Pichay has high hopes for Pinoy chess team
abs-cbnNEWS.com 08/07/2009 4:29 PM
MANILA — National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. believes the country’s three-man contingent to the World Chess Cup (World Chess Championships) in November can reach as far as fourth round.
Three Filipino Grandmasters (GM) — Wesley So, Joey Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo – earned qualification for the tournament which will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
“I am confident that the three of them will reach as far as the fourth round of the World Chess Cup,” said Pichay.
Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, the 1982 Inter Zonal Champion, made it to the quarter-final round in the World Chess Championships Candidate Matches in 1983 but lost to Hungrarian GM Zoltan Ribli.
Meanwhile, Antonio is thankful that he now has companions on the road to the World Chess Cup. He was the first Filipino this year to qualify in the World Chess Cup. “Nagpapasalamat ako kasi tatlo kami ngayon at may kasama ako. Mahirap kasi pag mag isa ka lamang na nag qualify. Grabe ang pressure,” said Antonio.
Antonio was the country’s lone qualifier in the 1999 Las Vegas, Nevada’s World Chess Championships. He lost to eventual runner-up Armenia Super GM Vladimir Akopian in the play-off matches.
Laylo assured that he and his team mates will give their best performances.
Here is the full article.
Wesley has a good chance.
The Pinoys will be easy prey for russian gms.
Circa 1975 Marlboro Chess Classic Tournament, Manila, Philippines:
IM Rosendo Balinas [7 time Philippine champion] defeated the Russian Champion and Candidates qualifier Lev Polugaevski.
Polugaevski said: “Balinas, Balinas you are a lucky SOB, but you still do not belong in our [GM] class.”
Balinas said: “Polugaevski, you sore loser over rated Russian GM has-been, you invite me to your country and I will show you how good Filipino chess players are.
Odessa, 1976 International Chess Tournament:
Champion: IM Rosendo Carreon Balinas, Philippines.
Score against the Russians:
Wins: 4 Draw: 4 Loss: 0
Balinas defeated the then Russian Absolute chess champion Vladimir Savon and Moscow champion Lutikov, drew David Bronstein. Korchnoi chickened out and did not play.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosendo_Balinas,_Jr.
Balinas – 3 Russians – 0
Polugaevski-0
Savon- 0
Lutikov- 0
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1112154
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1389902
http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1331492
1976, The Philippines:
Eugene Torre – 1 World Champion Anatoly Karpov- 0
Funny Anos 🙂
“The Pinoys will be easy prey for russian gms.”
The new Russian gm is from Ukraine. They need all the talents they can get. The WC is Indian. The World Team Champions are from Armenia.