TWENTY-FOUR teams start trading wits on Saturday night as the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) unwraps its inaugural online tournament.
Competitions for the All-Filipino Conference start at 7:30 after a simple opening ceremony at 6:30 pm.
The North division is composed of the Antipolo Cobras, Team Cabuyao, Cagayan Kings, Caloocan Loadmanna Knights, Isabela Knight Raiders, Cavite Spartans (General Trias), Manila Indios Bravo, Olongapo Rainbow Team 7, Pasig City King Pirates, Team Quezon City, Rizal Batch Towers and San Juan Predators.
The South division, on the other hand, is made up of the Camarines Soaring Eagles, Cebu City Machers, Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors, Iloilo Kisela Knights, Team Iriga, Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors, Mindoro Tamaraws, Negros Kingsmen, Palawan Queen’s Gambit, Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates,Toledo City Chess Miners and Zamboanga Sultans.
PCAP founder and Commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria said the games will be played through the platform Lichess.
The All Filipino Conference ends on March 31 and will be followed by the Reinforcement Conference in May. The import-laden Open Conference is scheduled from September to November.
“As soon as [pandemic] situation improves, we’ll gradually shift to mixed OTB [over the board] and online,” Elauria said. “For OTB, because home-and-away is costly, we plan to hold special weekend events where all the teams meet in one venue and everyone plays OTB.”