Monday, January 29, 2007 National Chess Academy mulled By Henry C. Villalva
FORMER Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairman Bro. Rolando Dizon, FSC is calling for the creation of a National Chess Academy in the hope of institutionalizing the development of chess in the country.
Dizon, founder of the National University Games (Unigames) during his tenure as president of the University of St. La Salle, told Bacolod sportswriters recently that he plans to present a proposal to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on the plan.
"We have a rich source of talent from the grassroots. Unless we do something to institutionalize chess training we will never be able to be at par with the rest of the world," he said.
Dizon cited the example of Singapore, which he said has already started to reap the fruits of an institutionalized chess development program. He also batted for the inclusion of chess in the school curriculum.
"If only we can find a way for chess to be included in Physical Education subjects, I believe this will go a long way in helping us institutionalize chess development in our country," he added.
Dizon, who heads the JRR Dizon Foundation, supports Negrense chessers like the unheralded Hamed Nouri of Escalante City. The former West Negros College varsitarian returned recently fron the Asian Chess 3.3 Zonal Championship in Vietnam as the only Filipino player who did not bow to a Vietnamese opponent.
The 29-year-old Nouri, who was the highest Filipino finisher, at eight place, during the December 2006 inaugural staging of the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Open International Chess Challenge in Manila, came home with his FIDE Master certificate following his Vietnam campaign.
He is now preparing for his stint in the 2007 Asian Inter-Cities Chess Team Tournament from March 1 to 12 in Tehran, Iran where the RP team will carry the colors of defending champion Tagaytay City.
