Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre was recently recognized by the World Chess Federation and elevated to the World Chess Hall of Fame.
Torre is the first ever Asian male chess player who has been included in the World Chess Hall of Fame, following the footsteps of former Women’s World Champion Xie Jun of China who was named the first ever female hall-of-famer in 2019.
Torre now shares the same stature as chess legends Alexander Alekhine, Anatoly Karpov, and Garry Kasparov, who are all also in the Hall of Fame.
“For Asia, first time male na nominated sa hall of fame. Tayo ‘yung nauna. Very proud ako na isang Pilipino nauna sa Asia. Puro na rin tayo, considering tayo ‘yung first Asian GM (For Asia, first time male nominated to the hall of fame. We are the first. I am very proud that a Filipino made it first in Asia. It’s all okay, considering we were also the first Asian GM),” Torre said.
The 69-year-old Iloilo-born chesser also shared the other things he is involved with now.
“Ang pinagtutuunan ko, kung paano natin ma-encourage ang ating mga kabataan na ma-involve sa chess. Matuto mag-chess para ‘yung mga moves nila sa buhay ay good move, brilliant. Ine-encourage ko [ang] mga kabataan na matutong [mag]-chess…. [upang] makapagbigay- karangalan sa ating bansa,” Torre said.
[I am focusing on how to encourage our youth to be involved in chess. They should learn chess so that their moves in life will be good moves, brilliant. I encourage young people to learn chess… [to] bring glory to our country.]
Aside from influencing young people and promoting chess in the country, Torre also mentors the Philippine chess team as its head coach. – Report by Ma. Isabel Reyes/JBB-jlo
Watch this report from Ma. Isabel Reyes for more details:
