Philippines, 12 May 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:

  • WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán on Barcelona-Real Madrid La Liga finals
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Tue, 12 May 2026
  • Canadian Cruiserweight Contender Ryan Rozicki Fires Warning Shot at Chris Billam-Smith Ahead of Zuffa Boxing 07 showdown on June 6
    , Tue, 12 May 2026
  • Judgement Day coming this Friday In Germany for Paddy Donovan
    , Tue, 12 May 2026
  • Six Rounds to Silence the Magic Man: Why Rolando Dy is Malignaggi’s Worst Nightmare
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • The Eternal Contender: Inside Nonito Donaire’s Record-Breaking Title Run
    By Dong Secuya, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • Boxing trio reunited up there
    By Joaquin Henson, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • 1st CK Ingles Chess Kings Set to Kick Off
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 11 May 2026
  • Zhu Outguns "The Assassin" Ian Abne in Cebu Thriller, Earns Shot at IBF Champ Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Arañas Survives Harsh Knockdown, Stops Noynay to Claim WBF Strap in Cebu (Fist of Fury X Results)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Mindoro faces strong Mexican opponent
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Blood, Grit, and Iron: Zhu Outlasts Abne in a Cebu War
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 10 May 2026
  • Tickets ON SALE NOW for Abdullah Mason-Joe Cordina at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia bags gold in ASEAN E-Sports chess qualifying round
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Wardley vs Dubois: Heavyweight Tussle in Manchester
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Fireworks Expected as Cebu's Arañas and Noynay Rumble for WBF Silver Belt
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Keyshawn Davis: "Nahir Albright’s Going To Be the Fourth Guy I Stop in a Row!"
    , Sat, 09 May 2026
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Cinco De Mayo, A Historic Celebration Of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Abne, Zhu Make Weight for IBF Eliminator in Cebu; Winner Fights Taduran
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • IBA presents stacked fight card for May 21 event in Mexico City
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Laurente to promote amateur boxing
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Heavyweight Gustavo Trujillo Has a New Date Returns May 30 at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Toro Promotions & Whitfield Haydon Officially Announce ‘Sizzling Summer Boxing Series’
    , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Jean Henri Lhuillier Drives ASAPHIL’s Winning System Through Long-Term Vision and Coaching Continuity
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 08 May 2026
  • Dy ready to face Malignaggi in BKB on May 16
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 07 May 2026
  • ‘A younger lion always comes for that old lions spot. Your time is up, GET OUT OF MY WAY! – Manny Ritti challenges former ONE FC World Champion Nobutsu Suzuki May 29 in Perth – Thunderdome 54
    , Thu, 07 May 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.