2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines season

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2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines season
LeagueProfessional Chess Association of the Philippines
SportChess
2020 PCAP draft
Top draft pickEugene Torre
Picked byRizal Batch Towers
2021 season
Season MVPOliver Barbosa (San Juan)
All-Filipino Conference championsLaguna Heroes
  All-Filipino Conference runners-upCamarines Soaring Eagles
Reinforced Conference championsIloilo Kisela Knights
  Reinforced Conference runners-upSan Juan Predators
Open Conference championsSan Juan Predators
  Open Conference runners-upIloilo Kisela Knights
Seasons

The 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines season is the inaugural season of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), a professional chess league in the Philippines. The season opened on January 12, 2021.[1]

There were three conferences or separate tournaments under the 2021 season.[2] The first conference was the All-Filipino Conference.[3] It was followed by the Reinforced and Open Conferences.

Teams[edit]

There are 24 teams in the PCAP as of the inaugural season[4] divided into two geographic groups.[5]

North[edit]

  • Antipolo Cobras
  • Laguna Heroes (Cabuyao)
  • Cagayan Kings
  • Caloocan Loadmanna Knights
  • Isabela Knight Raiders
  • Cavite Spartans (General Trias)
  • Manila Indios Bravos
  • Olongapo Rainbow Team 7
  • Pasig City King Pirates
  • Quezon City Simba's Tribe
  • Rizal Batch Towers
  • San Juan Predators

South[edit]

  • Camarines Soaring Eagles
  • Cebu City Machers
  • Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors
  • Iloilo Kisela Knights
  • Iriga City Oragons
  • Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors
  • Mindoro Tamaraws
  • Negros Kingsmen
  • Palawan–Albay Queens' Gambit
  • Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates
  • Toledo City Chess Miners
  • Zamboanga Sultans

Draft[edit]

Team changes[edit]

Name changes[edit]

All-Filipino Conference[edit]

The first tournament of the 2021 PCAP season was the All-Filipino Conference which began on January 16, 2021.[7] The conference finals was held on April 3, 2021 which was contested by the Laguna Heroes of the Northern Division and the Camarines Soaring Eagles of the Southern Division. The Laguna Heroes clinched the title of PCAP's inaugural conference.[8][9]

Regular season[edit]

Northern Division[edit]

Pos Team W L Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Laguna Heroes 30 4 509 Qualification to the Division Quarterfinals
2 San Juan Predators 30 4 503.5
3 Caloocan Loadmanna Knights 29 5 461.5
4 Manila Indios Bravos 23 11 418.5
5 Rizal Batch Towers 23 11 384.5
6 Cavite Spartans 18 16 366
7 Pasig City King Pirates 17 17 372
8 Antipolo Cobras 13 21 303
9 Isabela Knight Raiders 10 24 266.5
10 Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 12 22 289
11 Cagayan Kings 5 29 235
12 Quezon City Simba's Tribe 4 30 247
Source: PCAP

Southern Division[edit]

Pos Team W L Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Iloilo Kisela Knights 30 4 510 Qualification to the Division Quarterfinals
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 29 5 470
3 Negros Kingsmen 28 6 472
4 Zamboanga Sultans 21 13 384
5 Toledo City Trojans 20 14 374.5
6 Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors 15 19 333
7 Mindoro Tamaraws 13 21 318.5
8 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 12 22 311.5
9 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates 8 26 265.5
10 Cebu City Machers 9 25 273.5
11 Palawan Queens' Gambit 5 29 283.5
12 Iriga City Oragons 4 30 218.5
Source: PCAP

Playoffs[edit]

Scores within parentheses are the result of the Armageddon play tiebreaker in either sets which ended in the draw or both teams having the same aggregate score after all sets have been played.

Northern Division[edit]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
1 Laguna Heroes 16 19 2
8 Antipolo Cobras 5 2 0
1 Laguna Heroes 9 13 1 (3)
4 Manila Indios Bravos 12 8 1 (0)
4 Manila Indios Bravos 12 10.5 (2) 2
5 Rizal Batch Towers 9 10.5 (1) 0
1 Laguna Heroes 12.5 10.5 (3) 2
2 San Juan Predators 8.5 10.5 (0) 0
2 San Juan Predators 11.5 13.5 2
7 Pasig City King Pirates 9.5 7.5 0
2 San Juan Predators 9 10.5 (2) 1 (2)
3 Caloocan Loadmanna Knights 12 10.5 (1) 1 (1)
3 Caloocan Loadmanna Knights 14.5 8.5 1 (2)
6 Cavite Spartans 6.5 12.5 1 (1)

Source: PCAP

Southern Division[edit]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
1 Iloilo Kisela Knights 14 15.5 2
8 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 7 5.5 0
1 Iloilo Kisela Knights 10.5 (2) 15.5 2
5 Toledo City Trojans 10.5 (1) 5.5 0
4 Zamboanga Sultans 8.5 9 0
5 Toledo City Trojans 12.5 12 2
1 Iloilo Kisela Knights 9.5 11 1 (1)
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 11.5 10 1 (2)
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 16.5 15.5 2
7 Mindoro Tamaraws 4.5 5.5 0
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 13 12 2
3 Negros Kingsmen 8 9 0
3 Negros Kingsmen 14 13.5 2
6 Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors 7 7.5 0

Source: PCAP

Grand finals[edit]

Set North Division Team Points South Division Team
1 Laguna Heroes 14.5 – 6.5 Camarines Soaring Eagles
2 Laguna Heroes 9.5 – 11.5 Camarines Soaring Eagles
Aggregate Laguna Heroes 1 – 1
(2 – 1)
Camarines Soaring Eagles

Awards[edit]

  • Best Player of the Conference: Jem Garcia (Caloocan)[10]
  • Finals Most Valuable Player: Banjo Barcenilla (Laguna)[10]

Reinforced Conference[edit]

The Reinforced Conference will also be known as the Wesley So Cup for this season due to sponsorship of Filipino-American chess player Wesley So himself.[11] Each team would be allowed to field one foreign player; who may either be a rated, lady, or senior player. The same format from the All Filipino Conference will be used for the Reinforced Conference which is scheduled to begin on May 15.[12]

Foreign players[edit]

Northern Division[edit]

Southern Division[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Northern Division[edit]

Pos Team W L Pts Qualification or relegation
1 San Juan Predators 31 3 499 Qualification to the Division Quarterfinals
2 Manila Indios Bravos 30 4 438
3 Laguna Heroes 26 8 471
4 Caloocan Loadmanna Knights 26 8 445.5
5 Antipolo Cobras 25 9 437
6 Pasig City King Pirates 20 14 380
7 Isabela Knight Raiders 17 17 313 Qualification to the Division Play-ins
8 Cagayan Kings 13 21 323
9 Cavite Spartans 10 24 294.5
10 Quezon City Simba's Tribe 7 27 259.5
11 Rizal Batch Towers 5 29 273.5
12 Olongapo Rainbow Team 7 1 33 200
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: PCAP

Southern Division[edit]

Pos Team W L Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 28 6 460 Qualification to the Division Quarterfinals
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 28 6 458.5
3 Iloilo Kisela Knights 27 7 501.5
4 Negros Kingsmen 23 11 404.5
5 Zamboanga Sultans 21 13 391.5
6 Toledo City Trojans 17 17 347.5
7 Palawan Queens' Gambit 10 24 300.5 Qualification to the Division Play-ins
8 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates 10 24 281
9 Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors 9 25 290.5
10 Mindoro Tamaraws 9 25 287.5
11 Cebu City Machers 9 25 273
12 Iriga City Oragons 6 28 235.5
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: PCAP

Play-ins[edit]

The seventh to tenth best finishing teams in the regular season qualify for the play-ins. The seventh place team play against the tenth place team, and the eight place team play against the ninth place team. The lower seeded teams needed to beat the higher seeded team to advance.[14]

Northern Division[edit]

Play-ins Quarterfinals
1 San Juan Predators
8 Cagayan Kings 10 10 0 P2 Play-in 1 winner
10 Cavite Spartans 11 11 2
Play-ins Quarterfinals
2 Manila Indios Bravos
7 Isabela Knight Raiders 10 14.5 1 P2 Play-in 2 winner
10 Quezon City Simba's Tribe 11 6.5 1

Source: PCAP

Southern Division[edit]

Play-ins Quarterfinals
1 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors
8 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates 13 1 P2 Play-in 1 winner
10 Lapu-Lapu City Naki Warriors 8 0
Play-ins Quarterfinals
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle
7 Palawan Queens' Gambit 10 7 0 P2 Play-in 2 winner
10 Mindoro Tamaraws 11 14 2

Source: PCAP

Playoffs[edit]

Scores within parentheses are the result of the Armageddon play tiebreaker in either sets which ended in the draw or both teams having the same aggregate score after all sets have been played.

Northern Division[edit]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
1 San Juan Predators 12 18 2
P2 Cavite Spartans 9 3 0
1 San Juan Predators 13 11.5 2
5 Antipolo Cobras 8 9.5 0
4 Caloocan Loadmanna Knights 5 11.5 1 (1)
5 Antipolo Cobras 16 9.5 1 (2)
1 San Juan Predators 12 13.5 2
2 Laguna Heroes 9 7.5 0
2 Manila Indios Bravos 16 10 1 (3)
P1 Isabela Knight Raiders 5 11 1 (0)
2 Manila Indios Bravos 9 12 1 (1)
3 Laguna Heroes 12 9 1 (2)
3 Laguna Heroes 12 17.5 2
6 Pasig City King Pirates 9 3.5 0

Source: PCAP

Southern Division[edit]

Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
               
1 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 13.5 14 2
P2 Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates 7.5 7 0
1 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 13.5 12 2
4 Negros Kingsmen 7.5 9 0
4 Negros Kingsmen 13.5 12 2
5 Zamboanga Sultans 7.5 9 0
1 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors 8 5.5 0
3 Iloilo Kisela Knights 13 15.5 2
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 14.5 17.5 2
P1 Mindoro Tamaraws 6.5 3.5 0
2 Camarines Soaring Eagle 10.5 (2) 8.5 1 (1)
3 Iloilo Kisela Knights 10.5 (1) 12.5 1 (2)
3 Iloilo Kisela Knights 15 15 2
6 Toledo City Trojans 6 6 0

Source: PCAP

Third place playoff[edit]

Set North Division Team Points South Division Team
1 Laguna Heroes 10.5 – 10.5 Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors
Result Laguna Heroes 1 – 1
(2 – 1)
Cordova Dutchess Dagami Warriors

Grand finals[edit]

Set North Division Team Points South Division Team
1 San Juan Predators 8 – 13 Iloilo Kisela Knights
2 San Juan Predators 9.5 – 11.5 Iloilo Kisela Knights
Aggregate San Juan Predators 0 – 2 Iloilo Kisela Knights

Open Conference[edit]

Foreign teams were eligible to compete as guests for this tournament.[26] The conference was also known as the PCAP/San Miguel Corporation-Ayala Land Premier Cup due to sponsorship reasons.[27] The San Juan Predators won the conference.[28]

Teams[edit]

The following are guest teams for the Open Conference.[29]

Local guest teams[30]
  • CCE Sunrays
  • Davao Executive Chess Society
  • Pampanga Checkers
  • Philippine national para chess team
Foreign guest teams
  • China Peng Cheng Dragons
  • Malaysia Penang Blue Panthers[31]
  • Singapore Team SinQGApore[32]
  • Thailand Double Bishop Bangkok[33]

All-Star Game[edit]

An All-Star Game was held on May 2, 2021 following the conclusion of the All Filipino Conference which was contested by selection teams representing the North and South Divisions. The composition of the teams were determined through vote by both fans and the league's players and coaches.[34] The Northern All Stars won over their Southern counterparts through an Armageddon tiebreaker.[35]

Set Team 1 Points Team 2
1 Northern All Stars 23 – 17 Southern All Stars
2 Northern All Stars 19 – 23 Southern All Stars
Aggregate Northern All Stars 1 – 1
(3 – 2)
Southern All Stars

Awards[edit]

  • Season MVP – Oliver Barbosa (San Juan)[36]
  • Mythical Seven[36]
    • Top-rated players
    • Lady player – Jan Jodilyn Fronda (San Juan)
    • Senior player – Cris Ramayrat (Pasig / Manila)
    • Homegrown players
      • John Paul Gomez (Laguna)
      • John Michael Silvederio (Iloilo)
      • Fritz Bryan Porras (Iloilo)
  • Team Sportsmanship Award – Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates

References[edit]

  1. ^ "All-female chess team in pro tourney". Manila Bulletin. December 22, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  2. ^ Galunan, Jerome Jr. (December 22, 2020). "Mitra graces 1st pro-chess draft". Sun Star.
  3. ^ Villar, Joey (December 27, 2020). "Philippines' first pro chess league eyes all-Filipino tiff in 2021". Philippine Star. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  4. ^ Li, Matthew (December 19, 2020). "Eugene Torre, Jan Fronda headline first-ever PCAP Draft". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  5. ^ "PCAP Introduces Officers". Journal Online. November 20, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  6. ^ Olivares, Rick (November 10, 2021). "7 teams battle to stay in PCAP playoff contention". The Philippine Star. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  7. ^ "Close games, routs open PH chess league".
  8. ^ Olivares, Rick (April 1, 2021). "Laguna, Camarines clash in PCAP All-Filipino Finals". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan (April 3, 2021). "Laguna wins 1st PCAP title after beating Camarines in Armageddon finale". Dugout Philippines. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  10. ^ a b Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (May 3, 2021). "Garcia wins PCAP All-Filipino best player plum". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  11. ^ Olivares, Rick (March 9, 2021). "2nd PCAP conference to be known as 'Wesley So Cup'". The Philippine Star. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Olivares, Rick (April 12, 2021). "Wesley So Cup to kick off May 15". The Philippine Star. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f Luarca, Roy (May 15, 2021). "Wesley So Cup starts with foreign reinforcements". Rappler. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Olivares, Rick (July 20, 2021). "Cavite Spartans slay Cagayan Kings to enter Wesley So Cup playoffs". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  15. ^ "Cavite, Manila stun Pasig, Laguna in Wesley So Cup". Rappler. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  16. ^ Satumbaga-Villar, Kristel (June 27, 2021). "Ukrainian import powers Laguna past Manila in Wesley So Cup". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  17. ^ Olivares, Rick (June 1, 2021). "Grandmaster Sadorra talks about the Indios Bravos and their Indonesian import". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  18. ^ Olivares, Rick (May 5, 2021). "San Juan Predators tap Spanish GM". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Siew, Suelo banner QC team in PCAP tourney". BusinessWorld. May 13, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  20. ^ Olivares, Rick (May 5, 2021). "French WGM Rachel Sebag joins Camarines Soaring Eagles". The Philippine Star. Retrieved May 6, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Olivares, Rick (May 21, 2021). "Cordova still unbeaten in Wesley So Cup". BusinessMirror. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  22. ^ Olivares, Rick (May 7, 2021). "Hungarian Fide Master reinforces Mindoro Tamaraws". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  23. ^ Olivares, Rick (May 15, 2021). "Indian GM Padmini Rout reinforces Palawan Queen's Gambit in PCAP". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Olivares, Rick (May 12, 2021). "Iranian Grandmaster beefs up Toledo PCAP team". Philstar.com. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  25. ^ "Zamboanga Sultans add Brazilian GM".
  26. ^ "SMC's Ang throws support behind Philippine pro chess tourney". Philippine Daily Inquirer. March 13, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  27. ^ Olivares, Rick (August 23, 2021). "PCAP gets huge sponsorship boost from Ayala for Open Conference". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  28. ^ Satumbaga-Villar, Kristel (November 28, 2021). "San Juan Predators capture PCAP third conference title". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Foreign, guest local teams debut in next round of 3rd PCAP Conference".
  30. ^ Nasiad, Frederick (September 2, 2021). "Para chess team won't be pushovers in PCAP". The Manila Times. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  31. ^ Olivares, Rick (September 9, 2021). "Malaysian squad Penang Blue Panthers joins PCAP 3rd Conference". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  32. ^ Olivarez, Rick (September 10, 2021). "Meet the Singaporean chess team joining PCAP's 3rd Conference". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  33. ^ Olivares, Rick (September 13, 2021). "Thai chess team joining PCAP". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
  34. ^ Andaya, Ed (April 22, 2021). "PCAP Makes Right Moves In Chess Development". Journal Online. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  35. ^ Saldajeno, Ivan Stewart (April 22, 2021). "PCAP All-Star Game rosters bared". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  36. ^ a b Olivares, Rick (January 23, 2022). "GM Barbosa named first-ever PCAP MVP". BusinessMirror. Retrieved January 27, 2022.