October 25, 2024
Already a world champion — yes, you read that right, a world champion — Gilbert Middle School student Irene Fei recently added another prestigious bullet point to her already dazzling chess resume.
Irene, a sixth-grader, spent time earlier this month competing in the 2024 Pan American Youth Chess Championship in Paraguay. Just 11 years old, Irene opted to add another challenging obstacle to her path by entering the Girls Under 13 age division, which meant some of her adversaries were two years older than her.
Not. A. Problem.
Irene again showcased her chess prowess and claimed the Pan American championship. She also earned the distinction of becoming the youngest Woman FIDE Master in the Americas.
We first told you about this chest prodigy when Irene was just nine years old and a fourth grader at Gilbert Intermediate HERE. Irene had just traveled to Panama City and won a FIDE World School Chess Championship title in the U9 division.
Irene’s parents, Zhe Fei and Yan Jiao, first introduced their daughter to chess when she was a kindergarten student at Gilbert Elementary. Irene attended a chess club at the school organized by Iowa State student Anthony Swindell, and her talent was apparent almost immediately.
“My parents signed me up for a chess club so that I could stay at school a little longer,” Irene said when she was interviewed following the world title in the summer of 2022. “(Swindell) said that I was good. After the second time, the coach said I was very good.”
Congratulations to Irene and her family. Everyone at Gilbert Schools is incredibly proud of her and we wish her nothing but continued success as she develops as a player over the coming years.
