UST LADY Woodpushers head coach and International Master (IM) Ronald Dableo was accused by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) of game-fixing last year’s Tanauan City Open and Malaysian Open.
NCFP executive director Samuel Estimo made the accusation last Jan. 11, saying that Dableo and IM Darwin Laylo of intentionally dropping their games against eventual winner IM Chito Garma. Dableo also purportedly dropped his match against Vietnamese Grand Master (GM) Dao Thien Hai, in the Malaysian Open, according to Estimo.
Several daily newspapers and online publications have reported that RP’s leading chess players such as IMs Dableo and Laylo, GM Mark Paragua, National Master (NM) Oliver Barbosa, Alex Milagrosa, Dino Ballecer, Mirabeau Maga, Merben Roque, Ferdinand Leysa, Lamiel Bernales, Enerose Magno and Female Master Sheerie Joy Lomibao, are suspects of having dropped their games such as in last year’s Pichay Cup and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Cup.
“The articles published in the dailies and online publications seem to have convicted us without proper basis such as investigation results,” Dableo, the longtime UST mentor who steered to two UAAP championships told the Varsitarian. “I know that I am innocent because I would not have reached this far if I don’t play my best.”
Dableo said his lawyer had advised him to remain silent about the issue.
The news broke out while Dableo and other Filipino chessers were playing in the Asian Zonals in Vietnam. The allegations seemed to have affected Dableo’s performance in the tournament as he only finished with a win and eight draws (5 points) for a dismal nine-way tie for 16th place.
“I was really distracted because of the controversy that I fell short of earning the final GM norm that would have given me the GM title,” the 27-year-old Dableo said.
Lady Woodpushers co-captain Zayrah Dela Cruz, who has been with the team for three years, echoed Dableo’s claim.
“Coach (Dableo) always reminds us to play hard in every match,” Dela Cruz said. “Selling games is not in his character.”
Last Feb. 1, the NCFP formed a five-man committee to investigate the game-fixing issue dragging RP’s finest chess players. Lawyers Edmundo Legaspi and Raul Molitas will head the investigating body with National Master Cesar Caturlas, IM Jayson Gonzales, and International Arbiter Willie Abalos are members.
The investigation will run for two weeks and those who will be proven guilty will suffer a minimum penalty of six months to one year suspension with community service, or a maximum penalty of lifetime suspension from all NCFP sanctioned tournaments. Maria Jesamine DG Palarca
