WBW 27: "I am Successful because I First Loved What I Did"

There are many times, when pushing towards success, you find yourself running dry and empty at times. Perhaps this is a time to question whether or not you are truly in love with what you are doing. This is where having passion for what you do helps provide that drive for you – where becoming successful goes back to rekindling with the memory of how your heart goes 'bump'. In this episode, the first Asian Grandmaster Eugene Torre shares with us his insights into the game of chess, and links in may ways how life is very much like it, and how his passion for the game is what has made him the man he is today.

Who is GM Eugene Torre?

Having started playing chess just six years old, Eugene Torre has accomplished and earned a lot of awards and respect for himself and for his country. Torre has the distinction of being the first Asian player to earn the much coveted title of International Grandmaster. In a tournament in Manila in the 1976, Torre beat then reigning world chess champion Anatoly Karpov in a game that has become part of Filipino chess history.

His career, spanning almost 4 decades as of 2006, had seen him play in 19 consecutive Chess Olympiads breaking the old record of 18 consecutive held by Heikki Westerinen although still a shy of the record 20 non-consecutive appearances made by Hungary's Lajos Portisch. He had manned the top board for Team Philippines for a record 17 times already except in the 1970 and 2006 editions. He also has taken part in 6 Asian Chess Team Championships (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1993) and once in the World Student Chess Team Championships (1969).

Eugene now not only continues to teach and coach the next generation of potential world-class chess players in the Philippines, but also plays as a life mentor to his young friends and colleagues.

When asked what's his greatest failure?

When he was focused on chess, was not able to give enough attention to his daughter and the way he handled the situation then was not so good, but thankfully he found the right move and said he would rather lose tournaments rather than failing her as a father.

When asked what's his greatest success?

Show notes:

Do you think that if you pursue your passion,

• If you follow your passion, later on good things will happen
• With passion, you normally will excel in whatever endeavor you get into
• Passion is very important
• There are other people who are born with more intelligence, more gifted in sports so you are inclined towards certain things, but it is your passion that will get you through

Did you have any detractors in your experience that would say that pursuing your passion would not be best for you and it would be better to quit, especially when you were young?

• Didn’t really happen for him, because he excelled early on in his field
• There were some comments from his chess groups, where some people would discouraged. This was sometimes right because chess is not easy
• In cases like Wesley So, who is a grandmaster at a very young age, he shouldn’t be discouraged
• But, he shouldn’t ignore his studies, while not wasting his special talent

What would you say to the people who discover later on in life that they want to pursue something else?

• It's never too late to go find your passion
• There are people who are late seekers
• Opportunities or situations permit you to pursue that passion, grab it!
• You will know it if you want your passion; you will enjoy it
• Make sure your passion is something good and constructive

With decades of your career in chess, what would you say were the pay-offs? What would you tell people that they should pursue what their passion and enjoy the payoffs?

• Even at a young age, he believed that Chess was an undertaking that was worthwhile
• With no Grandmaster in Asia, it was a big challenge for him
• He thinks that his decision is right, now that chess has become more famous

Is chess just a game to you? Or can anything be learned from it? Can it be applied to real life?

• He can appreciate life better now
• The game of chess doesn’t just happen on the chessboard

Chess Principles and Life

Control the Center

• Chess - You should be strategically located
• Life - You control the center of the business

Harmony

• Chess - Pieces should work together harmoniously
• Life – important to have harmony in the family

Pawns and pieces should be strategically placed

• Chess – Maximize the strength of piece by placing them properly
• Life - You place people in positions where they are strong

Tempo

• Chess - You must not waste moves
• Business - If you can do 2 tasks with one move, do it

Pawns Structure

• Pawns are the SOUL of chess
• Pawns are of the least value but they decide the game
• Pieces are strong depending on the pawn structure
• In life, well protected ang mga employees. Don’t take them for granted because they are the ones that will bring you success

Many good attributes are developed in chess

• Discipline
• Logic
• Purpose
• Sportsmanship
• As long as you try your best, even if you lose, it becomes your teacher. It becomes your school. Don’t let it be like your funeral.

Attitude wise

• Don’t repeat the same error

What can you share to the viewers that are still looking for their passion in life?

• You can just feel and really know what your passion is.
• As much as possible, try to help it grow also
• He would read up on chess, its history, solving chess problems, tried to learn more about.
• The more he learned about it, the more he loved. He discovered not only the outer beauty but also the inner beauty of chess.

How much has chess and all these experiences help you become the person you are today? And do you have any regrets in pursuing chess for life?

• No. He really enjoys being a chess player and being involved in chess for his whole life.
• If he was born again, he would do the same thing. No regrets.
• He has become a better person by applying chess in life
• Example. When you play good moves in chess, you get excited and feel proud when you make good moves in chess.
• In life, you will also know when you play good moves, like service to the community.
• He is proud of whatever modest achievement he has achieved in the game of chess

"The Board" message