Florencio Campomanes: The Father of Global Chess

Florencio Campomanes,  22 February 1927 – 3 May 2010

On August 28, 2010, the inaugural Florencio Campomanes Memorial Cup will be staged at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Rizal Sports Complex, City of Manila. The tournament is sponsored by the the current World Chess Federation President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, Florencio Campomanes' successor as FIDE President.

Also known in the chess circle as "Campo", he is best remembered as the President of the international chess organization FIDE.  He was elected to that post in 1982 and held it until 1995. During his presidency, country chess federation membership grew significantly, by about 50 member nations. Florencio Campomanes was the only Filipino ever to hold the highest position at FIDE.

The chess world is forever indebted to this man for bringing the royal game into the light and out in the open.

Thank you Campo!

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