Karpov visit fetches moment of pride for GM Torre

Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre can still vividly recall when he beat Russian chess legend Anatoly Karpov almost four decades ago.

“I will never forget the time I won against him because at that time he was the world champion,’’ Torre told the Inquirer.

Karpov and Torre are set to meet again on Tuesday not across each other, but in front of 200 kids at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where the illustrious Russian GM hopes to inspire future champions.

Torre, Asia’s first GM, actually defeated Karpov in his prime twice—during the 1976 Manila Interzonal and in an invitational tournament in London in 1984. Karpov, however, beat Torre four times and drew the Filipino five times in their head-to-head.

“I’m very fortunate to have [played against] Karpov because he seldom lost during the decade when he became world champion,’’ Torre said. “He was almost invincible at that time.”

Karpov, who took the sport by storm as its world champion from 1975 to 1985, arrived late Monday for a three-day visit hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission in cooperation with the Russian embassy.

Now a politician in the State of Duma in Russia, the 71-year-old Karpov will do more than just speak during his visit here.

“We will screen the movie ‘The Champion of the World’ made in Russia. It will commemorate the championship of Karpov here in the Philippines in Baguio [in] 1978,’’ said Nina Prakapovich, press-attache of the Russian Embassy in the Philippines.

Karpov retained his title at the 1978 World Chess Championship in Baguio after beating Victor Korchnoi. INQ