Chess Grand Master Eugene Torre leads Philippines’ first-ever pro chess league draft

Grand Master Eugene Torre is leading the roster of Filipino chess stars who are taking part in the country’s first-ever government-licensed professional chess tournament.

According to a report by Mav Gonzales on “Unang Balita,” 24 teams of Filipino chess players, male and female, participated in the recently-held draft event by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ (PCAP).

The inaugural tournament, which is expected to be held virtually in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, officially starts on January 16.

“This is the first time this is happening, not only in the Philippines, but throughout the world,”  PCAP commissioner president Paul Elaria told GMA News.

“This is the first government-licensed professional chess league, and our players are also the first professional chess players in the world… the players in the Philippines especially the chess players are not in very good financial conditions, situation, so we hope of a way of helping them,” he added.

Torre, who is the world’s first-ever Asian Chess Grand Master, hopes the tournament would encourage young chess players to reach for their dreams.

“Hopefully, ang mga players, ang natutunan nila sa chessboard, sana ma-apply din sa totoong buhay, Torre said.

“Kunwari, ang mga bisyo blunder ‘yan, mga wrong moves, so dapat eh kung chess player ka as much as possible iwasan ‘yung mga bad move,” he added.

The draft also includes Grand Master Joey Antonio and Ino Sadora, who is currently the highest-ranked Filipino chess player.

“Everyday, 24-7 kaming naglalaro. In fact, before the pandemic, no? They are one million [Filipino chess] players ang naglalaro pero, ngayon, more than double, three million. At least meron na silang pupuntahan pag gumaling sila. Heto na yung pickup. Hindi lang yung basketball, hindi  lang bozing — chess!” Antonio said in an interview.

“Tsaka tayo, magagaling talaga tayong Pilipino. In fact ‘yung number one, number two, number three world champion sa rundown, Pilipino na nag-migrate sa US,” he added.

According to Baham Mitra, chairman of the Games and Amusement Board, virtual chess games have been playing an important role in the sports industry amid the pandemic.

“This will have a very very big effect on the Philippine sports industry because, you know, everybody’s scared to go out of their homes, but you can play chess in your homes and this will also help the government, di ba? Ang sabi ng gobyerno, stay at home,” Mitra said.

The PCAP also plans to invite foreign teams in the coming tournaments.

“His is a mental sport and we can become  very very world-class, being mentally capable, also helps the whole nation,” said PCAP chairman Mike Chua.

— Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News