SAN MANUEL, Tarlac (May 24, 2026)— A thrilling and unforgettable encounter surprised local woodpushers when San Manuel Municipal Mayor Donya Tesoro personally faced Asia’s first chess grandmaster, Eugene Torre, in a match during a local chess tournament held on May 22, 2026.
Taking to her official Facebook account, Mayor Tesoro shared her lighthearted experience, jokingly describing her bold move to challenge the legendary grandmaster.
“Best and worst decision ko ay hamunin sa chess si Grandmaster Eugene Torre. 🤣 But this is so worth it! Thank you, GM Torre and Babooshka! You made our chess community very happy during the tournament. Ipinagmamalaki po kayo ng mga Pilipino 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 And congrats sa lahat ng participants natin! Sobrang proud ako sa ating chess players, always giving their best moves in life!!! ♟️♟️♟️♟️😍😍AO and maraming maraming salamat sa organizers natin! 💗” Mayor Tesoro stated in her post.
The presence and participation of GM Eugene Torre brought immense inspiration and excitement to San Manuel’s entire chess community, particularly to the local players who demonstrated their skills and determination throughout the duration of the tournament.
The local chief executive also extended her gratitude and recognition to everyone involved in the event, specifically praising the organizers who established the competition to nurture sports talent within the municipality.
