Pichay wants formal request from Wesley

MANILA, Philippines - National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Butch Pichay Jr. yesterday said he hasn’t received any formal request to switch federation from Wesley So, maintaining the Filipino GM remains an official member of the national team and not of the US Chess Federation.

“He’s still part of the federation (NCFP) because we haven’t received any official letter or document saying otherwise,” Pichay told The STAR yesterday.

So has reportedly posted his transfer request on his blog late last year but Pichay said he cannot respond to the medium and instead urged the 20-year-old chesser to make formal his appeal.

“As far as I know, the process is for him (So) to write the federation he is transferring to then that federation will write FIDE, which in turn will write to us at NCFP if we have objections. And so far, we haven’t received any official communication from anyone,” said Pichay.

But while he said he would not stand in the way of So’s ambition, Pichay also expressed apprehension on the possible backlash of the Webster U standout’s move.

“Personally, I want to let him go. But I will be answerable to the Filipino people because until now, he is still receiving taxpayers’ money worth P40,000 a month being a priority athlete,” said Pichay.

He also said there is no more reason to convince So to reconsider his decision to change allegiances.

“It’s hard to convince people who’s heart is already set on playing for another country,” said Pichay. “Hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ‘iyan kaya hindi makakarating sa paroroonan.”

Without a reply from Pichay, So, currently ranked 15th in the world after his sensational win in the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba a couple of weeks ago, will have to observe the two-year waiting period for players changing federations since he has repeatedly said he will not pay the required 50 euros (about P3 million) to NCFP.

So has decided to switch to the USCF following the country’s top sports officials’ failure to recognize his gold medal feat in the University Games in Russia.