ASIA’S first grandmaster Eugene Torre will defend his title in the Asian Seniors Chess Championship scheduled Nov. 2-12 at the Tagaytay International Convention Center in Tagaytay City.

Torre,  who served as coach of the Philippine team which finished 37th in the 53rd Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia recently,  topped last year’s event in New Zealand.

“It will be a  another big challenge  for  me, but I  am ready,” said Torre,  who will turn 67 on Nov. 4.

The tournament,  which is now on its ninth year, has over-50 and over-65 categories.

At stake in  the  prestigious 10-round tournament  organized  by the Tagaytay Chess Club  on  behalf of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP)  and the  Asian Chess Federation  (ACF) is over P150,000 in cash prizes.

The champion in the tournament  will receive the International Master title and a Grandmaster  norm.  Runners-up receive the  FIDE  Master title.

A  rapid  chess championship is scheduled on  the  first day followed by the nine-round Swiss System  tournament and  a  blitz championship on the last day.

Among the early registrants are Tony Davis of Australia, Oleg Rinas, Aitkazy Baimurzin, Timur Kassymov and Kuanishbek Jumadullayev of Kazakhstan, Than  Khin of Myanmar, Ahmad Ismail AND Kian Hwa Lim of Malaysia, Mahmou Doudin of Palestine, Dirwan Sinuraya, Myhammad Novian Siregar, Hendry Jamal and Syarif Mahmud of Indonesia.

Aside from Torre, the other Filipino entries are Efren Bagamasbad, Adrian Pacis, Steward Manaog and Chito Garma, Ros Bandal and Rolzon Royullo.

There will be a special award for the  best woman.

Already registered are Helen Milligan of New Zealand and Mila Emperado of the Philippines.

Players should reach their 50th or 65th birthday in 2018. Participants must have been born in or before 1968 for seniors over 50 and for women over 50, and born in or before 1953 for seniors over 65.

Time control for standard chess is 90 minutes each for the whole game, with 30 seconds increment per move from the first move.

Default time is 30 minutes after starting time.

Time control for Rapid chess is 15 minutes each plus 10 seconds  increment per move. Time control for Blitz chess is 3 minutes each  plus 2 seconds increment per move.

For inquiries, call Pat Lee of the NCFP at  0995-5421266.