Chess’ extensive and rich history can be traced back 1,500 years to the ancient Indian game chaturanga. Since then, it has spread across the globe and is now played, and universally enjoyed, by people from all walks of life. From kings to servants, Grandmasters to schoolchildren, the game of chess has become embedded into the fabric of our society.

Chess is an abstract strategy board game played between two players. Each player controls a total of sixteen chess pieces consisting of six different types; eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen, and one king. Each piece moves differently around the board; the objective is to trap your opponent’s king, signalling the end of the game in a move referred to as ‘checkmate’.

Skills like problem-solving, decision-making, critical thinking, planning, and even creative thinking, are honed in chess, with training and practice known to improve higher-order thinking abilities and overall academic performance. 

The Pinoy Chess Community Hong Kong (PCCHK) and the Filipino Chess Club Hong Kong (FCC-HK) are two of the rising stars among chess community groups in Hong Kong. Aside from aiming to enhance their members’ chess skills, both groups also impart a sense of belonging, cultivating camaraderie through challenge, and a shared desire to learn and improve.

PCCHK was founded by Shiela Cancino (pictured bottom-left, opposite page), a Novaliches native who, despite growing up in the shadow of her two sisters, was able to forge her own path in chess with the help of her father, who helped develop her passion for the game. 

Shiela left the Philippines in 2007 to work abroad, and through a series of fortunate events and personal decisions, she arrived in Hong Kong in 2010, where she has been working in the finance sector ever since.

“In 2017, Ate Catalina Magno, a veteran leader in Hong Kong (Pinoy Impact Workshops), saw my video as the Huwarang OFW (an annual award for outstanding migrant workers given by the Christian Broadcasting Network). After learning I was a passionate Toastmaster, she asked for my help organising leadership training for our kababayan leaders in Hong Kong,” Sheila says, recalling the initial spark of inspiration that led to her starting her own community.

“[Then in 2023] I recorded a two-minute video inviting Filipinos to learn chess on Sundays. I was so surprised there were so many who were interested! Many of them didn’t know how to play or had little knowledge. Thank you, Batch 1 founding members: Ate Cat, Jaypee, and the officers!” she shares, referring to how PCCHK started.

The Filipino Chess Club Hong Kong official Facebook page has only been around since early September 2024, but according to Edwin Borigas (pictured top-left below, wearing red), an engineer who has been working in Hong Kong for more than 20 years, they started the chess club in 1998, with only 10 people. Now, they have a 400-strong group chat that handles all queries about chess, as well as building and maintaining friendships between members. 

After winning the 1996 Hong Kong National Chess Tournament, Edwin has been asked to represent Hong Kong in various chess tournaments over the years, in different countries around the world. He has competed in Kuwait, Slovenia, Spain, Russia, and more.

With his extensive knowledge of the game and experience competing, Edwin decided to share his skills with his kababayan, by teaching novices the basics and giving them the opportunity to compete in friendly matches with their peers.

FCC-HK’s players often meet by the underpass near St. Joseph’s Church. Most of the players are Filipino drivers during the week, passing the time honing their chess skills while they wait for their employers to call on them. But FCC-HK members come from diverse backgrounds, working in a range of different fields. On Sundays, they organise more structured play, including recently hosting friendly tournaments against their sister chess group, PCCHK. 

“Nakilala ko si Shiela noong 2022, siya ang nagbigay ng suggestion na gumawa ako ng Facebook group dahil marami ang kapwa natin na mahilig sa chess, at mas maraming makakarinig ng aming chess community through social media,” [I met Shiela in 2022, she was the one who suggested that I form a Facebook group, because we have many fellow chess enthusiasts, and our chess community would be able to reach more people through social media] Edwin says.

In August of this year, FCC-HK won the Asian Rapid Chess Team Championship 2024, held at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Wan Chai. Led by Edwin, the winning team of seven included FIDE Master Daniel Causo and National Master Rolly Parondo. Alongside their medals, they were also rewarded with a first-place cash prize of USD 30,000. 

“I chose not to pursue a Master title as I am more focused on continuing to learn chess and teaching others how to be better. Playing chess, for me, has never been about fame and recognition. It is about doing something I am passionate about and helping others at the same time,” Edwin shares.

Staying humble in the face of success and achievement seems to be a well-established trait amongst the chairpersons of both PCCHK and FCC-HK. Aside from being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Shiela is also an author, public speaker, certified life coach, and most recently, Woman Candidate Master (WCM) title holder. “We use chess to build a community of empowered migrant workers who support each other. The key is sustainability. I don’t attend some Pinoy Chess Community programs, to ensure that even if I’m not in HK anymore, or I’m focused on other things, the Pinoy Chess Community will continue. I am thankful to our officers and passionate members for running the shows,” says Shiela.

The game of chess, with all its uncountable and seemingly unpredictable moves, brings a healthy amount of certainty to the lives of these dedicated migrant workers. As Shiela puts it, “We still dream that in the future, there will be a place for migrant workers to spend their rest days – where they can play chess, sip coffee, take naps, and share stories.” 

Pinoy Chess Community Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/groups/966381674543018

Pinoy Chess Club – Hong Kong: https://www.facebook.com/groups/485053631171167