Fil-Am eyes more victories after world chess championship win

Megan Paragua recently bagged double-gold at a world chess championship in Albania.

Don Tagala

TFC News

<div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Srf7iFm74DM?&amp;feature=youtu.be&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>Filipino-American Megan Paragua recently emerged as the world’s best chess player for girls under 12 years old.  The 11-year-old earned her first world title in late April after winning double gold at the FIDE World Cadet Rapid and Blitz Championship in Durres, Albania.The International Chess Federation is a Switzerland-based governing body for world chess competitions.The Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School student made a courtesy call to Philippine Consul General Senen Mangalile in New York on May 8.&quot;This is going to be with me forever,&quot; said Paragua. &quot;This is an accomplishment that not everyone can do.&quot;Senen, meanwhile, said the Filipino community will continue to support the young chess player.&quot;We would very much rooting for you in your future games,&quot; he told Paragua.Paragua and another Team USA chess player Aiden Li brought home first-place trophies from the tournament that drew hundreds of participants from 43 countries. The young Fil-Am clinched first place in both the Rapid and Blitz competitions.Along with the titles, Paragua took home 1,100 euros in total prize money, together with a cup, a medal, and diploma.&quot;It&#x27;s a very competitive event and winning the gold medal is very important for her [and] for us,&quot; said Paragua&#x27;s father and coach, John.The under 12 world chess champion in girls said the game of strategy changed her life for the better. &quot;It definitely changed because if I didn&#x27;t play chess, I wouldn&#x27;t have met any of those people,&quot; she said. &quot;I probably wouldn&#x27;t have gone to that school. I wouldn&#x27;t go to those places.&quot;Paragua, who received her FIDE Master title last year dreams of becoming a chess grandmaster someday.She has been training to do just that and even challenges herself by playing with those who are much older than her.Sometimes, Paragua even plays against not just one, but multiple opponents at the same time. For the fifth grader, all these trainings prepared her to win titles.&quot;[It] helped a lot because it helps me refresh my mind with all the games,&quot; she shared.Achieving her first world title is just the beginning for Paragua.She competes for a middle school national championship in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend, followed by the Chicago Open where she will face grandmasters.  But the Fil-Am is setting her sights in Missouri, where she was invited to compete in this year’s U.S. Girls&#x27; Junior Chess Championships in St. Louis in July.

Megan Paragua recently bagged double-gold at a world chess championship in Albania.

Young Fil-Am eyes more victories after world chess championship win

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Young Fil-Am eyes more victories after world chess championship win

Don Tagala,

TFC News

Published May 11, 2024 12:06 AM PHT

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