The Philippines will be parading a strong 38-member team in the Philippine Sports Commission Cup International Chess Championships scheduled on January 14 to 20 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate, Manila.

Asia’s first Grandmaster (GM) Eugene Torre banners the Philippine squad in the men’s division of the nine-round tournament, which offers a total prize fund of $30,000.

Joining Torre are GMs Joey Antonio, Darwin Laylo, Oliver Barbosa, Mark Paragua and Richard Bitoon, International Masters (IM) Oliver Dimakiling, Jan Emmnuel Garcia, Rolando Nolte, and FIDE Masters (FM) Jose Turqueza, Paulo Bersamina and Randy Segarra.

Leading the charge in the women’s division are Woman IM Catherine Perena, Woman FM Jannelle Mae Frayna, and Woman National Masters Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Jedara Docena.

GMs Tahir Vakhidov of Uzbekistan, and GMs Cao Sang, Nguyen Duc Hoa and Nguyen Van Huy of Vietnam have already confirmed attendance with Mongolia’s Munkhgal Gombosuren, Amgalan Baatar, Bayasaikhan Gundavaa, and Brunei Darussalam’s GM Vakhidov Tahir, FM Yee Soon Wei, Azahari Md Aliuddin and Azahari Siti Nur Fatimah.

The champion gets $6,000 while the runner-up takes $4,000. The tournament also awards cash prizes to the third to 24th placers.