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Dubai-based Pinay chess coach dreams of becoming world-renowned
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – She started playing chess when she was four years old, taught by her father. She started joining national and international tournaments when she was six years old.
She has been working abroad for three years – first in Thailand in 2022, and now in Dubai – as a full-time chess coach.
If she could have it her way, though, 29-year-old Rowelyn Joy “Kajoy” Acedo would still be fighting in international arenas and make a name, but “kulang lang po sa budget (we lack adequate budget).”
“If given the chance, my boss is supportive if there are tournaments. I’m planning to join some tournaments in Europe for classical tournaments, kulang lang po sa budget, maybe soon po ‘pag kaya na (I don’t have the budget, maybe soon when I can already afford it.)” said Acedo.'
She added, “Nanduon pa rin naman yung pangarap na maging well-known sa buong mundo, lahat naman po ng athlete. Pero sa totoo lang, mahirap na rin kasi full-time coach na po kasi ako, if I really wanted to pursue my passion sa paglalaro, I need to be a full-time player, and mahirap po gawin. Mahirap gawin in a way na masa-sacrifice yung work ko.”
(The ambition to be well-known across the world is still there; every athlete has that in mind. But truth be told, it’s tough considering I’m already a full-time coach. If I really wanted to pursue my passion in playing, I would need to be a full-time player, and it’s difficult to do, in a way that my work will be sacrificed.)
Acedo teaches children as young as four years old. They are of different nationalities – Indian, Chinese, Russian, UK, and more- and have started participating in competitions.
“I came to Dubai in February 2023 to participate in a tournament in Abu Dhabi. While I was here, I received an offer from one of the private chess clubs in Dubai, and decided to take the opportunity (to coach),” said Acedo.
Games with the GMs
In her free time, Acedo never misses the action.
In April last year, she had the chance to play with Russian Grand Master Kateryna Oleksandrivna Lagno in Abu Dhabi.
“She won. I landed second. She is very aggressive player, we had the same style. Sa opening, lamang na po sya and somehow sa middle game naka-recover po ako, hanggang sa umabot nang endgame drawish na (tabla na po). Kaso may isang move lang ako na missed kaya bigla akong na losing," she said.
“Yung endgame po namin is pawn and rook endgame, which is kinda tricky, kasi pag nagkamali ka nang isang move pwede ka matalo agad," she added.
(She got the headstart at the opening, and somehow, I managed to recover in the middle, then it was drawish in the endgame. But I missed one move. It’s a pawn and rook endgame, which is kind of tricky because you lose the moment you err with just one move.)
The tourney was the Fatima Bint Mubarak Academy International Blitz Chess Tournament for Ladies- 7th Edition.
On Jan. 21, 2024, Acedo became the first woman to win an open championship at the annual Fujairah Endurance Blitz Tournament, picking up eight points from nine games to rule the tourney’s fifth edition.
It was part of the events under the H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi Cup 20th International Solving Contest (ISC), organized by the Fujairah Chess & Culture Club.
Acedo, who always plays under the Philippine flag, bested over 150 players from 25 countries en route to securing the top prize.
In 2023, Acedo won against Egypt’s number one, Grand Master Bassem Amin, world number 43 at the time, during the Ramadan Blitz Team Championship held at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club (DCCC).
“I was very happy po. Kaya mas okay dito lumaro kasi madaming players na sikat na sumasali. Once in a lifetime mo lang din sila mae-encounter. Madaming opportunity. Nakikita ko lang sila sa online,” said Acedo.
(It’s much better here to play because many well-known players join. You only encounter them once in a lifetime. There are a lot of opportunities. I only see them online.)
On March 17 this year, Acedo was the only Filipino woman to make the team tournament at the UAE Cup Teams Rapid Chess Championship 2025, against tough international grand masters.
Throughout her games, she played under the Filipino Chess Players League – UAE.
A graduate of De La Salle University-Manila, Acedo said living in Dubai “allowed me to maximize my talent, compete in major tournaments, and meet new people.
“It is very fulfilling to share my knowledge and teach kids how to play chess, and see them love it and participate in tournaments.” —LDF, GMA Integrated News
