Chess, The Philippines, and Wesely So

Perhaps you have seen chess being played on the street as you have been out and about.

Chess is indeed very popular in the Philippines. So much so in fact that one government official was convicted of graft in regards to sponsoring a chess tournament using illicit funds.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1402242/pichays-bid-to-overturn-graft-conviction-denied-by-sandiganbayan

The Sandiganbayan has denied a bid by Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr. to reverse the guilty verdict handed over to him in his graft case.

The anti-graft court found “no compelling reason” to grant Pichay’s motion for reconsideration and another motion for leave to admit supplemental documents to his previous motion because these were filed over one month after the case was promulgated.

The court’s Fifth Division issued this decision in a resolution dated Feb. 23.

Pichay was convicted of graft on Oct. 23, 2020, for approving a P1.5 million budget for a chess competition at the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) in 2010 when he was still its acting chair, as well as chair of its board of trustees.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) was tapped to oversee the competition, which was called the 2nd Chairman Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Chess Championship.  Pichay was then also the NCFP president.

I don't want to talk about that guy. I want to talk about Filipino Super Grandmaster Wesley So. This man recently obtained United States citizenship so he could play chess for the USA. He said this decision was based on the fact that he lacked the connections to succeed in the Philippines.

https://sports.inquirer.net/417238/so-i-lacked-connections-to-succeed-in-ph-culture

Super Grandmaster Wesley So tried to sugarcoat it, but his statement following his officially becoming a United States citizen was a punch to the gut for Philippine sports, and for the “godfather” culture prevalent in Filipino society. 

Saying he still “loved the Philippines,” So expressed elation over receiving his citizenship papers last Feb. 26, about seven years after first defecting to the US Chess Federation (USCF). 

“I love that anyone can strive to succeed [here],” So told the USCF. “You are not held back by your color, lack of connections or the amount of money you have. If you work hard, you have a better chance of making it here than anywhere else in the world. I came here ready to work hard, and it turned out just as I dreamed.” 

So bolted the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and joined USCF in 2014, saying he saw no path to his goal as a Philippine national athlete. 

“I did not have the connections needed to succeed in that culture,” said the 27-year-old So, who hails from Bacoor, Cavite, lamenting the prevalence of the “godfather” culture in Filipino society, where those with connections can easily make their way to the top. 

“I was from the province, not a city boy. Had no money etc. I wanted to go further, and there was only one country a nobody can make it. The USA!” added So. 

So, who now resides in Excelsior, Minnesota, has been representing the United States since 2014 and he has risen to as high as No. 2 in the world ranking and is currently ranked ninth in the world by the International Chess Federation (Fide). As a Filipino, he rose to as high as 12th in the Fide rankings.

“That does not mean I don’t love the Philippines,” So said. “I have good memories from there.”

It seems rather melodramatic because Wesley So appeared to be doing well in the Philippines. But then Webster College offered him a scholarship and that is how he ended up in the USA. His Wikipedia page says he continued to rise through the ranks and moved to Minnesota to live with his adoptive Filipino parents in 2015. Since then he has experienced a lot of success in the world of chess representing the USA. 

But now that he has officially left the Filipino fold and has aired his grievances what is the result? Well the result is that Wesley So has shown himself to be a rather magnanimous fellow.

https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021/03/09/2083093/2nd-pcap-conference-be-known-wesley-so-cup

The second conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the Reinforced Conference, will be known as the “Wesley So Cup.”

PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria bared that Wesley So, the first and reigning World Champion of Fischer-Random Chess, will sponsor the second leg of the league’s inaugural tournament. 

Aside from lending his name, the Super Grandmaster likewise personally pledged to provide the funds for the event’s cash prizes.

So’s only request, according to Elauria, is to ensure that the prizes are distributed to the players themselves. This is because So wants to help the players directly.

This is a welcome development, considering So’s recent citizenship change that has been contentious among Filipinos.

So was recently conferred US citizenship.

“It only confirms that SGM So is true to his words that he remains a Filipino by heart and confirms his continued support to the Pinoy chess players. While this partnership has long been finalized, we deemed it timely to announce it now, to somehow remind our chess players that SGM So has always been concerned with his countrymen, despite his move to the US. After all, chess knows no citizenship,” Elauria added.

It is a sad story with a good ending.  A man who could not succeed in his own country is forced to find a new home. But he has not forgotten his homeland. Maybe one day everyone can succeed in the Philippines on the principle of equality.