'Pocamps,' chess grand old man, 83

MANILA, Philippines - Florencio Campomanes, whose gambit to open elite chess to the rest of the world turned FIDE (International Chess Federation) into a truly universal body, passed away yesterday after a lingering illness. He was 83.

The chess icon, who became the first Asian to head FIDE by winning the 1982 elections in Lucerne, Switzerland, died at 1:30 p.m. at Iggy’s Inn in Baguio City.

“He moved on peacefully, and with quiet gentleness all around him,” said long-time friend Des Bautista. “He was a giant in Philippine sports and his passing created a void that will be hard to fill in.”

Cremation is scheduled at 2 p.m. today and his remains will be laid to rest at the Baguio Cathedral.

“It was his wish that we hold a short wake for the family at Iggy’s Inn, where he spent his remaining days,” said Bautista.

Another close friend, Casto “Toti” Abundo, said there will be no public viewing as stated in Campomanes’ last will.

Abundo said Campomanes, “Pocamps” to friends, will always be remembered for turning FIDE into a truly universal body by reaching out to Asian, African and Latin American countries.     

 “His legacy is spreading chess all over the world, raising FIDE membership from barely a hundred to over 150 national federations,” said Abundo, who wrote an extensive article entitled “Campo’s Legacy to World Chess: A Look Back at the Campo Years.”

Abundo, who served as FIDE general secretary and executive director during the Campo years, had just arrived in Baguio City upon Campo’s wish from Subic where he served as FIDE delegate in the recently-concluded Asian Individual Chess Championships.

 “I told him I would go to Baguio from Subic right after the Asian Championships and he just told me to make it sooner,” recalled Abundo.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president/chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay said Campomanes’ death is a great loss not only for the Philippines but for the whole world as well.

“He was a man who dedicated his whole life to the advancement of chess,” said Pichay in a statement.

NCFP secretary-general and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said Campomanes’ death left a big void that will be hard to fill.

A professor of political science at the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Campomanes served as team captain for the Philippines in several international chess competitions.

He also served as reporter-columnist in several newspapers, wrote columns for the Manila Times, Daily Express and the defunct Times Journal and hosted a TV chess show on government station Channel 4. Among his teammates in the national teams included fellow chess greats Carlos Benitez, Renato Naranja and Rodolfo Tan Cardoso.

In 1982, Campomanes decided to run as FIDE president for the first time upon the request of Cuban Chess Federation president Jorge Vega. He was pitted against Yugoslav candidate, Bozidar Kazic, who was being supported by the all-powerful Soviet bloc vote of some 20 countries.

Campomanes brought a contingent of about 30 Filipinos, including players, to help in his election bid.

The chess world is awash with stories about Campomanes.

Abundo said among the popular stories was about Campo’s trademark style of brinkmanship even when he sought the help of both Presidents Ramon Magsaysay and Ferdinand Marcos in securing favorable decisions for the good of chess.