The Philippines’ newly minted professional chess association is set to host the first Wesley So Cup with the full backing of the Filipino American Super Grand Master.
The Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) announced the upcoming Reinforced 2nd Conference scheduled from May 15 to July 31, 2021, following the successful wrapping up of the first-ever professional chess tournament in the country won by Laguna Heroes last April.
Wesley So, the Philippine-born player for the United States who is leading the ongoing world super grand masters’ Meltwater Champions Chess Tour after twice defeating world number 1-ranked player, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, has given his full support to the local tournament that PCAP named in his honor.
The upcoming pro chess tournament will most likely have the 24 teams from the previous All-Filipino Conference playing with reinforcements or one foreign import per team. The teams will play 7 boards per match.
The Wesley So Cup will have the following prize money all sponsored by the Super GM:
- PHP 150k for Champion
- PHP 75k for runner up
- PHP 40k for 2nd Runner-up
- PHP 20k for 3rd Runner-up
- PHP 10K each for Best Player of the Conference, Best Import, and Finals MVP
PCAP Commissioner Paul Elauria shared with GoodNewsPilipinas.com how the U.S. Chess Champion Wesley So came to have a tournament in his name.
“I guess he just liked what he saw in PCAP. It was him who offered to sponsor the 2nd Conference. We named it Wesley So Cup in appreciation for his gesture,” explained Elauria.
Wesley So successfully represented the Philippines in international tournaments and moved to the U.S. on a college chess scholarship in 2012. He recently acquired U.S. citizenship but remains connected to Filipinos and the Philippines.
“The plans were finalized even before he became US Citizen. Only shows Wesley’s concern for the Filipinos, in spite of his playing for the US,” shared the PCAP official.
Wesley So has also given shoutouts to Filipino supporters during his international matches and has been teaching young chess players in the Philippines, for free, through the ChessKid program.
“Filipino chess enthusiasts are ecstatic and excited for the Wesley So Cup,” states Elauria.
The Wesley So Cup will live stream selected games from May 15-July 31, 2021, through the PCAP Facebook page.
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Source: Good News Pilipinas
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