Pinoy chess master lands 2nd place in first ever FIDE Online Cup for PWDs

A Filipino chess master landed second place in the first ever FIDE online championships for Players with Disabilities (PWDs).

According to Chino Trinidad's report for "24 Oras," FIDE master Sander Severino went toe to toe with Polish Grandmaster Marcin Tazbir for four rounds.

In the second tiebreak, the European managed to get the edge in the scores, 10.5 to 10.

"Isa sa mga pangarap ko talaga syempre 'yung maging world champion. Pero depende na rin sa God's will lahat 'yan eh, God's perfect time," said Severino, a multi-decorated athlete in the Asian and Southeast Asian level.

In the 2018 Asian Paragames, he hauled four gold medals in the individual and team competitions.

Severino, who has been wheelchair-bound since high school, was diagnosed with muscle dystrophy when he was eight years old. He was told that he could be dead by age 20.

"Nung nag 20 ako, sabi ko, 'Hindi naman ako namatay ah,'" he said.

When he began playing chess, he discovered that he could inspire other people, especially those with disabilities like him.

"Napatunayan ko na may purpose pala na binigay si Lord para maranasan ko 'to at ma-represent ko 'yung country natin, mabigyan ng karangalan," he said. —MGP, GMA News