Default Thumbnail

Whatever it was, Torre still has it

June 6, 2023 Ed Andaya 651 views

AndayaI LIKE to watch GM Eugene Torre play chess for the same reasons I liked to watch Manny Pacquiao fight, or Paeng Nepomuceno strike, or Tac Padilla shoot or Elma Muros-Posadas jump.

To most sports fans, watching all these great Filipino athletes Is always like watching a big event in life. You always get the feeling that you’ll remember it long after you’ve forgotten a lot of other things that happened at about the same time.

Well, most of them have since retired from active competition afters years — decades, even — of bringing honors to the country.

But Torre, who would turn 72 this November, is still doing the herculean task of keeping the sport alive by visting cities and even far-flung provinces to encourage more people, young and old, to play chess.

Last May 22, Torre joined IM Angelo Young in a 25-board simultaneous chess exhibition matches against select students and alumni of the Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. High School along Mayon Ave., Quezon City.

Aptly titled “Isulong Mo with GM Eugene Torre and IM Angelo Young”, the event presented by the ERJHS Alumni Sports Club proved to be a big hit with close to 60 students and alumni signing up to play against Torre and Young.

In fact, the organizers have to hold a separate qualifying tournament earlier in the day to screen both male and female high school participants.

Former World Chess Olympiad women’s team coach IM Idel Datu also conducted free chess lectures to participants during the morning session.

“Thank you, GM Torre and IM Young, for visiting our school and taking part in the simultaneous exhibition matches with our students and alumni,” said ERJHS Principal Gina Labor Obierna shortly after the whole-day event also attended by several distinguished alumni of the leading Quezon City public high school.

Before the event proper, Torre, Young and Datu were welcomed by hundreds of students who lined up along the school quadrangle and waved small flags to add to the fiesta-like atmosphere.

In his speech. Torre urged the youth to continue to get involved in sports, especially chess, and stay away from drugs and other vices to become better citizens.

He said playing chess will also provide the youth with some of the more important values in life.

“Life is like a game of chess. You always have to make the right moves and follow the rules. If you fail, you get up and try again,” said Torre, who made history by becoming Asia’s first grandmaster during the World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France in 1974.

Torre also reminded the youth to always follow the three kings in life: spiritual king, mental king and physical king.

“Sundin natin itong sinasabing three kings in life. Kapag maayos ang ating spiritual, mental at physical well-being, maayos ang magiging buhay natin,”added Torre, the “Poster Boy” of chess in the 70s.

“Kaya natutuwa nga ako na may mga ganitong pagsisikap na ma-promote ang chess sa mga paaralan, lalo na sa mga kabataan,” added Torre.

Asked by one 70-year-old something female guest if he had any regrets, any things he wished he had done differently when he was young, Torre shook his head.

“Chess is my whole life,” said Torre,

* * *

The ERJHS Alumni Sports Club would like to thank Sapporo Winter Olympics delegate Marcelo de Guzman of Batch 72, former ERJHS Alumni Association president Jess Asistin of Batch 76, Roberto Castor Rover Scouts head Fe Castor-Pangan, Seniors Chess Association of the Philippines president Engr. Resito David, Ms. ERJHS Alumni Jean Wenceslao and event sponsors Batch 70, Batch 76, Batch 81, Batch 82, Camp Pulong Gubat Wavepool Resort-Batangas and Ping-Ping Lechon for making the event a big success.

NOTES — Happy birthday in heaven to my Dad, Albert Andaya, who would have been 84 this June 7.

Birthday wishes to my wife, Ana Liza, who is turning another year wiser on June 11. Our children Michael, Steffi, Robert and Paul and only grandson, Apollo Nathaaniel, now lead the well-wishers.

For comments and suggestions, e-mail to [email protected]

AUTHOR PROFILE