|
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Oyson: Chess ado about nothing
By Manuel N. Oyson Jr.
Counter punch
THE 2005 National Open Chess Championships start today in the wind-swept city of Tagaytay. Unfortunately, grandmasters Nelson Mariano and Joey Antonio have threatened to boycott the tournament.
Their excuse: IM Mark Paragua has been given an automatic slot to the national team that would compete in next month’s World Chess Olympiad in Majorca, Spain.
The 20-year-old Paragua would definitely be a no-show in this 11-day tournament as he is out of the country at the moment, pursuing his third and final GM norm in the 2nd Alushta Grandmaster Tournament in Alushta Ukraine. If he earns that norm, he would be the country’s sixth grandmaster.
He is presently in Europe in the chase of his final GM norm. For this, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) decided to seed him to the 36th World Chess Olympiad without having to go through the qualifying eliminations in Tagaytay.
UNFAIR. Both Antonio and Mariano cried “unfair,” “foul,” “smacks of favoritism.” News reports indicate nine members of the NCFP board, presided over by chairman Mat Defensor and new NCFP president Go Teng Kok, approved the decision to seed Paragua into the national team during a board meeting.
Mariano earned his GM spurs in the Asean Chess Masters Congress in Bangkok last July. Mariano explained that seeding players to major international tournaments such as the Chess Olympiad is not good for local chess development.
He said that such a step would also decrease the chances of other hopefuls. “It is very unfair. The system is very wrong. They are depriving the rights and chances of other players.”
The defunct Philippine Chess Federation thrice offered him a slot to the national team without having to go through the qualifying national open but Mariano declined. As former Asian junior chess champion, Mariano finally got to represent the country in the 2002 Olympiad in Bled, Slovenia where he scored three wins and three draws.
REMINESCENT. Another Filipino GM, Joey Antonio, questioned the wisdom behind Paragua’s special treatment. He said that should he undergo the grueling qualifier where he could be ambushed by lesser-rated but equally talented players. A third GM, Bong Villamayor, is a doubtful participant. He is now based in Singapore where he has a coaching contract. There will be 17 hopefuls who will be contesting the remaining slots for the Olympic team.
Through the national chess championships players without international exposure can get into the national team.
The controversy over Paragua’s seeding is reminiscent of the outburst of GM Eugene Torre about a similar situation before the 34th World Chess Olympics in Istanbul, Turkey on Oct. 27-Nov. 12, 2000. He and Antonio also threatened to boycott the National Open in 1999 when they were asked to join the qualifying series. Torre reasoned that he and Antonio, being grandmasters, should be automatically seeded and not required to join in the eliminations.
This was the subject of my much earlier column: “Torre has no Torrens title to RP team,” (SS-D, 4/22/99).
MUCH ADO. By that time, the former Philippine Chess Federation was losing out in its war with the newly-formed NCPF headed by Torre. Torre’s faction won in court. The team originally formed by the PCF for Istanbul was eventually disbanded. Torre and Antonio spearheaded a new team to Istanbul recognized and funded by the NCFP. Even the help of former President Joseph Estrada was sought for funding.
The outburst of Mariano and Antonio is now too much ado about nothing. The NCFP board has reconsidered and asked Antonio to vanguard the national team to the Majorca Olympiad along with Torre. Mariano, however, was not given an outright slot. He also pursued his protest over the outright selection of Paragua and did not submit his credentials for today’s start. This will only leave three national slots available for those who will be undergoing the qualifying matches in Tagaytay.
KUDOS. To tri-media man Bobby G. Nalazaro of dySS, GMA-7 and Sun.Star Cebu for winning the KBP Golden Dove award as outstanding public affairs program host (radio) category. You honor the members of “The Saturday Club” for having bested even Korina Sanchez.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We need to send the best and the brightest to the Olympiad. Torre and Antonio have already proven their worth countless times.” – NCFP president Go Teng Kok
(e-mail: mno@sunstar.com.ph)
(September 18, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
