MANILA, Philippines - GM Joey Antonio yesterday blasted the National Chess Federation of the Philippines for stripping him of his slot in the national team set to compete in the World Chess Olympiad in Russia late this month.
The many-time RP team spearhead also hit the NCFP move of removing him from the Philippine Sports Commission payroll for allegedly disobeying orders by NCFP president Prospero Pichay to play in the recent Pichay Cup or the ongoing Campomanes Cup.
He threatened to sue the NCFP and Pichay over the ban.
In his email to his lawyer Samuel Estimo, Antonio included a letter signed by Pichay himself to the PSC requesting financial assistance for Antonio to participate in two chess tournaments in the US. He also said that he even paid a courtesy call to PSC chair Richie Garcia before he left.
“I am surprised by this complete turn-around in the stand of Mr. Pichay,” Antonio said in his email.