THE Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) celebrates Independence Day with more exciting matches in the 2021 PCAP-GM Wesley So Cup chess championship.

The top four teams — San Juan Predators (11-2) and Manila Indios Bravos (11-2) in the Northern Division and Camarines Soaring Eagles (12-1) and Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors (12-1) in the Southern Division — look to resume their winning ways in the 14th and 15th rounds of the 24-team tournament.

The highlight of the weekend is the clash between San Juan and Cordova, two of the teams blessed with reliable foreign imports in GMs Viktor Moskalenko and Nitzan Steinberg.

Before their showdown, San Juan will meet Cebu City Machers, while Cordova will battle Antipolo Cobras.

In other featured matches, Manila will take on Palawan Queen’s Gambits and Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, while Camarines will collide with Rizal Towers and Quezon City Simba’s Tribe.

PCAP All-Filipino champion Laguna Heroes square off with Negros Kingsmen and Palawan.

Southern Division heavyweight Iloilo Kisela Knights will play Caloocan Load Manna Knights and Antipolo.

PCAP is headed by President-Commissioner Atty. Paul Elaura, and Chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

The tournament is sponsored by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by ChaIrman Abraham “Baham” Mitra.

Games June 12:

Round 14 — Antipolo vs. Cordova, Caloocan vs. Iloilo, Cagayan vs. Iriga, Cavite vs. Lapu-Lapu, Isabela vs. Mindoro, Laguna vs. Negros, Manila vs. Palawan, Olongapo vs. Surigao, Pasig vs. Toledo, Quezon vs. Zamboanga, Rizal vs. Camarines, San Juan vs. Cebu.

Round 15 — Iloilo vs. Antipolo, Iriga vs. Caloocan, Lapu-Lapu vs. Cagayan, Mindoro vs. Cavite, Negros vs. Isabela, Palawan vs. Laguna, Surigao vs. Manila, Toledo vs. Olongapo, Zamboanga vs. Pasig, Camarines vs. Quezon , Cebu vs. Rizal, Cordova vs. San Juan.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya