Torre set to make history in Istanbul Olympiad

GRANDMASTER Eugene Torre’s strong finish in the 2012 National Open Chess Championships didn’t go unrewarded.

The 60-year-old brand new grandfather will make a record 21st appearance in the World Chess Olympiad as GM Julio Catalino Sadorra begged off to continue his studies at the Texas Tech University where he is taking B.S. Applied Mathematics.

This year’s Olympiad is slated on August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

“This is unexpected. I never envisioned myself representing the country in the biggest stage of chess competition as a senior citizen,” said Torre, who will break a tie with Hungarian GM Lajos Portisch for the most number of stints in the Olympiad.

Portisch has played in 20 consecutive Olympiads while Torre has represented the country in 19 straight Olympiads and 20 overall – the first in Siegen, Germany in 1970 and the latest in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia in 2010.

He credited his longevity and durability to a healthy lifestyle that includes regular workout in a popular gym.

“It’s not just about talent anymore. My recent success is a testament of the importance of living a healthy life.”

His amazing fitness is in full display during the tournament dubbed as the “Battle of the Grandmasters.”

Instead of fading in a 15-match marathon, Torre won his last four matches to share third place with International Master Oliver Dimakiling although he missed the last outright seat to the Olympiad via tiebreak.

GM Mark Paragua won the tournament followed by Sadorra and Dimakiling.

Meanwhile, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. exercised its option to pick the last player in the team on GM Oliver Barbosa.

The country’s top player, GM Wesley So, is seeded in the team and will man the top board followed by Barbosa, Torre, Paragua and Dimakiling.

Woman International Master Catherine Perena will anchor the women’s team followed by Woman FIDE Master Rulp Ylem Jose and Woman National Masters Janelle Mae Frayna, Jedara Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda.-Marlon Bernardino-

PINOY GM WESLEY SO WINS TORONTO INTERNATIONAL CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP; POCKETS $4,000

FILIPINO chess prodigy Wesley Barbasa So clinched another chess title by winning the Crown Section of the 2012 Toronto International Chess Championship. The 17-year-old grandmaster from Bacoor, Cavite formalized his claim to the title at the Annex Chess Club in 918 Bathurst St., Toronto, Canada held last July 15 to 20, 2012.

The tournament was played as a 7-round Swiss with 18 participants in the event organized by the Chess Institute of Canada. So finished with a total of six points on account of five wins and two draws, half point ahead of his closest rival IM Nikolay Noritsyn of Canada.With his latest victory, So top player of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr. and Tagaytay City Mayor and Secretary-General Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. went home the top purse of $4,000.

"The Crown Section, hosted by Chess Institute of Canada is a  FIDE Rated 7-Rounds “Standard” Swiss Event, was participated by 18 rated players (3 GMs, 5 IMs & 2 FMs) from 4 countries (Canada, Lithuania, Israel and Philippines). " said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr.

" Winning the prestigious 2012 Toronto International Chess Championship is another good news for Philippine Sports." added Pichay, a former representative of the first district of Surigao del Sur in the Southern Philippines.

According to Pichay, So continues the Canadian tour in the Quebec Open Chess Championship 2012 which gets underway from July 21 to 28 at the beautiful venue College Brebeuf in Montreal, Canada.

Then So will head to Webster University - SPICE for his full time study, with a brief two week interruption to represent the Philippines in the  2012 World Chess Olympiad on August 27 to September 10 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Final standings:
1 GM So Wesley PHI 2650 – 6
2 IM Noritsyn Nikolay CAN 2460 – 5.5
3 IM Samsonkin Artiom CAN 2390 – 4.5
4 IM Calugar Arthur CAN 2273 – 4.5
5 GM Rozentalis Eduardas LTU 2600 – 4.5
6 WCM Peng Jackie CAN 1968 – 4
7 IM Gerzhoy Leonid CAN 2459 – 4
8 GM Sambuev Bator CAN 2542 – 3.5
9 Birarov Vladimir ISR 2169 – 3.5
10 Song Michael CAN 2142 – 3.5
11 Martchenko Alexander CAN 2245 – 3.5
12 Preotu Razvan CAN 2058 – 3
13 Ivanov Mike CAN 2035 – 3
14 FM Plotkin Victor CAN 2249 – 2.5
15 FM Campbell Brett CAN 2181 – 2.5
16 IM Panjwani Raja CAN 2392 – 2
17 Southam David CAN 2112 – 2
18 Yee Lorne CAN 2222 – 2

Here’s GM Wesley So’s round-by-round results:

R1:  15Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs  Michael Song CAN (2142) : 1-0
R2:  15Jul :  IM Raja Panjwani CAN (2392) Vs  GM Wesley So PHI (2650) : 0-1
R3:  16Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs    IM Nikolay Noritsyn (2460) : 1-0
R4:  17Jul : IM Samsonkin Artiom CAN(2390) Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650) : ½-½
R5:  18Jul :  GM Wesley So PHI (2650)  Vs    Preotu Razvan CAN(2058) :  1-0
R6:  19Jul : GM Sambuev Bator CAN(2542) Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650):  0-1
R7:  20Jul :  IM Arthur Calugar CAN (2273)  Vs GM Wesley So PHI(2650) : ½-½


By: Marlon Bernardino