Philippine Chess

[jem]

Filipinos I understand have been playing chess as early as the SPANISH TIME. But sadly we can only produced the following names as Philippine GrandMasters ina very long gap. After GM EUGENE TORRE, came ROSENDO BALINAS, JOEY ANTONIO, MARK PARAGUA, BONG VILLAMAYOR, NELSON MARIANO, DARWIN LAYLO, WESLY SO and LATELY JAYSON GONZALES. CHINA AND VIETNAM started playing chess only in the 90's. Some say, we Filipinos mentored them.B ut look, they have more strong grandmasters than the Philippines. CAN YOU DISSECT WHY OUR DISMAL RECORD? WHAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH PHILIPPINE CHESS? WHAT DRASTIC STEPS SHOULD WE DO IF ANY?

ITS SEEMS our Asean neighbores are steadily improving while Philippine Chesso remained stagnant if not regressing. Unless we change our system, Vietnam will soon overtake us. Look at their junior players during the 9th ASEAN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP. If we have one WESLY SO, they got many players of his caliber.

My unsolicited advise, put up a chess academy, set up programs for our National Youth team, professionalize chess, involved fundings from the local and National government, and the private sectors. Cong. Pichay cannot fund all this project all by himself or he goes bankrupt.

[lastikman]

as usual, politics and money.

[puksbatil]

siguro mas magandang tanong dyan .... ano ang magagawa natin para sa Philippine chess... yun tayo mismo .. tayong mga nag la log in dito

[jem]

Ano nga ba ang magagawa nating mga nag log in dito para sa Philippine Chess. In my view, NOTHING because, first, it is the Leadership of the NCFP, who should define the policies and programs of Philippine Chess. Then to achieve our desired goals, galvanized the chess loving people towards these policies and programs. Second, I do not know if we have discvered what really ails Philippine Chess. If not, how then could we address individually the problem. Besides solving problems in this manner will not get us anywhere because as if we are just treating cancer with paracetemol.

[antiquechess]

Philippine chess is now gaining popularity and interest, thanks to the leadership of Congressman Pichay. Young chess masters are now having their brightest opportunities. GM Wesley So, IM John Paul Gomez, GM Mark Paragua, and NM Haridas Pascua are among the young chess masters that serves as an inspiration to our young players, Congressman Pichay;s decision not to seed players in the recent Olympiad Final qualifier sends a positive message to upcoming players especially from the provinces.

In our part, we are starting to rejuvenate chess in our province. We are finding means to sponsor regular (monthly) tournaments to keep our players busy. It is just a start and we hope to host major tournaments in the future.

[junbalbin]

obviously politics and money are the main cause of the still slow progress of chess. I agree that a chess academy will greatly help. I also believe that putting chess as part in Dep Ed curiculum will further improve our chances of becoming a chess power in Asia and eventually in the whole world.
The age of our top chess players today is a very point of study.

[jem]

Yes, I agree. We should focus on supporting talented young players and not to over the hill players. The Philippines are still obsessed in producing more Grand Masters. But under world standard, the top players today are now classified as super grandmasters. We rejoice and congratulate ourselves when our players reach the 2500 plus rating when the world best rating is now 2800. Under World standard our top players rating is considered at best as INTERNATIONAL MASTERS while the top players are considered GrandMasters. We still have a long long long way to go by world standard.

[acnalbapac]

Malaki ang maitutulong ng LGU sa Philippines chess supurtahan lang yung "inter-cities and municipalities chess challenge" parang pinaka selection para papuntang "regional chess tournament" ang final ay sa "national chess tournament" para maka-select ng mga chess players na matitibay bawat taon.

[jem]

Yes, regular tournaments will help but we wont get anywhere either if what we do is just hold tournaments. This is what Philippines was doing and where are we now. Most if not all of our top players lack the fundamentals and technical aspects of the game. Thus, they too need to go through a rigid chess training. Hence, THE NEED FOR A CHESS ACADEMY, FOR JUNIORS AND FOR OUR TOP PLAYERS.

[puksbatil]

tayong nandito sa Philippine chess forum ay maraming magagawa. pwede tayong tumulong sa NCFP. pwede rin tayong mag pa tournament maski maliit lang ang premyo lalo na sa mga bata.
o kung maluwag tayo sa buhay pwede tayong mag donate ng premyo.

[jem]

Marami ng gumawa niyan at gumagawa niyan hanggang ngayon. Pero nasaan tayo ngayon. Pangilan tayo sa world ranking. Yong mga GM natin ang tagal ng gap bago tayo makapagproduce ng GM. iyong iba matanda na under world standard. GANUN BA ANG GUSTO NATING MANGYARI SA PHILIPPINE CHESS.

[puksbatil]

yun mga maliit na tournament na nagawa ko noon ay doon nahasa sina Darwin Laylo , Joey Antonio, Marc Paragua, Wesly So , Ronald Dableo at marami pang iba Yun ang preparasyon nila noon. kung mag hihintay at maghihntay tayo ng mga programa walang mangyayari kailangan may sarili tayong kilos para sa mga player tapos kung darating ang mga pprograma ready na ang mga player

[antiquechess]

I agree with Puksbatil that we could help our chess players, especially the youngert ones, by sponsoring tournaments. If its a regular tournament, it will help some more. I think Jem also agreed that regular tournaments help. I also agree with Jem that we really need a Chess Academy. Hopefully, this chess academy will also consider provincial players. Also important is Fairness and Consistency. Fairness will avoid demoralization among our chess players. Fairness in tournaments and choosing our representatives.

[nardz911]

Minsan hindi rin maiwasang isipin ang ating mga tournament organizers. Marami sa kanila ay talagang puspusan ang trabaho para lang maiayos ang tournament pero nakri-criticize pa rin. Kaya ang iba tuloy, ayaw nang pangunahan ang mga future pang tournaments dahil sa mga previous bad experiences. Maraming mga probinsya, bihirang bihira mag-hold ng tournaments sa isang taon, mabuti na lang kung may maidaos na isa. Mahirap din kumuha ng sponsors, dahil hindi naman suportado ng lokal government. Kung meron man, konti lang ang binibigay. May alam nga akong city councilor na nag-sponsor ng P3,000 para sa champion, pero nung last day na, nakiusap pa sa organizers na kung pwede, gawin na lang ito P1,500? Ito namang mga chess players na sumali, sabi okay lang, ang importante makalaro lang. How long are these pitiful aspiring chess players be manipulated by some government officials who possess no word of integrity? Tsk tsk