PH chess wiz So’s transfer to US federation unsettled

PH top chess player Wesley So seeks transfer to US federation. FACEBOOK PHOTOS

LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The fate of the Philippines’ top chess player, Wesley So, remains in limbo after a meeting between his manager and the National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief failed to settle So’s wish to transfer to the US chess federation.

The 20-year old So, now No. 12 in the world, is seeking to transfer to the United States Chess Federation, and is currently acting as coach to the U.S. team in the Chess Olympiad.

Posting on his Facebook page from Tromson, Norway, where the Chess Olympiad is being held, Paul Troung, Wesley So’s, manager, said a meeting with NCFP Butch Pichay Jr. did not lead to any amicable settlement.

A year ago, So joined the Webster University chess team coached by GM Susan Polgar, who isTroung’s wife. Troung said in his Facebook post that  Pichay finally met them in Norway, and the Filipino chess leader brought with him two officials of the NFCP.

Pichay allegedly said that to release So would be to jeopardize the government funding to the chess body, which is provided by the Philippine Sports Commission.

In addition, So receives 40,000 pesos a month as government subsidy for top-rated athletes.

So’s coaches Paul Troung and Susan Polgar

The World Chess Federation, or FIDE, sets some stringent rules on transferring from one federation to another. According to FIDE’s handbook, a player may transfer to a new federation immediately provided the old federation does not object.

Otherwise, the transfer becomes complicated, including payment of fees and sitting out as long as two years, in which the player is prohibited from participating in any competition.

So hoped to avoid all the complications by a simple release from the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, Troung said.