The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) is wishing and praying that world US-based No. 4 Wesley So would someday return to the country and lead the national team.
NCFP vice-president for Visayas Neri Colmenares, appearing at the PSA Forum yesterday, is even asking the 23-year-old So that he send the federation his “vital statistics” so he could wear Barong Tagalog during tournaments.
“It would be nice to see Wesley playing in a Barong,” said Colmenares, noting that when he bumped into the Cavite-born woodpusher during the 2016 Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, he had mentioned it to the player.
Owing to his rapid rise in the rankings, Colmenares believes that So, now living in Minnesota with adoptive parents Lotis Key, a former actress in the 1970s, and husband Renato Kabigting, will someday “become the No. 1 in the world.”
Colmenares maintains that So’s decision to suit up for the US doesn’t mean that he has changed his citizenship.
“He is still a Filipino and he didn’t change citizenship. It was just a change in federation,” added Colmenares.
“Anytime Wesley decides to return and play, it would be most welcome not only by the NCFP but by the Philippines.”
So suited up for the Philippine four times in the Olympiad starting with Turin in 2006. Last year in Azerbaijan, So was already playing under he Star Spangled Banner.
Without So, the Philippines has continuously reverted to the genius of Eugene Torre, who emerged as the player who scored the most number of wins in the tournament in Baku even though it ended op 58th overall.
The US topped the Olympiad with So at board three.