Wrong move, says Eugene

Grandmaster Eugene Torre, whose proposed one-on-one with GM-candidate Mark Paragua sparked a controversy that led to the resignation of top GMs Joey Antonio and Bong Villamayor from the National Chess Federation of the Phils., yesterday twitted his fellow GMs and advised them "to study their position first before making the right move."

"Their move is neither unsound nor a blunder because, in the first place, mali yung position na ina-analyze nila," said Torre. "Dapat i-check muna nila ang right position then make the proper move."

Feeling offended having left out of the planned P1.5 million Torre-Paragua duel and citing the absence of NCFP’s honest-to-goodness program that would benefit the majority, Antonio and Villamayor quit as officers of the chess body the other day.

But Torre, 52, said the resignation was unnecessary and defended his upcoming showdown with Paragua in a novel chess series where the games will be split into four rapid and four standard plays.

"First, my showdown with Mark is a private undertaking and not NCFP’s. Second, we are doing this for chess and not for any personal reward," said Torre.

"This is one for the books. Dito lang sa atin na dahil sa one-on-one, nag-resign ang mga top players. Dapat isipin nila ang interest ng publiko at ng kung sino man ang mag-iisponsor ng laban," said Torre.

A private firm is reportedly spearheading the project although it still needs to attract sponsors to raise the prize money and ensure the successful staging of the event.

For his part, NCFP secretary-general Sammy Estimo said the chess federation has not been remiss in its duties to members and refuted Antonio and Villamayor’s allegations of disorganized management.

"As to their claim of disorganized management, the NCFP humbly offers three gold and three bronze medals which chess collected in the recent Southeast Asian Games," said Estimo.

The NCFP official then challenged the two GMs to officially resign from the federation so he could inform the Philippine Sports Commission for proper action.

"GMs Antonio and Villamayor should put their positions in writing if they really intend to sever their relations with the NCFP so that the federation can notify the proper sports authorities accordingly," added Estimo.

As members of the national team, Antonio and Villamayor get monthly allowances of P8,000 plus P3,000 food stipend from the PSC.

"We already forwarded our resignation letter to NCFP head Mat Defensor and all the directors," said Antonio. "And we will ask the help of all sports agencies to reform the NCFP."

Antonio said they already have the support of the women’s team and majority of the top masters, who have actually formed another association — the Philippine Chess Masters Association — long before the two GMs came out to blast the NCFP’s handling of the chess affairs.