RP chess blacklisted for unpaid FIDE dues

Still reeling from its gold medal shutout in chess in the recent 23rd SEA Games, the Philippines suffered another blow when it was blacklisted by FIDE for its failure to pay its arrears to the world chess body.

This came about after local chessers, led by top player GM Mark Paragua, were dropped from the quarterly listing apparently due to the failure of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines to settle its debts.

NCFP president Go Teng Kok admitted the association hasn’t paid its bills amounting to 5,000 euro dollars, roughly P320,000.

"Actually, when I became president, the NCFP owes FIDE 10,000 euro dollars but I already paid half of it," Go told The STAR yesterday.

"We were supposed to pay the other half after the SEA Games but they (FIDE) didn’t give us a grace period or at least inform us of their decision," he added.

Go, who took over the cash-strapped association two years ago, has earlier signified his intention to leave his post, disappointed over what’s happening in the NCFP particularly with infighting among key players, who failed to win a single gold medal in the SEAG despite coming into the event as the heavy favorites.

Go, also the athletics chief, announced midway in the SEAG that he wanted out of the NCFP.

However, he said that he intends to settle all the NCFP debts before he leaves.

"Whether I’m staying at NCFP or not, I will pay it from my own pocket," said Go.

In the last rating list released by FIDE, Paragua emerged as the country’s highest rated player with an ELO of 2594.

The 21-year-old GM, who reached the second round of the recent World Cup, is expected to reach the Super GM level of 2600 when the new FIDE rating list is released in January.