Eighteen-year-old Woman International Master (WIM) Ruelle “Taweng” Canino of Cagayan de Oro is representing Team Philippines at the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad, which runs from Sept. 15 to 27 at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre.
Canino forms part of the national women’s roster alongside Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Woman National Master Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza. Led by team captain GM Jayson Gonzales, the Philippine women’s team opens its campaign against Malawi in Round 1.
The Far Eastern University student athlete honed her preparation for the global tournament through an international training tour in Europe alongside Frayna and Fronda.
Following her campaign in Samarkand, the Kagay-anon chess player will return to Northern Mindanao to compete in the 7th ASEAN Individual Chess Championships, scheduled for Nov. 2 to 18 at the Asenso Misamis Occidental Recreational and Aquamarine Park. The upcoming regional tournament offers an outright Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm for the champion.
A sports delegation led by Misamis Occidental Gov. Henry S. Oaminal—who serves as National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) board director and Mindanao vice president—is observing tournament management and operations in Samarkand to prepare for hosting the November games in Mindanao. Provincial officials noted that the observation trip involved zero cost for the Misamis Occidental provincial government.
On the men's side, Team Philippines opens Round 1 against Togo. The roster includes International Master Michael Concio Jr., IM Paulo Bersamina, GM Daniel Quizon, IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia, and GM Darwin Laylo, under team captain GM Eugene Torre.
