Chess whiz Wesley So will enter the upcoming Battle of GMs (grandmasters) as top seed when the tournament begins on March 24 in Dapitan City in Zamboanga del Norte.

So, newly-crowned Corus champion, is the country’s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2627 according to SportsNews.ph. Apart from his successful stint in Corus, he was also adjudged as the top junior competitor in the recently-held Aeroflot Chess Festival.

Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre is seeded second with an ELO of 2560 while newly-minted GM John Paul Gomez is ranked third with an ELO of 2539.

Other notable players seeing action in Battle of GMs Men’s are newly-crowned Gov. Umali Cup champion GM Mark Paragua, fourth with an ELO of 2537; GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., fifth with an ELO of 2519; GM Darwin Laylo, sixth with an ELO of 2504; GM Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, seventh with an ELO of 2471; and GM Jayson Gonzales, eighth with an ELO of 2466.

Meanwhile, Dresden Olympiad veteran Catherine Perena, the highest-ranked female player with an ELO of 2184, is top seed in the women’s division. Cheradee Chardine Camacho is second with an ELO of 2166.

Joining Perena and Camacho in the female division are Shercila Cua (ELO 2155), Sherily Cua (ELO 2143), Daisy Rivera (ELO 2094), Rulp Ylem Jose (ELO 2054), Beverly Mendoza (ELO 2045), Christy Lamiel Bernales (ELO 2043), JEdara Docena (ELO 2001), Kimberly Jane Cunanan (ELO 1991), Jan Jodilyn Fronda (ELO 1970) and Rida Jane Young (ELO 1957).

The tournament, which offers a guaranteed cash prize of close to P1 million, will take place at the Pavilion Hotel in Dapitan City.