Philippines, 18 Jan 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:

  • RAUL “EL CUGÁR” CURIEL CRUISES TO UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN OVER JORDAN “THE PATRIOT” PANTHEN
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • Mexico Commemorates 12th Death Anniversary of Don Jose Sulaiman (Photos)
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • MOLLY McCANN EYES 'HUGE' STATEMENT START TO 2026 AS SHE JOINS BUMPER WOOD-WARINGTON CARD IN NOTTINGHAM ON FEBRUARY 21
    , Sat, 17 Jan 2026
  • NEW MAIN EVENT ANNOUNCED! RAUL CURIEL SCHEDULED TO FACE JORDAN PANTHEN IN MIDDLEWEIGHT SCRAP
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • SMALLS VS RAMOS TOPS STACKED UNDERCARD FOR NAVARRETE-NUNEZ BLOCKBUSTER IN GLENDALE
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Usyk Linked to Zuffa Boxing Deal as Questions Loom Over Title Defenses
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Abass Baraou: "No One Has Been Able to Withstand My Pressure!"
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Wise Owl Boxing Signs Rising Female Star Chantel “Chicanita” Navarro
    , Fri, 16 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: WBC wants to protect fighters' dream of becoming a world champion
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas: "It's Time to Make History!"
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Weights from Trenton, NJ
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Pro Boxer and Recent Grad Returns for Fight Night on the Farm — Celebrating Stanford’s Boxing Community
    , Thu, 15 Jan 2026
  • Jamaine Ortiz Aims to Derail Keyshawn Davis’ Undefeated Streak at Madison Square Garden
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • “No bad blood from me”- Good friends become better rivals – Clarke is ready for Cruiserweight title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Itauma suffers injury; Magnificent 7 rescheduled to March 28
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Top Super Lightweights Bryan Flores & Starling Castillo Battle in 10-Round Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • Harden surpasses Shaquille O'Neal's to become the ninth all-time leading scorer in NBA history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 14 Jan 2026
  • “It’s time, LFG” - Holly McMath Trilogy for WBC Title Clash March 13 in Perth – Thunderdome 53
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • IBA President Kremlev encourages sporting organisations to protect women’s sport following Trump’s statement on Imane Khelif
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • REYES, STRICKLAND, BUSTAMANTE & SOUQUET SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AT WNT LEGENDS – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • Pumicpic fights Korean in Japan
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • No. 1 rated WBA Super Flyweight contender John “Scrappy” Ramirez remains patient and Looks forward to a 2026 World title shot
    , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • Ironman 70.3 Davao on March 22
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 13 Jan 2026
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 12 JANUARY 2026: Dalton Smith Halts Subriel Matias in 5; Kabayel Stops Knyba in 3
    By Eric Armit, , Mon, 12 Jan 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.