Disgruntled So drops out of SEAG

MANILA, Philippines - Grandmaster Wesley So decided to skip the SEA Games next month, taking one potential gold medal for a Philippine team hard-pressed to improve its sixth-place finish the last time out in Indonesia.

So, 20, cited his studies at US NCAA Division I champion team Webster U where he is a chess scholar as his reason for giving up his slot in the national team vying in the SEAG where he is fancied to win the individual gold in rapid chess and blitz.

“Me and my coach decided I cannot play,” So told The STAR through his Twitter account @wesleySo93, referring to coach GM Susan Polgar.

“It’s simply out of the question. Wesley is a full-time student and he has final exams during that time and cannot play,” said Polgar, a former five-time women’s champion, also on Twitter.

So is coming off a victory in the 17th Unive Tournament in Hoogeveen, Netherlands where he beat English GM Michael Adams and two top-notch Dutch GMs to move eight rungs up to No. 32 in the world ranking with a rating of 2719.

So also won the gold in the Universiade in Kazan, Russia early this year. 

So’s decision to forego his SEAG stint is also an offshoot of his rift with the National Chess Federation of the Phils. and the country’s top sports officials, who failed to recognize his feat in the Universiade.

“The question is does his federation want him to succeed in life and in chess? He’s working hard everyday. Wesley is proud to represent the Phl, but he’s not willing to fail his classes,” Polgar had earlier told The STAR.

“All Filipinos should be behind Wesley, he shouldn’t be treated like this,” added Polgar.

So had also threatened to play for another country, possibly the United States where he is studying, or Canada where his parents are now permanently based.