FIDE Master Sander Severino had set the bar by winning the first IPCA (International Physically Disabled Chess Association) Online World Chess Championship in 2020.
And fellow national team players ― with different disabilities ― followed suit.
Just recently, the Philippines won three gold medals and one silver medal at the Asian Online Chess Championships for persons with disabilities.
National Masters Jasper Rom and Menandro Redor as well as distaff campaigner Cheryl Angot all scored 4.5 points in five rounds in their respective divisions to win golds in the Asian chessfest virtually held on May 27-29 via the Tornelo platform.
The Cebu native Rom topped the Physically Impaired Open Category, while Redor reigned in the Visually Impaired Open Category.
Angot, meanwhile, dominated in the Physically Impaired Women Category.
Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza (4/5), meanwhile emerged runner-up to settle for silver in the Physically Impaired Women Category.
National Coach James Infiesto, a newly-minted National Master himself, had congratulated the National Paralympic chess team for asserting their might in a highly-competitive Asian Online Chess Championships for Players with Disabilities.
“'It brings us great joy and pride that this recent haul of medals in the extremely difficult Asian Online Chess Championships for Players with Disabilities signifies the continuous improvement of the Filipino woodpushers,” said Infiesto, who hails from Davao City.
“We can be optimistic that in the coming years, our performance will only get better,” he added. (With reports from Marlon Bernardino)
