GM Torre’s 21st Olympiad appearance

MANILA, Philippines – Asia’s first chess Grandmaster Eugene Torre responded to the country’s call amid the recent passing away of his mother and joined the Philippine team that will plunge into action in the 40th World Chess Olympiad at the Wow Convention Center in Istanbul, Turkey today.

“Yes, I will join the team to the Olympiad,” said the 60-year-old Torre, whose mother Dona Vicenta Oliveros Torre died last Saturday due to illness, in a press statement before leaving the other day.

Torre will thus write Chess Olympiad history as he will appear in the biennial event, considered as the World Cup of the sport, for a record 21st time that should put him ahead of Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch’s 20 Olympiad appearances.

Torre though will play as the Nationals’ fourth board player alongside super GM Wesley So (Webster University freshman) – who is undoubtedly the country’s best player being ranked inside the world’s Top 100 – Oliver Barbosa, Mark Paragua and Oliver Dimakiling.

The women’s team will be bannered by Women International Master Catherine Perena, Women FIDE Master Rulp Ylen Jose, Jannelle Mae Frayna, Jedara Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.

Source: http://www.philstar.com