Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda hurdled their respective opponents to forge a share of the lead after the seventh round in the 2021 Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship held at the PACE building in Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 21.
The top-seeded, 24-year-old Frayna outplayed Woman National Master Marie Francois Magpili in 36 moves of the King’s Indian defense to keep her grip of the lead with five points.
Frayna, one of the top players of the Philippine Army Chess Team was tied at the helm with Fronda, the 2019 titlist who downed fellow Woman International Master Bernadette Galas in 62 moves of the Sicilian defense.
Just half a point behind the pace-setters with 4.5 points each are Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza who remain in the hunt for the champion’s prize worth P50,000 as well as a seat to the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in May next year.
San Diego split the point with Woman Fide Master Allaney Jia Doroy in 66 moves of Gruenfeld defense while Mendoza drew with Woman National Master Mariel Sadey Rinoa in 36 moves of the French defense.
However, Woman International Master Kylene Joy Mordido failed to catch up to the leaders after losing to Woman National Master Lexie Grace Hernandez in 56 moves of the London System Opening.
Mordido, who is being groomed as the country’s next Woman Grandmaster has four points.
Meanwhile, Woman National Master Ruelle “Tawing” Canino halved the point with Marian Calimbo in 37 moves of the London System Opening, Jobava System.
The 13-year-old Canino upset Frayna in the opening round. (PR) – bny
