Will GM Mark Paragua's Niece to Become America's Next Sports Star?
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 24 Feb 2020
GRANDMASTER Mark Paragua's niece may become America's next sports superstar as she continue to shine in the chess world.
The seven year old New York based Megan Althea Obrero Paragua made it the to top of the rating list and was chosen as the official representative of United States in the 2020 World Cadet Under 8 Girls chess championship to be held October 18-31 in Batumi, Georgia.
"It was only three years ago when she (Megan Althea Obrero Paragua) was learning the name and value of chess pieces. Now, February 2020 we received an email from the Federation (United States Chess Federation) that she was chosen as the official representative of United States in the 2020 World Cadet Under 8 Girls chess championship to be held in Batumi, Georgia," said father/coach Jan Vincent Paragua, younger brother of Grandmaster Mark Paragua.
"There will be 100+ countries that will play in this event, and Megan Althea is so proud to wave the US flag," added proud father/coach Jan Vincent.
"So many heartbreaking news recently but here's a surprising and heartwarming update from a friend and former colleague, Ric Paragua (father of chess Super GM Mark Paragua). It's official!!! Seven-year old Megan Althea Orbero Paragua was chosen as Official Representative of the United States in the forthcoming 2020 World Cadet U8 Girls to be held in Batumi, Georgia. Megan Althea is the daughter of Jan Vincent Paragua, younger brother of Super GM Mark, and his wife Jennifer," added Chi Nazario, a close confidante of engineer Ricardo "Ric" Paragua, father of GM Mark and Jan Vincent.
Last November, Megan Althea Obrero Paragua scored 5.5/6 to become champion in the K-3 Championship of the New York State Girls Chess Championships.
It shall be recalled, Dominic Nathan Paragua, elder brother of Megan Althea dominated the 2019 Columbus Day Chess Championship held in New York, USA last October.
Dominic Nathan collected perfect 4.0 points on four wins in four outings. He scored victories over Gabriel Balmaceda (first round), Roberto Hernandez (second round), Miles Soichet-Mason (third round) and Chenran Zhao (fourth round). He was in a five-way tie on top with Kirby Lin, Andrew-Yesung Kim, James Bondarchuk and Rafael Robinovich. But the 10-year old 5th grade Bathan pupil took the top honors by virtue of superior tiebreak points. Lin finished second followed by Kim (3rd), Bondarchuk (4th) and Robinovich (5th) with four points. A 100 total participants from 40 different schools, mostly grade 3 to grade 5 participants according to Jan Vincent.-Marlon Bernardino-
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