MANILA — Thirteen-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. is set to compete in the Asean Seniors Chess Championships, scheduled from July 1 to 11, 2025, in Penang, Malaysia.
" I would like to thank Penang Chess Association President Atty. See Swee Sie, who is also the Vice President of the Malaysian Chess Federation, for inviting me to this tournament," Antonio said. “I'm hoping to earn some ELO rating points.”
He also extended his gratitude to Mr. Ignatius Leong for organising both the ASEAN Seniors Chess Championships and the ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships.
The 63-year-old grandmaster recently finished runner-up in the Melbourne International Open Rapid Chess Championships held from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Melbourne Chess Club. He also placed fourth in the Premier Division of the 2025 O2C Doeberl Cup Standard competition, held April 17 to 21 in Canberra, Australia.
Joining Antonio in the ASEAN Seniors tournament are fellow Filipino players IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, IM Angelo Young, IM Rico Mascarinas, and NM Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr.
International invitees include GM Cao (Vietnam), IM Sadikin and IM Gunawan (Indonesia), IM Chan (Singapore), and IM Liew (Malaysia).
The event will feature standard, rapid, and blitz formats, with pre-SEA Games competitions in Makruk (Thai chess) and Asean chess, plus age-group categories.
Antonio is also scheduled to compete in the Woman FIDE Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao Open Rapid Chess Championships on May 18, 2025, at Pavilion Mall, Greenfield District, Mandaluyong City, near MRT Shaw Boulevard station.
Later this year, he will play in the Asian Dragons Invitational Chess Tournament from July 12 to 16 in Taipei City, Taiwan, and represent the Philippines in the Fide World Seniors Chess Championships from October 20 to November 2 in Gallipoli, Puglia, Italy.
On May 7, 2025, Antonio also attended the 7th Art Exhibition of Mr. Jeff Bugayong at Contemporary, Okada Manila. The event featured the debut works of Bugayong’s children. Bugayong is a long-time chess patron and supporter of GM Antonio. Marlon Bernardino
