Amid the sea of men hunched on their boards, one person stood out.
With a couple of pink flower clips adorning her hair, 10-year-old Faith Estanislao tackled her first foe in the 3rd Open Rapid Regional Chess Tournament at the Borongan City Hall Lobby last Saturday.
At the start of the match, her father had to put another chair on top of hers so that she could have a better view of the board and the moves of her opponent who is 58 years her senior.
“Walang nerbiyos sa laro, kampante. Wala siyang kaba,” said her elder opponent Juner Amistad.
She had an earnest expression – a look that did not change throughout the match. Not even a flurry of swift exchanges with her opponent could make her flinch.
At one point, she was murmuring something to herself, her balled fists moving to a beat.
She later revealed that she was singing ‘Cupid’ of K-pop group Fifty Fifty.
“Nae-enjoy ko po ang chess kasi ang saya-saya po maglaro. Kapag nabu-bore ako, ayun ang libangan ko,” said Faith.
“Sinasabi lang sa akin ni Daddy na mag-focus at mag-concentrate lang palagi,” added Faith, who is mentored by her father Jolex Estanislao, president of Borongan City Chess Club (BCCC).
Exposure to these kinds of tournaments helps Faith develop her social skills and analytical thinking, according to the elder Estanislao.
“‘Yung chess kasi, inclusive. Nade-develop ‘yung social skills niya, analytical skills, kung paano siya magde-decide with limited data,” said Jolex.
While Faith encountered chess early – she learned the sport three years ago when she was in first grade – another kid was a surprise entry in the tournament.
Thirteen-year-old Erionniel Bracamonte was taught the sport just a day prior by his dad who was a participant in the event. Erionniel was only supposed to accompany his father as he fulfills a school project to write about the tournament. Instead, he was picked to be a substitute player for Greenland.
“Nagkukulaw la ak hat dida. Mayda team na waray an ira usa, inapi nala ak,” said Erionniel.
“Maganda it ak experience. Maganda sila magturo. Kahit natatalo ka, sinasabi pa rin nilang maganda ka maglaro,” he added.
Just like most kids these days, Erionniel was into online games. But as his dad encouraged him to try out chess, he discovered his interest in it too, even likening the sport to life.
“Online games kasi it ak karuyag. Nasiring it ak Papa, ayaw daw hit kay maraut ma it ha mata. Na-encourage ma ak kay maupay daman it chess. It chess nag-symbolize it life kay an ak kinabuhi sugad it mga pieces tapos kinu-control ko la,” said Bracamonte, a student at Taft National High School.
Faith bested the only other young participant Erionniel for the Top Kiddie honors in the Borongan regional tilt.
BCCC president Estanislao said that chess is beneficial to kids, aiding them in concentration, decision-making, and critical thinking.
“‘Nadi-develop ‘yung social skills nila, ‘yung concentration, critical thinking, decision-making at patience. Kasi chess takes patience, how you evaluate situations. ‘Yung critical thinking skills, ‘yun ‘yung 21st-century skills, eh,” said Estanislao.
Estanislao encourages parents to let their kids play the sport. He invites them to the Borongan chess club which offers free tutorials to children every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at ESADEF in Baybay 3.
“Ini-encourage ko sila na pag-aralin ng chess ang kanilang mga anak. Bukas ang chess club namin, free tutorial,” he said.
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