‘Nobody ever really stops playing chess’
By Yasir Abbasher, Senior Reporter
Published: December 26, 2008, 23:39
Al Ain: Former President of the International Chess Confederation (FIDE) Florencio Campomanes said that he has never stopped playing and enjoying chess.
Born in 1927, Campomanes started playing chess during the Second World War when he was only 16. He showed great promise and played for his country in the Chess Olympiad in 1960 after winning the Philippines Chess Championship twice in 1956 and 1960.
When asked about his possible retirement, Campomanes told Gulf News, “You never stop playing chess. I am still a chess player but my last official participation for my country was in 1966.”
“I came to watch and attend the first Asian League competition on clubs level,” said Campomanes, who was made honourary President of the FIDE following his 10 years as head of the international chess governing body.
Here is the full story.
Campo is looking younger and uglier. Must be the young wives he had.
He can never get tired talking about himself too.
Actually the picture is that of Tito or Toti Abundo, Campo’s long time crony.
What ever he has done, Campo will always be the most reviled chess figure in the Philippines. Abusive and an astute self aggrandizing and enriching manipulator of people and the media, Campo destroyed the lives and chess careers of many Filipino talents.
Campo single handedly set back Philippine chess, formerly Asia’s strongest chess power, while enriching himself and his power, during his 50 plus years of alleged dictatorship leadership.
Campo capped his dubious legacy by finally getting caught and convicted as a felon by the Philippine People’s Court.
Campo, citing his power as FIDE president, refused to account for the whereabouts of the over 12 million pesos entrusted to him by the Philippine government during the Chess Olympiad held in Manila.
With the absence of Campos influence and interference, and under the new leadership of Hon. Pichay, the Philippines has undergone a resurgence of chess development of young chess talents, particularly the youngest Philippine super GM Wesley So.
wow he’s like the 12 Million Peso Man!
That’s like being the 100 Euro Man…
Campo is a piece of work!
Well, Anonymous, at least you’re not bitter.
Oh and next time, sign your name if you’re going to spew stuff like that at someone. I’m no big Campo fan either but I am not ready to worship at the Church of Pichay either.
And note I sign my name.
Big deal Scugrad. Look who is talking.
Why don’t you post your real name and address too.
Also your phone number.
And next time contribute something informative, and factual of course.
Campos reputation and foul deed are not new story, and are well documented in world wide chess circles.
Campo is the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan!
Hail to the Filipino Gipper!
Whatever Bonzo is smoking over there, keep it away from me.
methinks bonzo and hiscugrad and campo are the same.
It is a picture of Abundo, not Campo, maybe it makes sense to replace the picture?
Maybe it makes sense just to leave the picture as is since Abundo is no better than Campo.
Abundo was the one who voted NOT to give the GM title to IM Barcenilla [now based in the U.S.].
And what did Barcenilla do? He just happened to play for the Philippine team, under the auspices of the old Philippine Chess Federation led by Art Borjal, who opposed Campo and Abundo’s breakaway NCFP.
And anybody know the story of IM Andronico Yap who suffered under Campo’s watch and committed suicide?
What goes around will surely come back around, and Campo and Abundo will surely face the day of reckoning for their repressive treatment, and the disillusionment [if you do not pony up to them two you do not play] of many Filipino chessplayers during their reign.
As Campo and Abundo fades in the horizon, our young chess talents and Philippine chess are beginning their long climb back. But we have fallen so much behind India, China, Vietnam too.