High hopes for Pinoy chess team

Pichay has high hopes for Pinoy chess team
abs-cbnNEWS.com 08/07/2009 4:29 PM

MANILA — National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. believes the country’s three-man contingent to the World Chess Cup (World Chess Championships) in November can reach as far as fourth round.

Three Filipino Grandmasters (GM) — Wesley So, Joey Antonio Jr. and Darwin Laylo – earned qualification for the tournament which will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.

“I am confident that the three of them will reach as far as the fourth round of the World Chess Cup,” said Pichay.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, the 1982 Inter Zonal Champion, made it to the quarter-final round in the World Chess Championships Candidate Matches in 1983 but lost to Hungrarian GM Zoltan Ribli.

Meanwhile, Antonio is thankful that he now has companions on the road to the World Chess Cup. He was the first Filipino this year to qualify in the World Chess Cup. “Nagpapasalamat ako kasi tatlo kami ngayon at may kasama ako. Mahirap kasi pag mag isa ka lamang na nag qualify. Grabe ang pressure,” said Antonio.

Antonio was the country’s lone qualifier in the 1999 Las Vegas, Nevada’s World Chess Championships. He lost to eventual runner-up Armenia Super GM Vladimir Akopian in the play-off matches.

Laylo assured that he and his team mates will give their best performances.

Here is the full article.