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Friday, June 24, 2005
Bitoon faces GM Joey
By Frank C. Calapre
Sun.Star Correspondent
MANILA – Only 11 of the 16 players who reached the finals opted to play in today’s resumption of the 2005 National Open Classical Chess Tournament finals at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Cebu’s International Master Richard Bitoon is among the 11 players who will vie for spots in the team that will represent the country in classical chess in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games on Nov. 27 to Dec. 5.
Help
Bitoon, who has sought the support of local officials including Gov. Gwen Garcia to help him in his campaign in Manila, will have the toughest assignment today as he takes on Grandmaster Joey Antonio.
Other matches pit IM Ronald Dableo against Fide Master Fernie Donguines, GM Nelson Mariano II against FM Oliver Dimakiling, NM Oliver Barbosa against NM Joseph de Ramos and FM Noel Sales against IM Jayson Gonzales.
GM-candidate Mark Paragua, the tournament top-seed, takes a bye.
No cash prize
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Go Teng-Kok said there is nothing more they can do for those who made true their threat to boycott the finals of the tournament, which will have the top four finishers compose the RP SEA Games team.
Go reiterated that there will be no cash prizes in the event but the members of the RP training pool will be given additional daily allowance by the NCFP on top of what they will receive from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
Among the big guns who withdrew from the competition were GM Bong Villamayor, who was reported to have gone back to work in a chess school in Singapore, IM Chito Garma, NM John Paul Gomez, IM Ronald Bancod and Leonardo Carlos.
GM Eugene Tore is expected to be given an automatic spot in the team by the NCFP.
Meanwhile, the NCFP announced it will sanction on Garma and Villamayor for what it said were acts inimical to the interest of the association.
Explanation
Go asked Villamayor to explain within 72 hours why he should not be penalized for instigating the boycott in the ongoing National Open and his continued criticism of the policies of the NCFP, including the formation of the RP team.
He noted that Villamayor, as a member of the RP team, has been receiving allowances from the PSC for two years now even if he is abroad teaching the Singapore national chess team.
“If we don’t receive your explanation within the stipulated period, we would be constrained to consider that you have waived your right to be heard,” Go said in his letters to Villamayor and Garma.
Aside from his continued attacks on the NCFP in the media, Garma was also cited for his failure to participate in the Iligan City Chess Tournament. He had allegedly borrowed money from Go and NCFP Director Willie Abalos for his expenses in the event.
(June 24, 2005 issue)
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