11-year-old is PHL’s youngest Woman FIDE Master

At just 11 years old, Antonella Racasa has earned the title of Woman FIDE Master.

According to a report by Chino Trinidad on 24 Oras, Antonella is the youngest to achieve the rank in the Philippines, an impressive feat especially considering she only learned chess two years ago.

Antonella said that she prefers playing chess over playing with gadgets because it's more challenging.

"Ito mas physical na kailangan titirahin mo, hindi yung sa tablet sa pipindutin mo lang. You'll have to find the best move kasi isang maling tira lang po sa chess, talo ka na po agad eh," she said.

She added that she aims to become the youngest Grandmaster.

"Maging the youngest Grandmaster and pag natalo ko po si  [world number one Magnus] Carlsen na, computer na ngayon," she said.

Her father Robert, also a chess player and the founder of the Philippine Memory Games, is her coach.

He said that he hesitated teaching her because he knew that the sport is time-consuming and would give her little compensation.

"In the first place, ayaw ko talaga siyang turuan eh, dahil nakita ko doon sa personal experience ko as a varsity [player] na ang chess is laro na ang dami mong time na ini-invest pero parang very little 'yung compensation kaya 'yan 'yung nagtulak sakin na wag iintroduce sa kanya 'yung chess," he said.

But because of her quick progress, Robert believes she can surpass the record of Chinese chess player Hu Ye Fan, who became a Woman Grandmaster at the age of 13.

He also hopes she will become a role model for Filipinos, as she is proving that it is possible to be world class.

"Gusto ko sa kanya maging role model ng Pilipinas na kaya nating maging world class and yung mind natin is inexhaustible. Nagawa nito, kaya rin natin," he said.

The two are currently in Santiago de Compostela in Spain, where Antonella is competing as the very first Filipino to enter the World Chess Cadet Championship. — Jessica Bartolome/BM, GMA News