Bubu Chacha wins Bughouse Open Championship 2026

Format 8 qualification rounds, then a top-8 knockout

Time control 5+0

Teams 51

Prize fund PHP 620,000.00

Venue MICE Center, Quezon City

Featured Wadim Rosenstein

Organiser WR Chess

Overview

About the event

The WR Chess Bughouse Open Championship 2026 was played on 29 August at the MICE Center in Quezon City. Heavy rain and flooding from the southwest monsoon had already suspended classes and government work the day before, but the tournament went ahead as scheduled and drew 51 teams and more than 100 players.

Eight qualification rounds decided the eight places in the knockout stage. Bubu Chacha lost to Benilde Blazers in the second round, won their last five matches to reach the top eight, and then met the same pair again in the best-of-three final: after dropping the opening game they took Game Two and the deciding Game Three for the P100,000 first prize.

Metal Boys, Samson Chiu Chin III Lim and Jerich Cajeras, finished first in the qualification stage and took third place, beating DCSK of FM Noel Dela Cruz and Timothy John So Kua 2-0 in the third-place match.

The field included seven members of the Philippine national team bound for the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad: GM Daniel Quizon, IM Michael Concio Jr., IM Paulo Bersamina, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Ruelle Canino and WFM Shania Mae Mendoza. They played alongside GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., further international and FIDE masters, and children, students, club players, women and seniors.

Every participant received an official playing shirt, a packed lunch and afternoon refreshments, with police personnel and a medical team on site throughout the day. The opening ceremony was attended by Atty. Neri J. Colmenares, NCFP Deputy President for Visayas, Carlos Roberto S. Gayoso Jr. of the Quezon City Sports Development Office, and GM Jayson O. Gonzales, NCFP Chief Executive Officer. NCFP President and Chairman Hon. Prospero A. Pichay Jr. presented the awards at the closing ceremony.

The championship was run by WR Chess together with the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, the Quezon City Government and the Philippine Sports Commission. Bughouse has since been included in Batang Pinoy, giving young Filipino players another competition to enter.

Outcome

Final results

Rank	Player	Result
🏆	Bubu Chacha (IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, CM Marc Christian Nazario)	P100,000
2	Benilde Blazers (John Laurence Donguines, Daniel Baylosis)	P70,000
3	Metal Boys (Samson Chiu Chin III Lim, Jerich Cajeras)	P50,000
4	DCSK (FM Noel Dela Cruz, Timothy John So Kua)	P30,000
5	Chronosphere (IM Paulo Bersamina, Raffeil Irvin Lacorte)	P15,500
6	Datamatics Red (Marc Kevin Labog, John Michael Magpily)	P15,500
7	Ruy Lopez Kiddz (Zach Evan Orzame, Marco Piolo Sanido)	P15,500
8	Stopper (IM Michael Concio Jr., FM Alekhine Nouri)	P15,500
9	Tira Tira Sampaloc Dos (Rigil Kent Rosell Pahamantang, Karlycris Clarito Jr.)	P7,000
10	Tira Tira Sampaloc Uno (GM Daniel Quizon, Sherwin Tiu)	P7,000

Special categories

Rank	Player	Result
🏆	Top Junior: Bullseye (John Cyrus Borce, Chester Acuyong)	P5,250
🏆	Top Youth: Golden Minds Chess Club, Batangas City (Lance Galubang, Glenn Dale Panuelos)	P5,250
🏆	Top Kiddie: Larry D-ADU Boys (Karl Ashton Fraktin, Sean Kennet Acosta)	P5,250
🏆	Top Senior: GM Rogelio Antonio Jr., IM Angelo Young	P5,250
🏆	Top Mixed: Team John Lapuz (Mel George Fairritz Gadiano, Kristel Shayne Herrera)	P5,250
🏆	Top Female: Bogart (WFM April Joy Claros, Kate Nicole Ortiz)	P5,250
🏆	Top School: OIE (Jerish John Velarde, Oscar Joseph Cantela)	P5,250
🏆	Top Club: PACE Teachers (WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, Dale Bernardo)	P5,250

For viewers

Watch the replays

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Venue & travel

Venue

MICE Center

For players & arbiters

Format & regulations

System: Open team bughouse, qualification stage into a top-8 knockout
Rounds: 8 qualification rounds, then a knockout for the top 8 teams; the final was played as a best-of-three match
Time controls: Bughouse: 5+0