A nine-year-old Filipino-Canadian chess player from Newfoundland and Labrador is gaining national recognition after finishing second at Canada’s premier scholastic chess championship.
Rensel Matthew Bacuyag earned the silver medal at the 37th Annual Canadian Chess Challenge National Finals, held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from May 16 to 18, 2026.
The Grade 4 student scored 6.5 points over nine rounds, recording five wins, three draws, and one loss against provincial champions from across Canada.
“I was really proud and happy that I got to represent Newfoundland and Labrador and bring home a second-place trophy,” he said.
The annual competition brings together the top elementary and high school chess players from every province and territory, making it one of the country’s most competitive youth chess events.
Bacuyag entered the tournament as the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial champion and finished just behind the national champion.
A life-changing birthday gift
His journey in chess began during the COVID-19 pandemic after receiving a chessboard as a birthday gift.
“I started learning how to play chess when I received a chessboard as a gift on my sixth birthday,” he said.
“It was during the pandemic, so my papa taught me the basic moves since we couldn’t go out and we were bored.”
What started as a pastime quickly turned into a passion he’ll eventually become great at.
His mother, Karen Bacuyag, and father, Roselle Bacuyag, said the family soon recognized his potential.
“After a few months, he started beating us at our games, so we decided to get him a coach,” they said.
Competing against Canada’s strongest young players was intimidating at first, Rensel admitted, but he used the experience as motivation.
“Playing against some of the best young players in Canada was a little bit scary at first, but I took it as a challenge and just believed in myself that I could do it,” he said.
One of the tournament’s defining moments came in the final round.
“The ninth game was fun and challenging because it was the determining game of who would be the champion, and it was exactly the same score and opponent as last year,” he said.
Training Routine
Behind Rensel’s success is a disciplined training routine.
He said he trains for at least three hours every day, whether preparing for a local tournament or a national championship.
“I make sure that I play games, do puzzles and read chess books,” he said.
Like many children his age, balancing training and recreation can be challenging.
“Sometimes I get distracted during my training,” he said. “Sometimes I would prefer to play other games than chess.”
Roselle said supporting his son’s ambitions has required commitment from the entire family.
“Life here in Canada has been a bit challenging because of the finances needed to support his dream,” he said.
“We are not able to secure second jobs since someone has to be with him and bring him to different places during tournaments,” said Roselle.
Coach from the Philippines
Despite those challenges, Roselle said his son’s determination continues to drive him forward.
“He is hardworking and he sticks to his goals,” he said.
“There were times that he gets distracted, but with proper support, he bounces back and trains again.”
The family also credits his current coach, Noel Dela Cruz, who is based in the Philippines, for helping Rensel continue to develop his game.
“He is learning a lot from him, and the chess community here in Newfoundland and Labrador is trying their best to organize tournaments,” Karen said.
Rensel draws inspiration from Filipino-American Grandmaster Wesley So, one of the world’s top chess players.
“I am inspired by his dedication and hard work to train when he was young, and because he is a fellow Filipino,” he said.
Looking ahead, the young chess player has ambitious goals.
“I want to be a GM someday,” Rensel said, referring to the Grandmaster title, the highest title awarded by the International Chess Federation.
“It’s my plan to win the Candidates and the World Championship one day.”
For other young Filipinos pursuing their dreams, he offered simple advice.
“Follow your dreams, don’t give up, and do your best all the time,” he said.
Luis Miguel De Castro is a Changing Narratives Fund-Local Journalism Initiative reporter at Mabuhay Canada and a journalism graduate at Humber Polytechnic in Toronto. Originally from the Philippines, he is passionate about community storytelling, multimedia journalism, and amplifying Filipino voices through meaningful local coverage.
