Megan Paragua wins back-to-back world titles in Albania
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 29 Apr 2024
(Rapid, 15 minutes plus 5 seconds increment, 11 Round Swiss System)
Gold/ Champion: WFM Megan Althea Obrero Paragua, 9.5 points on account of 8 wins and 3 draws
Silver/ 2nd place: Nika Venskaya, 8.5 points on account of 8 wins, 1 draw and 2 loses
Bronze/3rd place: Khanzada Amanzhol, 7.5 points on account of 6 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss.
(Blitz, 5 minutes plus 3 seconds increment, 11 Round Swiss System)
Gold/ Champion: WFM Megan Althea Obrero Paragua, 9.5 points on account of 9 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss
Silver/ 2nd place: Varvara Matskevich, 9.0 points on account of 8 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss
Bronze/3rd place: Minh Chi Nguyen, 7.5 points on account of 7 wins, 1 draw and 2 loses
Manila---Woman Fide Master (WFM) Megan Althea Obrero Paragua, niece of Grandmaster (GM) Mark Callano Paragua, added another trophy to her growing collection after capturing the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024 - Blitz Girls 12 and under crown at the Grand Blue FAFA Resort in Durres, Albania on Monday ( wee hours), April 29.
The 11-year-old top player of Empire Chess Training School of Chess defeated Thai Hoang An Tong of Vietnam in the eleventh and final round to become the first Filipino-American to rule the FIDE weeklong-tournament.
It was another accolade for WFM Megan Althea, representing the United States Chess Federation after having won the World Cadet Rapid & Blitz Championships 2024 - Rapid Girls 12 and under title last Sunday.
The 5th Grade Pupil of Columbia Grammar Preparatory School New York City, playing under the guidance of Sophia Rhode opened her campaign with victories over Nika Istratova of Estonia in the first round and Ulyana Artamonova of Russia in the second round.
However, WFM Megan Althea was beaten by Khanzada Amanzhol of Kazakhstan in the third round.
She bounced back in contention after beating Kristina Zavivaeva of Russia in the fifth round, Varvara Matskevich in the sixth round, Nika Venskaya of Russia in the seventh round, Minh Chi Nguyen of Vietnam in the eight round, Zuzanna Kaminska of Poland in the ninth round and split the points with Arena FIDE Master Blanka Ejsymont of Poland in the tenth and penultimate round before beating Thai Hoang An Tong in the last round.
"Two World Championship Titles. (2024 World Cadet Rapid 9.5/11 and Blitz 9.5/11 Champion u12 Girls). Thank You. Hard Work plus consistency plus prayers," said proud father and coach Jan Vincent Callano Paragua.
Varvara Matskevich of Poland took the silver with 9.0 points while Minh Chi Nguyen of Vietnam won the bronze with 7.5 points.
It shall be recalled that WFM Megan Althea settled for the runner-up trophy behind eventual winner Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana of Sri Lanka of the FIDE World Cadets and Youth Rapid Chess Championships Girls 10 and under virtually (online chess tournament during the pandemic time) held at Tornelo Platform on August 31, 2021.
WFM Megan Althea is set to compete in the 2024 US Girls' Junior Championship in July in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.-Marlon Bernardino-
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