Filipino American, 11, makes history at world chess tournament
Filipino American Megan Paragua made history by clinching victory in both the Under-12 Rapid and Blitz Chess categories at the recent 2024 World Cadet Rapid and Blitz Championships in Albania.
Key points:
- The event, which was held in late April, saw nearly 300 participants.
- Her achievement has become a source of pride for the Filipino American community and an inspiration for young chess players.
- She comes from a family with a strong chess background, with her father being a chess trainer and her uncle being a grandmaster and world champion himself.
The details:
- Paragua, a Woman FIDE Master, competed at the event held from April 25 to 29 in Durres, Albania. She won two gold medals and trophies — and a total of 1,100 euros ($1,185) in prize money — making her the top player in the world in her age group for both Rapid and Blitz Chess.
- New York Consul General Senen Mangalile congratulated Paragua during her visit to the consulate on May 8, praising her accomplishments and offering support.
- Paragua, whose parents hail from the province of Bulacan, aims to become a National Chess Master and eventually an International Chess Master. She is supported by her father, a chess trainer, and her mother, a dialysis technician, as per GMA News.
- Her uncle, Mark Paragua, 40, was also a world champion. He became the youngest Filipino master and grandmaster at the ages of 9 and 20, respectively.
- Paragua told ABS-CBN News that the game of chess changed her life for the better: “It definitely changed because if I didn’t play chess, I wouldn’t have met any of those people. I probably wouldn’t have gone to that school. I wouldn’t go to those places.”
- Fellow Team USA member Aiden Li also bagged first place in the Under-8 Blitz on tiebreaks.
What’s next:
- Paragua now sets her eyes for future contests, including the Chicago Open later this month and the U.S. Girls’ Junior Chess Championships in St. Louis, Missouri in July.
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