Torre, Infiesto, Abundo Appointed to FIDE Commissions
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 16 Nov 2022
MANILA--The International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced today appointments to FIDE Commissions including three Filipinos, GM Eugene Torre, IA James Infiesto and IA Casto Abundo. FIDE Commissions are the working groups within the world governing body of chess.
Torre, Asia’s first Grandmaster, was elected Deputy Chairman of the FIDE Athletes Commission which represents the players’ views to FIDE. The opinion of the Athletes Commission has strong bearing on decisions of all other FIDE Commissions such as for the Laws of Chess, tournament rules, ratings and titles. Torre was recently inducted into the World Chess Hall of Fame.
James Infiesto of Davao City, International Arbiter since 2013, was appointed Councillor of the FIDE Commission for Disabled. Infiesto continues to be a Board Member of the National Council of Disability Affairs (NCDA) from 2017 to present. He is also Consultant for Sports Entertainment of the Philippine Amusement & Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) from 2018 to present. He was Head Coach of the Philippine Para Chess Team which won five Gold Medals in the Asian Para Games in Indonesia 2018. Infiesto was Deputy Chief Arbiter of the Asian Youth Para Games 2013 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Chief Arbiter of the ASEAN Para Games 2014 in Nay Pyi Daw, Myanmar.
Casto Abundo was re-appointed member of the FIDE Qualification Commission which is in charge of FIDE ratings and titles. Abundo is Executive Director of the Asian Chess Federation, a position he has held since 2006. He has been the Philippine Delegate to FIDE since 1982 during the time of former FIDE President Florencio Campomanes. In FIDE, Abundo was former chairman of the FIDE Constitutional Commission. In his chess career, Abundo has been Chief Arbiter of a vast number of World Chess Championships and World Team Championships aside from numerous Asian championships.
Abundo is currently a member of the FIDE Historical Committee which is preparing for the 100th Anniversary of FIDE in 1924.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines Chairman and President Prospero A. Pichay, Jr. congratulated the appointees and exhorted them to raise the level of chess worldwide. “This appointment is a recognition of your achievement and a credit to Philippine chess,” Pichay said.
The Philippines has a number of FIDE dignitaries. Earlier in August, Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was conferred the organization’s highest honor as FIDE Honorary Member by the FIDE
General Assembly in Chennai, India.-Marlon Bernardino-
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