LAST Saturday, the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) opened its second season with the first matches of the All-Filipino Cup.
It’s a nice accomplishment considering there were concerns, whispers and even rumors whether the league would mount a second season. It was purely hogwash.
The All-Filipino Cup tipped off with 24 teams with three new ones taking over from three squads either opted to sit it out given concerns such as the super typhoon that hit the south and even liquidity.
I’m not saying there aren’t challenges or even birth pains—yes, there were. But what new league isn’t without them? Even those such as the Philippine Basketball Association which is approaching its 50th year since its founding continuously experience them.
I hosted the opening ceremony for the new season which also saw the best of the previous year given awards. And I cannot begin to tell you how gratifying it is to work with this league.
No, I am not employed by the league. It’s just that I have covered them from the pre-draft day all the way to the end of the third conference.
I can actually attribute that to a man I respect—Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham Mitra who got me to write about the fledgling new league.
Mr. Mitra gave me a call one day and said, “Rick, with no basketball, volleyball and football played, why don’t you help PCAP. They could use your help.”
And so I did.
I met new people and came away making new friends.
I played chess during my younger years. I cannot even say that I was good or bad at it. That was a different time with no Internet, no cable television and certainly far less distractions.
Growing up in the 1970s and 80s saw my siblings and I undertake a variety of pursuits at our parents’ insistence—swimming, piano and guitar lessons, and perhaps, what I enjoyed the most—art lessons.
Yes, I was quite good at it until I switched to baseball and football and formed my class band. And of course, discovered girls.
So it was like a bit of a homecoming as I followed PCAP. It certainly was difficult because I had my online writing class concurrent to the Wednesday and Saturday PCAP games.
I believe the league will only get better as it provides incredible opportunities for our chess players. Even the Reinforced Conference where foreign chess players join the teams, and the Open Conference that features guest teams, will certainly improve the competition and quality of the Filipinos.
It gives young chess players something to aspire for. I love how it has a place for not only women players, but also seniors and homegrown players.
They even had the Philippine Paralympic Team and young junior teams participate as guests. Now, that really helps grassroots development.
Previously, the closest I got to work with our grandmasters was a photo exhibit where I assisted the great Bien Bautista in his photographic portraits of Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio.
Since the first year of PCAP, I have had GM Banjo Barcenilla as a guest on my podcast. I have had lengthy discussions with GM Ino Sadorra. I also met GM Mark Paragua who impressed me.
Of course, it isn’t limited to the GMs. Early in my coverage of PCAP, I met Chairman Baham’s brother Jorge who was then handling the Palawan Queen’s Gambit, the league’s sole all-women’s team.
It was fun trying to help them get off the ground by handling a press conference for the squad and helping them out with press releases.
I love the potential and the possibilities of the league so much that I volunteered to conduct marketing seminars for its team owners, managers and players in hopes they will be able to increase awareness not only for their teams and players but also for the sport.
You know, the sky is the limit for this chess league. Early on, it got the support of San Miguel Corp. and Ayala Land. Now even computer leader PC Works is in. And of course, there was the sponsorship of Super GM Wesley So of the second conference which bears his name.
In my introduction of the new season during the opening program last Saturday, I said this… if last year (2021) was historic, expect this year to be epic.
I have no doubt about it.