MANILA — Fide Master (FM) David Elorta says he is ready for war when he goes up against 13-time Philippine Open champion Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the first-ever Philippine Chess Blitz Online Face Off Series on Sunday, January 7, 2017, starting at 10 a.m. in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
“I trained hard for this fight so I can give a good show for chess fans,” said Elorta, who honed his chess skills at the famous Guadalupe Chess Club in Guadalupe Mall in Makati.
“It’s also an excellent training for me for the coming national and international tournaments this year,” added Elorta, tagged as the Philippine Blitz King and the pride of San Andres Bukid, Manila.
Antonio, on the other hand is fresh from winning as Vice Champion of the 27th World Senior Chess Championship 2017 (50+ and 65+ Open-men and women) held in Acqui Terme, Italy last November.
“I will do my very best,” said the Quezon City resident Antonio who hails from Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.
A race-to 12 blitz (five minutes time control) chess affair, the Face Off is set to give Philippine chess another milestone according to tournament organizer and Philippine Executive Champion Atty. Cliburn Anthony A. Orbe. Orbe is also the vice president of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) under the leadership of it’s chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr.