Angelyn Binan
ANGELYN BINAN is our Chess Educator for the month of June! Angelyn’s fascination with chess began at the very young and pivotal age of six, when she used to watch her brothers play chess. She has since gone on to win several tournaments and compete in national championships in her native Philippines. Angelyn aspires every day to take on new challenges, to pass on her incredible expertise to others and to empower young girls to make their mark in the world.
Check out the full chat with Angelyn Binan! Find out what it’s like for her to be considered the underdog in chess championships, how she faces challenges in her life and what she has to say to every girl who isn’t sure if she will be able to learn to play chess.
How were you first introduced to chess and what made you fall in love with it?
I first learned chess at the age of six, since my older brothers played chess every day back then. At first, I just watched them play. I observed how the pieces moved and how the game would end. Basically, that was how I learned how to play chess, just by watching.
Eventually, I started to challenge them, but they always defeated me. However, I didn’t get discouraged by it. In fact, challenges excite me and make me strive more to win.
What encouraged and made you want to compete professionally against other chess players from a very early age?
When I was in 3rd grade, I joined my first scholastic tournament, but I got defeated by other kids who were much older than me. I cried a lot. However, that didn’t stop me from learning and playing chess. I studied harder and I played every day to become better. In the next tournament, I managed to win a gold medal. That was my stepping stone to playing chess competitively. I then started to represent my city and, eventually, my region in national tournaments.
What has your experience been as a woman in the competitive male-dominated chess world?
Honestly, it doesn’t bother me whenever I play in an open category and go against male chess players. Often, males are expected to win since they are perceived to be better but that is not true.
Whoever my opponent is, whether male or female, I would challenge myself to win the game, even they would consider me the underdog. Actually, it inspires me more to win especially when they expect me to lose against males.
What has been your greatest obstacle or fear so far in your life?
The greatest obstacle would probably be not pushing myself to my limits. But then, I realized that I would not be able to reach my full potential if I didn’t push myself, so I decided to strive hard and do my best in every situation I find myself in, whether in chess, school, or work.
What gives you drive and the motivation?
My family is the main source of my drive and motivation. I am blessed to have a wonderful family that supports all my endeavours.
My students also inspire me. Whenever a student thanks me for teaching them or when they tell me that they improved and managed to win against their opponent, it makes my heart so joyful. I want to continue what I am doing because the students rely on my teaching.
How has teaching young girls chess impacted your life on a personal and on a professional level?
I am a proud teacher. I am proud of these young girls and the progress they are making.
It gives me great joy whenever they would understand our lessons and when they would apply them in their games. Teaching chess gives me contentment. I know girls are learning from me and I am learning from them too. It goes both ways.
What advice do you have for young girls who don’t think they can learn chess?
Oh, learning chess will be easy. Do not think that you cannot do it, because if you really want to be good at chess, you will learn that it is a process. You cannot skip a step in becoming great. I just want to share these two quotes to every young girl who aspires to become a great chess player:
“Every chess master was once a beginner.” – Irving Chernev
“Nobody ever won a chess game by resigning.” – Savielly Tartakower
What advice do you have for parents who are unsure whether or not to sign their girls up for chess classes?
Chess is not just a game. It is a game that will teach every young girl life lessons. In the course of the chess classes, these young girls will learn creativity, patience, persistence, decision-making, time management and a lot more.
What is the biggest dream that you have for yourself?
My biggest dream for myself would be to become successful in what I do and to be part of someone else’s success.
What is a GIRL BOSS to you?
A Girl Boss is someone who appreciates the power of a woman and at the same time, empowers women. It is having a strong, unconditional and positive perception of what it is to be a woman.
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