Battle of Grandmasters: Frayna virtual champ

 

by Marlon Bernardino

Standings after 12 rounds:

MEN: 28.5 points J.Gomez; 27.0 O. Barbosa; 25.0 D. Laylo; 24.0 R. Antonio; 21.0 R. Barcenilla; 20.0 M. Paragua; 16.5 J. Pimentel, E. Torre, E. Senador; 15.0 R. Nava, R. Bitoon, R. Salcedo III; 7.5 N. Reyes; 4.5 J. Habla

WOMEN: 31.5 points J. Frayna; 25.5 C. Perena, J. Enriquez; 24 B. Mendoza; 19.5 J. Docena, C. Mejia, 16.5 L. Bermundo, B. Galas, S. Mendoza, A. Lozano; 14.5 Y. Canape ; 13.5 R. Jose; 8.0 G. Romero; 4.5 V. Cabrera

MANILA---It's in the bag for Woman International Master elect Janelle Mae Frayna.

Frayna defeated Villa Mae Cabrera to virtually capture her first national title and the top purse of P50,000 with only one round left in the 2013 Battle of the Grandmaster Chess Championships at the Philippine Sports Commission Conference Room, Administration Bldg., Vito Cruz, Manila here late Sunday.

The top player of multi-titlist Far Eastern University prevailed after 27 moves of Alekhine defense using the black pieces to raise her score to 31.5 points in this 13-round tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines headed  by chairman/president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. and  secretary-general  Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino Jr., and supported by the Philippine Sports Commisison (PSC), headed by chairman  Ricardo "Richie" Garcia and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), at the helm is president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco.

Counting her four victories in the first six rounds, Frayna totes an insurmountable six-point lead over defending champion Woman International Master Catherine Perena and Jean Karen Enriquez.

Perena drew with Woman Fide Master Cherry Ann Mejia after 30 moves of Queens Gambit Accepter while Enriquez upset WIM Beverly Mendoza after 64 moves of French defense.

With the setback, WIM Mendoza remains at 24.0 points, good for fourth spot.

Mejia climb to fifth to sixth place with 19.5 points, the same output of WNM Jedara Docena who was beaten by Arvie Lozano after 35 moves of Caro-Kann defense.

Lozano, Lucelle Bermundo, WIM Bernadette Galas and Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza joints 7th position with 16.5 points each.

WFM Mendoza defeated Bermundo after 50 moves of Queens Pawn Game while Galas was yielded to Gladys Hazelle Romero after 53 moves of Sicilian defense.

Former National Champion Woman Fide Master Rulp Ylem Jose subdued Ynna Sophia Canape after 40 moves of French defense to occupied solo 12th place with 13.5 points followed by 13th place Romero with 8.0 points and last place Cabrera with 4.5 points.

In the men's play, Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and GM Oliver Barbosa battled a draw after 36 moves of Ruy Lopez Opening.

The 27-year-old Binan, Laguna native Gomez has 28.5 points, 1.5 points ahead over the Taytay, Rizal native Barbosa with 27.0 points.

GM Darwin Laylo bested International Master Joel Pimentel after 38 moves of Gruenfeld defense to climb solo third place with 25.0 points. 12-time national open champion GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio Jr. split the point with GM Richard Bitoon after 21 moves of Sicilian defense  to occupied solo fourth place with 24.0 points.

In other Round 12 results: US based GM Rogelio "Banjo" Barcenilla settled a truce with IM Richilieu Salcedo III after 29 moves of English Opening; IM Emmanuel Senador routed National Master Narquinden Reyes after 35 moves of Catalab Opening; GM Eugene Torre toppled Fide Master Roderick Nava after 30 moves of Center Counter Game and last year's champion GM Mark Paragua smashed Fide Master Jony Habla after 34 moves of King's Indian defense.

The thirteen and final round gets underway on Monday with an Open blitz side event Monday afternoon session at 2pm followed by awarding ceremonies at 6pm.