Toledo Trojans off to rousing start in Philippine’s first pro chess tourney

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu’s Toledo City Trojans started strong in the All-Filipino Conference of the first ever Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) online tournament, which finally kicked off over the weekend.

The Trojans opened their campaign with a decisive 13-8 victory over the Cebu City Machers in an all-Cebuano showdown.

Led by team manager/player Felix Poloyapoy Jr., the Toledo Trojans are powered by International Master Rico Mascarinas, National Masters Rommel Ganzon and Rogelio Enriquez Jr., Ronald Ganzon, Richard Natividad, Glicerio Pardillo Jr., Bonn Rainauld Ribod, Christopher Tubalado, and lady players Jean Gacang and Jinky Catulay.

The Cebu City Machers, on the other hand, are composed of NMs Elwin Retanal, Anthony Makinano, and Linky Yap, Mark Mangubat, Cephas Seguisabal, Eduard de la Torre, and Marphine Faith Mangubat.

Aside from the Trojans and the Machers, the other Cebu teams seeing action in the country’s ground-breaking pro chess tilt sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) are the Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors and the Cordova Dagami Warriors.

Lapu-Lapu is manned by NM Merben Roque, Brylle Arellano, Odilon Badilles, Romeo Resuera, Neil Adrian Gilig, Aldwin Daculan, Kraig Quinain, and Cristry Cabungcag, while Cordova banks on NMs Edsel Montoya and Mario Mangubat, WIM Bernadette Galas, Allan Pason, Rex Cabungcal, Francis Rivera, Ariel Potot, and Dione Patrick Minoza.

The contenders from Cebu are in the Southern Division together with the Camarines Sur Soaring Eagles, Iloilo Kisela Knights, Iriga Dragons, Mindoro Elgin Tamaraws, Negros Kingsmen, Palawan Queen’s Gambits, Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, and Zamboanga Sultans.

Competing under the Northern Division are the Antipolo Cobras, Laguna Heroes, Cagayan Kings, Caloocan Loadmanna Knights, Isabela Knight Raiders, Cavite Spartans, Manila Indios Bravos, Olongapo Rainbow 7, Quezon City Simba’s Tribe, Pasig King Pirates, Rizal Batch Towers, and San Juan Predators.