Five-year-old Jodiel Chloe Banawa made Philippine chess history in Singapore, winning six gold medals at the 24th ASEAN + Age-Group Chess Championships and finishing as Team Philippines’ top gold-medal winner.
Banawa, the youngest Filipino delegate and a native of Alicia, Isabela, won individual gold in Standard, Rapid and Blitz in the Girls Under-6 division. She also shared team gold in all three formats with Elisha Romarate and Rien Euri Villa.
Her Standard title carried a historic distinction. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines identified it as the country’s first individual gold in the Girls Under-6 division. Banawa also became the first Filipina to rule the division.
She won six of seven Standard games. After her only loss in the third round, Banawa won her final four matches and finished alone on top with six points. She later secured Rapid gold before completing a perfect 8-0 run in Blitz.
The tournament ran from August 7 to 17, with competition ending August 16, and drew 672 players.
Banawa reached Singapore after her father, International Master Joel Banawa, solicited money to help fund the trip.
Her rise has been unusually fast. Jodiel started playing chess only about a year earlier. In June, she swept Standard, Rapid and Blitz in the Girls Under-8 division of the Philippine National Age Group Championships while competing against older players.
Her six-gold campaign led the Philippine delegation in gold medals as Team Philippines finished second overall behind Vietnam with 83 medals, including 24 gold, 36 silver and 23 bronze.
“Every medal carries a story of preparation, sacrifice, opportunity, and shared belief,” the NCFP said.
At five years old, Banawa left Singapore with the biggest gold-medal haul of any Filipino delegate and a historic first for Philippine chess.
