Project Nightfall deletes erroneous post about Filipino chess prodigy
Social media personality Project Nightfall, whose real name is Agon Hare, took down his error-filled viral post about Filipino chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano supposedly traveling to Thailand alone for a competition in 2022.
In a Facebook post on Jan. 7, Hare told his followers, or the "Nightfam," that he's taking accountability for a factual error he committed.
"We recently shared the viral story of a young chess champion who supposedly slept at the airport for three nights and had to travel alone for an international competition," he said.
Hare explained that he hoped to "highlight what seemed like a young boy's determination to reach his dream," and that he shared Bince's story "to spread more inspiration on the Internet."
"However, thanks to feedback from our attentive audience, we learned that this story isn't entirely true and that this kid was in fact financially supported by his country's sports commission," he said.
Hare said he truly appreciates their audience for calling him out "so we can keep being a positive voice on the Internet."
"As we’ve been doing this for 5 years, every now and then, we too make mistakes and are grateful for the opportunity to learn from them," he said. "Thank you for your understanding and for holding us accountable. Wishing you all a great year ahead."
Project Nightfall's deleted post
Hare, on Jan. 6, shared an art card of Bince with the text, "This 9-year-old chess champion slept at the airport for 3 nights and traveled alone for a competition. They couldn't afford two tickets at once."
In the caption, Hare claimed that when Bince arrived at the Bangkok airport, "he was completely alone. No coach. No team. Not even his father by his side."
Hare noted that Bince's father, a security guard, taught him chess "as their only form of entertainment" and "had to desperately raise funds just to follow later."
Upon his father's arrival, Hare said Bince "transformed from a nervous boy losing his first games into an unstoppable force."
"He didn't just compete—he dominated 28 players from across Asia to become the champion in his category! Four medals. One gold trophy," he added.
In concluding his post, Hare said, "Sometimes the greatest champions aren't born in fancy training facilities. They're born on airport benches, dreaming of their moment to shine."
Before getting deleted, it got over 145,000 reactions (mostly "Love"), 8,100 comments, and 21,000 shares.
Bince's camp calls out Project Nightfall
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna called out Hare, saying he "must be held accountable for spreading fake news [on] the internet.
What she only acknowledged as true was Bince's father following him later in Bangkok. He paid for his own ticket by soliciting funds from "good-meaning people."
"They dramatize, exaggerate, and fabricate lies to make their news 'more appealing' to the people," said Frayna. "It is great to celebrate the kid's success, but there is no need to add lies in their posts just to make it viral."
She lamented how social media influencers are "reposting this issue without doing due diligence and fact-checking."
Bince's camp also shared Frayna's post to dismiss the viral story.
"Ginagamit lang po pangalan ni Bince Rafael Operiano para gumawa ng fake news para lang mag-viral," the page said in the caption, categorically denying the claims.
"Hindi po totoo na natulog si Bince sa airport ng Thailand [sic]," it said, adding that Bince was with the Philippine delegation team and National Master Edmundo Gatos as legal guardian.
The PSC shouldered the plane ticket, registration fee, and hotel accommodation of the National Age Group and National Youth division of the NCFP, the page recalled.
"Sana po tigilan na po ang pagpakalat ng fake news at ginagamit po pangalan ni Bince," it added. "Gusto lang din po namin ng tahimik na buhay."
In an interview with ONE PH that aired in November 2022, Bince's father Ben recalled having to sleep in the airport for days while securing funds for his travel expenses to Thailand to support his son in the 2022 tilt.
"Natulog po kami sa airport ng, ako po tatlong gabi, si Bince po, dalawang gabi. Ako naman po naiwan sa airport kasi kulang po sa pambili ng ticket," said Ben. "Balewala naman po sa amin 'yun kasi ginusto naman namin po 'yun eh."
In the same month, National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer Jayson Gonzales belied reports that Bince went to Thailand by himself for the games, noting that they made sure to take care of the PH team that included Bince during the competition. “It never happened na nag-iisa ‘yung bata. Doon sa papeles sa DSWD, hindi siya makakasakay ng eroplano hangga’t walang adult. Batas natin ‘yun. It’s impossible,” he said.
Bince hails from Busac town in Oas municipality in Albay, Bicol.
When he was 9, he joined the Eastern Asia Youth Championship's Under-10 category in Bangkok, which saw 29 participants across Asia from Nov. 4 to 13, 2022. He ultimately won four medals and a gold trophy.
Two months before, he won the Boys Under 9 category of the National Youth and Schools Chess Championships Grand Finals in Zamboanga Del Norte.
Bince's makings as a chess grandmaster manifested when he won the National Age Chess Group Kiddie tournament in his hometown before the COVID-19 pandemic at 6 years old.
