TAPIK sa balikat sa kaunlaran ng women’s chess players ang pagkakatatag ng Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP).

Iginiit ni reigning national women’s champion WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda na mas mabibigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga babaeng chess players na makipagsabayan sa matitikas na men’s ranked players sa isasagawang PCAP tournament na pinangangasiwaan nina president-commissioner Atty. Paul Elauria at chairman Michael Angelo Chua.

Tinanggap ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) ang aplikasyon ng PCAP nitong Oktubre at kamakailan ay lumikha ng kasaysayan matapos bigyan ng lisensiya si Grandmaster at chess icon Eugene Torre bilang kauna-unahan pro chess player na sanctioned ng pamahalaan sa bansa at sa buong mundo.

“I think it’s a brilliant move by the PCAP. This will give more female players like me the opportunity to show what we can do,” pahayag ni Fronda sa kanyang pagbisita sa  “Usapang Sports on Air” ng Tabloids Organization in Philippine  Sports (TOPS) via Zoom nitong Huwebes at livestreaming sa Facebook at YouTube.

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Ayon kay Fronda, higit na dadami ang bilang ng mga babaeng chess players sa pagkakaroon ng pro league sa chess.

“The PCAP will be another good venue for female players, who want to continue to play after completing college and serving the national team,” ayon sa 26-year-old La Salle graduate sa lingguhang sports forum na itinataguyod ng Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) at Games and Amusements Board (GAB).

“All my female player-friends are looking forward to playing in the PCAP,” pahayag ni Fronda

Batay sa sistema ng PCAP, isang babae ang kailangan mabigyan ng board position sa bawat koponan, at sa kasalukuyan may tatlong koponan ang nagparandam ng interest sa kanyang serbisyo.

“But I have already decided on which team to play, although I don’t want to announce it until after the PCAP Draft on Dec. 20,” sambit ni Fronda.

Edwin Rollon