FM Mario Mangubat to join World Senior Chess Championship in Italy

Filipino FIDE Master Mario Mangubat is set to compete in the 33th FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Gallipoli, Puglia, Italy from Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.

"I will just try my very best and we'll see what will happen," the 66-year-old Mangubat said on Friday.

It shall be recalled that Mangubat won the rapid gold in the 65 over category and blitz bronze during the last year’s 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Porto Santo Island, Portugal.

Mangubat also won silver during the 2023 Asian Seniors Championship held at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City, Philippines.

Mangubat, the pride of Minglanilla, Cebu is set to embark on a journey to become the next Filipino International Master.

He will carry the country flag’s as he takes on some of the world’s best senior chess grandmasters in Italy. These will include Grand Master (GM) Michelle Godena, a long-time Italian champion and number one player.

"We all know how difficult it is to become an IM. But with the support of the Philippine Sports Commission and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, I can reach my dream,” he added.

Mangubat was a Cebu prodigy. He was the youngest chess champion, winning an open tournament at the age of 10.

By the age of 20, Mangubat made waves in the Philippine sports scene when he upset Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre and National Master Glenn Bordonada in the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships that wa held in Intramuros, Manila en route his coveted National Master title.

Mangubat won against Torre using the white pieces after 36 moves of Sicilian defense in the third round of the tournament that resulted in the latter's (Torre) dimming his chances with a special bonus.

The Toyota car dealer Autosphere announced a special bonus for the tournament that anybody who wins all his games will receive a brand new Toyota Corolla.

"I was so happy beating Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre during the 1979 Philippine National Chess Championships as well National Master Glenn Bordonada," recalled Mangubat who also won 1 gold and 1 silver in the Senior division of the 19th ASEAN+ Age Groups Chess Championships held in Davao City in 2018.-Marlon Bernardino-

A file photo during the last year’s 32nd FIDE World Senior Chess Championships in Porto Santo Island, Portugal.MCS