Sander Severino, a Filipino world chess champion, dies at 40

Sander Severino’s loss of life comes simply a few weeks after a sterling displaying within the ASEAN Para Video games in Thailand which noticed him bag three golds and one silver

MANILA, Philippines – Sander Severino, one of the crucial embellished chess gamers the Philippines has produced, died on Saturday, February 7.

He was 40.

Severino’s loss of life got here simply a few weeks after he earned three golds and one silver on the ASEAN Para Video games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, in January, massively contributing to the Philippines’ best-ever displaying within the regional showdown for differently-abled athletes. The nation completed fourth total with a 45-gold, 37-silver, and 52-bronze haul. 

The delight of Silay, Negros Occidental, dominated the lads’s particular person commonplace PI and males’s particular person blitz PI and shared the golden honors with Henry Roger Lopez and Jasper Rom within the males’s staff blitz PI.

Severino collected a complete of 12 golds, two silvers, and two bronzes throughout 4 ASEAN Para Video games editions.

A power within the area, Severino was additionally spectacular on the continental stage, having gained a complete of 5 golds, one silver, and one bronze within the Asian Para Video games.

Severino was identified with muscular dystrophy on the age of eight and have become wheelchair-bound for many of his life. However he excelled in a sport the place the thoughts is the best asset.

A FIDE Grasp, Severino earned the excellence of world chess champion when he topped the Worldwide Bodily Disabled Chess Affiliation On-line World Championship in 2020.

He went unbeaten with eight wins and one draw, besting five-time champion Worldwide Grasp Igor Yarmonov of Ukraine.

Severino took nice duty in being an inspiration and function mannequin for athletes of his type. 

“It feels good when individuals cheer for you and also you’re the star. However I noticed that it additionally comes with a much bigger duty to my fellow individuals and athletes with disabilities… that I’m an instrument to encourage them… to make them consider that we are able to attain our goals and contribute to the progress of our nation,” Severino wrote on Fb in Filipino in 2020. 

These within the chess group mourned Severino’s loss of life. 

“You’ll endlessly dwell in our hearts — in each transfer we make, in each struggle we proceed, and in each victory we dedicate to the staff you liked so dearly,” Philippine para chess staff head coach James Infiesto wrote in certainly one of his Fb tributes to Severino. 

“His braveness, dedication, and love for the sport dwell on in each transfer we make and each battle we face for the nation. He could also be gone, however his legacy stays — guiding us, strengthening us, and reminding us why we play.” – Rappler.com