Top breeders from the United States and the Visayas region will be among those seeking out the biggest prizes at stake in the “Olympics of Cockfighting” as the 2024 World Slasher Cup reeled off on Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
A big turnout of around 200 participants has excited the organizers in the event regarded as the Holy Grail of cockfighting.
“Magandang turnout ito,” said chief organizer Dong Lamoste during Saturday’s launch at the Gloria Maris Restaurant inside the Gateway Mall in Cubao, Quezon City,
Top breeders, led by the Hawaii group of Mike For mosa, are in town, together with a Nathan Jumper’s group from Mississippi.
The weeklong tournament will draw all the major players in cockfighting, including Northern Samar’s Don Destura.
Their entries are expected to fight it out until the finale on Feb. 4.
The participants plunge into a two-day elimination, followed by the semifinals on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.
After a break on Feb. 2, the matches will resume in the Pre-Finals on Feb. 3, and the much-awaited Grand Finals on Feb. 4.
Last season, two were hailed as champions in Jose Panganiban Jr.’s Infiniti Gold 6-Cock Derby June 21 Manila Arena-2 and partners Pablito Gregore and Dennis Lumpay’s 22GF/Ormoc Joe with identical 7.5 points.
The co-winners were Tata Gov/Tata Rey, Fiscal Moises Villanueva, Eddie Gonzales, Jon Jon Cano, Frank/Guam Boys/Joey Melendres, and Nene Araneta, who accumulated seven points each while Bebot Uy and Patrick Antonio listed 6.5 points while Daday Siochi/Raymond Dela Cruz’s Old Model/SN.