THE rematch between Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. will take place in Quezon City this month.
Dubbed as QC Chess Road Show, the event is hosted by the city government through fourth district councilor and majority floor leader Ariel Inton in close cooperation with QC mayor Feliciano "Sonnny" Belmonte Jr., Bataan construction magnate Jerry Acuzar and former National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and QC 3rd district representative Matias Defensor.
The highly anticipated duel between the country's chess legends will makes the first moves on July 21 at the Quezon City hall then proceed to Tomas Morato (July 23), La Loma district (July 25), Tandang Sora shrine (July 28), Pugad Lawin shrine (August 1) and Gateway Araneta Center (August 4).
"We take pride that both Eugene and Joey are longtime residents of Quezon City," said Inton.
They're no ordinary residents. Both are recipient of the city's Most Outstanding Citizen award.
Inton believes the rematch will be followed not only by chess enthusiasts in the Philippines but throughout the world.
"They (Torre and Antonio) have international following," Inton noted. "This will jumpstart our program of lifting the city through sports tourism."
The sports tourism program is a brainchild of Inton himself and aims to promote Quezon City as the country's sports capital.
New San Jose Builders, Inc. president Jerry Acuzar, the sponsor of the first Torre-Antonio match 10 years ago, also vowed to support the rematch.
"Mayor (Sonny) Belmonte, QC Cong. (Mat) Defensor and Jerry (Acuzar) already vowed to support this event," related Inton.
Last year, Inton and Quezon City hosted the one-on-one match between money game experts Dennis Orcollo and Yang Ching-shun.
Inton's sports tourism program has a busy schedule this year. He already stages the QC inter-barangay chess events, Deaf-Mute Cagefest, Inter-Restaurant Basketball and Dart Tournament among others.
Meanwhile, the sports tourism program being pushed by Quezon City Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton gained momentum after Mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., gave his go signal to coordinate with national sports leaders and association for initial exploratory talks.
"Mayor Sonny Belmonte permitted me to start exploratory talks with Philippine Sports Commission for my pet(project) Philippine sports tourism," said Inton, a well known sports advocate.
He said that the sports tourism program has a bright prospect in the country considering that we are basically lovers of sports.
"We have a lot potentials in sports as shown by world champions in almost all the sports that we are participating. Out of this we could invite tourists to visit the country to witness sports activities performed by world renowned Filipino athletes and sportsmen" added Inton.
In fact, the QC athletes who are schedule to compete in this year's POC-Philippine Olympic Festival where given a financial assistance the other day of the office Coun. Inton.
contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO, edited by jovie sison
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