01/09/2026
🏆 WHAT A COMEBACK! TEAM BUBU CHA CHA ARE CHAMPIONS!
After losing twice in the preliminaries, Team Bubu Cha Cha — IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and CM Mark Christian Nazario — refused to stay down.
They bounced back with FIVE STRAIGHT WINS to reach the quarterfinals of the WR Chess Bughouse Open Championship 2026.
And they saved their best for last!
In the championship match, Bubu Cha Cha battled the Benilde Blazers of John Lawrence Donguines and Daniel Baylosis pulling off a thrilling 2–1 come-from-behind victory to capture the CHAMPIONSHIP!
🥇 CHAMPION — Team Bubu Cha Cha
IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia & CM Mark Christian Nazario
🥈 2nd Place — Benilde Blazers
John Lawrence Donguines & Daniel Baylosis
🥉 3rd Place — Metaboys
Samson Chiu Chinn Lim & Jerich Cajeras
Despite the heavy rains brought by the typhoon, 52 teams showed up for the 2×2 team competition — a testament to the passion and fighting spirit of the chess community!
The event was generously sponsored by sportsman Wadim Rosenstein, who is running for FIDE President, and held under the auspices of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. The tournament was played at the beautiful and spacious MICE Center of Quezon City.
IM Garcia and CM Nazario take home the championship trophy and the ₱100,000 top prize! 💰🏆
Rain or shine, the chess goes on!
Congratulations to all the winners and participants!
