MANILA -- Asia’s first Grandmaster Eugene Torre is planning to join colleague GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. to this year's World Chess Cup (World Chess Championships) in Russia by competing in the Asian Zonals 3.3 Chess competition in Vietnam.

"Sabi ni Eugene (Torre) lalaro siya sa Asian Zonal sa Vietnam sa susunod na buwan," said Antonio, who received qualification for the World Chess Cup by barging into the top five during last month’s Asia Continental Individual Chess Championships in Subic, Zambales.

Torre, considered the strongest chess player the Philippines produced through the 1980s and 1990s period, followed the heels of Bobby Fischer era Filipino chess champions National Master Ramon Lontoc, International Master Renato Naranja, IM Rodolfo Tan Cardoso and the deceased GM Rosendo Balinas, Jr.

According to Wikipedia, Torre has the distinction of being the first Asian player to earn the much coveted title of International Grandmaster. In a tournament in Manila in the 1976, he beat then reigning world chess champion Anatoly Karpov in a game that has become part of Filipino chess history.

Aside from Torre, other Filipino bets eyeing for World Chess Cup slot are GMs Wesley So, Mark Paragua, Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano II, John Paul Gomez, Jayson Gonzales and Darwin Laylo.

The Asian Zonals 3.3 Chess Championships is set to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam from July 22 to 30. Marlon Bernardino