4 Grandmasters Join Touchmove Rapid Chess Tourney

1 of 4

By EJ Basilonia

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Four Filipino grandmasters have registered early for the fourth edition of the Touchmove Open Rapid Chess Tournament, set for 9 a.m. on Aug. 24 at the SM City Roxas atrium.

The early entrants are Grandmasters Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., Darwin Laylo, John Paul Gomez, and Daniel Quizon.

The one-day tournament will follow a Swiss system format, with each player given 15 minutes plus a 3-second increment per move.

All four GMs are Chess Olympiad veterans and among the country’s most active elite players.

Antonio, 63, from Manila, is the Philippines’ third grandmaster, earning the title in 1993 after Eugene Torre in 1974 and Rosendo Balinas Jr. in 1976.

Laylo, 45, from Marikina City, became the seventh Filipino GM in 2007.

Gomez, 39, from Laguna province, earned his GM title in 2009 as the country’s 10th.

Quizon, 20, from Dasmariñas City, is the 18th Filipino GM. He secured his final GM norm by defeating GM Igor Efimov during the 45th Chess Olympiad, with FIDE awarding the title on Sept. 14, 2024.

“This tournament promises tough battles,” said National Master Marlon Bernardino, Touchmove coordinator in Manila. “We must also take into account the highly rated international, FIDE, and national masters who aim to prove their brilliance.”

The competition will feature top-rated players from across the country, alongside local woodpushers and chess enthusiasts from Roxas City and Capiz province.

“This is a national chess tournament and a historic first for Roxas City and Capiz,” said Capiz’s first National Master, Francis Jocson. “It is the largest in terms of prizes and budget, featuring renowned masters.”

“This marks 24 years and eight months of dreaming that a tournament like this would take place here,” said chess patron Eduard Basilonia. “I invite all chess players in the Philippines to participate in this showdown of great thinkers and be part of this historic moment.”