Malaking kawalan ang pag-alis ni So

MANILA, Philippines - Isang  ‘National Treasure’ ang mawawala, ayon sa opisyal ng National Chess Federation of the Phi-lippines sa desisyon ni Grand Master Wesley So na isuko ang kanyang Filipino citizenship sa hangaring maging isang world champion.

“We can’t do anything about it, it’s a family decision and of course, we cannot give what the United States is offering,” wika ni NCFP secretary-general at Tagaytay City Representative Abraham  ‘Bambol’ Tolentino.

“It’s really beyond our control,” dagdag pa nito.

Sinabi naman ni Eugene Torre, isa pang national chess gem matapos hiranging Asia’s first chess GM noong 1974 at makapasok sa quarterfinals ng World Championship Candidates Matches noong 1983, na walang dapat ikalungkot dahil kikilalanin pa rin ang 20-anyos na si So na nagmula sa Pilipinas anumang bansa ang kanyang paglaruan.

“We can’t judge him (So) if his ambition is to become a world champion. It’s his personal decision, anyway,” wika ni Torre.

Sa kanyang liham kay NCFP president Butch Pichay noong Linggo, ibinunyag ni So ang pagtiwalag niya sa bansa sa pamamagitan ng pagkuha ng US citizenship noong nakaraang taon.

“I have filed the paperwork to switch federation to the US last year. I respectfully ask that you grant me this opportunity and consent my transfer,” wika ni So, may ranggong No. 15 sa mundo matapos pagharian ang Capablanca Memorial sa Cuba noong Mayo, sa kanyang sulat sa NCFP na nakaposte sa blog site ng kanyang coach na si Susan Polgar.

“This is not an easy decision. But it is the best decision for me to have a chance to be a top 10 player in the world and perhaps one day fight for the World Championship crown.

“I hope you will support my decision and allow me to make this change immediately so I can have a chance to chase my dream without losing more valuable time at this very important age,” wika pa ni So.

Hanggang kahapon ay tinanggihan ng NCFP ang transfer request na hinihingi ni So noon pang 2013.