The Grand Master

Eugenio Torre (born November 4, 1951) is a chess Grandmaster (GM). He is considered the strongest chess player the Philippines has ever produced during the 1980s and 1990s period, following the heels of Fischer-era Filipino chess champions National Master (NM) Ramon Lontoc, International Master (IM) Renato Naranja, IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso and GM Rosendo Balinas, Jr. Super GM Wesley So is currently the top Philippine chess player.

Torre is a Filipino chess player and the first chess grandmaster in Asia. He is a member of the Philippine chess team for the November 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China. He participated in the men's team event.

GM Torre shot to prominence in 1976 as a possible future title challenger after winning a strong four-man tournament in Manila ahead of world champion Anatoly Karpov – thus becoming the first player to finish ahead of Karpov in a tournament since the latter became world champion. The high-point of his career came in the early 1980s when he was ranked world No.17; successfully going on to qualify to be a candidate for the world championship after tying for first with Lajos Portisch during the 1982 Toluca Interzonal.

He made his way to the Chess Olympiads where the best chess players came to compete. He gained the title of grandmaster in 1974, becoming Asia’s first grandmaster of chess. He finished the year with a rating of 2520.

Torre continues to play chess and is still active in different chess-related organizations.

Unit Meet 2011

                Chess spectators, players, coaches and teachers from different schools gather to watch this year’s Unit Meet held last September 20 and 21 at the Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School.  A 5-round 2-day Swiss System tournament was headed by Chief Arbiter Villanueva from Chess Arbiters Association of the Philippines (CAAP).  Jodito Deroca as the Assistant Arbiter and Christopher Fernandez who recorded the pairings and scores of the players.  Eight schools from the 4^th District of Quezon City participated on the said event.  But only the top two scorers in each category will qualify for the Division Meet.  Two hours to play for each round to finish their game.

Board One

                A training tournament for Chess was held last September 17, 2011 at the Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School.  Combined players for Unit Meet, Alphaland, and Flora Ylagan students were again put their best foot forward for this event.  Top seeded Luzel Dacayo lead the tournament with a 4 wins, 1 draw points.  While on the second place was given to John Bryan Domondon also with 4 wins and 1 draw.  Both of them are playing as board one from their respective category for the Unit Meet.

The New Elected Officers

                Congratulations to the newly elected Officers of the Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School Chess Club SY 2011-2012.  The election was held this afternoon at the school’s Chess Center with their adviser Ms. Grace Gaurino.  Out of 52 official members only 40 voted from the said event.  The club’s new President is Marilou Isunza, 4^th year student and also a varsity player.  The elected Vice President was Danison Cheoc a 1^st year student and aspiring leader.  Another 1^st year student, Bernadette Melchor was elected as the new Secretary of the club.  Lemuel John Sullano had the Treasurer position and hopefully will make the Club’s fund increase.

Girl Power for the young Chess Players

Now, the 5^th and 6^th slot of the selection for the “JOSE T. RABE RAPID CHESS TOURNAMENT AGEGROUP and NON MASTER” is finally over.  The two top scorers from the Girls Division of Ramon Magsaysay (Cubao) High School Chess Club took place from their tournament yesterday.  Also a 5 round Swiss System tournament was conducted by the Chess Club Alumni named Jodito Deroca and Christopher Fernandez.  Marilou Isunza, a 4^th year student got an overall 4 points and 1 loss.  A 1^st year yet well trained player, Marie Bernadette Oltiveros took another spot with 3 points and 2 losses.  They are all ready for the upcoming tournament.