Boojie Lim: Grandmaster of chess patrons

CEBU, Philippines - At an early age, Cebu’s godfather of chess, Boojie Lim, was already hooked at this sport.

He did not become a grandmaster, but he made it possible to bring the grandmasters to the Queen City of the South.

 He also created and supported lots of tournaments to help boost the popularity of the sport in this part of the country.

 He learned chess on his own by just watching other players when he was still in his grade school years and eventually tried playing it and became a member of the Sacred Heart School chess team and the Sanciangco Chess Club. His love affair with the game started from there.

“I am chess lover by heart. I play good in chess and its good for our memory and for analytical decision,” said Lim, who did not wish to become a grandmaster, because for him to become such is far more difficult than becoming a priest.

He also plays basketball and lawn tennis, but his heart will always lead him to the board that has 64 squares laid out.

In 1972, he initiated his first tournament – the Rose Pharmacy Chess Classic, a year-round event.

After every two months, there will be three qualifiers for the championship match that was held in December.

He created the tournament with the purpose of grooming more Cebuano grandmasters. Among the products of the said tournament, who earned their GM titles were US-based Rogelio ‘Banjo’ Barcenilla and France-based Joseph Sanchez.

The patron of chess has also commended the huge success of the first Cebu Chess Festival.

“It was worthwhile. It’s good for international exposure since it will place Cebu in the world map,” he said.

The momentous event was Cebu’s attempt of breaking the record for the “World’s Largest Chess Tournament” in Board Game category currently held by Russia where 1, 214 participants took part in an event organized by Eugenie Kuznitsov on June 2, 2007 at the Central City Park in Krasnoyarsk.

Another great achievement that Cebu achieved through Lim is that Cebu can now hold FIDE-rated tournaments unlike before.

And last year, FIDE just approved that the Rapid and Blitz tournaments will also have points. 

“This is an important thing for all the Cebuano players, who could not afford to go to other places to join FIDE-rated tournaments because they could already earn points when they play here,” he said.

Comparing chess before and now, Lim said that today chess is a thousand times better compared before.

“People will just play in barber shops, and there is no opening moves and at the same time not theoretical and scientific. The players with the most natural talent most likely win,” he said.

He also noted that starting the players at a younger age is very good.

“It’s good for their studies and let them be serious in school. It will also give them good benefits when they go to college and at the same time will give them determination to win in every challenging event that they will have,” he said. - THE FREEMAN