GTK vows to settle chess Olympiad team row

Hoping to come up with a win-win solution and the best possible squad to next month’s Chess Olympiad, newly-installed NCFP (National Chess Federation of the Philippines) president Go Teng Kok yesterday asked the disgruntled grandmasters to set aside their objections to Mark Paragua’s outright seeding and instead put in writing their request to be given similar treatment.

"I already told Joey (Antonio) to make a request and I will study its merits, consult with the board and ask the opinion of everybody before I make my decision," said Go.

This came about after two of the country’s top GMs — Antonio and Nelson Mariano II — hinted at skipping the National Chess Championships set this weekend in Tagaytay in protest to NCFP’s decision to seed Paragua to the Olympiad-bound national team.

Aware of the proximity of the championships, which serves as the Olympiad qualifier, Go vowed to act on the request promptly and decisively so as not to disrupt the staging of the event slated Sept. 18-29.

"But one thing is certain, I will decide on this matter alone and nobody will dictate upon me," added Go.

Both Antonio and Mariano said the NCFP decision to seed Paragua had no basis and unfair to the rest of the finalists seeking berths in the national team set to compete in the 36th Chess Olympiad set Oct. 14-31 in Calvia, Majorca, Spain.

The NCFP gave so much consideration to Paragua’s 2554 ELO rating, the highest among the crop, leaving five slots to be contested among 17 finalists.

Actually, GM Eugene Torre said Antonio has a point in questioning the decision to seed Paragua and then let the grandmasters pass through a gruelling qualifier.

"Kailangan talaga ng team si Joey. Since 1988 katuwang ko na siya sa pagdala ng team. Para kaming Starsky and Hutch nyan," said Torre.

He, however, rejected Go’s idea for them to still make a request for automatic berths in the national team.

Whatever focus will be on Go, the erstwhile controversial athletics chief now hardpressed to come up with a gambit that will draw all the top players into his wing and put up a truly formidable squad in the Olympiad.

Meanwhile, Florencio Campomanes, honorary lifetime president of FIDE, yesterday denied there had been reconciliation talks with the NCFP, particularly with chair Mat Defensor, Go and secretary-general Sammy Estimo.

"I am given too much credit in my old age," said Campomanes in a statement. "The fact is Atty. Constantino Marcaida, NCFP treasurer, has filed two cases in court questioning the legality of the annual meeting and election of July 31, 2004 and Estimo’s usurpation of powers of the treasurer. Let the chips fall where they should."