FOUR members of the Philippine team which saw action in the recent FIDE Online Olympiad, led by GM Mark Paragua, will see action in the first-ever Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) classification tournament starting Saturday.
The four are Paragua, GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., GM Darwin Laylo and WIM Bernadette Galas, who will lead more than 150 titled and untitled players in the event serving as part the formal launching of PCAP on January.
The 12-round Swiss system online competition is scheduled today from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The other prominent players who have registered are IM Chito Garma, IM Richelieu Salcedo III, IM Angelo Young, FM Arden Reyes, FM Jony Habla. WFM Allanney Jia Doroy, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, WNM Francois Magpily, NM Cesar Mariano, NM Noel Dela Cruz, NM Marlon Bernardino, NM Jasper Rom, NM Jonathan Tan, NM Giovanni Mejia, NM Jeth Romy Morado, NM Gerardo Cabellon, NM Glennen Artuz, NM Jose Aquino Jr., NM Nick Nisperos, NM Julius Sinagote, AGM Henry Roger Lopez, AGM Gavin Onga and AGM Darwin Daton.
PCAP founding president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said the tournament is open only to players 18 years old and above.
Elauria said selected PCAP team owners will watch the games as they prepare to form their teams in time for the PCAP inaugural tournament next year.
The team owners will be interviewed durin livestreaming of the event supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).
Among the confirmed guest teams in the livestream are San Juan (Michael Angelo Chua and Hubert Estrella), Caloocan (Atty. Arnel Batungbakal and Bong Velasco), Cebu
(Dennis Albiso), Lapulapu (Ariel Potot) and Zamboanga (Zulfikar Ali).
Other team owners will also be invited to participate subject to availability.
Also attending the livestream interviews is National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) director Martin “Binky” Gaticles.
As a pro league, PCAP is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.
“The GAB supervision of all PCAP tournaments will be mutually beneficial to both the players and their respective teams,” said Elauria.
