Gender and Chess - The Ever-Changing, Never-Ending Question...

Chess Prodigy Caoli Threatens to Relinquish Citizenship
Inquirer News Service, April 14, 2001, Dennis U. Eroa

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Claiming she was tired of receiving false promises, chess phenom Arianne Caoili has threatened to relinquish her Filipino citizenship if only to fulfill here dream of becoming a Grandmaster.

"Nice words, nice promises. I need a good coach. My Mommy and I are tired of begging for money. The only soulution is changing the national colors. I shall leave. I do not care where to," said the 14-year-old Caoili, the country's newest International Master.

Caoili aired her sentiments in an interview with a European journalist, Johan Zwanepol.

The story was printed last April 3 in Delo, Slovenia's largest daily.

Caoili had emerged best female finisher in the highly competitive Bled, Slovenia, chess festival. Caoili's impressive performance had merited huge attention from the Slovenian press and TV.

Boris Kutin, Fide European president, had also spoken glowingly of Caoili's achievements in interviews with the European press.

"Clearly, this young girl will become a Grandmaster very soon if only she will get the funding," Kutin was quoted as saying.

According to the article, some countries had already signified their interest in fielding Caoili to different competitions.

"But we have refused because we wanted to remain loyal to the Philippines. But we are now tired and can no longer sacrifce. Nobody is providing us with financial assistance. Our family has suffered enough," said Annette, Arianne's Austrailian mother.

Arnold, Arianne's Filipino father, told the Inquirer yesterday that his request for help from Malacanang through the Philippine Sports commission has repeatedly fallen on deaf ears.

"GM Silvino Garcia, president of the Cuban Chess Federation, has invited Arianne to compete in the XXXVI Capablanca Memorial International Chess tournament slated from May 3 to May 21 at Havana," said Arnold. "We need money to be able to compete there."

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WIM Arianne Caoili (PHI 2263) is still playing for the Phillipines - for now...

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See also:
The Tussle in Turin!
June 10, 2006
By Jan Newton