Players' role

And so, the two international chess events staged by the National Chess Federation (NCFP) were over.

One was the 8th Asian Continental Chess Championship (May 12-24) and the other was the 2nd Subic International Open (May 24-31), both in Subic.

What did we achieve as a chess nation from these two tournaments?

One – if not the only – good actual result was GM Rogelio Antonio’s qualification for the World Chess Cup 2009 for finishing among the Top 10 in the first tournament.

GM Wesley So didn’t deliver this time, not only failing to qualify for WCC but also losing precious ELO points which took a whip on his 2700-mark quest.

All of our respected IMs fell short, too, of their quest for GM norms (please correct me if I’m wrong).

Thinking that we sent the best line-up we could afford these days is only to rub a bleeding wound. Let’s admit it, please. Our best line-up was battered by second-rate players from China and India.

Well, China is ranked No.3 in the world anyway and India, No.10. We are No.33. Does that make it a little comforting?

On the positive side of things, though, our promising youngsters got a much deserved international exposure and experience.

Another positive thing is that this debacle served as a reality-check to know where we are nowadays in the global chess map.

What went wrong?

No blaming and finger-pointing, please. Let’s just all learn from this sad – yes, real sad – disaster and move on.

The role of the NCFP to provide international avenues for our local chess players to further their chess paths and career was delivered.

The opportunities were provided in the comfort of our homeland from May 12 to 24 and from May 24 to 31.

Although the handling of the event was not really that ideal – but good enough – in delivering the tournament actions to the chess world, the two tournaments served as great opportunities for our local players to climb up the chess ladder.

The opportunities were already there, served like a delicious ice cream. All our local players had to do was to deliver their best form.

I still remember what the country’s pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao said, “I am just a boxer. My responsibility is to train and fight.”

Simple, but wisdom-filled statements. Just like any athlete, chess players’ responsibility is to train and fight, too.

In these two international tournaments, our local chess players were short of jabs and knockout punches. Yes, let’s say they trained and prepared hard for the fight. But it came out in the end that all the preparations were not that good enough.

See how the billionaire Pacquiao kills himself in training? That trait separates the great from all the rest.

Need I say what went wrong in Subic?