THE INTERNATIONAL Chess Federation (FIDE) appointed three Filipinos, Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre, International Arbiter Toti Abundo and national para team coach James Infiesto, to various commissions or working groups within the world governing body of chess.
Mr. Torre, Asia’s first GM, was elected deputy chair of the FIDE Athletes Commission, Mr. Abundo named back into the Qualification Committee and Mr. Infiesto as one of the four councilors to the Commission for the Disabled.
“It was an honor to be appointed to such an important position with voting rights. This will benefit all players with disability, not just Filipinos,” said Mr. Infiesto, a present member of the National Council of Disability Affairs board.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman and President Butch Pichay lauded the three for their important roles in FIDE.
“These appointments are recognitions of your achievements and a credit to Philippine chess,” said Mr. Pichay.
Mr. Torre’s new role came just a few months after he was inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame, the first Asian male to achieve the feat while Mr. Abundo has been with FIDE since 1982 during the time of former president, the late Florencio Campomanes.
Earlier in August, Philippine Olympic Committee President and former NCFP secretary-general Abraham Tolentino was conferred the organization’s highest honor as FIDE Honorary Member by the FIDE General Assembly in Chennai, India. — Joey Villar