ALL chess roads lead to Iloilo City this November as the much-awaited Chess Legend: GM Eugene Torre 75th Birthday National Rapid Open and Team Tatluhan Chess Championships get going on Wednesday.
Torre, who made history as Asia’s first grandmaster at the 21st Chess Olympiad in Nice, France, in 1974, traces his roots to Iloilo City.
The five-day event opens with the GM Torre Exhibit, the launching of a commemorative coffee table book, and a welcome dinner with prizes to be given away.
Torre, Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas and One Chess Movement president Ariel Potot will lead the formal opening ceremony at the Diamond Jubilee Hall located at Mabini St., Iloilo City.
The event, supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), will continue with the first round of the Rapid Open Championships on November 5 starting at 8 a.m.
The two-day rapid competition will run until Friday. The Team Tatluhan event will take place on Saturday and Sunday.
‘It will be a November to remember for the local chess community. Iloilo City, headed by Mayor Treñas, and OCM are honored to be a part of this 75th birthday celebration of GM Torre,’ Potot said.
The champion of the Rapid Open tournament will get P50,000 and a trophy. The runner-up will earn P25,000, the third placer will pocket P15,000, the fourth placer P10,000, and the fifth placer P8,000. Cash prizes will also be given to the sixth through 20th placers.
The top individual performers in the Senior, Junior, Lady, and Kiddies categories will also get cash prizes, alongside the top three players from host Iloilo.
In the Team Tatluhan, the champion will pocket P100,000. The runner-up will get P50,000, the third placer P30,000, the fourth placer P20,000, and the fifth placer P15,000. The 6th through 15th placers will also bring home cash prizes.