66-Year-Old Filipino Chess Player Wins Gold in Asian Seniors Chess Championships 2022

Sixty-six-year-old chess player Jose Efren Bagamasbad proves that age is just a number after bagging the gold medal in the Asian Senior Chess Championships 2022. The competition was held at Auckland Rose Park Hotel in Auckland, New Zealand from Oct. 14 to 22.

With a score of 7.5/9 points, Bagamasbad took the first place in the Over 65 category.

On top of being the country’s newest International Master, Bagamasbad also snatched the third place in the Merv Morrison Memorial 2022 Open, a six-round chess tournament that took place from Oct. 22 to 24 at the Auckland Chess Centre.

Bagamasbad said he wanted to compete back in 2021, but the pandemic got in the way. Still, he kept training himself so he’s ready when the next opportunity comes.

“Victory doesn't depend on your age, it's on your move. If you need a good move, you need training. Training doesn't depend on the coach, it doesn't depend on the teacher, it's on the player,” he was quoted as saying in Filipino as per a GMA News report.