Torre nominated to Hall of Fame

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino chess legend Eugene Torre has been nominated to the prestigious World Chess Hall of Fame – the first Asian male player to be considered for such honor.

The 69-year-old Torre, who is Asia’s first grandmaster, was chosen along with Polish-Argentine GM Miguel Najdorf and Hungarian Judit Polgar, considered the greatest female player of all time.

Their nominations carry the approval of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

“I share this honor with my countrymen and all Asian players because my motivation from the start was really to inspire them,” said Torre.

The three nominees will join a revered list that includes former world champions Gary Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Robert James Fischer and Boris Spassky, among others.

Torre’s selection was based on his enormous feats, among them becoming Asia’s first GM, and winning a silver and three bronze medals in the World Chess Olympiad where he owns the record on the most number of appearances with 25, including 23 as a player, starting in 1970.

He was also a quarterfinalist in the 1983 Candidates Matches, the highest reached by an Asian during that time.