Philippines, 01 Jul 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Paragua, Antonio, Barcenilla set out as the top favorites in the Cong. Pichay Birthday Cup “Battle of GMs" online chess championship


PhilBoxing.com


Manila---The country’s three hottest players today -- Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. and Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla Jr. -- set out as the top favorites in the Cong. Pichay Birthday Cup “Battle of GMs" online chess championship at the lichess.org on Sunday at 10 a.m. Manila time.

Paragua is fresh from winning the 1st Philippine Bullet Chess championship Grandfinals held last June 13 to bag the top prize of P30,000 (thirty thousand Philippine Pesos).

Antonio, on the other hand topped the M. A Yabut Realty construction birthday chess online tournament wee hours on Saturday.

Barcenilla, meantime won the the inaugural leg of the 1st Philippine National Bullet last May. A two-time (1989 and 1990) Asian Junior champion in India and Dubai and a 1991 Bronze medalist in World Juniors’ championship in Romania.

Barcenilla ruled the Battle of the Grandmasters (standard/ actual chess) last November held at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence in Quezon City.

First-round matches pit Antonio against GM Darwin Laylo, Barcenilla against IM Angelo Young while and GM John Paul Gomez against GM Roland Salvador, GM Julio Catalino Sadorra vs FM Giovanni Mejia in the upper half of the draw; and Paragua against WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, GM Richard Bitoon against GM Jayson Gonzales, GM Oliver Barbosa against FM Narquingden Reyes and GM Eugene Torre against FM Sander Severino in the lower half of the draw.

Severino recently became a world champion in online chess when he captured the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) Online Championship.

"The toughest field ever assembled. Philippine’s 11 Grandmasters, 1 Woman Grandmaster, 2 IMs and FM. Battle of the Grandmasters. The Congressman Pichay Birthday Cup kicks off this Sunday online. Good luck to everyone! May the best man/woman win fair and square," said former Olympian Woman National Master Lilibeth Lee-Barcenilla.

The total cash prize for the event held as part of the birthday celebrations of NCFP president Prospero "Butch" Pichay and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is P100,000.
All eight losers in the first round are assured of P3,000. Quarterfinalists will receive P5,000 and semifinalists P8,000.
The champion will earn P25,000 and the losing finalist P15,000.
The time control shall be 10 minutes per player with 10 seconds increment per move.

The players shall play two games per round: one white, one black.

In case of tie after the two games, an Armageddon game shall be played where black has less time but has draw odds. The time control for the Armageddon game shall be 5 minutes for white and 4 minutes for black, no increment.-Marlon Bernardino-


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Marlon Bernardino.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • LESTER MARTINEZ VS. LUKA PLANTIC ANNOUNCEMENT PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • KORONADAL SLUGFEST: I’m always ready – Roherstrey Jhon Yor
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 01 Jul 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 JUNE 2026: Paro UD Crocker for IBF Welter Title; Ennis Stops Zayas in 7 for WBA, WBO Welter Titles; Wins by Whittaker, Vargas and Tucker; Valenzuela KO2 De Los Santos
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Rising Featherweight Star Jaycob "The Raging Bull" Ramos Signs Exclusive Management Agreement with Boxing VIP
    , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Clarion to leave on July 2 for WBC Youth title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • Gustavo Trujillo Stays Undefeated with Devastating Seventh-Round Knockout at Fist of Fury 11
    , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • World Boxing Council Unveils Special July 4th Commemorative Belt Honoring USA 250th Anniversary
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • 12-Year-Old Filipina Memory Prodigy Georgina Santos to Represent the Philippines in Two World Memory Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 30 Jun 2026
  • World championship mega-fight between Christian Mbilli and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez postponed to October
    , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Filipino Jonas Magpantay wins Indonesia; pockets $15,000, gains steam heading to Vietnam
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Ex-kickboxer to debut in MMA Slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 29 Jun 2026
  • Deaño settles to a draw
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • Abdyrakhmanov defeats Kadiev, Kudryashov knocks out Yousefi at IBA Bare Knuckle 5 in Moscow
    , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • WBC declares German Agit Kabayel new WBC heavyweight champion after Usyk relinquishes his title
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • 4th Gov. RST MMA Slugfest on July 3
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 28 Jun 2026
  • Chezka Centeno ready for world 10-ball title defense
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis: Breakout Moment in Brooklyn
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026
  • GAB Must Look Into Exploitation of Rated Filipino Fighters in Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026
  • TITLE FIGHT ON: Zayas and "Boots" Ennis Hit the Scales for Brooklyn Super-Welterweight Showdown
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 27 Jun 2026
  • USC's Galen Center confirmed as Martinez-Plantic, Lopez-Carrillo venue August 29, live on ProBoxTV
    , Sat, 27 Jun 2026
  • July 4: Albert Bell Steps In to Challenge Abdullah Mason in All-Ohio WBO Lightweight World Title Showdown at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center LIVE on TNT and DAZN
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Zamboanga relinquishes her ONE Women’s title
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Top-ranked Charly Suarez facing Manuel Avila, plus two more fights added to July 18 ProBoxTV event
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Yanon fights Kaji in Tokyo on July 4
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 26 Jun 2026
  • Preparations underway for 2026 IBA men’s divisional continental championships
    , Fri, 26 Jun 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.