TORRE BEATS ANTONIO TO EVEN ONE-ON-ONE SHOWDOWN

ASIA'S First Grandmaster Eugene Torre turned back fellow GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr., after 40 pushes of a French Defense in Game four of their six-games duel enabled him to even the one-on-one showdown at 2-2 on one win, one loss and two draws in the ongoing dubbed as QC Chess Road Show at the Tandang Sora Shrine in Quezon City late Monday.

"Nang nakita kong may pagkakataong manalo kay Joey (Antonio) pinilit ko talaga kasi mahalaga y'ung panalo natin sa kanya para makatabla tayo sa match lalu na't maikli ang format," said Torre, who will turn 57 on Nov.4

Tournament director Tito Estaris said when the game ended after almost four hours battle, the long-time RP vanguard Torre has a knight and six pawns against Antonio's bishop and six pawns in this event organized and hosted by QC mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., and Majority Floor Leader Councilor Ariel Enrile-Inton, as part of City's sports tourism project.

"Maganda talaga 'yung tinira ni Eugene (Torre) saka mali 'yung move ko na king to h8," admitted the 46-year-old Antonio, who beat Torre by one point during their first encounter ten years ago dubbed as Centennial Chess Duel held at the Land Bank, Makati.

Chief arbiter IA Gene Poliarco said that two remaining games will be held at the Shrine of Pugad Lawin starting today, July 30 and at the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center on August 1.

In case the scores is still tied after six games of play, a seventh and deciding game will be played at the Eastwood City in Libis.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO



TORRE, ANTONIO CLASH IN QC CHESS ROAD SHOW

ASIA's first GM Eugene Torre and GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. are ready to renew their rivalry in their six games showdown when they clash each other starting on Monday (July 21) at the Quezon City Hall dubbed as "QC chess road show."

In 1998 GMs Torre and Antonio played a 12-game match which ended with a score of 5.5-6.5 in favor of the latter. GM Joey won once and there were 11 draws and became the first local player to beat Torre in a series with a 1-up victory.

In fact, during the echelon of Torre, he beat the likes of Cardoso, Balinas, Yap, Naranja, Rodriguez among others.

"We take pride that both Eugene and Joey are longtime residents of Quezon City," said Quezon City majority floor leader and fourth district councilor Ariel Inton."
"Both Torre and Antonio are recipients of the city's Most outstanding athlete and citizen." added Inton, a well known sports advocate.

No less than QC mayor Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. and QC Majority Floor leader Councilor Ariel Inton are expected do to the opening rites of the "QC chess road show" is part of the tourism project of the city hosted by the city government headed by QC Mayor Belmonte in close cooperation with Bataan construction magnate Jerry Acuzar, former National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president and QC 3rd district representative Matias Defensor, ACCEL, Dickies Philippines, Filway Marketing Inc. and Hataw tabloid newspaper.

Tournament director Tito Estaris said aside from City Hall, the other venues where the matches will be held are Tomas Morato (July 23), La Loma district (July 25), the Tandang Sora shrine (July 28), Pugad Lawin shrine (Aug. 1) and the Gateway Mall in Araneta Center (Aug.4).

Estaris added that GM Jayson Gonzales, IMs Rolando Nolte, Ronald Bancod, Emmanuel Senador and Mirabeau Maga will also do simultaneous exhibition and chess clinics.Chief arbiter in the said event is International Arbiter (IA) Gene Poliarco.

contributed by MARLON BERNARDINO