Six-year-old Fil-Am is top chess player in U.S. at his age

In the USCF September ratings, U.S.-born whiz kid Scott Matthew Escalera ranked 22 in the under 7 group.WIKIMEDIA

OAK PARK, Illinois – A six-year-old Filipino American chess player is now the highest rated player at his age in the whole country, according to the latest United States Chess Federation (USCF).

In the September ratings, U.S.-born whiz kid Scott Matthew Escalera ranked 22 in the under 7 group.

But Escalera topped at his age with ELO 1311 with a 62 points difference against the closest contender, James Stewart of Connecticut with ELO 1249.

Scott has won 96 trophies, 36 medals, several certificates and ribbons, and some cash and checks in the 18 months of playing chess. CONTRIBUTED

His proud father, Ren Vincent Escalera, originally from Cagayan de Oro City, credited his son’s feat to his cousin Jaime Joshua Frias II.  The latter trained Scott through online chess programs in winning the March 2019 Illinois K-8 State Chess. Scott, he says, truly enjoys the game and just keeps playing and learning moves.

Scott was named as the most active chess player in the Academic and Fiscal Year Leaders for Regular and Dual Rated Games in the State of Illinois, playing 231 games from June 2018 to May 2019. He is currently the K1 State Champion, the only ever Kindergartener to play Board 1 at his school and district wide.

Scott has won 96 trophies, 36 medals, several certificates and ribbons, and some cash and checks in the 18 months of playing chess.