The five chess Grandmasters. Photos via the chess players' social media accounts. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Philippine sports have become a source of pride among Filipinos as athletes like Manny Pacquiao, Hidilyn Diaz, and Efren Reyes have made their names internationally known and gained fame and glory. Despite this clear support for athletes, not much is known about Filipino chess players. While they had given us fame by becoming not just the smartest, but one of the best strategists seen in history, we delve into the achievements that put the Philippines on the map of chess. The Filipino Chess Grandmasters Most sports are generally supported and loved, a fact we can see through basketball and volleyball players or boxing champions, as they have multiple followers or fans from across all ages. But some sports don’t get the generous attention of many, much like chess, which is a forgotten sport that is unpopular among the public. With few acknowledgments from the people, it’s no surprise the Filipino youth of today do not know much about chess. Despite the hardships of competing in a battleground with so little support, some have emerged victorious, earning merits to their name and recognition from Filipinos. Several Filipinos have earned the title Grandmasters, the highest title bestowed by The International Chess Federation (FIDE), to the best of the best. Without further ado, here are the five most notable Grandmasters in Philippine History: Eugenio Torre Alt Text: Eugene Torre (left) shaking hands with Anatoly Karpov (right). Photo via Eugene Torre’s Facebook. The pioneer of Filipino Grandmasters, Eugenio Torre is a man of many firsts. For the past half-century, Eugene Torre has been a trailblazer for Asian chess, becoming the continent’s first grandmaster (1974), the first to defeat a reigning world champion (Anatoly Karpov in 1976), and the first to reach the Candidates stage of the World Championship (1982-1983). He was also inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame in 2021 and is still going strong at his crisp age of 71, priding the Philippines with his legendary legacy. Wesley So Alt Text: Video about Wesley So’s win against the World’s No.1 Chess Player A born genius, Wesley So is a Filipino-American super grandmaster and one of the world’s top chess players. At 14, he became the 7th youngest grandmaster in history. The following year, he broke Magnus Carlsen’s record as the youngest player to reach the 2600 FIDE rating mark. He is ranked 10th globally and represents the United States Chess Federation. So is not playing for the Philippines anymore but says his heart is still that of a Caviteño and remains a Filipino. Julio Catalino Sadorra Alt Text: Julio talks about his speech to his alma mater at UT Dallas. Julio Sadorra is originally from Cavite, Philippines, and got a scholarship grant from the University of Texas, Dallas. He then became a Grandmaster in 2011 while studying. He is the No. 1 active Filipino chess player, ranked 363 globally, and has been a UT Dallas Chess Program coach since February 2019. He competes in solo and team chess for the country at various levels, proving his No. 1 status in the Philippines. Oliver Barbosa Alt Text: Oliver Barbosa after a game. Photo via Twitter. Barbosa comes from a family of chess players, ranked No. 2 just behind Julio. He earned his Grandmaster title in 2011. He is ranked 796 in the FIDE ratings and is the founding father of Barbosa Elite School of Chess, a school that teaches young kids the techniques of the masters. With a vision, he longs to inspire children and students to become a grandmaster of the Game of Life. Janelle Mae Frayna Alt Text: Janelle during a competition. Photo via Instagram. Last but not least, Janelle Frayna is the 1st Woman Grandmaster in the Philippines (2017), achieving the coveted title at 20. She competed in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, winning two bronze medals: one in the women’s quick chess event and the other in the women’s solo blitz. Using herself as an example, she demonstrates that there is a place for women in chess, which is suitable for a game in which the queen is the most powerful piece. Checkmate to Victory These are only five of the numerous gifted Filipino Grandmasters who have left their mark on history. The young achievers of today will surpass five milestones to get their name in the World Chess Hall of Fame. With a bit of support and acknowledgment from the public as the pioneers have paved the path, the children of today will receive much greater support. After all, they have the potential to triumph in this game called chess on the future battlefield. Facebook Comments
