Asian Chess Federation gives GM Eugene Torre 'Lifetime Achievement Award'

Hello chess blog friends, the Asian Chess Federation has honored Grandmaster Eugene Torre with a 'Lifetime Achievement' Award. GM Torre is the first Grandmaster from Asia. The Philippine Star has a nice profile of the Grandmaster. 

  

Asia's first GM Eugenio Torre. Photo: PhilStar.com.

“I am humbled, happy and very grateful to receive this award,” the 62-year-old Torre, who is Asia’s first grandmaster, told The STAR in a text message yesterday.

The Asian Chess Federation, headed by Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifah Al Nahyan, held the first annual Asian Chess Excellence Awards last June 25 at the Danat Hotel in the United Arab Emirates.

Torre’s contributions to Philippine chess are unmatched.

At 22, he became Asia’s first grandmaster following a silver medal finish in the 1974 Chess Olympiad in Nice, France. Two years later, in a tournament in Manila, he defeated then world champion Anatoly Karpov.

Torre went on to lead Philippine chess to greater heights, and helped promote the sport in the Asian region under the guidance of then FIDE president Florencio Campomanes of the Philippines.
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He took part in 20 Chess Olympiads, 19 of which were consecutive, sharing the coveted record with Hungary’s Lajos Portisch. When the 41st Olympiad is held in Norway in August, Torre will man Board 4 for the Philippines.

“This recognition has further acknowledged the contributions we Filipinos, foremost of whom was Florencio Campomanes, have done for the promotion of chess in Asia,” said Torre.

The top officials of the ACF, including deputy president Casto Abundo of the Philippines, said the award is “in recognition of his (Torre) success as Asia’s first grandmaster and his many victories and world records.”

Some other awards included

- Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao received the “Chess Patron of the Year” award “in recognition of his inspiration to sports fans around the world and his support for the Asian Continental Championships inspiring millions of youths to learn chess.”

- Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi was awarded the “Man of the Year” for his “generous donation” that helped build the biggest chess club in the world.

- Viswanathan Anand of India was named “Player of the Year” 

- Reigning Women's World Champion Hou Yifan of China was “Woman Player of the Year.”

- GM Yu Yangyi received the “Best Junior Player of the Year” for ruling the World Junior Championship and Asian Indoor Games.

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