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Friday, March 29, 2024

Mordido keeps women’s chess lead

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Teenage sensation WIM Kylen Joy Mordido settled for a draw with WIM Allaney Jia Doroy in the fifth round to maintain a slim half-point lead in the 2019 National Women’s Championship—Grand Finals at the Philippine Academy for Chess Excellence located at Mindanao Ave., in Project 6, Quezon City.  

Mordido, who earned her first WGM result when she topped the premier girls’ 18-under division in the Eastern Asia Youth Championships in Korea last year,  and Doroy split the point after 31 moves of the Slav defense.

WIM Kylen Joy Mordido (right) in deep thoughts against WIM Allaney Jia Doroy.

The draw—which ended a string of four victories—was enough for the 17-year-old pride of Dasmariñas, Cavite to stay in the leaderboard  after five rouns  in this  prestigious 14-player tournament  organized  by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, headed by President/Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, thru Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

Mordido won over Samantha Umayan in the fourth round late Thursday.

But close on Mordido’s heels are top seed WGM Janelle Mae Fraya, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and WIM MIkee Charlene Suede, who all have four points after victories with the disadvantageous blackpieces.

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Frayna, the country’s highest-rated player with an ELO of 2206, defeated Rizalyn Jasmine Tejada in 35 moveas of the Alekhine defense; Fronda crushed Mary Ann Alcantara in  33 moves of the Larsen opening; and Suede demolished Umayan in only 16 moves of the French Excjange variation.

Earlier, Frayna bested WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, Fronda  outplayed Tejada and Suede lost to WIM Catherine Perena-Secopito in fourth round matches.

Galas and Mendoza share fifth to sixth places with 3.5 points.

Galas won over Secopito in 2 4moves of the Semi Slav, while Mendoza drew with San Diego in 41 moves of the London System.

Tournament director GM Jayson Gonzales said at stake in the tournament  are seats to the Philippine team to the  World Chess Olympiad scheduled  Aug. 1 to 15, 2020 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.        

The champion in the standard chess competition will also receive the top prize of P25,000 and trophy.           

The runner-up will receive P15,000, the third placer will earn P10,000 and fourth placer P5,000.

Supervising arbiter is Gene Poliarco.

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