Philippines, 10 Oct 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Hopes high as Team PH looks to make history in Portugal World Senior Games


PhilBoxing.com


Manila---THE THREE-ATHLETE Philippine contingent leaves for the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal on November 15 optimistic that it can measure up against the world’s finest woodpushers athletes in the competition scheduled Nov. 16-29.

“We can feel the pressure but we’re very excited,” said International Master Chito Danilo Garma, tipped as the country’s brightest hope for a medal.

The 60-year-old Garma, a two-time Asian Senior Chess Champion, is competing in the 50 above class.

The Sampaloc, Manila athlete will be joined in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship by International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad and FIDE Master Mario Mangubat.

“It’s going to be tough, but I prepared long and hard for the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal," said Garma, who is eyeng for his third and final Grandmaster norm.

It shall be recalled that Garma won the 2019 Asian Senior Championship in Tagaytay City where got his first Grandmaster norm.

He also topped the 50 and above category in the 2023 Asian Senior Championship in Tagaytay City en route to his second Grandmaster norm.

For Bagamasbad on his part, the pride of Quezon City is also setting his third and final Grandmaster norm.

The 68-year-old Bagamasbad made his name in the chess world by ruling the 65 over category of the 2022 Asian Senior Chess Championship in Auckland, New Zealand to obtain his first Grandmaster norm and an outright International Master title.
He also ruled the 65 over category of the 2023 Asian Senior Chess Championship in Tagaytay City to obtain his second Grandmaster norm.

"It's been my obsession to compete in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship because we knew that the world's top chess players are playing in the Portugal soil," said Bagamasbad.

"To play against the best maybe makes me stronger and a better player," he added.

Mangubat, the pride of Minglanilla, Cebu is the 2023 Tagaytay Asian Senior bronze medal winner in the 65 over category got an outright FIDE Master title.

“Representing the Philippines is one of the greatest feelings you can even imagine. A lot of Filipinos are cheering for us all over the world and it’s really the best feeling,” said the 65-year-old Mangubat.

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 which were held in Intramuros, Manila en route to his coveted National Master title.

Arena Grandmaster Almario Marlon Bernardino Jr. who will serve as PH coach and delegation head, believes that the triumvirate will perform well in the said chessfest.

"We’re confident they will do well in the FIDE World Senior Chess Championship in Porto Santo, Island in Portugal," said Bernardino, a certified Filipino and United States chess master.
The Filipinos, whose trip is being financed by the Philippine Sports Commission through chair Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco, backed up by National Chess Federation of the Philippines chair/president Butch Pichay Jr.

Grandmaster Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. took the runner-up honors in the 50-and-above division of the 27th World Seniors Chess Championship in Acqui Terme, Italy in 2017. Asia's First Grandmaster Eugene Torre, meanwhile settled for 7th overall in the 65 above category.

Defending champion is GMs Michael Adams and John Nunn of England in the 50-and-above and 65 above class, respectively.-Marlon Bernardino-


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • “Pitbull” Cruz Battles Skilled Lamont Roach Next!
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Eddie Hearn Warns: Dana White's Push to Amend Ali Act Could Hide Fighter Revenues and Undermine Boxer Protections
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • SEBASTIAN "EL TRUENO" JUAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • WBC No. 2 Cruiserweight Ryan Rozicki reinjured
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • DAVE ALLEN VS ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV SHEFFIELD PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • HANOI OPEN DAY TWO: CHUA, GORST, BIADO, SHAW AND DUONG CRUISE INTO LAST 64 IN HANOI
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • BOSTAN AND FAWAZ TRADE VERBAL BLOWS IN SHEFFIELD CITY CENTRE FACE-OFF AHEAD OF TITLE REMATCH – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Yoelvis Gomez Set to Face Unbeaten Antraveous Ingram in Title Clash on DAZN
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Set to Make Southern California Debut Against Power Puncher Wesley Vanderlinden on October 23 at Fight Club OC
    , Fri, 10 Oct 2025
  • 8th AQ Prime FIDE Standard Open chessfest slated
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • A Filipino and an American Homecoming
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Tragedy Strikes Again: Arturo Gatti Jr., Son of Boxing Legend, Found Dead at 17 in Mexico
    By Dong Secuya, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • Golden State Making a Bid for NBA Title
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • JOHANN CHUA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT START IN HANOI | 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • RED-HOT CUBAN MIDDLEWEIGHT YOENLI HERNANDEZ: “I’M READY WILLING AND ABSOLUTELY ABLE TO FACE THE BIG NAMES IN MY DIVISION.”
    , Thu, 09 Oct 2025
  • BOOTS ENNIS GOES HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH LIMA AHEAD OF 154LB DEBUT – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • ALLEN AND MAKHMUDOV MEET FOR FIRST FACE-OFF IN SHEFFIELD AHEAD OF HUGE HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN – LIVE ON DAZN
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Amateur Boxer Tyrone Welch Dies After Match in Saginaw
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • AJ Lim Captures Fourth PCA Men’s Singles Title, Extends Dominance in Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 18: JOE FRAZIER VS. GEORGE FOREMAN FIRST ENCOUNTER - THE SUNSHINE SHOWDOWN
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • 5th Zhengxing Cup Philippine Xiangqi Rapid Open tournament on October 12
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Joey Canoy back in training; preparing to face IBF champ Beaven Sibanda in February
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • RED OWL BOXING ANNOUNCES BROADCAST TEAM AND FULL FIGHT CARD FOR THIS FRIDAY NIGHT’S “BOXFEST XVI”
    , Wed, 08 Oct 2025
  • Tyson Fury back in 2026?
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 6 OCTOBER 2025: Cecilia Braekhaus Retires After Defeating Ema Kozin
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 07 Oct 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.