MINDANAO teams will face fellow ‘Bisdak’ (Bisayang Dako) rivals at the start of the 2022 version of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Super Grand Master (SGM) Wesley So Cup tonight, at 7 pm via lichess.com online format.
The Davao Chess Eagles will debut against Tacloban, while the Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates will tangle with the Cagayan de Oro Higalas.
The Zamboanga Sultans, on the other hand, will pit wits opposite the Cebu City Wizards in the Southern division.
The big-4 round qualifier in the last All-Filipino conference, the Davao Chess Eagles will be reinforced this time around by former Philippine Open champion GM Darwin Laylo who was surprisingly dropped from the roster of the North heavyweight, Pasig King Pirates.
“(On) behalf of the Davao Eagles chess team, I would like to welcome former RP champ GM Darwin Laylo to our team. Congratulations also for winning the silver in the rapid chess team competition together with IM Paulo Bersamina in the ongoing Asean games in Vietnam,” wrote the Davao Eagles’ co-manager, lawyer Jong Guevarra Jr on his Facebook wall.
Meanwhile, US-based GM Enrico Sevillano will be returning as Surigao’s top gun in the Invitational Conference with International Master Tin Jingyao from Singapore serving as one of its solid imports.
Jingyao, who already had two GM norms, became the best male Seag chesser in Singapore in 2003 when he wrapped up his campaign in Vietnam's biennial meet with a silver and a pair of bronzes.
“Kulba man diay among alternate import kay medal performer sa Sea Games,” Surigao’s team-playing owner, Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo said of Jingyao.
The Bacoor, Cavite-born Super GM Wesley So, who’s now a US citizen, is expected to make the inspirational remarks during the 6 pm opening rites of the prestigious online tourney named in his honor.
Also gracing the ceremonial kick-off are Games and Amusements Board Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra, PCAP Chairman Michael Angelo Chua, and PCAP Commissioner-President Atty. Paul Elauria.
World IPCA champion IM Sander Severino of the Davao team will lead the oath of sportsmanship.
