NATIONAL Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Pichay is so disappointed with the lineup of events in this year’s Southeast Asian Games that he feels sending a team to Myanmar would be a waste of effort and resources.
Only four out of 18 events calendared for the December Games are being played internationally — individual rapid and blitz for men and women. Other events from random, transfer, Asean, and traditional chess, which Pichay said are “alien” to Filipino players.
“I would rather not waste money to send a delegation,” said Pichay on Wednesday after learning about the events that will be played this year during the Philippine Olympic Committee general assembly meeting at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
“So I will beg off … But of course, I would have to discuss this with the board,” he added.
GM Wesley So won a gold two years ago when he topped the individual blitz event — one of 20 events which the Philippines won in Indonesia that will return this year.
But Pichay, who is also the POC auditor, said that fielding a team might prove detrimental to the country's reputation as a chess power in the region.
“Baka makuha lang natin, dalawa o isa. It will just destroy our reputation. The other events are alien to our players,” Pichay said.
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