General Fernando Canon, 1956

Back to Home Index

---

General Fernando Canon

General Fernando Canon

---

April 15, 1956

Corpus Christi Times, Corpus Christi, Texas, Sunday, April 15, 1956

In the first issue of the Philippine Chess Journal we find the following interesting story about the first Philippine champion.
General Fernando Canon (1860-1937)
Hero of the Philippine Revolution and the Philippine American War, he distinguished himself as one of the foremost pillars of Philippine Chess. He was initiated into the royal game by the sculptor, Melacio Figueroa, then a Filipino pensionado of the Spanish government in Rome. The young Canon then studied the game by delving into the pages of early publications.
In a cosmopolitan field of 15 contestants young Canon won the championship of the “Sportsmen's Club de Barcelona” in Barcelona, Spain. He won 14 games and drew one with the famous Spanish player, Jose Vaquero, who unfortunately died before the end of the tournament. General Canon won the championship of the Philippines, held at the American YMCA, sponsored by Gov. William Cameron Forbes. Canon won 19, lost 1 and drew 2. The following game was played in the Barcelona Championship, 1905.

---