IM Kim Steven Yap lone Cebuano in FIDE's top 10 PHL chess rankings

CEBU CITY, Philippines — International Master (IM) Kim Steven Yap remains the lone Cebuano in the top 10 of the Philippine national chess rankings released by the International Chess Federation for July.

Yap, who recently represented the Philippines in the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships 2026, is ranked No. 9 among the country’s top 100 players with a FIDE rating of 2,390.

The Cebuano International Master, who also serves as head coach of the University of Cebu (UC) Webmasters chess team, is five rating points ahead of fellow IM Christian Gian Karlo Arca, who has a rating of 2,385.

READ: IM Yap finishes World Rapid Team Chess campaign on a high note

Yap is likewise a key member of the Toledo Xignex Trojans in the Professional Chess Association of the Philippines.

Leading the national rankings is Grandmaster Julio Catalino Sadorra with a FIDE rating of 2,547, followed by Grandmaster Daniel Quizon at 2,432 and International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia at 2,429.

Rounding out the fourth to eighth spots are International Master Paulo Bersamina (2,423), Grandmaster Eugene Torre (2,423), Grandmaster Mark Paragua (2,403), and International Master Mark Jay Bacojo (2,396).

READ: IM Kim Yap stuns GM foe, shares lead

Completing the top 20 are Roland Salvador, Oliver Barbosa, Michael Concio Jr., Dino Ballecer, Darwin Laylo, Sander Severino, Rogelio Antonio Jr., Phil Martin Casiguran, and Ivan Travis Cu.

Also making the national rankings are Cebu-based International Master Joel Pimentel at No. 21 and Cebuano campaigner Richard Bitoon at No. 22.

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