Frayna stays in hunt for World Cup berth

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May 13, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Desperately needing a victory to storm back into contention, Filipina GM Janelle Mae Frayna delivered one as she smashed Mongolian Enkh-Amgalan Enkhrii Sunday in the women’s side of the Asian Individual Chess Championships in Al Ain, UAE.

The country’s first and only Woman GM dismantled the bewildered Enkhrii’s Two Knights Defense in 26 moves that catapulted her into a 10-player tie at No. 11 with 3.5 points apiece after the fifth round of this nine-round meet where the top two qualify straight to the FIDE World Cup set July 5 to 29 in Batumi, Georgia.

It was a much-needed result for 28-year-old enlisted Army personnel from Legazpi, Albay, who was derailed by three straight draws after hurdling her opening-round assignment.

And all it took for Frayna was one little opening mistake by Enkhrii that allowed the former to snap a pawn, and eventually one whole piece to extract the full point.

Frayna is the country’s remaining hope for a slot in Batumi as teammates Marie Antoinette San Diego, Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Bernadette Galas were in the bottom half of the standings.