2023 World Slasher Cup all set at the Big Dome

Touted as the “Olympics of Cockfighting”, the annual World Slasher Cup is ready to gather breeders and cockfighters from around the world once again at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on January 26 until February 1.

More than 200 gamefowl breeders signed up for the first WSC matches of 2023. At least 12 of them attended the kick-off press conference held at the Novotel Manila Araneta City on January 21 -- including local breeders Carlos Tumpalan, Padjie Barreda, Jojo Bacar, Tony Antonio, Rikki Reyes, Marvin Rocafort, and foreign breeders Cris Copaz, Ben Quidawen, Will Kollet, Kini Kalawaii, Belle Almojera, and Ryan Quindawen.

They are all aiming to follow the footsteps of 2022 WSC defending champions Roel Facundo, B. Joson, and J. Bacar of D’Shipper/BBB; and Nyok, Tony, and Engr. Canlas of Guagua Cockpit 1.

Also present at the kick-off event were the Binibining Pilipinas 2022 queens: BBP International Nicole Borromeo, BBP Intercontinental Gabrielle Basiano, BBP Globe Chelsea Fernandez, BBP Grand International Roberta Tamondong, and 2nd runner-up Stacey Gabriel.

This year’s 9-cock invitational derby will be spread out across seven days: the two-cock elimination round will be on January 26 and 27; the three-cock semi-finals will be on January 28 and 29; the four-cock pre-finals will be on January 31; and the much anticipated four-cock grand finals will be on February 1.

"We are very excited to welcome fans of cockfighting back to the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the WSC. Since it began, the WSC has always been held at the Big Dome, and cockfighting fans have been watching the spectacle unfold here for almost six decades," said Irene L. Jose, COO of Uniprom Inc (the entertainment arm of the Araneta Group).

The World Slasher Cup started in 1963 and has since been held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The event grew to become the biggest and most prestigious international cock derby, with the best breeders and cock fighters from all over the world participating.

"Cockfighting is a sport that is deeply rooted in Filipino tradition. World Slasher Cup is, in a way, a celebration of this very important aspect of our culture," Jose added.

The 2023 World Slasher Cup is made possible by Thunderbird, Emperador, and Petron, with media partners Tempo and Pilipino Mirror.

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