GM Joey Antonio rules rapid chess Engineers’ Cup tilt

Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. lived up to his top billing and finished undefeated in ruling the 3rd D' Engineer's Cup rapid chess tournament dubbed as the Armageddon Battle of Champions held at the Koten Enterprises Inc. Corporate office in F.B. Harrison Street, Pasay City over the weekend.

The 12-time Philippine Open Champion Antonio beat journeyman Shewin Tiu in the finals.

For his feat, Antonio pocketed P8,000 and a painting from Life ‘N Art, plus a gold medal. The runner-up Tiu, on the other hand,received P4,000 and a silver medal in this tournament that drew 16 participants.

Antonio rode on a blistering start as he hurdled his first three opponents – Joseph Lawrence Rivera (2-0), International Master Chito Danilo Garma (2-0) and Tiu (2-0) to move within a win of a finals berth from the winners’ side.

Tiu bounced back from that loss with a 2-0 win over youthful Jeremy Marticio, thus keeping his hopes for the coveted crown.

There, Antonio showed nerves of steel and delivered when it mattered by trouncing Tiu in their rematch in the finals.

The 16-man Armageddon Battle of Champion has a local rapid rating average over 2000 which also include IM Jose Efren Bagamasbad, IM Angelo Young, FM Narquingden Reyes, NM Marc Christian Nazario, NM Edmund Gatus, Narquingel "Archie" Reyes, Mark Gerald Reyes, John Andrew Garcia, Eric Mordido, Erwin Calar and Janmyl Tisado.

"Turn back time . Winning the 3rd D' Engineers Cup Armageddon Battle of Champions with convincing fashion without a lost and draw," said the 63 years old Antonio, who is set to compete in another Armageddon format dubbed as DG's Cup 2025 Invitational Chess Tournament to be held on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)Auditorium, Double Dragon Center West Building, DD Meridian Park, Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

Ceremonial moves between Asia's First GM Eugene Torre and Shimmer & Shield Car Coating President/CEO Jeff Bugayong, PRBEE Chairman Francis Mapile and PTC Country Registrar Romulo Agatep, GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and former Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Maldives Leo Tito Ausan Jr., PTC President Federico Monsada and PSME National Past President Engr. Roger Reyes.

Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. received his cash prizes of P8,000 and a painting from Life ‘N Art, plus a gold medal.

"Armageddon chess is a unique variant in which the player with the black pieces wins in the case of a drawn game. The player with the white pieces receives an initial time advantage on the clock. If they fail to convert the game into a win, they suffer a loss even with a draw. This rule, adopted by the World Chess Federation and other chess federations, ensures that the game has a decisive outcome, ultimately determining the tournament’s victor," said tournament director Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (IIEE) National Past President Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez.

Earlier, Asia's First GM Eugene Torre and Shimmer & Shield Car Coating President/CEO Jeff Bugayong made the ceremonial moves kicking off the one-day tournament also graced by PRBEE Chairman Francis Mapile, PTC Country Registrar Romulo Agatep, GM Antonio, former Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & Maldives Leo Tito Ausan Jr., PTC President Federico Monsada and PSME National Past President Engr. Roger Reyes.

Chief Arbiter was NA Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr. assisted by NM Romeo Alcodia, Rod Sulit and Brian Angelo Young.

Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. (right) shakes hand with Sherwin Tiu.