Eugene Torre accepts non-playing coach task in Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines — Grandmaster Eugene Torre yesterday accepted the chess association’s appointment as non-playing coach of the Philippine team vying in the 43rd World Chess Olympiad on Sept. 23 to Oct. 6 in Georgia.

Torre, who started competing in the Olympiad since the 70s, would have extended his record appearance in the biennial meet to 24. The chess legend put up a vintage performance two years ago in Baku, Azerbaijan, winning the bronze medal on board three.

“If that’s what the National Chess Federation of the Philippines wants, I’m okay with it,” the 66-year-old Torre told The Philippine STAR yesterday.

NCFP president and chair Butch Pichay had initially named Torre as part of the six-player roster instead of the maximum of five allowed in the Olympiad. The other members of the Batumi-bound squad are US-based GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, GM John Paul Gomez, International Masters Haridas Pascua and Jan Emmanuel Garcia and FIDE Master Mari Turqueza.

Torre, Sadorra, Gomez and Turqueza have been previously seeded while Pascua and Garcia topped the final qualifying tournament recently.