MANILA — Philippine para chess lost one of its greatest champions as Sander Severino, a FIDE Master and multiple-time international gold medalist, died of heart failure at age 40 — just days after spearheading the national team’s medal surge at the ASEAN Para Games in Thailand.
Severino passed away in his hometown of Silay City in Negros Occidental shortly after returning from the Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, where he delivered a dominant showing with three gold medals and helped the Philippines finish fourth overall in the medal standings.
He ruled the men’s individual standard P1 and men’s individual blitz P1 events, then anchored the men’s team standard P1 squad to another gold.
The Philippine delegation wrapped up its campaign with 45 golds, 37 silvers, and 52 bronzes.
National para chess head coach James Infiesto said Severino had been confined in a hospital for nearly a week after the team’s return, noting that the decorated athlete suddenly felt weak and experienced difficulty breathing prior to his death.
Widely regarded as the most accomplished player in the national para chess roster, Severino had lived with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since childhood.
Diagnosed at age eight, the condition left him wheelchair-bound, but it never dimmed his competitive edge or international impact.
After earning his FIDE Master title in 2015, Severino quickly established himself as a regional force. He won two gold medals in his ASEAN Para Games debut in Singapore that year and followed it up with a four-gold haul at the 2016 Asian Para Games in Jakarta across individual and team events.
His résumé also includes an undefeated championship run at the 2020 International Physically Disabled Chess Association World Online Rapid Championship.
Severino was set to be honored alongside the country’s top para athletes at the San Miguel Corporation – Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night on Feb. 16 in Manila.
His passing leaves a profound void in Philippine para sports, even as his final triumphs stand as a fitting testament to a career defined by excellence and resilience./PN
