Torre, Infiesto, Abundo named to FIDE posts
FIDE, the world’s governing body for chess, announced on Tuesday the appointments of three Filipinos to FIDE Commissions.
Now holding key positions in the working groups of FIDE are Grandmaster Eugene Torre and International Arbiters James Infiesto and Casto “Toti” Abundo.
Torre, who was recently enshrined to the World Chess Hall of Fame, was elected deputy chairman of the FIDE Athletes Commission which has a strong bearing on the decisions for the laws of chess, tournament rules, ratings and titles.
Infiesto, who hails from Davao City, was appointed councillor of the FIDE Commission for the Disabled. He is also a board member of the National Council of Disability Affairs and head coach of the Philippine Para Chess Team that won five gold medals in the Asian Para Games in Indonesia in 2018.
Abundo, meanwhile, was reappointed as member of the FIDE Qualification Commission which is in charge of FIDE ratings and titles. He is also the executive director of the Asian Chess Federation, a position he has held since 2006. Abundo is currently a member of the FIDE Historical Committee which is preparing for the 100th anniversary of the federation in 2024.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman and president Prospero 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.