2-on-2 showdown

GMs 2-on-2 showdown mulled

By Marlon Bernardino
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 14:20:00 07/22/2008

Grandmasters (GM) Eugene Torre and Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. are undeniably the long-time pillars of Philippine chess and this early, pundits are itching to have the two giants pit their skills against two rising players who will most likely take their place — Wesley So and Mark Paragua in a 2-on-2 showdown.

“Magandang proyekto yan, magkampi kami ni Eugene (Torre) kalaban sina Wesley (So) at Mark (Paragua) (That’s a good project, Eugene and I will team up against Wesley and Mark),” said Antonio, a many-time national open champion.

“Puwede nga round robin kaming apat parang Scheveningen bukod sa team results ay may individual results din (We can also do a round robin of us four, just like Scheveningen, aside from team results there will be individual results),” added Torre, Asia’s First Grandmaster.

Both Torre and Antonio, renewed their rivalry in a six-game duel which started yesterday at the Quezon City Hall dubbed “QC Chess Road Show.”

In 1998, Torre and Antonio played a 12-game match which the latter won, 5.5-6.5 in which Antonio won once and the rest were draws.

However, unknown to the public, Torre and Antonio played in another 12-game series in July 1999 as part of Antonio’s preparations for the Las Vegas World Championship. It was held at the President’s Tower in Timog Avenue, under the sponsorship of Bataan construction magnate Jerry Acuzar. The match which was kept from public view, ended in a 6-6 deadlock.

Here is the full article.