Torre’s Guam win timely for Iloilo City Charter Day award

By Alex P. Vidal

“For me the best thing about winning an award is when the people cheer for your win. When you can see that the people are really happy that you are winning something, that’s the most reward thing in the world.” — Busta Rhymes

THE recent championship victory in Guam by 71-year-old Asia’s first chess grandmaster Eugene Torre was timely as he has been chosen together with several other outstanding Ilonggos to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award when Iloilo City celebrates its 86th Charter Day on Aug. 25.

Anchored on the theme “Trailblazing Ilonggos Leading the Way to Sustainable Progress”, the Charter Day will be a special nonworking holiday under Proclamation No. 306 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The city government, led by Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas, will also give recognition to several exemplary Ilonggos who have excelled in various fields, created an impact in the community, and contributed significantly to the progress being experienced by the metro.

Despite his age, Iloilo City’s Torre won the 2023 Guam International Open Chess Tournament held at the Dusit Beach Resort in Tumon, Guam on Friday, August 4.

He finished undefeated with 9 points on account of 9 wins in 9 games to win the week-long event using the 90 minutes plus 30 seconds increment, organized by the Guam Chess Federation under the auspices of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), according to the information relayed to this writer by Philippine-based US Master Marlon Bernardino.

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Torre scored victories over William Gunn in the first round, Daniel Combs in the second round, Cyle Sarmiento in the third round, Rudolph P. Soriano in the fourth round, Kohei Yonemitsu in the fifth round, Daniel Doria in the sixth round, CM Elmer Prudente in the seventh round, Kyle Garrison in the eight round and CM Rogelio L. Orio in the ninth and final round.

“I would like to dedicate my victory to my countryman,” said Torre.

“Eugene Torre is a living testament that excellence is a by-product of habit. He never fails to give our country something to be proud of. Mabuhay ka Tito Eugene. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” said former PUP top chess player Roberto Racasa, acknowledged God Father of Philippine Memory.

Torre earned the title of grandmaster after winning the silver medal in the 1974 World Chess Olympiad in Nice, France at the age of 22, playing board one for the Philippines.

Thus, he became the Asia’s first chess grandmaster.

Torre was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) making him not only the first Filipino but the first man from Asia to be bestowed with the honor.

Torre, though, shot to prominence in 1976 when he beat GM Anatoly Karpov, then the reigning World champion, in a tournament in Manila making him the first Filipino to defeat the Russian icon who ruled the sport from 1975 to 1985 as the sport’s top player.

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Below is the official statement from the US Department of State in connection with firing of water cannons incident at the South China Sea sent to me via email by the US Department of State:

The United States stands with our Philippine allies in the face of dangerous actions by the Coast Guard and maritime militia of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to obstruct an August 5 Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. 

Firing water cannons and employing unsafe blocking maneuvers, PRC ships interfered with the Philippines’ lawful exercise of high seas freedom of navigation and jeopardized the safety of the Philippine vessels and crew.

Such actions by the PRC are inconsistent with international law and are the latest in repeated threats to the status quo in the South China Sea, directly threatening regional peace and stability. 

By impeding necessary provisions from reaching the Filipino servicemembers stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, the PRC has also undertaken unwarranted interference in lawful Philippine maritime operations.

As made clear by an international tribunal’s legally binding decision issued in July 2016, the PRC has no lawful claim to the maritime area around Second Thomas Shoal, which is located well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

The United States reiterates, pursuant to the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, the arbitral decision is final and legally binding on the PRC and the Philippines. 

The United States calls upon the PRC to abide by the arbitral ruling as well as to respect the freedom of navigation – a right to which all states are entitled.

The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces—including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)