Campo says NCFP has lost direction

After being pushed to the wall and forced to retaliate, Florencio Campomanes yesterday said he is leaving the door of unity and peace open to those blaming him for all the troubles hounding the local chess scene.

"It’s because I want all of us to get back on the right track," said the 77-year-old Campomanes, considered the grand old man of Philippine chess, during yesterday’s well-attended PSA Forum at the Manila Pavilion.

The four-time president of the world chess federation (FIDE) said he’s always been conciliatory with the other group led by National Chess Federation of the Philippines secretary-general Sammy Estimo and Grandmaster Eugene Torre, an NCFP board member.

"But when Eugene, whom I consider my surrogate son, begins to attack me then this opens the floodgates for me to fight back," said Campomanes after a story came out of the papers recently where Torre blamed him for the divisiveness among the country’s chess leaders.

"It’s true that one of the most vocal critics of Mr. Estimo and Mr. Torre is one of my proteges who, I’m proud to say, has a mind of his own, and does not need any prodding from me," said Campomanes, referring to Joey Antonio who also graced the forum with fellow-GM Bong Villamayor.

Antonio and Villamayor were the first to raise their arms against the handling of the NCFP affairs by Estimo and Torre. They were later joined by a big group of titled players who sought the immediate ouster of the NCFP sec-gen due to "mismanagement".

Campomanes said he was saddened to learn that Torre, whom he helped attain success in the world of chess, has been writing letters to foreign chess federations to undermine him.

Campomanes then called for major changes in the local chess scene,

"What we need is a sound development program and not merely tournament after tournament. Or the future of Philippine chess (under Estimo and Torre) appears dim," added Campomanes, who celebrated his 50th year in the sports yesterday.

"Since Eugene became NCFP president (momentarily in 2001) and up to the present there appears to have been a lack of program to promote and develop chess in the country. Philippine chess needs a re-direction," said Campomanes.