The Philippine para chess team delivered a dominant performance on home soil, securing multiple gold medals at the Asian Chess Championship for Players with Disabilities. The event, held in Tagaytay City, saw Filipino athletes triumph in the fast-paced blitz competitions.
Gold Medal Sweep in Blitz Events
Fide Master Sander Severino emerged as the champion in the men's blitz division. He finished with a commanding 4 points after five intense rounds, securing three victories and two draws. The battle for the remaining podium spots was fierce. John Franz De Asis and Henry Roger Lopez ended with identical scores, but De Asis claimed the silver medal due to a superior tiebreak.
In the women's blitz tournament, Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza captured the gold medal with 3.5 points. Her compatriot, Cheryl Angot, earned the silver with 2.5 points. The bronze medal was decided by a tiebreak, with Kazakhstan's Aiganym Kambarova edging out another Filipino player, Jean-Lee Nacita.
Podium Dominance in Rapid and Standard Play
The Filipino contingent's success extended beyond the blitz events. In the rapid chess competition, the Philippines achieved a clean sweep of the podium. Arman Subaste took home the gold, Menandro Redor won silver, and Israel Peligro secured the bronze medal.
The standard chess event also featured tight competition. Filipino player Bernardo ended in a five-way tie for the lead with 3 points after drawing with Kazakhstan's Alimzhan Ayapov. He was joined at the top by Henry Roger Lopez, FM Sirojiddin Zaynidinov, and Axadxon Kimsanboyev of Uzbekistan. On the women's side, Kyla Jane Langue shared the lead with Vietnam's Thi Hong Nguyen, both finishing with 3.5 points after four rounds.
A Celebration of Skill and Determination
The tournament, which concluded on Thursday, December 4, 2025, was organized by the Tagaytay Chess Club in cooperation with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and the Philippine Para Chess Association. It was held under the auspices of the Asian Chess Federation and the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Titles, trophies, and medals were awarded across categories for visually, physically, and hearing-impaired players.
National para chess coach and international arbiter James Infiesto praised the athletes' achievements. "These para chess athletes are living proof that with hard work and passion, greatness knows no boundaries," he stated. The event highlighted not only the strategic prowess of the participants but also the growing strength and support for para sports within the Philippines and across Asia.
