Roberto Hernandez, 2nd from right, met Philippine top GM Wesley So, middle, twice --in Russia in 2010 and in Istanbul, Turkey in 2012. In the photo with him in Istanbul are Jamie Kenmure, team captain of Palau Chess Team, Menandro Manuel, left, Board 4 and Bernardo Garcia, Board 3, who gained the first title for Palau by scoring 3.5 in his first 7 games.
(Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Elizabeth Manuel)
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End of Era in Philippine Chess as Top GM Wesley
So says Goodbye
The Philippines has lost Asia’s second highest rated
Grandmaster. GM Wesley So confirmed his request to transfer membership to the
USA. He is ranked 16th in the world and is the highest rated in Asia
after Viswanathan Anand.
It is the end of an era in Philippine chess. Wesley So’s
mentor, Susan Polgar, said he did not hear anything from the National Chess
Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) after June 1 so he
signed a contract to be coach of the U.S. team.
Top Filipino Grandmasters are dissatisfied with Prospero A.
Pichay, Jr., NCFP president, who was dismissed from his government post and indicted
for corruption in a multi-million dollar scam. Prizes in Philippine championships
are not immediately awarded. Instead, after Pichay’s big pronouncements, GM
Mark Paragua was receiving his cash prize by installment of some $100 per
month. GM Oliver Barbosa, who flew to the U.S. after his monthly Philippine government
allowance was cut in half, will miss part of the Olympiad because of visa
problems as he was late to confirm participation.
Early June, Wesley So wrote to Pichay as published in
Polgar’s blog:
“I now live and attend school full time in the United States
(at Webster University). I plan to reside permanently here. This is where I
will have the opportunity to improve my chess, and make a decent living as a
professional player. I want to be able to play in top level tournaments ... to get
to the next level.
“I have filed the paperwork to switch federation to the US last year. I respectfully ask that you grant me this opportunity and consent my transfer.
“If you choose not to approve my transfer request, I have no way of paying the 50,000 euros fees to the NCFP. Therefore, I will have no choice but to sit out another year to fulfill my full two year waiting period so no transfer fees are needed. This will not benefit the NCFP at all. However, it will severely slow down my progress by not being able to play in official FIDE events such as the World Cup, World Blitz and Rapid Championships, etc. I will be forced to miss the next World Championship cycle.
“Because of the 2-year waiting period rule of FIDE, I am not able to compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Dubai next week. I will also not be able to compete in the upcoming Olympiad in Norway.
“This is not an easy decision. But it is the best decision for me to have a chance to be a top 10 player in the world, and perhaps one day fight for the World Championship crown. I hope you will support my decision and allow me to make this change immediately so I can have a chance to chase my dream without losing more valuable time at this very important age.”
“I have filed the paperwork to switch federation to the US last year. I respectfully ask that you grant me this opportunity and consent my transfer.
“If you choose not to approve my transfer request, I have no way of paying the 50,000 euros fees to the NCFP. Therefore, I will have no choice but to sit out another year to fulfill my full two year waiting period so no transfer fees are needed. This will not benefit the NCFP at all. However, it will severely slow down my progress by not being able to play in official FIDE events such as the World Cup, World Blitz and Rapid Championships, etc. I will be forced to miss the next World Championship cycle.
“Because of the 2-year waiting period rule of FIDE, I am not able to compete in the World Rapid and Blitz Championships in Dubai next week. I will also not be able to compete in the upcoming Olympiad in Norway.
“This is not an easy decision. But it is the best decision for me to have a chance to be a top 10 player in the world, and perhaps one day fight for the World Championship crown. I hope you will support my decision and allow me to make this change immediately so I can have a chance to chase my dream without losing more valuable time at this very important age.”
The U.S. Chess Federation has sent the change of federation
request to FIDE which has duly informed the NCFP. Pichay’s silence is a refusal
to give a no-objection letter. This will not stop, but can only delay, Wesley
So from leaving Philippine chess.
Goodbye Wesley and good luck.
The
Philippine Chess Team before their match against Bulgaria. So and
Topalov drew, Eugene and Mark also drew their game while Barbosa had 2
rooks against a queen in the last game. Eventually, Barbosa won and
Phil. upset Bulgaria. Hungary is next on round 7 at table 3. — with Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre, Ryan Concepcion, Jayson Gonzales, Arlito Porlas, Oliver Barbosa and Wesley So.
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- สมชาย สายเสมอ, Ted Castro, Gary Barcelona Abaño and 167 others like this.
Lucky Jose · Friends with Wesley So and 16 others
lupit ni so naka draw sya kay topalov hirap dun si kasparov
Marivic P. Callano · Friends with Mark Paragua
Congratulations to Philippine Team! go on winning your games... have a strong finish! To Almighty God alone be all the glory!
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| Philippines
vs. Hungary. Judith Polgar rested. The score is tied after Wesley So
and Peter Leko drew, Barbosa lost at Board 2, Eugene won at Board 3 and Mark Paragua drew at Baord 4. England is next in Round 8. Another tough match. Would it be So vs. Michael Adams? Eugene vs. Gawain Maroroa Jones? Mark vs. Nigel Short? and Oliver Dimakiling vs. Gomally? — with Eugene Torre and Oliver Barbosa. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=436117706427255&set=a.434421409930218.94873.100000870883954&type=3&theater |
A stunning upset of Philippines over Bulgaria. Wesley So drew with Veselin Topalov, left, also Eugene Torre and Mark Paragua. But the winning point was delivered by Oliver Barbosa at Board 2. — with Ryan Concepcion, Veselin Topalov and Henry Bacalso Lanipga.
The Philippines (open) team scored a stunning upset of England, 3-1, on wins by the vintage Torre and youthful Barbosa.
First game to finish was Paragua-Pert, draw in 37 moves on threefold repetition of position. ... See More
— with Oliver Barbosa, Eugene Torre, Rocky Pabalan, Gawain Maroroa Jones, Nigel Short and Michael Adams.First game to finish was Paragua-Pert, draw in 37 moves on threefold repetition of position. ... See More
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Roberto Hernandez I watched this Phil.-England match till 7:30 pm. Barbosa's win was relayed to me by my teammate Menandro Manuel of Palau.
Torre defeated Nigel Short. I remember him saying "I'LL NEVER GET SHORT IN PLAYING NIGEL SHORT AGAIN!" After he narrowly lost to Nigel in the Candidates Match. — with Oliver Barbosa, Eugene Torre, Gawain Maroroa Jones and Michael Adams.
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- Rommel Vela Lee, Ruben Jr-Duell Gumagay Ondangan, Thuz Ylan and 9 others like this.
Rm Reyes · Friends with Mark Paragua and 3 others
Congratulations Eugene!! Phil. standing now?? Keep up the achievements!! Sincerely, Prof.
Meannjoy Baclayon · Friends with Wesley So and 26 others
veterans vs mas veterans...panalo idol ko lolo torre.
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Menandro Menandro L. Manuel of Palau watch the Phil. vs. England match to the end. — with Menandro L. Manuel, Oliver Barbosa and Gawain Maroroa Jones.
Tags: Michael Adams
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Phil. lost to powerhouse China in the 9th round 3.5 - 0.5 as Wesley So avoided a shutout with a draw at Board 1. — with Menandro L. Manuel, Mark Paragua, Oliver Barbosa and Eugene Torre.
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