Severino bags Philippines' first ever world championship in chess

Sander Severino has made history after becoming the Philippines' first ever world champion in chess.

According to Chino Trinidad's report for "24 Oras," the FIDE master bested Ukraine's Igor Yarmonov to bag the title in the International Physically Disabled Chess Association (IPCA) Online World Championship.

Recently, he also landed second place in the FIDE online championships for Players with Disabilities.

"'Yung mga achievements na nagagagawa namin ng Philippine Para Chess team, gusto namin ma-inspire lahat talaga ng atletang may kapansanan na kaya natin magperform sa world stage," said Severino, who won multiple gold medals in the Asian Para Games.

Grandmaster Wesley So also won a world title when he claimed the World Fischer Random Chess Championship last year, but he was already representing the United States by then.

Severino, who has won multiple gold medals in the Asian and the ASEAN Paragames, said his next goal is to earn his International Master title.

The Silay, Negros Occidental native was diagnosed with muscle dystrophy when he was eight years old. He has been wheelchair-bound since high school and was even told he could be dead by age 20.

"Mahirap talaga maging physically challenged o may disability. Paggising mo, ramdam mo agad syempre pagod. Iba, iba 'yung katawan eh," he said.

Severino said he kept his faith in God despite his disability and believed he has a purpose in life.

"'Yung passion ko talaga sa paglalaro ng chess, kahit anong sitwasyon, anong ginagawa ko, lagi lang talaga akong nagte-training para magperform ng maganda," he said. —MGP, GMA News