PORTO SANTO ISLAND, Portugal – International Master Chito Garma gave the Philippines something to cheer on by winning the blitz competition in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship at the Hotel Baleira here.
Garma, 60, grabbed the gold medal by tallying 8 points on 8 wins and 1 loss in nine outings in the side event of the tournament.
Garma hacked out victories over Marat Primbetov of Kazakhstan, IM Ilgar Bajarani of Azerbaijan, IM Devaki Prasad of India, FM Richard Vedder of the Netherlands, IM Aitkazy Baimurzin of Kazakhstan, IM Silvia Alexieva of France, IM Stefan Loeffler of Germany and FM Pablo Alexander Ruiz Aguilar of Colombia, respectively.
He lost to FM Victor Plotkin of Canada in the fifth round.
FM Joachim Wallner of Austria and FM Plotkin finished second and third, respectively.
“It’s an early Christmas gift to me. Thank God for the blessings,” said Garma.
Meantime, FIDE Master Mario Mangubat bagged the bronze medal in the 65 over category with 5.5 points.
Another Filipino entry International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad finished the tournament with 4.0 points.
