Team PH disqualified from competing in the FIDE Online Olympiad 2021

Due to controversial cheating via engine use, the whole Philippine Team was disqualified by The International Chess Federation (FIDE), after one of its players violated the fair play policy during the 2021 World Olympiad online tournament.

Asia’s first Grandmaster, Eugene Torre, came to defend the alleged player, saying that the 13-year-old player did not exhibit any violation in the play recorded by FIDE.

“I don’t know how the panel arrived at the decision or what algorithm it used to determine that [the] player cheated,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) wrote a letter of reconsideration after excluding the other players from the competition, to which FIDE denied.

“The team was denied due process. Assuming that FIDE was right in determining one player cheated, why penalize the other players?” Torre asked.

He said the FIDE could not concur without a concrete explanation.

NCFP Chief Executive Officer Jayson Gonzales stated that the points obtained by the player who committed the violation will be given to his opponent. 

Also, according to NCFP, the alleged player will not be able to compete for a maximum of 15 years, but can still participate in over-the-board events organized by NCFP. 

However, Woman National Master Loreshyl Cuizon, persisted that optimism should be seen in this kind of dilemma.

“It’s a wake-up call because this also happens even in local chess,” she said.

President-commissioner Paul Elauria of Professional Chess Association of the Philippines or PCAP  refused to make a statement, but amplified the goal of the PCAP’s upcoming tournament, “We intend to show our foreign friends how online chess should be properly played by the Pinoy chess players — with honesty, sportsmanship, professionalism, and integrity.”

PCAP’s upcoming tournament would be a face-off of Asian countries — Philippines, China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

In the meantime, after defeating China in a two-round semifinals game, Russia overcame the United States to secure the gold medal finish in the FIDE Online Olympiad 2021.

LAYOUT BY: Alexandria M. Briones

PHOTO SOURCE(S): Canva