Displaying great moves on the board, Negrense chesser gave pride to the country after capturing two gold medals in the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The Silay City Negros Occidental woodpusher Sander Severino got his first gold in the tournament after beating Indonesian Maksum Firdaus in the finals of men’s individual event.
Severino, who plays for Davao Eagles team in Professional Chess Association of the Philippines, then took home his second gold when he teamed up with Felix Aguilera and Henry Lopez in the men’s team event.
The Negrense chess player clinched two silver medals in the men’s individual rapid chess PI and in the team rapid chess event with Lopez and Jasper Rom.
Team Philippines closed out its campaign with 34 gold medals.
The two golds and two silver medals showing of Severino was far cry from his four-gold medal haul during last year’s ASEAN Para Games in Indonesia but the Negrense remains content.
The Philippine para chess team had a total of 13 golds, including six gold medals from Darry Bernardo and five gold medals from Cheyzer Crystal Mendoza, improving its 10-gold harvest last year.
With its 34-gold, 33-silver and 50-bronze output, Team Philippines ended fifth overall in the competition behind three-peat overall champion Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.IMT Sports
