Megan Paragua Earns Double-Gold, Aiden Li Earns Blitz Gold at FIDE World Cadet Rapid and Blitz

Two Americans are bringing home first-place trophies from the 2024 World Cadet Rapid and Blitz Championships held April 25 through 29 in Durres, Albania. 

WFM Megan Paragua entered both events as the top seed in the Girls Under-12 section, and left having won both events outright. Paragua won both events with 9½/11 scores, finishing a full point ahead of the field in the Rapid and a half-point ahead of second in the Blitz. Here are some highlights from her double-victory:

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Aiden Li took first place in the U-8 Blitz on tiebreaks (Photo courtesy Anastasia Karlovich/FIDE)

In the U-8 Open, Aiden Li entered the Blitz as the fourth highest-rated player, and emerged in a two-way tie for first with 9/11, taking home first place on tiebreaks. Here's an end-to-end victory in a particularly long game:

Full results from the Rapid are available here and from the Blitz here.