GMs Torre, Frayna to get cash rewards for Chess Olympiad feats

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Sports Commission will reward Grandmaster Eugene Torre and newly minted WGM Janelle Mae Frayna will receive cash incentives for their exceptional feats in the recently concluded 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan.

PSC chairman William "Butch" Ramirez on Friday told The STAR the 64-year-old Torre will receive P100,000 for the bronze medal he won on board three in the men's division, while Frayna will be given P50,000 for becoming the first Filipina to ever obtain the WGM and men's International Master titles.

"Yes, biennial Olympiad bronze is P100,000 while a Grandmaster title is something new but she (Frayna) will given P50,000," said Ramirez.

Ramirez said Torre and Frayna, however, will get an audience with no less than President Duterte himself as soon as Josephine Medina returns after snaring a bronze medal in table tennis in the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

Torre scored 10 out of 11 points on nine victories and two draws while Frayna scored seven of 11 to reap honors for the country.

It was Torre's fourth medal after he won a silver in the 1974 Nice Olympiad, where he also became Asia's first ever GM, and two bronzes in the 1980 Malta and 1986 Dubai Olympiads on top board.

Torre said he would have won a gold if the formula used was percentages and not performance rating.

Former teammate GM Wesley So, who is now representing the United States, took the gold while Hungarian GM Zoltan Almasi brought home the silver.

""But I'm still happy because Wesley won the gold," said Torre at Friday's thanksgiving party hosted by NCFP officials Butch Pichay and Atty. Ruel Canobas at the Brickyard in Quezon City.