Torre assumes new role at Chess Olympiad
By DENNIS GASGONIA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/09/2008 10:02 PM
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Asian’s first Grandmaster (GM) and perennial Chess Olympiad contender Eugene Torre has assumed the role as the “non-playing” captain of the five-man RP Team that will represent the country in the sport’s biggest event this November in Germany.
Torre, who was named team captain by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, said he will act as the squad's coach and scout.
“[As a team captain] kelangan kabisado ko ang style nila… kailangang makita ko rin kahit papaano ang weakness nila, kung anong maisa-suggest ko for improvement,” Torre said in an interview over dzSR Sports Radio Thursday.
Torre added that his vast experience as a competitor in past Chess Olympiads will be of great use in his role as the team’s motivator.
“Importante kasi sa competition, ‘yung confidence level ng mga players natin kapag tinatamaan ay hindi masyadong bababa. Kasi [playing chess requires] confidence at nerves,” he said.
Torre has already faced some of the biggest names in the Olympiad, including Garry Kasparov, Anatoly Karpov, Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov.
He has also appeared in the Chess Olympiad for 19 consecutive times, just one stint shy of the record 20 held by Lajos Portisch of Hungary.
Though he regrets missing the opportunity of again playing in the Olympiad, Torre said he still feels proud to be part of the national team. "[I must admit] wish ko rin na maging part sana as a player," he said.
Torre said part of their preparation is the evaluation of the team’s training regimen, their strategies and diet.
“Bibigyan ko ng importance ang end games, kasi dyan nagkakatalo eh… tapos yung kinakain, very important. [Dapat] vegetable groups,” he said.
The 56-year-old GM said believes that this year’s RP Team will give out a good performance given their make up.
“Mabuti naman ang mga bata natin dito ay walang bisyo... so mga nerves nito matitibay. I'm quite optimistic na maganda ang magiging performance ng team natin,” he said.
The national team is composed of chess prodigy GM Wesley So, GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, GM Darwin Layo, GM Jayson Gonzales and International Master John Paul Gomez.
The team while be immersing themselves in a series of tune up competition in Europe before heading to Dresden where the Olympiad will be staged from November 12 to 25.
