- NIDA A. BUENAFE
FIDE Master Sander Severino from Silay City brings home another medal from an international competition, after placing second in Board 1 of the 1st FIDE Chess Olympiad for People with Disabilities at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia Saturday, Feb. 4.
His topnotch individual performance, alongside the brilliant moves from National Master Darry Bernardo, who collected the gold in Board 1, led the Philippine team to an overall bronze finish in the competition.
Other team members of the Philippine team were playing coach NM James Infiesto, NM Henry Roger Lopez, Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza, and coach Saul Severino, Sander’s father.
“Mabuhay ang PILIPINAS! To GOD all praises and glory”, Sander posted on his Facebook account yesterday, as he thanked the Philippine Sports Commission and its chairman, Richard Bachmann, and commissioner Wawit Kipping Torres for extending support to the team.
He also acknowledged Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo for endorsing their trip to Serbia to compete in the Olympiad, and National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Pichay for the “pabaon na strategy”.
“Isa to sa pangarap ko na makalaro sa Olympiad.. nag 3rd place pa tayo at Silver pa sa Board 1,” Severino posted on Facebook.
Last year, he also made his fellow Negrosanons proud after plucking four gold medals and a couple of silvers at the 11th Asean Para Games in Indonesia.
Poland won the team gold, while the International Association of Chess with Physical Disability placed second overall./NAB
