Torre logs back-to-back wins, grabs share of lead in World Seniors tournament

Eugene Torre Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Grandmaster Eugene Torre won back-to-back games to gain a share of the lead with five others in the 27th World Senior Chess Championships in Acqui Terme, Italy.

Torre bested Slovenian International Master Janez Barle in the ninth round Friday and Brazilian IM Hernan C. Van Riemsdijk in the tenth Saturday to boost his total to 7.5 points and catch up with top seed GM Anatoly Vaisser of France, GM Evgeny Sveshnikov of Russia, GM Vlastimil Jansa of Czech Republic, GM Lothar Vogt of Germany and IM Arkady Shevelev of Israel.

Less than a month after ruling the Asian Senior Chess Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, the 66-year-old Torre will be facing Vaisser in the 11th and final round of the 65 and over division. Sveshnikov is pitted against Arkady while Vogt is matched against Jansa.

The 66-year-old Torre, board 3 bronze medalist in the 2016 Baku Chess Olympiad, has seven wins, one draw and two losses, while Vaisser is unbeaten with five wins and five draws.

In the 50 and over division, GM Joey Antonio settled for a draw with Georgian GM Giorgi Bagaturov in the 10th round and was lodged at 7.5 points with Georgian GM Zurab Sturua. Top seed GM Julio Granada Zuniga of Peru is on top with 9.0 points, followed by GM Eric Prie of France with 8.0. —ROY LUARCA