Janelle May Frayna Earns Women's International Master Title Norm

by Marlon Bernardino

Janelle Mae Frayna's impressive performance in the just ended $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship at the Midas Hotel and Casino on Sunday were enough for the Far Eastern University chess team standout to complete her requirements for an Woman International Master (WIM) title.

Asian Chess Federation (ACF) deputy vice president Casto "Toti Abundo" said Frayna will need to improve her current ELO rating of 2050 to 2200 this year to become a full-fledged Woman International Master (WIM).

Frayna, a member of the star-studded FEU chess team earned her two IM norms in last year's World Chess Olympiad in Istanbul, Turkey.

The sophomore Psychology student defeated reigning Asian Zonal 3.2a champion WGM Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam, who hold an ELO rating of 2250 in the ninth and final round of the women's division of the $100,000 Manny Pacquiao Cup Asian Continental Chess Championship  finished over-all 8th place with a total output of 5.5 points on five wins, three loses and a draw in the tournament organized by the GM Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and is sponsored by eight-division world boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, Cafe Puro, Alaxan, Oriental and Motolite Corp.

"Pipilitin po natin na mapataas ang ELO rating ko sa 2200 para sa full-pledge WIM title," said Legaspi City, Albay native Frayna.

"Ito na ang pinakamataas na puwesto ng isang women's player natin sa Asian Continental Chess Championship kung saan overall 8th place si (Janelle Mae) Frayna at overall 11th place naman si (Marie Antoinette) San Diego na nilahukan ng 40 woodpushers." said NCFP Executive Director GM Jayson Gonzales.

Also impressive is Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite, who also got her first two IM title results/norms here. The Under-20 age group champion San Diego beat compatriot Jan Jodilyn Fronda in the final canto and settled over-all 11th place with 5.0 points on four wins, three loses and two draws in nine outings.

Frayna and San Diego are the two of the country's bets in the upcoming 2013 Asean Age Group plus in Chang Mai, Thailand set next month which supported by NCFP, PSC and POC.