FIDE Master Sander Severino brought his act to the world stage with a flourish as he ruled the International Physically Disabled Association Online Chess Championship on Thursday to become the first Filipino to win a world title in the sport.
The 34-year-old Severino, who is handicapped by muscle dystrophy, showed the four gold medals he clinched at the 2018 Asian Para Games in Jakarta were a prelude of bigger things to come his way.
Severino amassed 8.5 points on eight wins and a draw to run away with the crown. He drew his last match with International Master (IM) Igor Yarmonov of Ukraine on Thursday.
Seeded second with an ELO of 2373 in rapid chess, Severino was 1.5 points clear of second placers IMs Andrei Gorbanov of Israel and Andrei Obodchuk of Russia.
“Another dream come true,” Severino said.
Luck played a major role in Severino’s title conquest. He wrapped up his drawn final match just minutes before the power was shut in his native Silay City in Negros Occidental.
The Philippines’s Jasper Rom and Henry Lopez wound up in a tie for sixth to eighth places with 6.5 points each.
Severino was diagnosed with a muscular disability and was confined to a wheelchair at a very young age.