FIDE Director of Chess Development and legendary Super Grandmaster Nigel David Short made a brief yet unforgettable visit to Manila on Wednesday ( Feb. 25, 2005.)
The former World Championship challenger met with Filipino chess enthusiasts at the New World Hotel in Makati City, thanks to the initiative of US-based National Master Antonio “Tony” Aguirre.
Accompanying GM Short were prominent figures in the local chess scene, including Interbank Champion CPA Danilo Ponay, sportswriter and radio commentator National Master Almario Marlon Quiroz Bernardino Jr., two-time Asian Senior (65+) champion International Master Jose Efren Bagamasbad, Engr. Rey Cris Urbiztondo, and Johnny “Joel” Gaudia, who hosted a special dinner in his honor.
Filipino chess players expressed their heartfelt gratitude to NM Aguirre for orchestrating this momentous meeting with the chess icon.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, before his evening flight to Guam, GM Short was hosted for lunch and dinner by Mr. Teddy Cu.
The highlight of his visit, however, was an exclusive friendly blitz match held at the Wild Flour Restaurant in Greenbelt 3, Makati City. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the local chess community to test their skills against the legendary grandmaster.
Facing a strong lineup of Filipino players, GM Short demonstrated his world-class prowess, defeating all his opponents in a five-minute blitz match.
His challengers included 12-time Philippine Open champion GM Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr., IM Bagamasbad, FM Ivan Travis Cu, NM Bernardino, Jericho Winston Cu, Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez, Keiffer Pelias, Noel Jay Estacio, and the lone female competitor, Elizsa Gayle Cafirma.
Beyond the games, GM Short shared invaluable advice and entertained the players with amusing anecdotes. One particularly memorable story involved an interpreter mistakenly translating notes into English that read, “I love you” and “I have no money.” He humorously likened this to chess, where deep passion for the game often exists despite limited financial rewards.
Before departing, GM Short recorded a congratulatory video message for the Xavier School Chess Team and extended his best wishes for the upcoming World Engineering Chess Tournament on March 8. His farewell was as warm as his visit, as he personally bid goodbye to the team, even giving a friendly kiss on both cheeks to Cafirma—a testament to his kind and approachable nature.
Engr. Alvarez, accompanied by NM Bernardino, IM Bagamasbad, Estacio, and Cafirma, drove GM Short to the airport. “It was a once-in-a-million opportunity to play against a legendary grandmaster. A heartfelt thanks to NM Tony Aguirre for making this possible,” said Engr. Alvarez.
GM Short’s visit also brought back memories of his triumphant run at the Piaya Network Negros International Chess Tournament, held from October 11-19, 2017, in Bacolod City. There, he secured victory by defeating Indian GM Srinath Narayanan in the final round, finishing with 8.0 points—a full point ahead of Armenian GM Karen Grigoryan and Vietnamese GM Nguyen Duc Hoa. This earned him the championship title and a $3,000 prize. The event was hosted by Piaya Network Broadcasting Corp. in collaboration with the A&V Negros Chess Club, with NM Aguirre serving as the chief organizer.
Nigel Short’s brief stay in Manila was not only an extraordinary experience for Filipino chess players but also a testament to the enduring passion for chess in the country. His visit left an indelible mark, inspiring many to continue their journey in the game.