Mapua holds 3rd Eugene Torre rapid chess tilt
MANILA, Philippines — The 3rd edition of the Eugene Torre Rapid Chess Cup gets going this Saturday at the Mapua University grounds.
No less than the 74-year-old Torre, acknowledged as Asia’s first ever Grandmaster, will be on hand to oversee the tournament where a total of 100 players are seeing action exclusively for the Mapua community.
The Filipino chess great and Hall of Famer is a proud Mapua product where he took up business administration, major in banking and finance while he was trying to make a name for himself as a sportsman in the national level in the early 70s.
“I will give an inspirational message, and during the opening and awarding ceremonies nandun tayo. Siyempre very happy ako na naka-focus ito sa pagsuporta sa chess,” said Torre, appearing in the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum after a long while on Tuesday at the Philippine Sports Commission meida room.
With Torre in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus, were Engineer Elias Ang, past president and trustee of the organizing Mapua Fil-Chi Association, and Engineer Nelson Salazar, the Board 1 player of Mapua when it became the maiden chess champion in the NCAA back in 1976.
“Mapua holds the most unparalleled, legendary heritage in Philippine chess,” said Salazar, referring to Torre, while adding first Asian International Master, the late Rodolfo Tan Cardoso and another IM in Renato Naranja were all proud Mapuans as well
“Three chess icons, basta po chess, tatlo silang nanggaling sa Mapua.”
Hopefully, out of the participants will come the country’s next chess legend.
“Sana maka-discover tayo ng exceptional talent sa chess among Mapuans. And sana mas marami tayong ma-inspire and ma-encourage na maglaro ng chess,” said Torre, who once served as second to his late friend Bobby Fischer in his 1992 match against Boris Spassky.
Ang said cash prizes ranging from P10,000 to P2,500 along with trophies and medals will be awarded to the winners, while special prizes will be given away to the top seniors, top ladies, and top junior finishers.
Salazar said the oldest to register was a 72-year-old alumnus, the youngest at 16, while a doctorate professor in structural engineering has also joined the meet sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and FIDE and being held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Fil-Chi Association.
The top five boards will likewise be broadcast worldwide through live streaming. (PSA pool story)
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