BUOYED by the early success of the Philippine men’s and women’s teams in the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Hungary, the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) raises the curtain for the formal opening of the Season 4 of the SGM Wesley So Cup chess team championships on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Except for two players, all the members of the national teams now seeing action the world’s biggest chess competition have played for different teams in PCAP, the first play-for-pay professional chess league in the country.

“Most of our national players, including newly-minted GM Daniel Quizon, played and honed their skills in PCAP. That’s why we’re very happy that he finally achieved his GM title after only four rounds in the Olympiad,” said PCAP President-Commissioner Paul Elauria.

“In fact, Quizon ruled the PCAP Tour of Champions held at the Greenhils Shopping Center only July 21, beating FM Ellan Asuela GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr. and Kevin Arquero,” added Elauria.

In the PCAP Wesley So Cup, PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua said a total of 16 teams — eight in the North and eight in the South — are entered.

The first round will start right after the opening ceremony set at 6 p.m.

Leading the participating teams in the import-flavored conference named in honor of So are San Juan Predators, Pasig Pirates, Manila Load Manna Knights, Cavite Spartans, Cagayan Kings, Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, Isabela Knights of Alexander and Rizal Towers in the Noirth; and Camarines Eagles, Toledo Trojans, Davao Eagles, Iloilo Kisela Knights. Arriba Iriga, Mindoro Tamaraws, Bacolod Blitzers and guest team Pasig Grassroots Knights in the South.

The team lineups:

North

San Juan Predators — GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Karl Ochoa, WIM Jodilyn Fronda, IM Ricardo de Guzman, IM Rolando Nolte, .FM Narquingden Reyes, Narquingel Reyes, IM Joel Banawa, AGM Gavin Ong, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, GM Victor Moskalenko (Import).
Pasig Pirates — GM Gonbosuren Munkhgal (Import), GM Mark Paragua, WFM Sherily Cua, IM Cris Ramayrat, IM Eric Labog, Kevin Arquero, IM Idelfonso Datu, FM Nelson Mariano III, Jerome Villanueva, Marc Labog, Omar Bagalacsa, Carl Espallardo.

Manila Load Manna Knights — Ernie Maraan, IM Yoseph Taher (Import), WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, IM Chito Garma, IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, FM David Elorta, Ryan Dungca, Daryl Samantila, Genghis Imperial, Jhulo Goloran, Jovert Valenzuela, Ali Cantonjos.

Cavite Spartans — FM Jim Dean (Import), Godfrey Villamor, Anabelle Gonzales, NM Hmer Cunanan, AGM Voltaire Marc Paragua, Renie Malupa, Jayson Visca, Alexis Maribao, NM Lloyd Rubio, Israel Landicho.

Cagayan Kings — Bancelie Fernandez, Tyrone de los Santos, April Joy Ramos, GM Alexei Barsov (Import), Jake Tumaliuan, Robert Mania, Anwar Cabugatan,Alexander Malabad, Mark Lester Asejo, John Robert Bumatay, Wilfred Dumadag, Joey Cabaya, Marc Francis Balanay, Jude Ulanday,

Quezon City Simba’s Tribe — NM Jose Aquino, PatrickFlorendo, ACM Michella Concio, Danilo Ponay, NM Marlon Bernardino, NM Robert Arellano, Joseph Navarro, AIM Francis Talaboc, Freddie Talaboc, Justin Corpin, Kristian Cristobal, Norman Madariaga, NM Romeo Alcodia, Eduardo Tunguia, Michaela Concio.

Isabela Knights of Alexander — Mark Jericho Narciso, Servillano Obana, WGM Mai Hung Thi (Import),NM Gerardo Cabellon, AGM Melchor Foronda, Lordwin Espiritu, Alvin Aguinaldo, Willi Villaruz, Daniel Tagufa, Manolito Manaois, Diana Banawa, Sheryll Bordon, Praise Torre, NM Edmundo Gatus.

Rizal Towers — NM Ali Branzuela, Stephen Manzanero, Shaira Aquino, NM Elias Lao, Kelly Rancap, Gary Legaspi, Marlon Constantino, Joshua Yson, Gerona Anora, Angelo Cuizon.

South

Camarines Eagles — GM Darwin Laylo, IM Ronald Dableo, WIM Bernadette Galas, IM Barlo Nadera, NM Ronald Llavanes, Coellier Graspela, Paul Baroga, Marco Balane, FM Steven Breckenridge (Import), NM Giovanni Mejia, IM Jose Bagamasbad, Virgenie Ruaya.

Toledo Trojans — CM Bhavesh Mahajan (Import), FM Noel del Cruz, WIM Cherry Ann Mejia, IM Angelo Young, IM Kim Steven Yap, IM Joel Pimentel, Allan Parson , Virgen Ruaya, Diego Caparino, Bonn Rainauld Tibod, Christopher Tubalado, IM Rico Mascarinas, AFM Mlissa Ruth Carreon, WNm Queenie Samarita, FM Ellan Asuela.

Davao Eagles — FM Sander Severino, FM Dharim Bacus (Import), NM Jean Karen Enriquez, NM Alexander Lupian, NM Jonathan Tan, NM Henry Lopez, NM Aglipay Oberio, AGM Irwin Aton, Arnel Aton, AGM Anthony Mosqueda, Napoleon Recososa, Jose Guevarra, Christopher Yap, Exiquilla Apao.

Iloilo Kisela Knights — Hubert Canto, Leo Sotaridona, Fiona Guirhem, NM Cesar Mariano, NM John Michael Silvederio, NM Fritz Bryan Porras, NM Rolly Parondo, Mark Mariano, Horizon Villanueva, Lloyd Lanciola, Cherry Bendicio, Gil Libutaque.

Arriba Iriga — NM Glen Artuz, Jeffrey Vegas, Isabel Palibino, Roger P esimo, Recarte Tiauson, Joeven Polsotin, Marvid Zuniga, Jenny Bon, AFM Gardy Sorita, Johnlyn Buenaventura.

Mindoro Tamaraws — IM Liu Xiangyi (Import), Ryan Aghunag, AFM Kaessa Merilles, Cesar Cunanan, FM Julius Joseph de Ramos, Rainier Labay, Nezil Merilles, Ronald Berdera, Alvin de la Cruz, Jefferson Pascua, Richard Sicangco, AGM Emmanuel Asi, Adamah Fuentes, Joel Diaz, Grace Robledo, Vicente Espolon.

Bacolod Blitzers — NM Edwin Tan, FM Dan Mangao, Eden Tumbos, Jose Tapulgo, NM Edsel Montoya, Francis Panes, Ted Ian Montoyo, Eric Abanco, Thesis Benites, Joseph Navarra, Sonny Pasco, Romeo Sadia, Felix Gonzales, Rolando Andador, Stella Abanco.

Pasig Grassroots Knights (Guest) — Joshua Toledo, Andrew Toledo, Eloisa Jade Alcantara, John Carlo Hermosa, Frank Stephanie Engles, David Modesto, Steve Bolico, Marquel Soria, Davin Sean Romualdez, Jan Christopher abeleda, Asher Judd Sy, Kyrel Camonias.