The first museum dedicated to chess in the Philippines in honor of world-class Filipino Grandmaster Eugene Torre was opened to the public in Marikina City on Wednesday, April 12.
(Eugene Torre Chess Museum / MANILA BULLETIN)
The Eugene Torre Chess Museum was named after the prolific Filipino chess player, renowned as the first Asian Grandmaster after winning a silver medal on board one at the World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France in 1974.
The museum showcases Torre’s numerous medals, trophies, and chosen photographs of his games in the span of his 50-year career as a legend in the field of chess.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
As a regular member of the Philippine Olympiad Team, Torre won several awards on other board one games such as bronze medals from the Chess Olympiads in Malta in 1980 and Dubai in 1986. Most recently, he won a bronze medal on board three at the Baku 2016 competition.
Throughout his career, Torre has also played and won against other chess titans such as World Champion Anatoly Karpov in 1976.
Torre was inducted in the World Chess Hall of Fame last 2021. He received the hall of fame plaque in a ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America (USA) last October 2022.
(Marikina PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
The opening ceremony was led by Torre and District 1 Representative Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro.
During the inauguration, a human chess demonstration was presented, with preschool students from Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College (OLOPSC) dressed in chess piece costumes. With Torre's guidance and direction, they demonstrated Torre's "10-move checkmate."
(Eugene Torre Chess Museum / MANILA BULLETIN)
Filipino chess masters such as National Masters Ruby Ibanez and Ivan Cu, International Masters Efren Bagamasbad and Roderick Nava, and World Chess Federation or Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE) Master Alekhine Nouri, attended the inauguration to show their support for Torre.
The event was also attended by City Councilor Cloyd Casimiro, City Tourism Officer Poncianito Santos, and Pan de Amerikana Restaurant owners Jundio and Rosie Salvador.
The museum can be found inside the Pan de Amerikana Restaurant along Gen. Ordoñez, Barangay Concepcion Dos, Marikina City.
The public may visit the museum from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Tuesdays to Sundays.
Admission to the museum is free.