SUMMARY
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Teams test the strength of their reinforcements when the Wesley So Cup starts Saturday night, May 15.
The Pasig City King Pirates, who recruited Grandmasters Kevin Goh of Singapore and Gombosuren Munkhgal of Mongolia, tangle with the Cavite Spartans in one of the 12 inaugural matches of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) second conference.
Goh and Munkhgal are expected to add depth to the King Pirates’ roster powered by Filipino GMs Darwin Laylo and Roland Salvador.
The Iloilo Kisela Knights, bolstered by Armenian GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan, are also favored over the Palawan Queen’s Gambit as they already have multititled GM Joey Antonio in tow.
PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes have yet to bare their import against the Manila Indios Bravos but are formidable as ever with GMs Banjo Barcenilla and John Paul Gomez.
The Camarines Soaring Eagles, the All-Filipino runners-up, will field two-time French women champion Marie Rachel Sibag against the Zamboanga Sultans, who acquired Brazilian GM Alexandr Fier, a five-time World Cup qualifier with a peak rating of Elo 2653 in 2009.
Spanish GM Viktor Moskalenko will reinforce GM Oliver Barbosa and reigning national women’s champion Jan Jodilyn Fronda as the San Juan Predators take on the Antipolo Cobras.
Sticking to a no-GM lineup, Caloocan LoadManna Knights, led by International Masters Paul Bersamina and Jem Garcia, will parade Malaysian IM Jimmy Chee-Meng Liew against the Rizal Batch Towers, who have Asia’s first GM and Hall of Famer Eugene Torre in its roster.
The Toledo City Trojans, boosted by Iranian GM Amir Bagheri, clash with the Cebu City Machers, who will be reinforced by Thai Fide Master Poompong Wiwatanadate.
Israeli GM Nitzan Steinberg will play for Cordova when the Dutchess Dagami Warriors battle the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates.
Other matches pit Cagayan against Quezon, Iriga against Negros, Isabela against Olongapo, and Lapu-Lapu, which acquired Vietnamese IM Thao Nguyen, against Mindoro.
PCAP chairman Michael Angelo Chua will open the conference followed by messages from Games and Amusements Board commissioner Eduard Trinidad, FIDE Asia executive director Toti Abundo, and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
The message of Filipino-American Super GM Wesley So, who agreed to shoulder the cash prizes, will be read by Atty. Ariel Batungbakal.
PCAP commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria will also deliver a message, followed by the oath of sportsmanship to be led by WIM Bernadette Galas and the closing remarks by PCAP vice chairman Ariel Potot. – Rappler.com
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