Torre opens defense of PGMA Cup title

MANILA, Philippines - The fourth President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup International Chess Championship gets under way today with defending champion GM Eugene Torre and top seed GM Mikheil Mchedlishvili of Georgia leading the cast at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City.

Torre, who beat 2007 champion GM Li Chao of China and Zhang Zhong of Singapore in the tiebreak to win last year’s crown, will head the local challenge that includes fellow GMs Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, Mark Paragua, John Paul Gomez, Jayson Gonzales and Bong Villamayor and GM-elect Ronald Dableo.

“I’ll do my best to win and bring honors to the country again,” said Torre.

But GM Wesley So will not be around as the country’s top player is currently competing in the six-player, category-16 SPICE (Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) tournament in Texas, United States.  

“This will be a good opportunity for me to test my preparation for the World Cup,” said Antonio.