Ultimate Achievement Unlocked For PH's First Pro Chess League

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SPORTS | September 23, 2020

(Image Source: The Philippine Star/PhilStar.com)

Aspiring and current Filipino chess players from different parts of the country will now have the opportunity to showcase their prowess and make their preferred sport a major source of income as the Games and Amusement Board (GAB), under the leadership of its chairman Abraham Mitra, formally announced through a virtual press conference held last September 17, 2020 the approval of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) as the first professional chess league in the country.
The GAB greenlight, according to Asia's first grandmaster Eugene Torre, marked the realization of the dreams of many Filipino chess players - young and old, aspiring and promising, professional and veteran - considering that the Philippines has more than 500,000 chess enthusiasts. For PCAP founding commissioner Atty. Paul Elaria, the establishment of the first professional chess league in the country will not only provide livelihood to Filipino woodpushers, but also advance their playing level as well. Prior to its impending inaugural season next year, PCAP plans to hold a draft to balance the teams' composition in which several Filipino chess players living outside the country are expressing their interest to take part.

The PCAP will be composed of 32 LGU-based but privately-owned teams comprising of eight to ten players under contract. Each team will field six regular players composed of two rated players, one female, one senior and two untitled homegrown players who are basically direct hires by the teams. According to Atty. Elaria, players will get standard contracts with minimum and maximum salaries based on the salary cap agreed by all participating teams. The league will have two conferences: the Northern Conference for Luzon-based teams and the Southern Conference for teams from Visayas and Mindanao. When asked how the league's maiden season will be held amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Elaria stated that the online format is not being ruled out; however, over-the-board matches will be possible once either the pandemic stabilizes or the country is in a better situation.

Already confirming their participation in the league are the Baguio Lion Kings, Bataan Marching Heroes, Bulacan Bloody Bishops, Cagayan Valley Kings, Makati Red Gambits, Manila Noble Knights, Mindoro Golden Tamaraws, Palawan Beach Masters, Pampanga, Pasay, San Juan Preda-Torres, Subic Knightmares, General Trias City in Cavite, and Tarlac Top Guns. Also interested to join are BARMM, Batangas, Bohol, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, General Santos, Ilocos, Iloilo, Laguna, Leyte, Misamis, Negros, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Surigao and Zamboanga.