Nouri became the world’s youngest FIDE Master (FM) after winning the 14th ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships in Thailand in 2013. Born in Negros in December 12, 2005, Alekhine was named after the former world champion Alexander Alekhine.

For me, I’m quite skeptical about FIDE awarding FM titles to the winners of U8 (under 8 years old) continental tournaments when their rating is yet way below 2300 (FM titles are usually conveyed to players with Elo rating of 2300 or more). Kids may not be able to follow up their strong performance with even bigger feats in the future.

The Sorry State of Philippine Chess

Eugene Torre vs. Joey Antonio in the Battle of Grandmasters 2008

Rappler asks Why has chess fallen in popularity in the Philippines?, and writes:

At the first Battle of Grandmasters in 2006, Wesley So won the first prize of P200,000. But as sponsorships dried up, so did prize money. On Tuesday, June 28 Joey Antonio won and took home a first prize of P18,000.

A sorry state, indeed. The article goes on to explain how Filipino grandmasters are flying out of the country in search of greener pastures.

Battle of the Grandmasters 2016

The Battle of the Grandmasters — the 2016 (Philippines) National Chess Championship Grand Finals is underway and off to its last round (Round 13) today.

6 Filipino grandmasters joined the Open Division.

Standings of the Open Division at the end of Round 12 follow: