Manolin, the world's oldest active chess player at 104

"The record-breaking man enters the tournament without TV cameras, influencers, or fans. He's about to beat his own record for another year, yet no one pays him any attention on this sunny late-summer afternoon in Madrid. The man small in stature and slightly stopped gets off the No 8 bus, and pushes his walker into the Mortalaz sports center. He passes by the youngsters on the athletics track and enters the tournament hall, where 75 chessboards await on tables covered with blue cloths."

"His colleagues greet him with pats on the back and affectionate nicknames: Manolin, Manolillo, maestro. He is Manuel Alvarez Escudero, the oldest active registered chess player in the world. Today, on October 12, he turns 104. Manuel Alvarez Escudero, at the XXVIII Moratalaz International Open.SAMUEL SANCHEZ Alvarez competes every year in the XXVIII Mortalaz Open in Madrid, which welcomes players from around the world and is recognized by the International Chess Federation commonly known as the FIDE after its French initials."

Manuel Alvarez Escudero, 104, attends the XXVIII Moratalaz Open in Madrid and competes against players from around the world. He arrives by No 8 bus, uses a walker, and walks past an athletics track into a hall with 75 chessboards on blue-covered tables. Colleagues greet him with affectionate nicknames such as Manolin, Manolillo, and maestro. He plays daily card games like pocha in the mornings and watches Pasapalabra in the afternoons. Despite international recognition as the oldest active registered chess player, the achievement has not changed his life nor increased tournament visibility. He remains cheerful, curious about opponents assigned by the computer, and continues competing annually.

Read at english.elpais.com