(Photo courtesy of PNA)
ILOILO CITY – Around 160 chess players and at least 60 teams are expected to compete in the GM Eugene Torre Chess Legend National Open Tournament, which opened Thursday, November 5, as part of the celebration of Asia’s first chess grandmaster’s 75th birthday.
The tournament features an individual rapid chess competition from November 5 to 6, followed by the three-member team event, known as Tatluhan, from November 7 to 8.
The competitions are organized by the One Chess Movement in partnership with the Iloilo City government.
The birthday celebration began Wednesday with the unveiling of a legacy exhibit and a coffee table book highlighting Torre’s achievements and contributions to Philippine chess at the Iloilo City Jubilee Hall.
Torre, who was born and raised in Iloilo City alongside his nine siblings, expressed his happiness at celebrating his milestone birthday in his hometown.
He recalled moving to Manila to pursue competitive chess before eventually establishing himself on the international stage.
In 1974, Torre made history by becoming Asia’s first chess grandmaster during the World Chess Olympiad.
“I was very happy because it was not only an honor for my family but an honor for the country,” Torre said.
The Filipino chess legend encouraged young players to develop a genuine passion for the game, emphasizing its role in strengthening concentration, critical thinking and personal discipline.
“First of all, it is very important that they have that love for the game. It promotes mental attributes and discipline. Chess is a sport because it’s a form of discipline,” he said.
Torre added that chess and other sports could help young people develop positive habits and avoid harmful activities.
He stressed that the discipline learned through chess could also benefit players in their education and everyday lives.
Chess promotes youth development
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored the importance of sports and recreational activities in promoting social interaction and positive behavior among students.
Speaking during the Literacy and Numeracy Expo in Iloilo City on Wednesday, Angara said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had encouraged schools to revive activities that foster meaningful student engagement following incidents of school violence.
Angara noted that children need more opportunities for face-to-face interaction, particularly as mobile phones, social media and other digital devices increasingly occupy their attention.
He identified sports, traditional games, scouting and similar activities as effective ways to encourage socialization and develop discipline among students.
The Education chief also highlighted chess as an affordable and accessible sport that schools and communities could promote.
He recalled that Torre himself began playing chess using improvised pieces made from shoe soles, demonstrating that aspiring players do not need expensive equipment to develop their skills.
“Eugene Torre was a larger-than-life figure, Asia’s first grandmaster. He played the world’s best chess players. If you are talking about the titans of the sport, we are proud to have a great Filipino, and that great Filipino is in our midst today,” Angara said.
The tournament and birthday activities celebrate Torre’s legacy while encouraging a new generation of Filipino players to pursue chess and develop the discipline associated with the sport.
