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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Frayna draws with Fronda, tightens grip of solo lead in National Women's Chess Championships

Frayna draws with Fronda, tightens grip of solo lead in National Women's Chess Championships

Published Feb 4, 2026 01:13 pm

At A Glance

  • The enlisted Army personnel from Bicol needed 26 moves of a Petroff Defense to outplay her rival, keeping her alone at the helm with 3.5 points.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna drew with fellow national team mainstay Jan Jodilyn Fronda to maintain her firm grip of the solo lead after four rounds of the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championships in Malolos City, Bulacan on Wednesday, Feb. 4.
The enlisted Army personnel from Bicol needed 26 moves of a Petroff Defense to outplay her rival, keeping her alone at the helm with 3.5 points.
Fronda, for her part, trailed by half a point along with another Olympiad veteran Bernadette Galas, who split the point with Cherry Ann Mejia in 31 moves of an English Opening.
Also battling to an early standoff were Marie Antoinette San Diego and reigning national juniors girls champion Heart Padilla in 13 moves of an Old Indian Defense.
Mejia and Padilla stayed in that group of 2.5-pointers at No. 4 that included defending champion Ruelle Canino, who posted her second straight win over Queen Pamplona in 38 moves of a Queen’s Indian duel.
The 18-year-old Cagayan de Oro standout has stormed back into contention after a disastrous start that saw her blowing a won game and settling for a draw in the opening round against Fronda and falling in the second to Bonjouree Suyamin.
The 16-player tournament, which is bankrolled by Malolos Mayor Christian Natividad and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, is staking three slots to this September’s World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
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