WANTED: GENEROUS CHESS PATRON
Subic Bay Freeport, Sept. 14, 1998 - Eugene Torre, Asia's first Grandmaster, is looking for a generous, wealthy patron to sponsor the Asian chess zonals and Interzonals.
Unless the Philippines hosts the Asian zonals and Interzonals, a series of elimination tournaments to determine the next challenger for the world chess championships, Filipino grandmasters will lose their chance to play in the Asian finals.
''If no Asian zonal tournament is held between now and November, Super GM Utut Adianto of Indonesia and Australian GM Ian Rogers will represent Asia in the interzonals by virtue of their being the highest ranked players in the region,'' grandmaster Eugene Torre said in a telephone interview on Saturday published by the Philippine Star.
''For sure, Indonesia won't host a tournament and it's the same thing with Australia because their players will automatically take the Asian slots in the event no Asian zonals are held this year,'' Torre lamented.
He said he and fellow GM Joey Antonio will forfeit their chance to compete in that event which will select the two Asian representatives for the interzonals scheduled in December this year.
Torre is in the midst of preparations, with other members of the national team, for the World Chess Olympiad in Elista, Kalmykia, on Sept. 26.
''Medyo worried na kami dahil sayang ang pagkakataon at talagang tayo ang dapat host ngayon (We're already concerned because we're losing that opportunity and because it's really our turn to be the host),'' Torre said.
Torre said he hopes a generous chess patron would come in and save the situation by hosting the Asian zonals where 20 of Asia's top woodpushers are expected to participate.
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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