Senator Christopher “Bong” Go lauded grandmaster Joey Antonio for bringing pride and glory to the country following his back-to-back victories in the international arena.

Go, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, tipped his hat to Joey Antonio for finishing second in the Melbourne International Chess Open Championships in Australia last April and bringing home four gold medals in the 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Championships in Penang, Malaysia last month.

Now, the 63-year-old Antonio is expected to see action in the World Seniors Chess Championships in Italy.

“We’re here in the Senate to recognize our chess legend Rogelio ‘Joey’ Antonio. He won in the Melbourne Chess Open in April and clinched four gold medals in the 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Championships. Four golds,” Go said as he proudly welcomed the Filipino GM at the Senate.

The glory that our players is bringing is something we would carry until we grow old.

For his part, Antonio expressed gratitude to Senator Go for his financial assistance and moral support.