Bid to back 11–year old girl chess wiz
Jimmy Laking
Chess aficionados in Baguio City and Benguet last week began a search for sponsors who could help bankroll the schooling of 11-year old Bea Mendoza, the reigning National Age Group Champion in the girls under 12 category.
Mendoza is currently a student of the University of Baguio preparatory high school.
Businessman Joseph Haight and an active chess promoter said while Mendoza is a scholar of UB, her parents can hardly cope in providing her the books and other support she needed in school since her scholarship covers only tuition.
Haight said the girl’s father worked as janitor while her mother is a fulltime housewife. She has two other siblings who are equally gifted in chess.
Mendoza anchored the national team that won the gold in the 14th Asean age group chess championship in Thailand on June 5 to 17.
Before this, she represented the country in the Asian Youth Chess Championships on June 20 to 27 in Iran.
Haight said Mendoza’s chess vision and understanding for the game is beyond her years.
“You can see it in her eyes and the concentration she brings into the game,” he said.
Haight said a group of chess aficionados are reaching to individuals, organizations or companies who could help provide to enable Mendoza to finish her education.
Source: http://baguiomidlandcourier.com.ph
What is her rating?