Torre joining World Seniors chess

SINGING while walking is good for the health as well as the brain.

Grandmaster Eugene Torre swears to the effectivity of this novel combination which helped him attain a new level of success in the recent 42nd Chess Olympiad held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“Every morning, I did that at the (Baku) boulevard, where the air is fresh and the view is invigorating,” Torre told the Inquirer yesterday.

“When you’re singing your repertoire, you’re exercising, memorizing and getting relaxed at the same time.”

Asia’s first GM put up an awesome performance, winning nine and drawing two matches to become the highest individual scorer (10 points) on his 23rd stint in the biennial meet.

While his contemporaries have long retired or have become coaches, Torre remains one of the country’s strongest players and will be approaching the Elo 2500 level again after grabbing the bronze medal on board three, which was ruled by Cavite-born and now United States stalwart GM Wesley So.

Apart from having his food intake monitored by wife Marilyn, Torre also lifts light weights and takes long walks to stay in shape.

In November, Torre will join a round-robin tournament in Istanbul then head for Czechoslovakia to join the World Seniors Championship for players 65 and over.

There, Torre will be like a “young” wolf stalking “aging” bison.