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Philippines
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Frayna makes Spain Top 10

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By Ram Christian Agustin

THE Philippines’ first Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna vanquished International Master Santiago Beltran Rueda of Spain to secure a spot in the Top 10 after the eighth and penultimate round of the 44th Open Internacional d’Escacs Vila De Sitges in Spain Saturday night. 

Frayna, 22, leapt to a seven-player group at seventh place with 5.5 points, a full point behind solo leader of a three-man group and top seed GM Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan and half a point from the five-player chase pack headed by Russian GM Sergey Volkov with six points each.

Frayna, who is using this European campaign as part of her preparation to play the top board for the national team  in the World Chess Olympiad this September in Batumi, Georgia, was playing countryman IM John Marvin Miciano, who battled Shrivatri Anuj of India 34 moves of a Gruenfeld Defense to improve to 5.5 points, in the ninth and final round at press time.

The win also kept a flourishing record for Frayna, who is backed by The Philippine STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and Philippine Sports Commission.

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GM Jayson Gonzales caught up with Frayna and the 17-year-old Miciano after he pulverized Saha Neelash of India to likewise hike his total to 5.5 points.

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