Panaboan NM, PH Para chess team targets crown in 4th World Championship for People with Disabilities

DAVAO CITY---A veteran National Master from Panabo City, Davao del Norte is part of the Philippine paralympic chess team that will compete in the 4th World Championship for People with Disabilities to be held from November 5-14.

NM Henry Lopez is part of the team that will compete in the international chess tournament alongside  FM Severino from Silay City, Negros Occidental, Masters Jasper Rom from Danao City, Cebu, and Darry Bernardo from Angeles City, Pampanga.

According to the international chess federation, the 9-round Swiss tournament with 45 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move, starting from move 1,  is an individual competition with an additional team ranking. 

Its winners will earn the titles of “World Chess Champion among Disabled 2021” in the individual ranking and “World Chess Team Champion among Disabled 2021” in the team competition.

Close to 200 chessers from over 40 countries are participating in the 10-day event which saw Rom, Bernardo and Lopez seeded 13th, 26th, and 27th, respectively.

The Para chess team is confident of their chances in the competition since they are the leader in the ongoing third conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) in the Southern division. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)