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Norwegian chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen (right) and Philippine-American chess grandmaster Wesley So play in the final of the Fischer Random Championship Chess World Championship, at the Henie Onstad Art Center in Baerum, Norway, on October 31, 2019 (Photo by Berit Roald / NTB Scanpix / AFP) / Norway OUT
MANILA, Philippines – Super Grandmaster Wesley So has officially become a citizen of the United States, the United States Chess Federation announced on Friday.
So, who now resides in Excelsior, Minnesota, received his documents on February 26 in what can be seen as the end of the saga between the Philippine sports authorities and the Super Grandmaster of chess.
The 27-year-old, who originally hails from Bacoor, Cavite, said his reason for becoming an American citizen was to have a better future for himself, to be presented with opportunities that he cannot get in the Philippines.
“I love that anyone can strive to be successful. Your color, the lack of connections or the amount of money you have does not hold you back. If you work hard, you have a better chance of succeeding here than anywhere else in the world. I came here ready to work hard, and it turned out just the way I dreamed it, ”So said in an interview with the United States Chess Federation.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t love the Philippines. I have good memories from there. But he didn’t have the connections to be successful in that culture. I was from the province, not a city boy. He had no money, etc. I wanted to go further, and there was only one country where no one can do it. USA!”
So he had been representing the Philippines in the past, but finally moved to the United States in 2014, two years after his first visit to the country when he was the freshman recruit for Webstar University.
“I want to give back to a country that has been so good to me. From the moment I arrived here, I felt encouraged and empowered to be better than I was. I like this attitude and the tremendous generosity of American culture, ”said So.
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