A banner field, featuring the top local and international breeders, headlines the 2009 World Slasher Cup, which reels off Jan. 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
Long considered as the most popular and most prestigious cockfighting event in the world, the WSC, an invitational eight-cock derby, is hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions and is sponsored by Thunderbird Power Feeds and Sagupaan Complexor 3000.
The other derby dates are Jan. 20, 21, 22 and 24.
The event drew a record 160 entries last year with organizers expecting more than 200 participants this time.
Heading the foreign challenge are Roger Roberts of Georgia (World Slasher Champion 2001), Ray Alexander of Alabama, Mike Formoso and Carl Casco and company of Hawaii, Joe Stanfield of California, Speedy Gonzales of California, Jessie Sevilla of Florida, Roy Miñoza and Ric Cabullos of Canada, Vic Diez of Guam, Noriaki Morita of Japan and Thomas Mischkush of Germany.
Ito Ynares and Patrick Antonio, on the other hand, lead the local contingent that includes Ronnie Puno, Ric, Biboy Enriquez, Boyet Joson, Dicky Lim, Boy Marzo, Nene Abello, Cito Abello, Peping Cojuangco, Esting Teopaco, Jet and Joel Fernando, Honey Yu, the Madlambayan brothers, Boy de Roca, Jesry Palmares, JV Magsaysay, Mauro and Raffy Prieto, Peping Ricafort, Rudy Albano, Gerry Espina, Raymund Velayo, GenGen Arayata, Jun and Rudy Jingco, Philip Chiongbian, William Go, Jun Marasigan, Rudy Salud, Lito Orillaza, Pol Estrellado, Mike Romulo, Rey Briones, John Paul Montenegro and Tony Tan.