Antonio out of RP team to Chess Olympiad, Asian Games
08/30/2010 07:02 PM
The National Chess Federation Philippines (NCFP) headed by president Prospero Pichay has decided to drop Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio from the national team bound for the World Chess Olympiad and Asian Games.
This after Antonio caught the ire of the NCFP officials after the veteran campaigner reportedly snubbed the two major chess tournament hosted in the country – the 6th Pichay Cup and the 1st Florencio Campomanes Memorial Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
“Definitely, we will sanction him. Discipline is important for a national player and we will not tolerate players who are prima donnas,” said Pichay.
Antonio, who is the country’s board two player, however opted to go to the US to compete in a series of weekend tournaments.
He won his first competition held in California and is slated to return on September 9.
In a statement, Antonio said that the NCFP president approved his trip by signing the letter of endorsement which he forwarded to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for financial support.
“Yes, I signed the letter intended for the PSC, but it doesn’t mean that he was given the go signal to miss the two major events in the country. We already had the order that national players must take part in at least one tournament, either the Pichay Cup or the Campomanes Cup,” explained Pichay.
“His action shows that he is not serious in joining the team,” added Pichay, explaining the fact that the two international tournaments being held in the country offers tougher competition compared to the US events Antonio opted to join.
Antonio’s replacement will be known after the Campomanes Cup as the NCFP will evaluate local players seeing action in the tournament held in honor of the grand old man of Philippine Chess.
GMs Wesley So, John Paul Gomez, Darwin Laylo and Asia’s first garndmaster Eugene Torre, are the members of the team that will see action in the 39th Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from September 21 to October 3 and the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou China this November.
– RCJ, GMANews.TV
Having played and spoke with GM Antonio when he visited Michigan last year, this is very unfortunate. GM Antonio is one of the very few GMs that are completely down to earth and friendly. How many GMs would analyze a game with an opponent under 2000? Not many in my experience.
-Tony
Pichay translated is Goichberg.
GM Joey Antonio has always marched to the beat of his own drummer. He ia a bit of a prima donna and used to have this thing against playing Black.
And Pichay…well…I think I’ve posted enough about what I feel about him.
Antonio should have played in the Pichay Cup; read “PICHAY CUP”
eventhough his replacement would produce zero points, the most important is “PICHAY CUP”; OMG
Antonio should have played in the Pichay Cup; read “PICHAY CUP”
eventhough his replacement would produce zero points, the most important is “PICHAY CUP”; OMG
the philippines cannot afford to lose a grandmaster especially of gm antonio’s caliber who seldom loses a game at the Olympiads but it wouldn’t hurt letting go of political bickering leaders who use chess to further their personal agendas. if you my friends are having difficulty deciding who’s side it is to believe since we do not know them personally, you may try these urls fyi :
http://www.malaya.com.ph/mar26/news1.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-times-the/mi_8072/is_20060711/pro-admin-rep-pichay-wb/ai_n45931667/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/09/10/lwua-employees-file-plunder-complaint-vs-pichay
as for gm antonio, since when did it become illegal or improper for a chess professional like him, who barely manage to make both ends meet, to decide where and what will favor his financial concerns? We think his actions are far nobler than those of corrupt officials who plunder public funds with impunity and arrogance.
Now after exploring the above mentioned sites, who’s mouth do you expect us to believe? the ncfp president over the world bank, gm Antonio and the rest? (the nerve!)
the philippines cannot afford to lose a grandmaster especially of gm antonio’s caliber who seldom loses a game at the Olympiads but it wouldn’t hurt letting go of political bickering leaders who use chess to further their personal agendas. if you my friends are having difficulty deciding who’s side it is to believe since we do not know them personally, you may try these urls fyi :
http://www.malaya.com.ph/mar26/news1.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/manila-times-the/mi_8072/is_20060711/pro-admin-rep-pichay-wb/ai_n45931667/
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/09/09/10/lwua-employees-file-plunder-complaint-vs-pichay
as for gm antonio, since when did it become illegal or improper for a chess professional like him, who barely manage to make both ends meet, to decide where and what will favor his financial concerns? We think his actions are far nobler than those of corrupt officials who plunder public funds with impunity and arrogance.
Now after exploring the above mentioned sites, who’s mouth do you expect us to believe? the ncfp president over the world bank, gm Antonio and the rest? (the nerve!)
Well I guess what is really bad is trying to make all drummers march for you!! For a small country like the Philippines, grandmasters like Mr. Antonio are born only in one generation, while corrupt and political maniacs …well they come in handy !!