MANILA – The country’s first and only Woman Grandmaster, Janelle Mae Frayna, will be the player to watch when the 2021 Philippine National Women’s Championship gets going on Friday, Dec. 17, at the PACE building in Quezon City.
A cash prize worth P135,000, as well as a slot to next year’s Hanoi Southeast Asian Games, will be up grabs in the 12-player field with P50,000 going to the champion, P30,000 to the second placer, and P15,000 to the third placer, plus trophies.
The 24-year-old Frayna is coming off an appearance in the recently concluded National Open Championship in Mactan, Cebu. She was the lone female participant where Frayna finished 10th from a field of 12 with four points.
“I’m hoping for the best but the field is really tough because all participants have a chance to win it also,” Frayna said.
Expected to give Frayna a run for her money are former national titlists Shania Mae Mendoza and Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Olympiad veteran Bernadette Galas, and WGM candidate Kylen Joy Mordido.
Also seeing action in the 11-round event are Marie Antoinette San Diego, Rinoa Mariel Sadey, Marian Calimbo, Ruelle Canino, Allaney Jia Doroy, Lexie Grace Hernandez, and Francois Marie Magpily.
The event is backed by PSC chair Butch Ramirez, Chess Movement, Inc. chair Dr. Ariel Potot, PCSO general manager Royina Garma, Endgame Sports founder Atty. Cris Aspiras, POC president Bambol Tolentino, NCFP chief Butch Pichay and Atty. Roel Canobas. (PR) – bny
