Torre makes towering finish in Swedish chess

Grandmaster Eugene Torre flaunted his flair for the dramatics when he ruled the 15 de Open van Leuven Chess Open behind a sweep of the final two rounds at the Zaal Ons Huis Hall in Leuven, Sweden Tuesday.

Flashing his old brilliance, the 52-year-old Torre thumped Georgian GM Giorgi Bagaturov in a crucial eighth round encounter then outfoxed Ukrainian GM Mihail Golubev in a thrilling final round duel to top the 9-round Swiss event with eight points and cop the top prize of 1,500 Euros (P94,500).

As startling as Torre’s victory was the Filipinos’ astounding finish here in this 111-player field as GMs Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor tied for second with fancied Russian super-GM Vladimir Epishin with seven points, while NM Oliver Barbosa finished in joint fifth with six others with 6.5 points.

Antonio, playing out of Philippine Army Special Services under AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya and CG Phil. Army Lt. Gen. Gregorio Camiling, drew his eighth round match with Ukrainian GM Mihail Golubev then whipped Belgium’s Yves Duhayon in 54 moves of a Benoni in the final round to finish with seven points.

That was the same output put in by Villamayor, an airman second class of the Philippine Air Force under Brig. Gen. Jaime Viernes, Jr., who outlasted Fide Master Tom Croonenborghs of Belgium in 80 moves of a French Advanced game in the final round.

Epishin, the top seed here who slowed down Antonio and Villamayor with victories in the fourth and fifth rounds, was held to a draw by IM Peter Claesen in 67 moves of a Slav and settled for a share of second place.

Barbosa, toting a 2293 rating, likewise halved the point with Fide Master Stephen Berry after 44 moves of a Sicilian in the final round to churn out an impressive finish that saw him cop the best junior award. He also emerged as the top performer in the 2300 bracket.

But they were all overshadowed by Torre’s remarkable feat.

Virtually reflashing the form that made him a byword not only on the local chess scene but on the Asian and world stage as well, Torre, Asia’s first GM, outwitted Bagaturov in a nerve-wracking match to win in 30 moves of a French Defense game Wednesday morning to seize the solo lead heading into the final round.

Then hours later, he steeled himself up against Gulobev and completely outplayed the Ukrainian bet in their Two-Knights game, pulling through in 24 moves and ruling the event that drew seven GMs, two IMs and seven FMs.

Torre’s victory and the Filipinos’ solid finish here likewise augured well for the country’s bid in next month’s Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, where chess will be played for the first time in the biennial meet.

The Pinoy chessers’ stint here was backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.