Professional Chess Association of the Philippines — southeast asia's premier chess league featuring elite Grandmasters, international masters, and local champions.
1-Blitz, 1-Rapid
Everything you need to know about the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines, match formats, and competition rules.
The Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) is the first professional chess league in Southeast Asia and the world, officially recognized by the Games and Amusements Board (GAB). It features city and provincial franchises fielding the Philippines' top Grandmasters, International Masters, and regional standouts.
Each fixture consists of two rounds across 7 boards. Round 1 is Blitz (3 min + 2 sec increment) worth 1 point per board (7 points max). Round 2 is Rapid (10 to 15 min) worth 2 points per board (14 points max). A total of 21 points are contested; a team needs 11 or more points to win the match.
PCAP rosters mandate diversity: Boards 1 and 2 are Open/Top Gun boards (often featuring elite GMs); Board 3 is reserved for Female players; Board 4 is reserved for Senior Masters (age 60+); and Boards 5 through 7 are reserved for Homegrown/regional local players.
Franchises are divided geographically: Alpha Conference represents the Northern division (Luzon and Metro Manila), while Omega Conference represents the Southern division (Visayas and Mindanao). Teams compete intra-division before crossover tournaments and the PCAP Grand Championship.