To quit or not to quit

GM Wesley So started his campaign in the 2011 Aeroflot Chess Open (A) on a shaky ground. He was lucky enough to get a draw in Round 1 against GM Alexandr Fier (2571) of Brazil who seemed to be content with a draw against him despite having an advantageous position.

Wesley started Round 2 on a promising ground, with I think a winning stance until the middle game against GM Anton Shomoev (2557) of Russia. However, he miscalculated somewhere in the game, lost his advantage, and eventually the full point.

After this defeat in Round 2, Wesley piled up four more consecutive draws.In six games that he played in the tournament, he exhibited a +0-1=5 performance. If we're to look at the game results, his performance was not really that bad. He lost only once. And he played against highly competitive 2500-rated players.

If we are to look closely, however, the lone loss and five draws were played against lower-rated opponents, which dealt heavily on his Elo rating.

The losses from his Elo rating were more than just a bleeding. It was a hemorrhage.

Now, the question is: Was it a right decision for him to withdraw from the tournament?

In the first place, it is interesting to ask: Whose decision was that?

Did Wesley come up with the decision all by himself? Or the did the decision come from people influential to him?

If - I said if - Wesley alone cracked the decision for himself, it is interesting to find out why.

As an avid fan of him, all I could afford is guess for some valid reasons (valid, in my opinion).

If he's sick, then he has all the reasons to withdraw from the tournament.

If he's emotionally in pain because of unforeseen personal and family concerns, it's just all right.

If the conditions in the playing venue and hotel accommodations were harmful, maybe these are enough reason to pack up and leave.

If he's sent to the tournament sans his gusto for being emotionally and mentally tired due to successive tournaments, then quitting is just all right.

For a 17-year old lad to do all the game preparations all by himself to battle it out against the world's best is a herculean task. Far away from the comfort of a family, a young lad's emotions can explode like a long kept timebomb.

But what if there were other reasons?

What if - again, I said if - he joined that event willingly and with gusto? It would then be a different story. He should know himself. If he had felt he was already tired prior to the tournament, he could have decided not to join in the first place. He should pace himself well, take a rest, see and enjoy the world, fall in love as he wishes, regain strength, and then continue on his quest to reach for his dream.

At his age, what is it there to lose? At 17, he should bear in mind that when he engages in battles, everything there is to be gained.

At this stage of his career, it's not yet all about winning. It's not all about the title. It's not all about the Elo rating. It's about character formation, too.

At Wesley's age today, he wouldn't gain from quitting. His strong character could be better minted if he is taught to face - and bear - the most painful part of defeat.

When the sensational GM Bobby Fischer said "All I wanna do is play chess in my whole life" [or something to this effect], it was a strong character of a great player revealed.

But when Wesley said, "Too tired to play" after quitting halfway through a tournament (because of valid reasons, let's hope), I didn't see it as a kiddie gripe. It was a revelation of a youthful character still in search of what he really wants.

At a very young age, he might be overdoing himself. Exhaustion. Being away from family. Taste of frustrations. Boom, hasty decision.

Now, what if - again, I said if - Wesley's withdrawal from the tournament was not his decision but from people influential to him? Then it's a totally different story.

In my opinion, the decision to withdraw - that is, without much 'valid' reasons - was uncalled for. Advising Wesley to quit without solid grounds wouldn't do Wesley any good.

The decision to quit was a blow against Wesley's character, possibly even to his image in the eyes of the global chess community.

It's beyond a matter of whether the tournament was Open or Invitational. It's a matter of character.

Strong character propels the great.

When Manny Pacquiao got bloodied in an early round due to an accidental headbutt against Erik Morales in their first encounter in March of 2005, Pacquiao, despite the pain and handicap he had to endure, never quit. He continued to fight on . . . until the end. It was a character of a great man revealed.

After that loss against Morales, Pacquiao has never been the same. He came back with a big bang, winning all his succeeding fights. Pacquiao won all of his matches from 2005 up to 2010 against the likes of Morales (2nd and 3rd encounter), Larios, Solis, Barrera, Marquez, Diaz, de la Hoya, Hatton, Cotto, Clottey, and Margarito.

And look how that character has brought Manny to where he is now. He is on top of the world.

Chess. Boxing. All sports. Character plays a crucial role.

I hope that Wesley's withdrawal from Aeroflot Open was grounded on valid reasons. Otherwise, something must be done so that this small bleeding doesn't lead to a hemorrhage.

(To all the fans of Wesley, please don't get me wrong. This is just my opinion in full support of him.)