PSC suspends Wesley So's allowance

MANILA, Philippines -- The Philippine Sports Commission has suspended the monthly allowance worth P40,000 of chess Grandmaster Wesley So after the latter decided to change allegiance from the Phl to the United States.

PSC chair Richie Garcia was quick to clarify though that the suspension will only be temporary until So and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed by Butch Pichay can resolve the impasse.

"Until there will be a final resolution of the issue, we have decided to hold the allowance of Wesley So starting June," said Garcia in Tuesday's Phl Sportswriters Association Forum at the Shakey's Malate.

Garcia was reacting to the 20-year-old So's decision to jump from the NCFP to the US Chess Federation to pursue the latter's dream of crashing into the Top 10 in the world and perhaps challenge for the world title.
For it to happen, So will need an approval from the NCFP or pay the 50,000 euros, or worth about P3 million.

If not, the Webster U standout will need to observe the two-year waiting period for chessers changing federations where he will be barred from participating in all international chess federation FIDE-sanctioned tournaments like the World Chess Olympiad and the World Championship.

In an interview with The STAR, Pichay remains adamant that he will not give in to So's request until he gets an official letter from the latter and FIDE.

Already, the country is still reeling from So's decision as it will plunge into action in the Olympiad in Tromso, Norway this August without the country's best player.

So, of course, has skyrocketed to the top and is now currently ranked 15th in the world after topping the all-GM Capablanca Memorial in Cuba a few weeks back.