By Nikolai Ordoña

Nine-year-old Bince Rafael Operiano from Oas, Albay was hailed the champion of the recently-concluded 6th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship, held in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, November 12.

Operiano represented the Philippines in the Standard Rapid Blitz, boys under-10 division, where he brought home a gold trophy and four medals after beating 29 chess players from other competing countries.

“We are very proud of his achievement, the glory is not just for us but for the country,” Bince’s mother, Rosemary Operiano said in Filipino.

Additionally, his mother also stated that they are grateful for the many people who helped them send the chess prodigy to Thailand when they were struggling financially; Albay 3rd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo was among those who helped Bince’s father, Benrose, purchase a plane ticket to follow his son.

Representative Cabredo said that Bince initially felt pressured and lost to his opponents, but eventually improved and won when his father arrived to personally support him.

The local government of Oas welcomed Bince upon his homecoming on Monday, November 14. A plaque of recognition was awarded to him while Mayor Domingo Escoto Jr. gave a P20,000 cash reward.

Mayor Escoto added that their local government unit will allocate a budget to financially support Bince on his future tournaments in 2023.

Chess prodigy

Playing chess initially began as a bonding between then 5-year-old Bince and his father Benrose.

Even without formal training, Bince started competing at the age of 6 and was declared champion at his first tournament at the Albay Astrodome in 2020.

In 2021, Bince joined the tournament of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and eventually went under the tutelage of Archie Haig, a chess coach from Naga City. 

Haig shared how the Bince’s parents are fully supportive of their child’s passion.

Last September, Operiano won in the under 9 category of the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships Grand Finals in Zamboanga Del Norte, where he was selected to represent the Philippines for the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship.

Thumbnail from Edcel Lagman