Survey: RP Dream Team for 2010 Chess Olympiad

First, I would like to thank all those who participated in the survey which I launched here to determine who the readers think should compose the national team for the 2010 Chess Olympiad.

If indeed there's wisdom in collective thinking, this could be one of it.

Let me give you the names of the Top 6 players who received the most votes:
1. GM Wesley So (441 votes)
2. GM Joey Antonio (387)
3. GM Mark Paragua (336)
4. GM John Paul Gomez (319)
5. GM Eugene Torre (276)
6. GM Darwin Laylo (255)

Total number of respondents: 476

There is a high probability that the respondents based their votes on the Elo ratings of players. Look at the RP's Top 10 list as of May 2010, though the survey was conducted as early as April:

1. So, Wesley
2. Antonio, Rogelio Jr
3. Laylo, Darwin
4. Barcenilla, Rogelio
5. Gomez, John Paul
6. Torre, Eugenio
7. Paragua, Mark
8. Salvador, Roland
9. Sanchez, Joseph
10. Bitoon, Richard

If you would recall, I had earlier conducted a survey last year on what the readers of this blog deemed the best scheme in composing the Philippine Team for the 2010 Olympiad. The question in the survey was: "What do you think is the best way to form the RP Team which will represent the Philippines to the 2010 Chess Olympiad in Russia?" A total of 108 readers participated in the poll. Here is the result:

Based on media reports, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) had already announced the members of the Philippine Team who will compete in the 2010 Chess Olympiad namely:

GM So
GM Antonio
GM Torre
GM Gomez
GM Laylo

Notably, based on published reports, GM Mark Paragua is not part of the pool (please correct me if I'm wrong). But if we include GM Mark in the group, all the Top 6 players in my survey will perfectly match the actual line-up.

You might be wondering why I asked you to vote for six players when only five (4+1) are needed. Well, I was just thinking that the team needs a captain who has the backing of the 'thinking' multitude. (I know you're reading between the lines.)

Here are some highlights of the survey which really caught my curiosity:

- Not everybody wanted the country's top player - GM Wesley So - in the team. Frankly, I was expecting a 100% approval for Wesley, but some 8%, or 35 respondents, didn't want him to be part of the RP Team

- Some 5%, or 26 respondents, opted for players who are not included in the country's Top 20 list

The NCFP has until May 20 to register the RP Team for the 2010 Chess Olympiad. The final compositions of teams (plus captains), however, should be sent no later than July 15.

We still have much time, I think, to rethink the final composition of the RP Team. Perhaps, there's wisdom in the collectivity of the minds of the 476 respondents who thought that GM Mark Paragua should be included. In fact, Paragua is the third most desired player to be in the team.

Six names can complete the team - that is, four boards, one reserve, one captain. We don't have to drop one name from the Top 6 players who are most desired by the thinking multitude.

Here are the complete results of the survey: Who do you think should compose the RP Men's Team which will represent the country in the 2010 Chess Olympiad?

Please click on chart for enlarged view