CHESS TOURNEY Lipa Mayor Eric Africa joins a simultaneous chess exhibition in Lipa City, Batangas on June 14, 2023. The event was part of the city's 419th Foundation Day. (Contributed photo)
Asia's first Grandmaster, Eugene Torre, will be the guest of honor during the opening of the JCI Senate Lipa Open rapid chess tournament at Lipa Convention Center in Batangas on Monday.
The event offering a total of P222,000 in cash prizes features team and youth (18 years old and below) divisions.
Those who have registered their teams are GMs Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo; International Masters Angelo Abundo Young, Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Chito Garma and Michael Concio Jr.; FIDE Master (FM) Mark Jay Bacojo; Women FMs Allaney Jia Doroy and Shania Mae Mendoza; and National Masters Gladimir Chester Romero and Jasper Faeldonia.
Among the entries in the youth division are Henrick Marello Bolaños, Raydhien Miguel Bautista and Kiara Burgos, all 10 years old, and King Alexander Oseña, 13.
Dubai-based Danilo Reyes, the tournament director, stressed the need to promote chess especially among the youth while facilitating the development of the players' skills and confidence.
"Part of providing support to our athletes is giving them the opportunity to see the people who inspire them," Reyes said, adding that the players will get the chance to meet Torre.
Torre was the first in Asia to earn the GM title in 1974.
He had played for the Philippine Olympiad team 23 times, winning three individual medals on board one: silver in Nice (1974) and bronze medals in Malta (1980) and Dubai (1986).
The competition is part of the city's 419th foundation anniversary activities and organized by the JCI Senate Lipa in cooperation with Mayor Eric Africa, former vice mayor Boy Manguerra and Philippine Society of Mechanical Engineers past president Roger Reyes. PNA