By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Grandmaster Joey Antonio flashed his vintage form anew after topping the premier rapid division of the Asenso Ozamiz Open chess tournament on Sunday, July 14.
Antonio, 63, survived reigning national juniors champion International Master Michael Concio Jr in a marathon 99-move draw of a Two Knights Defense duel to rule the nine-round tournament that has some of the best players in the country.
The Olympiad veteran was flawless with seven wins and two draws to finish with eight points, enough to clinch the top purse worth P50,000 courtesy of Ozamiz City.
Antonio’s feat came just a day after winning the 10-player Battle of the Champions.
Concio, meanwhile, fell into a three-player logjam at second with Kevin Arquero and GM Daniel Quizon with 7.5 points. The 19-year-old ended up at third after tiebreaks were applied.
Snaring the silver was Arquero, while Quizon wound up fourth.
Completing the Top 10 finishers were IM Kim Steven Yap, Joey Albert Florendo, GM Darwin Laylo, IM Angelo Young, Rodney Opada and Macacana Macala.
