OCM, Iloilo laud chess legend Torre on his 75th birthday

ILOILO City — Asia’s first grandmaster Eugene Torre underscored the importance of the local city and provincial governments in discovering and nurturing future champions —not only in sports but in life as well.

Torre, who made history by becoming Asia’s first grandmaster at the Nice Olympiad in 1974, said encouraging children to play the game and providing them with the proper training and exposure they need are necessary to produce champions.

“I grew up in a chess family here in Iloilo City. My father, a lawyer, taught me to play chess when I was five or six years old. He taught my nine other siblings to play chess,” said Torre during his 75th birthday celebration organized by the Iloilo City government and One Chess Movement at the Iloilo Diamond Jubilee Hall here last Wednesday.

“But I was a self-taught player, without any real chess coach, using only a few instructional chess books. Then the late FIDE president Florencio Campomanes took me under his wing and helped me become the chess player that I am now,” recalled Torre.

Mayor Raisa Tren̈as, on the other hand, congratulated Torre for becoming Asia’s first grandmaster and thanked him for bringing tremendous honor not only to Iloilo, but to the whole country as well.

She said the city is encouraging the youth to follow the footsteps of Torre and other Iloilo-born players by hosting more tournaments and clinics and providing chess sets snd clocks to different barangays.

“GM Torre’s journey teaches us the value of determination. To our young players, remember that every game, whether you win or lose, is an opportunity to learn,” said Trenas in her message.

“We also want more Ilonggos to enjoy chess, which is why may chessboards tayo sa ating mga plazas, Sunburst Park, public libraries, Central and Terminal Public Markets,” added Trenas.

“Through our Iloilo City Sports Academy, we provide free training in more than 20 sports, including chess. Proud ako sa ating athletes, na nakakuha ng scholarships sa National University-Manila.

“Our vision is to bring our sports programs together at the YMCA Sports Center, with classrooms and a swimming pool for our young athletes. Thank you to One Chess Movement, RiChessMasters, and everyone who made this tournament possible. To Grandmaster Eugene Torre, thank you for inspiring generations of Filipinos. Who knows, the next Ilonggo grandmaster would come from Iloilo.”

Among the well-wishers who came to greet Torre were OCM Chairman Lope Santos III, CEO Ariel Potot, OCM Trustee Engr. Romulo Darroca, former diplomat Leo Tito Ausan, Jr., GM Torre Chess Museum owners Dionisio Salvador, Jr. and Rose Salvador and well-known chess patron Jessie Villasin.

Meanwhile, tournament director James Infiesto announced that a total of 166 players are participating in the individual rapid chess competition.

At stake in the competition are cash prizes, with the champion bringing home the lion’s share of P50,000 and a trophy.

The runner-up will earn P25,000, the third placer will pocket P15,000, the fourth placer P10,000, and the fifth placer P8,000.