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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Battle of the Women's Masters unfurls on Monday

Battle of the Women's Masters unfurls on Monday

Published Jan 31, 2026 02:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Newly minted Woman International Master Ruelle Canino and the country's first and only Woman Grandmaster to date in Janelle Mae Frayna spearhead a strong 16-player field.
Following their participation in the 33rd SEA Games last December, the Philippine Women’s Chess Team recently paid a courtesy call to Hon. Mayor Atty. Christian D. Natividad of Malolos, Bulacan. The visit also served as part of the team’s preparation for the 2026 Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship titled “The Battle of the Women’s Masters.” From left are GM Eugene Torre, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WIM Ruelle Canino, Hon. Atty. Christian D. Natividad, Mayor of Malolos City, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, WIM Bernadette Galas, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, GM Jayson Gonzales, NCFP CEO, IA Reden Cruz, NCFP Rating and Administrative Officer.
Following their participation in the 33rd SEA Games last December, the Philippine Women’s Chess Team recently paid a courtesy call to Hon. Mayor Atty. Christian D. Natividad of Malolos, Bulacan. The visit also served as part of the team’s preparation for the 2026 Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship titled “The Battle of the Women’s Masters.” From left are GM Eugene Torre, WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda, WIM Ruelle Canino, Hon. Atty. Christian D. Natividad, Mayor of Malolos City, WFM Shania Mae Mendoza, WIM Bernadette Galas, WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego, GM Jayson Gonzales, NCFP CEO, IA Reden Cruz, NCFP Rating and Administrative Officer.
Three slots to the Philippine women’s team seeing action in the 46th World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan will be up for grabs when The Battle of the Women’s Masters unfurls Feb. 1 to 11 in Malolos, Bulacan.
Newly minted Woman International Master Ruelle Canino and the country’s first and only Woman Grandmaster to date in Janelle Mae Frayna spearhead a strong 16-player field.
“The top three finishers will automatically play in the World Chess Olympiad. The last two slots will be nominated by the NCFP,” said NCFP chief executive officer and national women’s coach Jayson Gonzales referring to the Samarkand tilt set Sept. 10 to 24.
Other notable names seeing action in the event bankrolled by Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad are Olympiad veterans Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Shania Mae Mendoza and Bernadette Galas, who, along with Canino and Frayna, were part of the team that seized the Category gold in the Budapest staging two years ago.
Marie Antoinette San Diego, Mhage Gerriahlou Sebastian, Kate Nicole Ordizo, Queen Rose Pamplona, Heart Padilla, Maria Kristine Lavandero, Apple Rubin, Allaney Jia Doroy, Vic Glysen Derotas, Bonjoure Fille Suyamin and Cherry Ann Mejia are the other participants.
The tournament is part of the month-long Philippine Chess Festival that will coincide with the celebration of the Malolos Fiesta Republica.
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