The Wesley So Cup staged by the Philippines’ and the world’s first government-licensed professional chess league is all set to hold its Grand Finals after early favorites Iloilo Kisela Knights (Southern Division) and Pasig City King Pirates (Northern Division) won their respective division finals to earn the right to face off for the championship trophy.
The Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) Reinforced Conference Season 2 Division Finals held on August 3 pitted Season 1 defending champions Iloilo Kisela Knights with GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia against the Negros Kingsmen with GM Tran Tuan Minh and IM Tran Minh of Vietnam in the Southern Division Finals that ended in favor of the Iloilo team, 12.5 – 8.5.
The Pasig City King Pirates with GM Goh Kevin Wei Ming of Singapore knocked out Season 1 grand finalist San Juan Predators with GM Victor Moskalenko of Spain to win the Northern Division Finals.
The PCAP 2nd Conference first introduced in 2021 is named in honor of Super Grandmaster Wesley So, the reigning and three-time United States Chess Champion who started his career in the Philippines before moving to America to keep playing in international competitions.
Wesley So has continued to support Philippine chess by donating prizes for the establishment of the PCAP tournament and offering chess scholarships for Filipino children.
The Wesley So Cup reinforced conference featuring foreign chess players as part of the 24 Filipino teams divided between the north and south divisions kicked off on May 21, 2022.
The 2022 Wesley So Cup Grand Finals is scheduled for August 6, 2022, at 7 pm with live streaming on the PCAP Facebook page.
Wesley So is currently playing at the FIDE Chess Olympiad in India and is defending his Grand Chess Tour title against the world’s super grandmasters.
SEND WELL WISHES to Wesley So and the PCAP Teams for supporting Philippine professional chess!
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