“WHAT we learn in chess lalo na ‘yong mga good moves i-apply natin sa buhay para sa ikagaganda ng inyong kinabukasan.”
World Chess Hall of Famer and Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre opened the national chess tournament with this inspiring message to the thundering applause of around 350 participants that packed the AYA Hotel and Residences in Clarin, Misamis Occidental on Saturday morning, July 8.
The two-day Asenso Misamis Occidental National Open Chess Tournament, which serves as a significant sports highlight of the 75th Charter Day of Ozamiz City, once again relived the legacy of the ageless Torre who well-received a “rock star” treatment from the local chess fans in Mindanao.
Rocking the 6th Floor of the newly-opened eight-storey AYA Tower with his singing of a chess-related anthem, Torre proceeded to encourage the participants to always give emphasis to the so-called “three Kings” in the life of a chess player such as the mental king, physical king, and spiritual king.
“Dapat magkasama ang tatlo, hindi lang mental at spiritual. Ako nga sa edad kung ito nagwo-walking pa rin ng one-hour in the morning and one-hour in the afternoon. Iwas din tayo sa mga blunder gaya ng mga masasamang bisyo na makakasira sa pagkatao natin,” Torre said, ending his words of wisdom by thanking Misamis Occidental Governor Henry S. Oaminal Sr., his fellow lawyer son in Ozamiz City Mayor Henry F. Oaminal, Jr. and Congressman Sancho Fernando F. Oaminal for sponsoring the cash-rich chessfest through their trusted ,organizer in Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo.
Torre conducted a simultaneous display yesterday, July 9 against select homegrown players after the last three rounds of the FIDE-rated rapid tourney which stakes some P200,000 cash prizes, trophies, and medals in the elementary, high school, and open categories.
