World Slasher Cup expects record field

MANILA, Philippines –  The World Slasher hopes to draw another record field when the WS Cup-I Invitational eight-cock derby is held Jan. 17-23 at the Araneta Coliseum.

Held twice a year, the World Slasher Cup has grown tremendously from its initial count of 60 entries when it was first staged in the 1960s.

This year, more than 250 entries, including former winners and challengers from all over the world, go all out for the overall championship won last year by Sonny Magtibay. They include the world’s leading game fowl breeders headed by Roger Roberts, Ray Alexander, Wilber le Blanc, Carol Nesmith and Jorge Goitia (USA), Mar Gatmaitan and Sedfrey Linsangan (Guam), Mark Salazar (Malaysia), Mike Formosa (Hawaii) and locals Biboy Enriquez, Gov. Ito Ynares, Sonny Lagon, Gerry Ramos, Philip Chiongbian, Boy Marzo, Raymond Velayo and Cong. Claude Bautista.

Hosted by the Pintakasi of Champions and co-presented by Thunderbird-Univet, B-Meg and Sagupaan, the six-day event, long considered as the Olympics of cockfighting, is expected to attract thousands of derby aficionados in the country. For ticket inquiries and other details, log on to www.aranetacoliseum.com or www.ticketnet.com.ph.