SJ Predators

San Juan Predators tap Spanish GM

sjpadmin — Tue, 11 May 2021 12:35:56 +0000

MANILA, Philippines – The arms race in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines is officially on.

One day after the Camarines Soaring Eagles announced the addition of French Woman Grandmaster Marie Rachel Sebag, the San Juan Predators unveiled their bright new shiny weapon in International Grandmaster Viktor Moskalenko.

Moskalenko, a Ukrainian by birth and a naturalized Spaniard, is ranked No. 1,008 in the world by Fide, No. 2,477 in standard play, No. 2,506 in rapid and No. 24,442 in blitz. He received his Grandmaster title in 1992 and remains very active in chess as both a senior trainer and as an author, having penned 19 books about the sport.

San Juan blanks Isabela for first PCAP shutout

sjpadmin — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:11:11 +0000

Rick Olivares (Philstar.com) – March 11, 2021 – 1:21pm

MANILA, Philippines – San Juan lived up to their moniker. The Predators feasted on the Isabela Knight Raiders, 21-0, Wednesday evening in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines’ All-Filipino Conference.

The Predators made PCAP history by being the first team to sweep all seven boards of both the blitz and rapid competition in one match.

This feat was confirmed by PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria.

For their second match of the day, San Juan took down the Cavite Spartans, 15-6.

2nd PCAP conference to be known as ‘Wesley So Cup’

sjpadmin — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 04:28:46 +0000

MANILA, Philippines – The second conference of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP), the Reinforced Conference, will be known as the “Wesley So Cup.”

PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria bared that Wesley So, the first and reigning World Champion of Fischer-Random Chess, will sponsor the second leg of the league’s inaugural tournament.

Aside from lending his name, the Super Grandmaster likewise personally pledged to provide the funds for the event’s cash prizes.

So’s only request, according to Elauria, is to ensure that the prizes are distributed to the players themselves. This is because So wants to help the players directly.

U.S. chess champ Wesley So wins Opera Euro Rapid ‘21

sjpadmin — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 00:17:38 +0000

U.S. Chess Champion Wesley So won the Open Euro Rapid, beating World Champion Magnus Carlsen 2.5-1.5 in the second set to take the mini-match 1.5-0.5.

This is the second time So has beaten Carlsen in a final of a Meltwater Champions Chess Tour event, having won the Airthings Masters in December.

“I’d like to apologize to Magnus for ruining his Valentine’s Day,” said Wesley So after his victory in the final of the Opera Euro Rapid.

The Opera Euro Rapid online chess event, a part of the $1.5 million Meltwater Champions Chess Tour, ended on Feb.14.

San Juan, Laguna in the battle of biggies

sjpadmin — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 17:55:23 +0000

OPENING-day winners San Juan and Laguna clash in the first heavyweight battle in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) First Conference on Wednesday.

The Predators, led by GM Oliver Barbosa and WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, and the Heroes, bannered by GM Rogelio Barcenilla, Jr. and WNM Jean Karen Enriquez, square off in one of 12 matches on the second day of competition in Asia’s first play-for-pay chess league.

San Juan clobbered the Antipolo Cobras, 18.5-2.5, while Laguna humbled Rizal Towers, 17.5-3.5, in a pair of decisive matches in the 12-team Northern Division last Jan. 16.

PCAP, ang Chess Version ng PBA at NBA

sjpadmin — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:47:55 +0000

San Juan Predators Dominate Over Antipolo Cobras in PCAP Opener

sjpadmin — Sun, 17 Jan 2021 12:26:30 +0000

by Ramon Galvan III

The San Juan Predators started their inaugural PCAP season campaign with style as they thrashed the Antipolo Cobras 18.5-2.5, allowing only two draws and a loss from the 14 games and setting the largest margin for all of the Day 1 matches.

The highlight of the night was in Board 1 where GM Oliver Barbosa saved 0.5 points in the blitz game. Down in material but up by 10 seconds, he managed to get control of the h-file with both of his rooks, forcing a draw by repitition against USNM Jojo Aquino. His heroics, however, were not exactly needed as he and his teammates dominated the Cobras, forcing checkmates and taking material advantages.

The San Juan Predators will face the Laguna Heroes (1-0) and the Isabela Knight Raiders (0-1) in next Wednesday’s doubleheader.

San Juan Predators ready to make a move

sjpadmin — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 17:43:00 +0000

SAN JUAN will set out as one of the top favorites in the 2021 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) First Conference starting Jan. 16.

To be known as the San Juan Predators, the team will field a strong and talented team built around United States-based GM Oliver Barbosa and reigning national women’s champion WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda.

PCAP Chairman and San Juan Predators team owner Michael Angelo Chua, head coach-manager Hubert Estrella and consultant Simeon Co believe the team can perform well in the inaugural tournament of the first-ever professional chess league in the country.

National chess champion to get an outright spot in World Cup

sjpadmin — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 01:55:28 +0000

The Philippines was granted one outright berth to the FIDE World Cup 2021 where the top two finishers will qualify directly to the World Candidates matches leading to the 2022 World Championship.

National Chess Federation of the Philippines executive director Cliburn Orbe said they would give that slot to the eventual winner of the national championship it is planning to hold before the deadline for submission of entry on June 5 this year.

“Good news, FIDE has given the Philippines an automatic seed to the World Cup. Our national champion is automatically entered,” said Orbe in a post in the NCFP’s official Facebook page.

PCAP teams to test mettle

sjpadmin — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 14:23:24 +0000

THE 24 member-teams of the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) get the chance to gauge their strength with pre-season games on Saturday, Jan 9.

A total of 12 matches pitting the Northern and Southern Division teams will be played in the pre-season competition held exactly a week before the formal opening on Jan. 16.

Game time is 7 p.m.