By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Grandmaster Joey Antonio lived up to his lofty billing as he ruled the open section of the MRSM Tun Mustapha Chess Championship undefeated in Sabah, Malaysia recently.
Antonio waylaid International Master Chan Peng Kong in the ninth and final round to catch up with FIDE Master Nelson Villlanueva on top with 7.5 points apiece.
But Antonio, who had six wins and three draws, emerged with the better tiebreak to edge out Villanueva, who led after the penultimate round but managed just a standoff with Kamalsyah Muhammad of Indonesia in the last round, for the crown.
For his feat, Antonio pocketed 3,500 Malaysian Ringgit (roughly P44,000) plus a trophy.
It wasn’t actually bad for Villanueva as his effort completed a 1-2 finish for the country while bringing home 2,500 MYR (around P31,000) in this tournament that drew 92 participants from the Southeast Asian region.
Antonio hurdled his first five opponents – Yaakub Nov Genevia Pslam and Ladilam of Malaysia, Ahmad Md Siraj Munir of Brunei, Wising Abdul of Malaysia and FM Yee Soon Wei of Brunei.
But he slowed down with three straight draws in the next three rounds with Villanueva, IM Andyka Pitra and Muhammad both of Indonesia that sent him down to second approaching the deciding round.
There, Antonio showed nerves of steel and delivered when it mattered by trouncing Chan while Villanueva succumbed to pressure and settled for a truce with Muhammad.
