With the vision to create the next generation of Grand Masters (GMs) in the next 10-15 years, Iloilo Kisela Knights, a franchise team of PCAP based in Iloilo, will represent the city and province of Iloilo as well as the province of Guimaras in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) draft slated on Dec 20.

As the country’s first pro-chess league, the organization is set to field in 24 member-teams with 10 players for each squad. There are 24 franchised teams throughout the country.

Owned by Leo Sotaridona, Kisela Knights is managed by woodpushers Gil Libutaque as overall team manager and Hubert Canto as assistant manager.

The Iloilo-based squad submitted 12 players for drafting. One player is from

Guimaras which is within the geographical boundary. NM Cesar Mariano will represent the senior slot (Board 4) while NM John Michael Silvederio is eyeing for the Board 2 slot or Board 5. Fiona Geeweneth Guirhem, a decorated lady varsity player from Central Philippine University (CPU) will cover the lady slot (Board 3) or as alternate for Board 3 in case there’s a chance to pick one lady player from the national lady chess team.

“Nakita ko nga mas madamo na ang mga bata nga ma inspire maghampang chess, especially nga gin consider na ang chess nga professional sports sa Philippines. Hopefully, through Kisela, madamo pa gid tournments diri sa Iloilo kay mas damo tournaments. Mas damo bata ma attract maghampang man. You know, di siya amo na ka popular ang chess kung I compare ta sa iban nga sports like basketball but because of PCAP tani mag sikat man ang hampang nga chess,” shared Silvederio.

The other top chessers who will banner Iloilo-Guimaras group are Fritz Brian Porras (Guimaras), Dennis Bernas and Mark Mariano (Iloilo), representing the HG slots.

Sotaridona said they founded the club on Oct. 8, 2020 as a professional team to represent Iloilo in PCAP league and to support the goals, they plan to open the Kisela Chess Academy in the near future.

“We want this to serve as an avenue for our chess talents in Iloilo to develop and practice their skills in the sport, to help develop chess talents achieve their highest potentials in chess and ultimately, envisioning to produce the next generation of grand masters in the next 10-15 years,” he added.

According Asia’s first Grandmaster, Eugene Torre, they establish PCAP as another milestone for Philippine chess. The league held its first national tryouts online two months ago, with 240 players expected to greatly benefit in this opportunity to have a career in chess.

Torre, who made history in the 1974 Olympiad in Nice by becoming the first GM in Asia shared the first professional chess league in the country recognized by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) will be led by PCAP founding president-commissioner Paul Elauria.IMT