SOUTH meets North again as the Negros Kingsmen battle the Laguna Heroes, and Camarines Eagles meet the Manila Indios Bravos in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) All-Filipino Conference.
In another keenly-awaited battles of elite players from the Northern and Southern Conferences, FM Nelson Mariano III and FM Randy Segarra of Negros clash with GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. and FM Austin Jacob Literatus of Laguna and GM Mark Paragua and Ellan Asuela of Camarines square off with GM Julio Catalino Sadorra and IM John Marvin Miciano of Manila.
Negros is currently sitting pretty in the Southern Conference with a 15-2 win-loss record, slighty ahead of Camarines and the Iloilo Kisela Knights with 14-3 slates.
Laguna is third in the Northern Division with a 14-3 mark behind only the San Juan Predators (15-2) and the Caloocan Load Manna Knights (15-2).
Manila is a close fourth overall with a 12-5 record.
In other matches starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, it will be San Juan against Lapu-Lapu Naki Warriors, Caloocan against Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, Rizal Towers against Iriga Oragons, Cavite Spartans against Zamboanga Sultans, Pasig Pirates against Iloilo Knights, Isabela Knight Raiders against Toledo City Trojans, Antipolo Cobras against Mindoro Tamaraws, Cagayan Kings against Palawan Queen’s Gambit, Olongapo Rainbow against Cebu City Machers and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe against Cordova Dagami Warriors.
The second part of the Wednesday program at 9 p.m. will pit Antipolo against Negros, Laguna against Palawan, Cagayan against Surigao, Isabela against Zamboanga, Cavite against Camarines, Manila against Cebu, Olongapo against Cordova, Quezon City against Iloilo, Pasig against Iriga, Rizal aaginst Lapu-Lapu and San Juan against Mindoro.
PCAP president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said participating teams will play a total of 34 games –22 in their own conference and 12 in the other conference.
Supporting Atty. Elauria are Michael Angelo Ong, Chairman, and Atty. Arnel Batungbakal, treasurer.
The 24-team professional chess tournament is supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by President/ Chairman Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay , and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.
