Francisco is the Vice President of the Chess Confederation for the Americas (CCA) and Director of the Education Commission for the continent. He holds a bachelor’s degree in arts and mathematics and has over 15 years of experience teaching chess with a focus on competitive, educational, recreational, and therapeutic approaches. Francisco is a member of FIDE Women’s Commission. He served as President of the Puerto Rico Chess Federation (FAPR) from 2018 to 2022. During his tenure as President of the FAPR, he successfully established a pilot program to integrate chess into public schools across Puerto Rico. Most recently, at the FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, he was recognized by FIDE for his contributions to promoting women in chess.
When parenthood knocked on his door, it changed Francisco’s life profoundly. His priority was no longer about making kids into champions, but about helping them become good people. Teaching chess goes far beyond creating skilled players; it’s about shaping future doctors, teachers, leaders, great parents, and, most importantly, good human beings.
For the future of Chess in Education in Puerto Rico, Francisco firmly believes the first step is to teach chess to teachers, demonstrating how powerful a tool chess can be in education. There is a widespread misconception that chess is only for elite individuals or a fallback option for kids who struggle in traditional sports. The truth is: chess is for everyone.