DAVAO CITY -- A 39-year-old para-athlete from Panabo City is part of the Philippine men's chess team that will compete in the 1st FIDE 2020 Online Chess Olympiad for People With Disabilities in Switzerland slated on November 21 to December 3.
Arena Grand Master (AGM) Henry Lopez is part of the Philippine team that will field two teams in the prestigious international chess tournament featuring 54 countries.
In his Facebook post dated November 3, Lopez expressed joy and honor to represent the Philippines in the international chessfest set to be participated in by chess powerhouses Russia USA and India.
The Philippine team is coached by Davaoeno James Infiesto.
Last June 18, Lopez brought honor to the Philippines after he finished in eighth place in the tough 1st Online International Physical Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) World Championship Israel 2020.
Lopez scored 6.5 points n the international online chess tournament participated in by 118 players from 23 countries.
Another Filipino Sander Severino won the tournament after scoring 8.5 points.
Before his international chess tournament stint, Lopez also got a second-place finish in the Philippine Online Pra Chess Open last May 1.
Lopez scored 27 points to finish second in the tournament featuring some of the top para-athletes who played chess in the country.
Lopez, a veteran woodpusher in both local and international chess tournaments won P200 for his feat.
The championship in the tournament went to FIDE Master Sander Severino who won P300 after scoring 38 points.
The Panaboan is feeling good as of late since he recently made it to the Philippine chess team that will compete in the 44th Chess Olympiad, the very first edition that will feature a competition for the disabled.
Lopez has made it to the team, which also includes Severino, Jasper Rom, Darry Bernardo, and Cheyzer Mendoza.
As the only Mindanaoan in the team, Lopez is very happy to once again be able to represent the country in an international tournament. (Romeo Braceros Jr.)
