Filipino chess prodigy's camp debunks Project Nightfall's viral post about 2022 competition
The camp of Filipino chess prodigy Bince Rafael Operiano called out social media personality Project Nightfall—whose real name is Agon Hare—for his error-filled viral post about him supposedly traveling to Thailand alone for a competition in 2022.
Janelle Mae Frayna—a three-time Philippine women's chess champion who has the Woman Grandmaster title from the International Chess Federation or FIDE—in a Facebook post on Jan. 7 said Project Nightfall, who has over 17 million followers, "must be held accountable for spreading fake news [on] the internet."
"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."
Frayna pointed out that how the issue is captioned was "as if it happened just very recently" despite it happening two years ago.
She emphasized that it's not possible for kids to travel without an adult companion, and Bince, like other kid players, had a guardian and coach of legal age.
Frayna also wrote her status as a comment to Hare's post. 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."
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.
Project Nightfall's January 2025 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."
"For THREE NIGHTS, this little chess prodigy slept on airport benches," Hare claimed. "His family couldn't afford two tickets at once."
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."
It has so far garnered over 145,000 reactions (mostly "Love"), 8,100 comments, and 21,000 shares.
Cabredo's November 2022 post
In a Facebook post on Nov. 13, 2022, Albay 2nd District Rep. Fernando Cabredo wrote about what the Operianos had to go through before Bince flew to Thailand.
Cabredo said that "due to limited funds and while waiting for the plane ticket sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Bince and his father spent 3 nights at the airport with those benches as their bed."
"The little boy had to travel first to Thailand without his father, Mr. Ben Operiano," he said.
Bince, according to Cabredo, was found crying by the parents of other competitors prior to the games.
He braved the first game with no parent around to cheer him on, Cabredo noted. The official also said Bince felt pressured and lost to his opponents in the first games.
"Fortunately, his father arrived in time for the next games and finally around to personally cheer on his son," Cabredo wrote. "From then on, Bince won the succeeding rounds and eventually made it to the top."
PhilSTAR L!fe on Nov. 14, 2022, reported Bince's win and sought comment from his parents about Cabredo's post but didn't get a reply.
In an interview with ONE PH that aired over a week later, Ben recalled having to sleep in the airport for days while securing funds for his travel expenses.
"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."
While Bince's win didn't come with a cash prize, Ben noted that what's important is he was able to fight for Bince's dream and support him as his father. "Ang inuwi lang po namin is karangalan. Ang ano ko lang kasi doon ay ma-expose siya, kasi ang pangarap ko sa kanya ay at least makapasok sa varsity sa malalaking unibersidad."
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 tilt. “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.
'Fake news para lang mag-viral'
Bince Rafael Operiano's official Facebook page shared Frayna's post on Jan. 7, thanking her for speaking up.
"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."
On Jan. 6, it said it doesn't "allow to post or repost" the Project Nightfall post.
"Tapos na po ito. Last 2022 pa po ito," it said. "Please stop this post."
The NCFP also shared Frayna's post.
PhilSTAR L!fe reached out to Bince's family and Cabredo for further comment on the matter but has yet to receive a reply.