GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr.

The recently concluded 8th Asian Continental Chess Championship saw the participation of the strongest lineup the Philippines could ever afford to send in an international tournament in the recent years.

Nine of the Top 10 Filipino players were there, composed of seven grandmasters and two international masters.

Had GM Joseph Sanchez played in the tournament, it could have been the complete Top 10 chess players of the country to see action in that tough – yes, tough – continental chess event.

Final Rankings of Filipino players:

6 GM Antonio Rogelio Jr 7.5
21 GM So Wesley 6.5
22 GM Torre Eugenio 6.5
34 GM Laylo Darwin 6.0
41 IM Bitoon Richard 5.5
47 IM Nolte Rolando 5.5
50 GM Villamayor Buenaventura 5.5
52 IM Dimakiling Oliver 5.0
53 GM Gonzales Jayson 5.0
55 IM Sadorra Julio Catalino 5.0
59 GM Gomez John Paul 5.0
60 Garma Edgardo 5.0
61 GM Paragua Mark 5.0
70 Garcia Jan Emmanuel 4.5
75 Causo Deniel 4.0
78 Pascua Haridas 4.0
79 IM Bancod Ronald 4.0
80 Olay Edgar Reggie 4.0
82 Elorta David 3.0

(Total of 85 players)
Complete list HERE (Final Rankings)

A total of 19 Filipino players displayed their chess powers against foreign counterparts, but only one – in the name of GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. – made it to the Top 10 finishers to qualify for the World Cup 2009.

Only one Philippine Flag was waved in the Top 20 ranking list – courtesy of GM Antonio.

In the end, the overall performance of the Philippine contingent in the event – as I see it – came a little short of high expectations.