NCFP wants best team for Olympiad

MANILA, Philippines — The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is bent on reinforcing the national team to the 44th World Chess Olympiad that was reset to next year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

NCFP executive director Cliburn Orbe yesterday said they would hold a national championship and a Battle of Grandmasters (BOGM) so the country could come up with the best team possible for the biennial event.

“There will be a BOGM this year. After that, we’ll see what’s best for the team,” Orbe told The STAR.

The decision came after the Agila ng Pilipinas came so close but failed to nail the third and final berth to Division I of the first FIDE Online Chess Olympiad.

That final slot went to the Indonesians.