00:00 In chess, after winning the 33rd Pan-American Youth Chess Festival 2023,
00:06 she was chosen as the newest Women's Fiddy Master,
00:09 the Filipino-American wood pusher Megan Alfea Obrero Paragua,
00:14 who was adopted by the Filipino Grandmaster Mark Paragua.
00:17 Let's go back to the success of the 10-year-old chess master,
00:21 here in the story of Daryl O'Clarice.
00:23 Through a series of six wins and three draws,
00:27 the 10-year-old Filipino-American chess player Megan Alfea Obrero Paragua
00:32 won the Girls Under 12 category of the 33rd Pan-American Youth Chess Festival 2023
00:38 held this Friday in Chicago, Illinois.
00:41 The Filipino Grandmaster Mark Paragua's grandchild
00:44 won nine rounds of Standard Time Control Chess,
00:46 where he scored 7.5 points,
00:49 compared to Ray Chen from Canada.
00:51 But after the tiebreaker,
00:53 Paragua was still more eager to get the first place
00:56 and was able to win the title of Women's Fiddy Master.
00:59 It's very nice.
01:02 It's a very precious moment in my life
01:05 because it's such a special first title.
01:08 It's a very important tournament and a winning tournament.
01:12 It's very nice to be on this podium.
01:15 It's really nice.
01:16 According to the Pinay wood pusher,
01:20 she did not ignore the high expectations of her,
01:23 especially when she was able to beat the name Paragua,
01:25 a famous chess player in our country.
01:28 I don't feel any pressure.
01:30 I mean, especially that I just...
01:33 I try not to have any pressure.
01:35 I just try to play chess and enjoy it.
01:37 But, you know, anyway,
01:39 it's nice knowing that I have a grandchild
01:42 like my uncle's grandmaster.
01:43 It's not really like a pressure.
01:46 I don't feel really affected by it.
01:48 Paragua is still based in the United States,
01:52 but he will be back tomorrow
01:53 if given the opportunity to play for the Philippines.
01:56 I'm really excited to represent the Philippines.
01:59 Now, it's quite rough.
02:00 It's hard to know right now.
02:01 I'm still focused on playing chess.
02:03 But if I have the opportunity to play for the Philippines
02:07 or maybe later,
02:08 maybe soon,
02:09 I can play for the Philippines.
02:11 Megan's father, John Vincent Paragua,
02:16 is proud of the rank his son,
02:17 the youngest Filipino,
02:19 has won the so-called chess title.
02:21 Of course, I'm happy.
02:22 And, you know,
02:24 it's surprising.
02:26 But we invested a lot of hard work.
02:29 So, we're expecting a good result
02:34 with her talent and dedication.
02:38 We're also expecting that
02:40 she'll eventually win a title.
02:43 You know, the WFM title
02:46 is the first stage of the NIFIDA title.
02:49 So, we're really happy
02:51 that she reached her first goal
02:53 which is to be Women's FIDE Master.
02:56 And, you know,
02:57 the youngest is just a bonus.
02:59 Paragua will play next
03:02 in the New York State Championship,
03:03 another FIDE-rated event
03:05 that will be held on the first week of September.
03:07 [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
