THE Philippines scored a historic chess triumph in international chess as Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna dominated the Ladies’ Blitz event of the 31st Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival.
Frayna pulled off a flawless campaign, going unbeaten with seven wins and two draws to secure the title.
She outclassed a competitive field of 120 players from 24 countries, including 28 titled masters, reinforcing her stature as one of Asia’s elite female players.
In a social media post, Frayna said: “This is my first time playing in the Abu Dhabi Chess Festival. Thank you to our Pinoy friends who made us feel at home. It’s one tough tournament, but I will surely give my best.”
Frayna, 29, is an enlisted personnel of the Philippine Army.She became the country’s first Woman Grandmaster in 2017 after being awarded the title by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE).
A graduate of Far Eastern University, she was named co-recipient of the UAAP Season 77 Athlete of the Year award.
She also won two bronze medals in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in the women’s rapid and women’s individual blitz events.
