THE Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the country’s first and only professional chess league, plans to introduce three new tournaments as part of its innovations this year.

PCAP president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said high on the calendar are the staging of the inter-commercial team tournament on June, the inter-collegiate team championship on July and the individual tournament on August.

Aside from the three new tournaments, PCAP will also hold two conferences: the All-Filipino Conference starting Feb. 18 up to the last week of April, and the Open Conference ,also known as the GM Wesley So Cup on Sept. 9 to mid-November.

“This will be another year busy year for PCAP. We are leaving no stones untuned to ensure the success of our third season,” said Atty. Elauria in an interview with People’s Tonight.

“Most of our member-teams have beefed up their lineups in preparation for our first conference next month. We’re all excited now,” added Atty.Elauria.

Now on its third year, PCAP will open the new year with the Annual PCAP Draft on Feb. 5 at the Estancia Mall in Pasig City.

The 5 p.m. draft will be face-to-face, according to Atty. Elauria.

Before the draft, there will also be an individual tournament on Feb. 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The opening and awarding program will be held on Feb. 18 starting at 5 p.m.

PCAP was established in 2021 with Atty. Elauria as president-commissioner and Michael Angelo Chua as chairman.

The Laguna Heroes, bannered by United States-based GM Rogelio Barcenilla Jr , and FM Austin Jacob Literatus and managed by PECA president Fred Paez, made history by topping the inaugural tournament — the All-Filipino Conference — with a 14.5-6.5, 9.5-11.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) victory over the Camarines Eagles on April 2021.

Sharing the limelight on the league’s first season were the Iloilo Kisela Knights, who ruled the Second Conference with a 13-8, 11-5.9.5 triumph over the San Juan Predators on August 2021; and San Juan, which dominated the Third Conference with a vengeful 19-2, 11.5-9.5 victory over Iloilo on August.

The Hubert Estrella-mentored Predatora made it back-to-back championships by winning the 2022 All-Filipino Conference with a 16-5, 10.5-10.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) win over Iloilo.

It was the turn of the Pasig Pirates of Mayor Vico Sotto and coach Franco Camillo to stamp their class by sweeping the next two PCAP tournaments — the GM Wesley So Cup and the Third Conference.

The GM Oliver Barbosa-led Pirates defeated the Kisela Knights, 12.5-8.5, 5.5-15.5 and 2-1 (Armageddon) in the Wesley So Cup last August; and Negros Kingsmen, 10-11,11-10, 2-1 (Armageddon) in the Third Conference last December.

Event sponsors are San Miguel Corporation, Ayala Lands and PCWorx.

PCAP is sanctioned by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), headed by Chairman Atty. Richard Clarin, and supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP), led by Chairman/ President Prospero “Butch” Pichay.