Paragua gets first slot in chess team

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) issued a resolution Friday that guaranteed International Master Mark Callano Paragua a spot in the men’s team bound for this year’s Chess Olympiad in Majorca, Spain.

Paragua is unavailable to play in the National Championships slated Sept. 18-29 in Tagaytay City as it coincides with two grandmaster tournaments in Alushta Ukraine where the Filipino is committed to play.

The original setup calls for the top six finishers in the men’s and four in the women’s to fill up the slots available in the RP team.

Not anymore.

The NCFP board unanimously approved the outright seeding of the country’s top-rated men’s player to the Olympiad starting this year.

Paragua, the highest-rated Filipino player with 2554 Elo, automatically gains a spot in the six-man roster, leaving five slots available for the 17 finalists led by grandmasters Eugene Torre, Joey Antonio, Bong Villamayor and Nelson Mariano II.

Erstwhile NCFP president and now chairman of the board Mat Defensor opened the idea to the nine board members present in the quorum held at the Sulu Hotel and was seconded by new president Go Teng Kok.

Go, president of the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association, has been elected president of the NCFP after Defensor vacated his position to concentrate on his work in the House of Representatives.

Go was seen as the logical best choice for the presidency as he has the blessings of the warring parties -- NCFP secretary general Sammy Estimo and former FIDE president Florencio Campomanes.

Being a chess player and a patron of chess, Go has been very close to chess players, making him the ideal choice to finally bring peace to the turbulence-rocked NCFP.

Estimo retained his post as secretary-general, while elected vice-presidents were Art Carillo, Ed Madrid and lawyer Romeo Seratubias. Treasurer is Jess Torre while Juanito Calditaran is the auditor.

Torre, the country’s longtime top board player in the Olympiad, offers a good idea for the outright seeding of top player.

"Aside from giving the country a better chance in a big time competition, it will also push the players to aspire for top ranking," he said.

Paragua, the triple gold medallist in last year’s Southeast Asian Game, was unavailable for comment as he is currently playing in the second Alushta GM Tournament.

Meanwhile, Paragua drew his first match using the black pieces Friday night opposite Indian Das Neelotpal, his tormentor in the first Alushta GMT.

He will also play black against his next opponent, WGM/IM Nino Khurtsidze of Georgia.

Unlike in the first Alushta GMT, Paragua doesn’t stand a chance to bag a norm after 12 rounds as he will only face the third GM on the 14th.

FIDE rules require a player to play at least three GM in a Swiss and closed event to grab a GM result.

The 1998 World Rapid Under-14 champion Paragua is a norm short of the GM title after getting the first in the 2001 Mondariz International Swiss tournament and the second in the first Alushta GMT last week.