So remains in PSC priority list despite SEAG absence

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino chess Grandmaster Wesley So will remain in the Philippine Sports Commission's priority list of athletes even if he skipped last December's Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar due to his studies.

PSC chair Richie Garcia said retaining the 20-year-old So, who is currently 28th in the FIDE world rankings with a rating of 2719, in the priority list was due to his gold medal effort in the World University Games in Kazan, Russia a year ago.

"Since he won the Universiade, which is a higher level than the SEAG, the PSC gave him the privilege of continuing to be in the priority list," Garcia yesterday told The STAR.

Garcia, however, cautioned So, who is competing in the Tata Chess Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee, The  Netherlands where he will be pitted against some of the members of the world's elite Top 10, not to push with his earlier threat of playing for another country.

"If its true that he is planning to play for a different federation outside the Philippines, then we will stop including giving the benefits of being in the priority program," said Garcia.

So's father, William, however, appeased Garcia by assuring him that his son, currently based in the United States where he is studying at Webster U, will remain loyal to flag and country.

"His father, who is now based in Canada, visited me and we talked. He told me it will not happen and he will not allow that," said Garcia. "So I told him I'll take his word for it and for as long as he's still willing to play for country, then he'll retain his status as one of our priority athletes."

The government's sports funding agency has started "re-classifying" athletes after the Phl suffered a catastrophic seventh place, the country's worst ever finish in the biennial meet.

Class A athletes in the list will receive a monthly stipend worth P40,000 while those in the Classes B and C get P30,000 and P20,000, respectively.

"Athletes who didn't win in the SEAG are already out. All of the 101 medallists, those are the new members of the priority athletes," said Garcia.