At just 16 years old, Woman FIDE Master Ruelle Canino is already one of the Philippines’ most accomplished chess players.
Last week, she was crowned a two-time MVP in the girls’ division of the UAAP High School Chess Tournament and is now the second-highest FIDE-rated female chess player in the country, behind Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna.
Ruelle relishes the opportunity to share these milestones with her siblings, who also relocated to Manila to play in the UAAP.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Her older sister, Rhea, played for the Far Eastern University Women’s Team and won a Board 6 gold medal.
Meanwhile, her older brother, Romeo, is Ateneo de Manila University’s Board 2 player in the men’s division.
In an exclusive interview with Tiebreaker Times, Ruelle revealed some of the playful banter in their family as they represent different schools in one of the biggest chess tournaments in the country.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Siyempre po inaasar po namin yung kuya namin kasi kaming dalawa po ni ate yung FEU. Tapos pag dumating yung point na magkalaban kami, sabi namin ni ate ‘Uubusin namin yung team niyo.’ Ganun ganun,” Ruelle shared in jest.
“Nung first match kasi natalo po yung kuya ko. Sabi ko ‘Yan kasi di ka kasi nag-FEU eh’,” she continued, bursting into laughter.
Interestingly, Ruelle’s brother once played for the FEU-Diliman high school chess team – which also won championships in the UAAP – before deciding to return home to Cagayan de Oro.
“Actually po, matagal na talaga ko nire-recruit ng FEU kasi nung Grade 5, nag-champion ako sa Malaysia. So nire-recruit na po ako ng FEU, pero sabi nila Mama ayaw pa po nila kasi masyado pa akong bata. Di ko pa po kaya,” Ruelle recalled.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
What paved the way for Ruelle’s arrival at FEU was her sister Rhea passing the tryouts for the FEU Women’s Team. Their parents couldn’t be more proud of seeing their children duke it out in the big leagues.
“Feeling proud naman po sila kasi siyempre po, naglalaro kami sa mga kilalang university tapos lahat kami scholar,” said Ruelle of what their parents feel about their UAAP campaigns.
“Nung bata po ako, yung pangarap ko lang po mga local tournaments. Di ko po inaakala na aabot po ako sa point na ganito kasi ayaw po talaga ng family namin na magshift po ako sa Manila. Mahirap po kasi yung buhay dito,” added the two-time UAAP MVP.
“Unexpectedly po, nagbago yung ihip ng hangin. Nung lumipat po ako sa Manila, maraming opportunities. Andami pong tournaments dito. Dito ako nag-grow as a chess player.”
