Now it can be told — our very own Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre still packs sharpness and stamina even at age 64.
You want proof? Here.
Torre — who has long been recognized as a true legend in the company of Bobby Fischer, Paul Morphy, Garry Kasparov, Emmanuele Lasker and Raul Capablanca — emerged as the real hero in the recently concluded 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.
He provided the saving grace for the Philippines by capturing an unprecedented bronze medal on board three after the Filipino men’s team finished 58th overall in the prestigious tournament.
For two weeks, Torre — the oldest player in this year’s Olympiad — flashed his old brilliance that provided some light to the embattled Filipino chessers in the biennial meet.
He earned a total of 10 points out of the possible 11 on nine spectacular victories and two fighting draws that made him the highest pointer in the 11-round tournament that featured the world’s top super-GMs.
He was unbeaten in nine matches, only forcing draws with GM Bernal Gonzalez of Costa Rica and GM Aryan Tari of Norway in boards 4 and 6, respectively.
He outclassed international master (IM) Moulthun Lyn of Australia, Fide master (FM) Iain Gourlay of Scotland, GM Diego Flores of Argentina, GM Ivan Salgado of Spain, GM Axel Rombaldoni of Italy, IM Watu Kobese of South Africa, FM Daniel Anwuli of Nigeria, GM Jose Fernando Cubas of Paraguay and candidate master (CM) Krzysztof of Jersey.
Torre emerged with the highest total by any participant but settled for just a bronze since tournament regulation gives the gold to the chesser who ends up with the highest performance rating.
Interestingly, it went to former Philippine team top board player GM Wesley So, who has represented eventual champion US, as he emerged with a performance rating of 2896, beating silver medal winner Hungarian GM Zoltan Almasi (2845) and Torre (2836).
However, Torre’s bronze glittered like gold as the grizzled veteran took his first medal since snatching a silver in the 1974 edition in Nice, France where he also became Asia’s first ever GM.
Interestingly, too, there’s no other player in Baku who has played more Olympiads than him. He participated for the 23rd time and nobody in the history of the game even comes close to this record.
Unfortunately, Torre’s best finish in over four decades failed to lift the Philippines, which absorbed a 1.5-2.5 defeat to Australia as the Filipinos wound up with 12 match points and ended up 58th for one of the country’s worst finishes in the event.
GM Julio Catalino Sadorra drew GM David Smerdon on top board but GMs John Paul Gomez and Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. went for the win but lost to GM Zhao Zong Yuan and IM Anton Smirnov, respectively.
Torre, who once qualified for the Candidate Matches and at his peak was number 17 in the world, gave his Olympiad debut in Siegen, Germany in 1970 and since then has won three bronze medals for his results on board one.
In Baku, Torre regained a part of the skill that made him famous and dreaded. This is why it will be unthinkable to visualize Philippine chess without Torre, who said this could be his last Olympiad.