The chess backer and his love for the game
By Charles Raymond A. Maxey
GIVEN the needed support, Filipino players have all the chance to excel and play competitive chess with the rest of the world.
So declared Engineer Enrico Vanta of the Chadric Builders and Construction Supply, adding that the Philippines is in the right direction in as far as raising the level of its competitiveness is concerned.
“We can even produce 10 more Wesley Sos,” Vanta told Sun.Star Davao in a recent interview. He was referring to Wesley So, the Filipino chess wizard who recently became the world’s youngest Grandmaster today at 14 years old.
Engineer Vanta, an avid supporter of Davao City chess, said to realize this, all the country needs to do is come up with more age-group chess tournaments every year.
He said it is only through these kinds of tournaments that chess officials can discover talents. Once the NCFP already has the talents, Vanta said all the chess body has to do is give these talented kids exposure and everything will fall into place.
“We must regain our status as the number in Asia just like the time when Eugene Torre was winning and making waves before,” Vanta said.
Torre was Asia’s first Grandmaster and used to lord in over the rest of the field during the 70s up to the 80s until China and Vietnam came along and start dominating Filipino players.
Here is the full story.
Will the USCF back chess in America?
While I applaud the sentiments of Engineer Vanta, I disagree that the solution lies in more age group tournaments. I think that along with these tournaments there should be a solid scholastic program in place for younger players. And I think the ultimate aim of such a program should not be the creation of more Wesley So’s but to use chess as a means of teaching lessons in life.
Oh and don’t worry, the NCFP doesn’t back chess any more than the USCF backs chess in America.