By MARK REY MONTEJO
Eight years after he conquered the hearts of the Filipinos, especially the Negrenses, Grandmaster Nigel Davis Short returned to the country recently, and like the last time, he was very accommodating.
But he was still smart and deadly.
He held blitz matches against local woodpushers led byGrandmaster GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. last Thursday at the Wild Flour Restaurant in Greenbelt 3, Makati City.
A former world title contender and ranked third in the late 1980s, Short won all his matches much to the delight of his supporters.
Apart from Antonio, he also beat IM Efren Bagamasbad, FM Ivan Travis Cu, NM Marlon Bernardino, Jericho Winston Cu, Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez, Keiffer Pelias, Noel Jay Estacio and lone lady player Elizsa Gayle Cafirma.
His short visit was made possible through the help of US-based National Master Antonio Aguirre.
“A heartfelt thanks to NM Tony Aguirre for bringing him in,” said Alvarez. “It was a one in million opportunity to play with a legendary grandmaster.”
The English board warrior flashed his skills in Bacolod City where he reigned supreme in the Piaya Network Negros International Chess Tournament.
There he outlasted Indian GM Srinath Narayanan in the ninth and final round to snare the top honor.
Short has a myriad of accolades from the local and international tournaments he joined in.
In 1993, Short etched his name in history books as the first-ever English woodpusher to play in a World Chess Championship game, facing Russian GM and sport icon Garry Kasparov, who eventually beat him.
