GM Wesley So is undoubtedly one of the world’s strongest chess players of this generation.

He was also the youngest Filipino player — and the seventh youngest in the world — to achieve the grandmaster title at the age of 14 in December, 2008.

A three-time Philippine champion before becoming a three-time US champion, the 29-year-old So was also ranked No.2 in the world in March 2018.

His ELO rating of 2822 also made him the fifth-highest-rated player in history.

But So might have done something far away from home this week that the other Filipino players should always do: stand up for their rights to play and earn.

You see, So is taking up the cudgels again for his fellow Filipino players, who are now in quandary whether or not they can play in a soon-to-be-launched inter-commercial tournament being organized by the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).

So, who also voiced his displeasure about “too much politics in sports” and left the country a few months after winning a historic gold medal in the 2013 Kazan Universiade, is now encouraging his kababayans to have the courage to stand up for their rights.

The Bacoor, Cavite-born Filipino champion was reacting to reports that certain parties are trying to crush and restrict PCAP’s efforts to the detriment of Filipino chess players.

So, who is currently playing in the FIDE World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, also affirmed his continued support for PCAP in its efforts to create and advance opportunity for players to learn and earn.

The well-loved FIlipino-American champion recalled a similar experience and cited himself as the example of “someone who had to leave my country to find opportunity and the freedom to earn my living playing my game.”

“Please, Pinoy chess players, have the courage to stand up for your rights,” said So in a statement sent to People’s Tonight.

So’s full statement:

“I follow Philippine chess and am aware of the significant contribution PCAP has made to the renewed interest of my kababayans in chess.

It is worrisome that due to its success, now certain parties are trying to crush and restrict PCAP’s efforts.

This is to the detriment of Filipino chess players! I am the example of someone who had to leave my country to find opportunity and the freedom to earn my living playing my game.

What is this attempt to limit the ability of Filipino chessers to learn and grow? It is wrong. They are not slaves and cannot be stepped on because you feel like it.

I affirm my continued support for PCAP in its efforts to create and advance opportunity for players to learn and earn. Please, Pinoy chess players, have the courage to stand up for your rights!”
(Signed) GM Wesley So

So’s call to fellow players to have the courage to stand up for their rights is very timely, especially with the country’s top players facing a difficult situation nowadays.

Most of them are getting invitations to play in PCAP, but facing the risk of being suspended, banned even, by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), if they play in over-the-board games not sanctioned by the NCFP.

But PCAP, being a professional league, is directly under the supervision of the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) — and not the NCFP.

“Violation of this provision will be penalized and be dealt accordingly; such as player/s will no longer be an NCFP in good standing. Thus, cannot be able to play in any NCFP tournaments neither in any qualifying or selection tournaments to represent the country. Likewise, this directive must be complied by all members of the National team as they are prohibited to play in non-FIDE Rated and NCFP sanctioned tournaments,” according to the NCFP statement released recently.”

Clearly, the stalemate is not doing Philippine chess any good with threats of suspension hanging over the heads of the players.

And rightly so, So is taking the side of the players in this never-ending battle of brilliancies and blunders

NOTES — Belated happy birthday to my sister Mary Grace Andaya-Ypil of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), who turned another year older last August. 5.

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Ed Andaya