Eugene Torre says Filipinos should still support Wesley So

Wesley So have been flying the United States flag for a few years now in international competition.

The chess Grandmaster, who recently became an American citizen, relocated stateside in 2012 in a move that received some criticism back home.

In Chino Trinidad's report on "24 Oras," however, chess icon Eugene Torre believes Filipinos should still support So as one of our own.

"Hindi lang naman 'yan glory ng Amerika, palagay ko nga mas glory pa ng Pinoy 'yan e," said Asia's first Grandmaster.

("It's not just America's glory, I think it's even more glory for Filipinos.")

So recently beat world no. 1 Magnus Carlsen in the Skilling Open last year, replicating the result of their battle at the World Fischer Random Chess Championship

Torre, who met So when he was a young boy, said he is a singular talent in chess.

"Lumalakas 'yung tirada niya sa sariling sikap, parang Bobby Fischer din. Kasi si Bobby Fisher, nung bata on his own lang 'yun na gumaling e," he said, comparing So to the late American chess prodigy.

("His play improves on his own diligence, just like Bobby Fisher. Because Bobby Fisher also improved all by himself when he was young.")

So accepted a scholarship from Webster University in 2012 and began representing the United States in competition in 2014.

He recently said he loves the Philippines but he "did not have the connections needed to succeed" in the country's sports culture.

For Torre, So just put his chess skills to good use with his decision to leave for the US.

"Kumbaga ginawa niyang parang chess 'yung sitwasyon niya and he tried to look for kung ano 'yung best move," he said.

("He just used chess to look at his situation and tried to look for the best move.")

—MGP, GMA News