Torre chess book launched Sept. 7

One of the most important Philippine chess books, The Next Wave: Rising Stars of Philippine Chess will be introduced in a launching by the Active Chess Center of Asia (ACCA) in cooperation with Belgosa Media Systems Inc. during the 13th Philippine Bookfair on Sept. 7 at the Megatrade Hall, fifth level Bldg. B, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Authored by Grandmaster Eugene Torre in collaboration with International Master Ronald Bancod and the editors of Chess Asia, The Next Wave: Rising Stars of Philippine Chess details the exploits of the country’s top juniors in the 2001 World Youth Championships, and shows the toil Philippine chessers face in competing with the world’s top juniors, some of whom are grandmasters.

In this book, Torre provides in-depth annotations of the games to reveal the thought-processes and struggles involved, and approaches and risks taken by the young players. The representative games reveal their individuality and stylistic differences. They are clear and instructive models of how the game of chess should be played.

"This is not just an ordinary chess book," said Torre. "It aims to show readers, sports officials and chess patrons how much work is ahead of us to become world-beaters, even at an early age."

Players covered in this Chess Asia publication are grandmaster candidates Mark Paragua and Arianne Caoili, two-time national junior champion John Paul Gomez, Oliver Barbosa, Karl Victor Ochoa, Catherine Pereña, Joaquin Banawa, Ivan Biag, Christine Castellano and Kimberly Cunanan.

The World Youth Championships is the breeding ground of many of the world’s elite grandmasters, led by FIDE world champion Ruslan Ponomariov, and Teimour Radjabov, who as a 12-year-old won the under-18 division in 1999.

Torre was the head of delegation and coach of the Philippine team, which faced countries with a full complement of trainers, seconds and computer experts.

During the soft launching, Torre will be playing a clock simultaneous exhibition against 10 players.

For additional information, contact the ACCA with tel. 892-8759.