The National Chess Federation of the Philippines has nominated Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and International Master Paulo Bersamina to represent the country in the men and women FIDE World Chess Cup.
NCFP chief executive officer Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales said they have decided to nominate Frayna and Bersamina for the two slots allotted to the country because they have no more time to hold tryouts.
Frayna, who turned 24 Wednesday, will be the country’s lone bet in the women’s World Cup slated July 10 to Aug. 6 in Sochi, Russia, while Bersamina will join IMs Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio, Jr. in the men’s edition of the same event from Aug. 1-28 in Minsk, Belarus.
Quizon, 16, and Concio, 15, clinched their spots by topping the Asian Zonal 3.3 Championships two weeks ago.
Frayna was in the final month of her Army training, but had to cut it short after she was called upon for the World Cup and the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in November.
“We also thank Rep. Abraham Tolentino, PSC chairman William Ramirez, NCFP president Rep. Prospero Pichay, Jr. and LT. Gen. and USEC Arthur Tabaquero for helping us get Janelle to start her training,” said Gonzales, who also showed gratitude to Lt. Gen. Jose Faustino, Jr., Brig. Gen. Danilo Carino, Col. Harold Argamosa, Col. Nilo Vinluan, Col. John Antonio Divinagracia and Col. Dexter Macasaet.
Aside from being the country’s first and only WGM, Frayna will also make history as the first Filipina to see action in the World Cup.
Meanwhile, about 15 Filipinos, headed by IM John Marvin Miciano, are eyeing to clinch one of the 10 slots to Minsk in the Asian Continental Championship unfolding Friday.
