By Kristel Satumbaga
FIDE Master Sander Severino was held to a draw by reigning world champion International Master Igor Yarmonov of Ukraine in the ninth and final round but still won the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) Online Rapid Chess Championship on Wednesday.
Severino, 34, finished the event undefeated with 8.5 points on eight victories and a draw to become the first Filipino to win the event.
He beat out former world champions IM Andrei Gurbanov of Israel and IM Andrei Obudchuk of Russia, who both finished with similar 7.0 points.
“I’ve been dreaming of this all my life, to become world champion,” said Severino in Filipino.
It was another feather in the cap for the multiple ASEAN and Asian Para Games gold medalist as he also topped the FIDE Cup, another tournament for people with disability just last month.
His victory was a fitting follow up to Philippine-born Wesley So’s victory in the Fishcer-Random world champion in November last year. So, however, represented the United States.
Luck was indeed on Severino’s side as power outage hit Silay City just after Yarmonov resigned after losing several pawns.
“It was just fortunate that the blackout happened after he resigned or I would have lost the game and the title,” said Severino.
Yarmonov won the title in 2002 before repeating in 2013. After a series of misfortunes along the way, he triumphed again in 2016 before topping the event the last two years.
The feat earned Severino 300 euros or P17,000.
Two more Filipinos ‒ Jasper Rom and Henry Lopez finished in the top 10 at sixth and eighth, respectively, with 6.5 points each.
