Professional Chess Association of the Philippines

The Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) is a professional chess league in the Philippines.

Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP)
Upcoming season or competition:
Current sports event 2023 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines season
SportChess
Founded2020
Inaugural season2021
CEOMichael Angelo Chua
PresidentPaul Elauria
CommissionerPaul Elauria
No. of teams20
CountryPhilippines
Most recent
champion(s)		2023 All Filipino:
Pasig City King Pirates
2023 Inter-School:
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde
2023 Inter-Commercial:
Philippine Army
Most titlesPasig City King Pirates
(3 titles)
Official website

History

The Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) was formed by Filipino lawyer Paul Elauria who also became the league's first commissioner.[1] The league was launched in 2020, although plans relating to the establishment of the first professional chess league in the Philippines has already been made years ago.[2]

It was formed as a means of livelihood for Filipino chess players, since not all are part of the Philippine national team. It is reportedly the first professional chess league in Southeast Asia with its first season to be held in 2021 with games possibly to be held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] The league was recognized by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB), a government body which regulates professional sports in the Philippines, in September 2020.[4] PCAP held its first national try out online through on October 17, 2020.[5]

For the inaugural season slated to start early 2021, 24 teams will participate in the league. The first ever draft was held on December 20, 2020.[6][7]

In March 2021, PCAP secured a sponsorship of the San Miguel Corporation.[8]

Teams

There are 20 teams in the PCAP as of the 2023 season divided into two geographic groups.

North
  • Laguna Heroes (Cabuyao)
  • Cagayan Kings
  • Cavite Spartans (General Trias)
  • Isabela Knights of Alexander
  • Mandaluyong Tigers
  • Manila Indios Bravos
  • Pasig City King Pirates
  • Quezon City Simba's Tribe
  • Rizal Batch Towers
  • San Juan Predators

South
  • Camarines-Iriga
  • Cebu City Machers
  • Davao Chess Eagles
  • Iloilo Kisela Knights
  • Mindoro Tamaraws
  • NIR Kingsmen
  • Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates
  • Tacloban Vikings
  • Toledo City Trojans
  • Zamboanga Sultans

Former teams

Including teams on a leave of absence

Format

Tournaments

The PCAP will have three tournaments or conferences in each season namely the All-Filipino, Reinforced and Open Conferences.[9] Participating teams will be geographic-based, and will represent a particular local government unit although all teams will be privately owned. The participating teams will be divided into two geographic conferences or groups, North and South with teams initially playing other sides within their respective groups before playing against each other in inter-league matches in the elimination round.[10]

Conferences (Tournaments)
  • All-Filipino
  • Reinforced
  • Open

Players

Teams can have eight to ten players under contract; six of them being regular players. Among the regular players two must be rated players, one must be female, one must be senior and two must be homegrown players. All participating players including participants of the PCAP draft must be licensed by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB).[1] A salary cap is imposed to protect the financial viability of the league.[10] For the Reinforced conference, each team can field on foreign player who may fill a slot in all categories except the homegrown category. A rated player may not be recategorized as a homegrown player.[11]

Matches

Each match in the PCAP include seven boards:[10]

Player category Boards
Homegrown (born or registered in the same city/town the team represents)3
Rated2
Lady1
Senior (age 60+)1

In a conference, each team play against other teams within their group twice, and once against teams outside their group.[12]

See also

References
  1. Bernardino, Marlon (September 16, 2020). "GAB chairman Mitra to lead pro chess league launch". BusinessWorld. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  2. Atencio, Peter (September 17, 2020). "Elauria announces launch of pro chess tourney". Manila Standard. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  3. Yumol, David Tristan (September 18, 2020). "First pro chess league in PH gets GAB approval". CNN Philippines. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  4. "GAB approves first ever pro chess league in the Philippines". GMA News. September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  5. "GM Antonio rules first Qualifying Tournament". Manila Standard. October 18, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  6. "Torre, 7 Other GMs Join PCAP". Journal Online. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  7. Navarro, June (December 7, 2020). "Pro chess league slates Dec. 20 draft". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  8. "SMC's Ang throws support behind Philippine pro chess tourney".
  9. Olivares, Rick. "Philippine pro chess body to invite foreign teams for Open Conference". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  10. Olivares, Rick (November 23, 2020). "Philippine pro chess body bares plans for maiden tourney". The Philippine Star. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  11. Olivares, Rick (12 April 2021). "Wesley So Cup to kick off May 15". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  12. "PCAP Introduces Officers". Journal Online. November 20, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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