by Kristel Satumbaga
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna defeated Woman International Master Gulmira Dauletova of Kazakhstan to become the best Filipino finisher in the Asian Continental Chess Championships in Xingtai, China on Saturday.
It was Frayna’s fourth straight win after a slow start, finishing the nine-round tournament at 13th place with 5 points on four wins, two draws and three losses.
Frayna was at the bottom with 1 point after five rounds but climbed his way up at the expense of rated foes.
She was 2.5 points behind eventual champion IM Dinara Saduakassova of Kazakhstan.
In men’s play, GM Darwin Laylo split the point with Indian GM Ventakaraman Karthik to finish with 5 points at 27th place with 4 wins, two draw and three defeats.
IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia also drew with IM Paulo Bersamina for identical 4.5 points, though Garcia settled for a higher placing at 38th against Bersamina’s 42nd due to a superior quotient.