BEHIND the scenes of the heated world chess championship showdown between Chinese Ding Liren and Indian Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore is a Filipino icon that never ceased to make history.
His name is Eugene Torre.
The 73-year-old living legend is one of the chosen few to be part of the FIDE’s appeals committee that will settle all concerns between the two combatants for this year’s world crown.
“Grateful to the organizer and FIDE for this opportunity to be part of this historic championship,” Mr. Torre told The STAR on Thursday.
Mr. Torre said the emergence of Asia as a superpower in chess is a feat in itself and Messrs. Ding and Gukesh were just proof of it.
Interestingly, it all started in 1974 when Mr. Torre became the region’s first Grandmaster and paved the way for the rest of Asia to follow suit and produced eventual world men’s champions in Indian Vishwanathan Anand and Ding.
The current title clash will also ensure that an Asian will remain a world champion for another year.
“This is the first time in the history of chess that two Asians are playing to determine who will be the next world champion,” he said.
Mr. Torre said he expects a few or no disputes in Singapore.
“Unlikely a dispute will occur here,” said Mr. Torre. “In the 2022 Olympiad in India, I was also part of the Appeals Committee. Out of the many thousands of games played in the Open and Women’s events, we encountered only one dispute.”
To date, the 14-match series is currently tied at 1.5 with Mr. Ding winning the first, the second ending in a draw and Mr. Gukesh seizing the third one on Wednesday night. — Joey Villar
