At A Glance
- Now 74, Torre still champions the discipline one should have to excel in any sport.
(Eugene Torre Facebook post)
Half a century ago, Eugene Torre put the Philippines on the global chess map after earning the Grandmaster title, a feat not done by any Asian that time, after winning a silver in the Olympiad in Nice, France.
Now 74, Torre still champions the discipline one should have to excel in any sport.
“‘Yan ang parati kong sinasabi kung sakali mayroong mag-champion at maging sa successful sa chess, bonus na lang ‘yon. Ang pinakaimportante ma-promote ang discipline at ma-apply sa buhay… in sports in general," said Torre on Tuesday in the PSA Forum.
The Olympiad veteran, considered the strongest Filipino player in the 1980s and 90s, is promoting the Dr. Eugene Torre Rapid Chess Cup set at Mapúa University Gymnasium in Intramuros, Manila on Saturday, June 27.
Now on its third edition, the very same school that produced the likes of Torre and Rodolfo Tan Cardoso, the first-ever Asian to secure an International Master (IM) title, the competition also seeks to improve one's character through sports.
“Well, siyempre, unang-una masaya ako na na-officiate ang chess, and hopefully, maka-discover tayo ng mga exceptional talents… More than discovering of talents, siyempre ang importante, hopefully, mas marami tayong ma-inspire at ma-encourage maglaro ng chess” said Torre,
“At hopefully, ma-apply sa buhay,” he added.
The competition this coming weekend is only limited to 100 participants and is exclusive only for students, alumni, faculty, and staff of Mapua.
There are only 50 boards in the tournament aimed at celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Fil-Chi Alumni Association.
All participants must be a member of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) while the registration, which ended Tuesday, was free.