The camp of Filipino chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano has addressed inaccuracies in a viral post by social media personality Project Nightfall, whose real name is Agon Hare. The post claimed that Bince, then nine years old, traveled alone to Thailand for a chess competition in 2022 and spent three nights sleeping on airport benches.
In a Facebook post on January 7, Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, a three-time Philippine women’s chess champion, criticized Hare for spreading what she called “fake news” to gain attention. “They dramatize, exaggerate, and fabricate lies to make their news ‘more appealing,’” Frayna wrote, emphasizing that the claims were false and misrepresented the events. She added that Bince had a legal guardian, National Master Edmundo Gatos, with him throughout the trip.
Frayna also pointed out that Hare’s post made it appear as though the events were recent, despite taking place two years ago. She urged social media influencers to fact-check before reposting such stories.
The viral post by Hare, who has over 17 million followers, alleged that Bince traveled alone and endured difficult conditions due to financial constraints. The chess prodigy’s official Facebook page, however, categorically denied the claims, stating, “Bince was with the Philippine delegation team, and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) covered his travel expenses.”
Albay 2nd District Representative Fernando Cabredo previously acknowledged in a 2022 Facebook post that Bince and his father had spent nights at the airport before the competition while waiting for funds. However, Cabredo clarified that Bince was never without a guardian in Thailand and only traveled ahead of his father, who arrived later after securing additional support.
Bince’s participation in the Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in Bangkok from November 4-13, 2022, resulted in a gold trophy and four medals, solidifying his status as a rising chess star. At the time, he had already won national chess competitions, including the Boys Under 9 category of the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships.
Despite the backlash, the Operiano family has asked for privacy and an end to the circulation of misinformation. “Please stop this post. This matter was resolved in 2022,” the family stated on social media. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines has also debunked claims of Bince traveling alone, citing strict regulations that ensure minors cannot travel internationally without an adult.
