Karpov visit fetches moment of pride for GM Torre

Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre can still remember when he beat Russian chess legend Anatoly Karpov almost forty years ago.

“I’ll never forget when I won against him because that’s when he was the world champion,” Torre told the Inquirer.

Karpov and Torre are set to meet again on Tuesday not between each other, but in front of 200 children at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where the illustrious Russian GM hopes to inspire future champions.

Torre, the first GM in Asia, actually beat Karpov in his debut twice – during the Manila Interzonal 1976 and in an invitational tournament in London in 1984. However, Karpov beat Torre four times and drew the Philippines fifth in head-to-head. .

“I’m really lucky [played against] Karpov because he rarely lost during the decade when he was world champion,” said Torre. “He was almost unbeatable back then.”

Karpov, who took the sport by storm as world champion from 1975 to 1985, arrived last Friday for a three-day visit hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission in cooperation with the Russian embassy.

Now a politician in Russia’s State Duma, Karpov, 71, will do more than just speak during his visit here.

“We will show the film ‘The Champion of the World’ made in Russia. It will commemorate Karpov’s championship in the Philippines in Baguio [in] 1978,” said Nina Prakapovich, press-attache of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.

Karpov retained his title at the 1978 World Chess Championship in Baguio after defeating Victor Korchnoi. INQ

Analyze your weekly exercise

Read Next

Don’t miss the latest news and information.

For suggestions, complaints, or questions, please contact us.