So in PH Olympiad team–NCFP
Philippine Daily Inquirer
12:08 am | Sunday, June 15th, 2014
MANILA, Philippines—Super Grandmaster Wesley So spearheaded the lineup submitted by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines for the 41st Chess Olympiad slated in August in Tromso, Norway.
“We want him to play, that’s why we included him in the list,” NCFP president Butch Pichay said Saturday. “But we’re not forcing him to play.”
So wanted to transfer from the NCFP to the United States Chess Federation and posted his letter of request to Pichay though the blog of GM Susan Polgar, his coach at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
So, who vaulted to world No. 15 following his triumph in last month’s Capablanca Memorial, also claimed that as early as November last year he had informed the NCFP of his decision to represent the Philippines one last time in the Tromso Olympiad and then switch federations.
Pichay clarified, however, that the NCFP never received such letters and if So did it by way of his blog, then it’s not the proper medium to do it.
Source: http://sports.inquirer.net
The timeline from my personal knowledge:
– In November 2013, Wesley wrote to the NCFP President about transferring to the US federation. He offered to play for the Philippines one final time in Tromsø if the NCFP consents for him to switch immediately after the Olympiad. His offer and request were completely ignored.
– The June 1, 2014 deadline passed and still no words from the NCFP.
– Since he heard nothing from the NCFP, Wesley wrote to the NCFP President again about the same issue. Just as the first time, he got no response.
– Since the RP failed to register the team timely, and no one from the NCFP bothered to contact him, Wesley went ahead and accepted the offer from team USA to be the coach.
– Wesley also asked me to publish his second letter to the NCFP President on my blog.
– The story then went viral.
– The media contacted the NCFP President about the situation. At first, he could not comment since he was out of the country. After he was available, he told the media that he knew nothing about the situation as he received no “official” letter. He said he also could not comment about things on my blog and wants to go through the official channels.
– Wesley is now working with the US federation, and they are in the process of sending the official paperwork to FIDE / NCFP.
– All of a sudden, Wesley read from various media outlets that his name has been submitted as a member of the RP team for the Olympiad in Norway. This is a big surprise for him. He hopes it is not true since he was never asked or consented to play for the Philippines. Besides, his name was already submitted as coach of team USA.
How could this be possible?
Because of this drama, Wesley was forced to withdraw from the National Open after he arrived in Las Vegas. He simply could not focus. He is taking a short break to finalize all the official paperwork for FIDE/NCFP, then focuses on his next event in Edmonton.
This is precisely one of the reasons why Wesley wanted to switch federation. He is a full time student while working hard to improve his chess. He has to make his plans far in advance, in accordance to his goals and schedule. He cannot afford for anyone to make decisions for him with no planning, without his consent or knowledge, at the last minute. No top player can succeed in this environment.
Wesley needs to be in a stable, calm, and professional environment where he can fully focus on reaching his goals, while surrounding himself with friends, teammates, and people who can help him.
I have no idea what will happen next. I have not seen anything like this. Your guess is as good as mine.
https://chessdailynews.com/wesley-so-will-switch-federation-to-the-us/
https://chessdailynews.com/wesley-so-this-situation-is-taking-a-big-toll-on-me/
Well, this settles it. So must play for the Philippines. Pichay said so and that’s the final word.
What is he GOD? I hope President Aquino will dig deeper the anomalied by Prospero Pichay in the Php 800 million ($20 million) Local Water Utilities & Administration and JAILED him like his mentor former Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
What is he God? I hope Philippine President Aquino will order the Ombudsman to dig deeper and prosecute Prospero Pichay for his Php 800 million ($20 million) anomaly in the Local Water Utilities Administration office and JAIL this CORRUPT guy like his mentor former Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who is in jail for corruption/plunder.
Pichay will ban Wesley So for life.
Pichay will ban Wesley So for life.
Screw the corrupt Pichay! Ban for life? What is he Fide? Your fucking ridiculous and misinformed… Ban perhaps in playing in your country but not outside of it and certainly no on events sanctioned by Fide… Besides there is no strong tournanents in the Philippines as the NCFP officials lead by the CORRUPT President Pichay is SIPHONING its fund for personal use. And this is the same guy who is running as President for FIDE Asia? You got to be kidding me… he is still not contended on draining NFCP Funds he literally wants to bankcrupt FIDE Asia and sent the entire Fide Asia in DISARRAY like what he is doing now in the Philippines. Chess federations in Asia, DO NOT VOTE this corrupt NCFP President Pichay for FIDE Asia President!
US Chess Federation versus National Chess Federation of the Philippines – the WINNER is obviously US Chess Federation lol For sure, the Philippines DOES NOT want to earn the ire of the US unless they want that US will suspend its foreign and military aid in the Philippines or would destroy the NCFP before FIDE… the ball is now on NCFP President Prospero Pichay, the fate of the entire country in your hands. Release Wesley So and things will be ok, continue to hold So and you will be doing a lot of damage not only to the NCFP but to the Philippines as well. Lets see how patriotic you are!
Susan Polgar, you ought to know that this guy Wesley So and you are dealing with, this guy named Pichay, WAS and IS a politician, of a certain kind, not without guile, and capable of subtle forms of deception.
He will insist that Wesley agree to play for the Philippine team in the coming Chess Olympiad as condition for his and the NCFP’s acceptance of his request to transfer to the US Chess Federation. This is how Pichay will try to “save face” over his inept handling of this issue — as politicians of Pichay’s ilk are instinctively inclined to do.
Pichay has the ego of a typical Filipino politician, expecting everyone to do as he says just so he can save face. He thinks he can make Wesley play just cause he says so. He is treating the reigning Filipino chess king as a pawn. Its not fair to Wesley to not be asked at all to play and suddenly find out about it on the news. This just shows how messy the system in the PH, no planning, no training, no scheduling, no support.
This is outrageous.
Taken fron http://www.philboxing.com – thread “xxx Project 2750 +++ GM Wesley So page 1,115 : WESLEY SO – “You all know very well I will never lose my Filipino personality. Stop hating. To the true chess fans: help me in my bid to become a World Title contender. This year and next year are very crucial for my development. I have weigh the pros and cons of my decision carefully and I firmly believe this is for the best not only for me, but also for my country. I can always return and represent the Philippines once I reach the top” – Sincerely yours, Grandmaster Wesley So
Taken from http://www.philboxing.com – thread “xxx Project 2750 +++ GM Wesley So page 1,115”: WESLEY SO – “All that is left now is to convince Mr. Pichay to agree to let me transfer federations. Disagreeing it won’t benefit them in any way but it would seriously hamper my chess development. I’ve known Mr. Pichay for many years. Being a reasonable and intelligent president who loves chess I am very confident that he would help me reach my goals to make the country and the Filipino community proud by letting me transfer federation for now. As they say in the NCFP slogan “Make the right move!”
Go to hell Pichay! You stink! You are nothing but a corrupt Philippine Chess Official just like your President Gloria Arroyo! And you’re even entertaining thoughts of going for the presidency of FIDE Asia. Are you serious? After inflicting heavy damage to Philippine chess, you want to wreak havoc to Asia chess, too? No way! Please leave Asia chess to competent, honest and sincere official. Again, go to hell!
Pichay cannot force Wesley to play for the Philippines. He should have talk to Wesley by phone before submitting his name since he had already asked about his transfer to UCF. If he has dons then Wesley could have not accepted the jon of being Coach of US team for Tromso Chess Olympiad. He is now committed to US team as Coach and I am sure he will stick to his decision. The US if they will force Wesley will surely handle the EU 50,000 this a small amount for caliber/ talent that they will have.. This is a big lost to NCFP because inutile officials we had from President to Executive Director, they should be replaced if we do not want to lose more players to USA
I hope Senator Sonny Angara, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Games, Amusements & Sports will INTERVENE and try to forge a win-win solutions for both Wesley So and NCFP represented by its President Prospero Pichay. Prolonging this issue will not do any good for both parties. To Wesley So it will SERIOUSLY/SEVERELY HAMPER his chess development at this critical stage of his career. To the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, it is DESTROYING their CREDIBILITY & INTEGRITY in the International Chess Communities. It also greatly affect the standing of the Philippines as a sports-loving country who always protect the interest of their athletes as an offshoot of this “messy situation” they are both presently into. The longer this situation will run and the more hardened the NCFP under its President by not coming up with a winnable proposition for both parties, the more it is turning the National Chess Federation of the Philippines as the “LAUGHING STOCK” of the entire international chess communities. Its akin to painting a very BAD IMAGE not only to the institution itself, the NCFP, but also its officials. By not refusing to come into middle ground or winnable compromise, the NCFP will also earn the ire of the US Chess Federation. It is a fact that the Philippines DEPENDS too much on the US for aid, verily, the Wesley So situation is painting the NCFP as “ungrateful”. Its like the US Chess Federation saying to NCFP “if you cant support your own chess players, RELEASE them if they wanted to.” To NCFP SOLVE this mess ASAP and come up with a WINNABLE COMPROMISE and DON’T PLAY TOO MUCH POLITICS!
Pichay had the audacity to say Wesley is unpatriotic.
Let me ask these questions to Pichay.
Do you consider yourself patriotic…
1. …Each time you are being fired from a government position (4x) for embezzlement of public funds and charged with graft & corruption?
2. …If your purpose for running for an elective post is NOT being a public servant but rather MAKE THE PUBLIC SERVE YOU?
3. …when you failed to recognize an NCFP member Filipino athlete who proudly represented the Philippine flag and getting the coveted Gold Medal in the Universiade in Kazan? A historic first in Philippine sports history?
4. …when a chess federation you’re suppose to spearhead to promote the sport to greater heights has members who are now contemplating to switch federations due to lack of support and solid program in place?
I have only one advise to you Pichay.
RESIGN!
You did not bring with you the trouble maker in Pacland? Was it the boxing guy? The one who is jobless yet complaining of taxes or something? lol
Nah! Pichay WON’T Resign he likes in NCFP his ATM machine. He would even run for FIDE President for Asia against the incumbent Sheik from Qatar. (I believe his a prince) You have a real Prince from Qatar and the Prince of Thieves/Corruption in Pichay battling it out for Fide Asia President. Heaven forbids if Pichay will win the Fide Asia Presidency, the entire Asian Chess will be DOOM and BANKCRUPT lol
This Pichay includes gm wes in RP team w/o even getting his consent. Very sad…. whew, This just prove how he belittles other people. No wonder he demonstated typical rotten phil. corrupt politicians to the world. Its a embarrassing, he run for a position at FIDE? What will happen to the players if he wins? he is not even a chess player. He is a man with no heart.
Maraming titled players ang ayaw sa yo.Walang future ang chess sa Pinas.Mag resign ka na mas nakakahiya pag na mate ka pa.