To Wesley, a thank you note

To Wesley, a thank you note
Wednesday, 26 January 2011 20:26
By Ed Andaya

NOBODY sent a thank you note to GM Wesley So just before he left for Wjk Aan Zee, Netherlands to compete in the 73rd Tata Steel-Corus Group B championship, so…

Thank you, Wesley, for making all of us proud with your exceptional showing in the world chess stage for a long time now. Win or lose, you made the whole world believe again that truly the Filipinos can.

Thanks for keeping local chess alive and kicking at a time when no one else could. Or even when no one else is willing to step forward and take the challenge of playing against the heavyweights of the 64-square board.

Thanks for always giving your best even when pitted against strong foreign players from top chess-playing countries. Even as some of your equally-talented and more-experienced teammates may blink and run away from the spectre of going to war against the best of them all, you get tremendous thrill playing against the Goliaths of the game..

Thanks for winning all those major international tournaments despite limited support from the government and even private sector.

Thanks for placing second, third, fourth or fifth in international competitions and still winning the hearts of the chess community with your big fighting heart.

Thanks for always trying to do your best and bring out your best even under the most difficult circumstances.

Thanks for staying here — and still playing here — even after your family migrated to Canada to seek greener pastures. Your decision to stay and continue to play for the flag speaks well of your deep sense of patriotism.

Thanks for always wanting to get better. Although you’re already No. 1 in the country, No. 3 among the world’s top junior players and No. 64 in the entire chess-playing universe, you still work hard everyday to improve your game.

Thanks for being the kind of super hero that provide inspiration to young and aspiring chess players. Playing simul games with these kids, like the ones you had at the Metropolitan Chess Club and the Meralco Chess Club, give them enough encouragement that they, too, can be another Wesley So.

Thanks for being generous with your tips and advises especially to young kids Sharing even your wisdom in chess is surely one of the many assets that you have right now. The late great Filipino chess leader Florencio Campomanes said this is surely one trait of a great champion.

Thanks for being nice in posing for photographs and signing autographs with your young fans. My son, Brian Paul, still keeps several photos of you and him in Subic and Tagaytay and treat them like prized possessions as he would with his Xbox 360 games. Why, he even put your photo together as the profile picture in his Facebook account.

Thanks for being extra-friendly to your fans and supporters and making them feel appreciated for their support to you and the game. Kibitzing with them even during major international tournaments like the one now in Wijk Aan Zee makes them feel special.

And yes, many, many thanks for giving us sports editors and sportswriters enough good stories and better headlines to write for tomorrow’s papers.

Source: http://www.journal.com.ph