Chess finals up in air as Torre mulls move

It’s Eugene Torre’s move.

Torre, Asia’s first Grandmaster, was given three days to decide whether or not to join the National Open chess finals which will help select the members of the Philippine team that will see action in the 23rd SEA Games this November.

After two rounds of action, the National Open was called off last Sunday due to differences between a group of players and top officials of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.

If Torre decides to join, the tournament will have to start from scratch since a new set of pairings will have to be drawn. Otherwise, he will not get the chance to represent the country in the SEA Games and the tournament will have to resume with its third round.

"Give me time to decide. I have been affected too much by these developments," said Torre.

"Papayag na din ‘yan para tapos ang gulo," said a chess player after the press conference marked by a heated debate among some of those present.

The protesting players led by GM Bong Villamayor and IM Chito Garma questioned the alleged "preferential treatment" being accorded some of the country’s top players, including Torre, whom they suspected of being seeded outright in the RP team.

They also questioned the NCFP officials’ decision not to default the matches of GMs Joey Antonio and Nelson Mariano II, who missed the first two rounds due to their failure to arrive on time after competing in a tournament in the United States.

They also noted the fact that only four slots to the five-man RP standard chess team will be disputed during the tournament, contrary to the previous agreement that all five slots will be at stake. This helped raise suspicions that the other slot has been reserved for Torre.

The players threatened to boycott the 16-man grand finals. But before they could even boycott their third-round matches, NCFP officials, led by president Go Teng Kok and secretary-general Sammy Estimo, decided to cancel the tournament altogether.

Go stressed than he is not favoring anyone, including Torre. The NCFP chief stressed that Torre is not being seeded to the team.

"There is no seeded player in the RP team. Not even Eugene Torre. The reason only four slots will be disputed is because the fifth slot belongs to the NCFP. It is our option whom to field just in case any of our top players fails to make it to the team," said Go.

"We are trying to form the best team possible. And I don’t want a team without strong players like Eugene Torre or Joey Antonio or Nelson Mariano II. If we field a team without any of these, how can I explain that to the 80 million Filipinos?," he added.

Go also explained that the decision not to default the opening matches of Antonio and Mariano is legal since it is allowed even in international competitions. He said the two GMs informed the NCFP beforehand that they could not make it to last Friday’s opening and asked for a rescheduling of their opening matches.

"Again, we are not favoring anyone. You can ask the international federation. Rescheduling the matches of players who miss them for valid reasons is allowed. Especially that their stint in the US tournament was sanctioned by the NCFP," Go stressed.