14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013: Garcia, Frayna keep Pinoy pride alive

by Marlon Bernardino

International Master (IM) Jan Emmanuel Garcia of Manila and Woman International Master (WIM) elect Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City are keeping  Filipino  pride alive  in the 14th ASEAN + Age Group Chess Championships 2013 being held at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

The Ateneo de Manila University top player Garcia, the reigning PSC-POC National Games Standard chess champion split the point with countryman National Master Alcon John Datu of Caloocan City to create a three-way tie for first place afte three three games of play in the Open Under-20 division.

Thus, Garcia, Datu and Fide Master (FM) Nguyen Van Hai of Vietnam tallied 2.5 points. Nguyen toppled CM Tan Weiliang of Singapore.

FM Haridas Pascua of Mangatarem, Pangasinan halved the point with FM  Sumiya Bilguun of Mongolia to scored 2.0 points, a good for a share of 4th to 9th placers.

In the Girls 20 and under bracket, WIM elect Janelle Mae Frayna of Legaspi City, Albay drew with WIM Hoang Thi Nhu Y of Vietnam to scored 2.5 points and gain a share of first place with Hoang and WIM Vo Thi Kim Phung also from Vietnam, winner over compatriot Doan Thi Van Anh.

Frayna, one of the top player of Far Eastern University (FEU) chess team only needs to improve her current ELO rating of 2057 to 2200 this year to become a full-fledged WIM. She already completed her WIM results/norms requirements.

WFM Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite subdued Patricks Anastasia of Indonesia to scored 2.0 points and occupied solo fourth place. WNM Jan Jodilyn Fronda of Manila routed Yuliana Sentosa of Indonesia to raised her total 1.5 points, the same output of WFM Dita Karenza of Indonesia and WCM Sagar Tejaswini of India.

The country's campaign in the tournament is supported by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) headed by Chairman/President Prospero "Butch" Pichay Jr., Secretary-General Cavite 7th district Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino Jr. and Deputy Secretary-General Red Dumuk, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). Delegation head is NCFP Executive Director grandmaster (GM) Jayson Gonzales.

In the Open Under-16 division, Fide Master Paulo Bersamina of Pasay City crushed CM Le Huu Thai of Vietnam to catches compatriot NM Giovanni Mejia of Labrador, Pangasinan, CM Azarya Jodi Setyaki of Indonesia, FMs Lu Chan Hung and Nguyen Anh Khoi of Vietnam on top of the leadership board with 2.5 points each.

Jerad Docena of Bohol defeated CM Le Thanh Tai of Vietnam to lead the group of 2.0 pointers that includes CM Le Huu Thai and Nguyen Tri Thien of Vietnam, Khumnorkaew Tupfah of Thailand, Mohammad Agus Kurniawan of Indonesia, Ding Tze How Dilwen of Malaysia.

In the Girls 16 and under bracket, Ella Grace Moulic of Davao City nipped Ee Sun-Xin of Malaysia to scored 2.5 points. With the win, Moulic shared on top with WFM Vu Thi Dieu Ai and Huynh Ngoc Thuy Linh of Vietnam who agreed their game into a draw.

Shania Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna settled for a truce with Tri Febrianti Widya of Indonesia to scored 2.0 points, however Ynna Sophia Canape of Marikina City was yielded to Saikhanzaya Ganbaatar of Mongolia to remains at 0.5 point.

In the Open Under-14 division, Daryl Unix Samantila of Tonsuya, Malabon drew with M Ihsan Siregar of Indonesia. Samantila and Siregar, both tallied 2.5 points.CM Nguyen Tan Hoang Nam, Le Minh Hoang, Truong Tan Thanh and  Nguyen Dang Hong Phuc of Vietnam leading the way with perfect 3.0 points each.

In the Girls 14 and under bracket, Samantha Glo Revita of Rosales, Pangasinan drew with Nguyen Thi Minh Thu of Vietnam to scored 2.5 points. Revita, an incoming Grade 8 pupil of Rosales National High School gain a share of second place with WCM Dong Khanh Linh of Vietnam and Nithyalakshmi Sivanesan of Malaysia.WCM Nguyen Thanh Thuy Tien of Vietnam dealt Vongvatthana Chananchida of Thailand to grabs the solo lead with perfect 3.0 points.

Meanwhile, Alekhine Nouri of Escalante City, Negros Occidental edged compatriot Michael Concio Jr. of Sta. Rosa, Laguna to remain unbeaten with perfect 3.0 points, the same output of Ganzorig Amartuvshin of Mongolia, Bintang Rasyid A. Hidayat of Indonesia and Tin Jingshun of Singapore in the Open Under-8 division.

Bea Mendoza of Baguio City drew with WFM Vo Mai Truc of Vietnam to scored 2.5 points. The duo was tied at 3rd to 4th placers. Du Yuxin of Vietnam and Tin Ruiqi of Singapore are leading the way with perfect 3.0 points each in the Girls 12 and under bracket.Allaney Jia G Doroy of Misamis Oriental drew with Juwita Ardelia Sharfina Menda of Indonesia to scored 2.0 points. She was tied at 5th to 10th placers.