Frayna, Torre panauhin sa Shell Active Chess grand finals

MANILA, Philippines – Inimbitahan ang kauna-unahang woman Grandmaster ng bansa bilang guest of honor sa Shell Active Chess  national finals ngayong weekend sa SM Megamall.

Inaasahang magbibigay si Janelle Mae Frayna ng inspirational talk sa 48 players na nakapasok sa grand finals na idaraos sa Oct. 1-2.

Nakuha ng 20-gulang na si Frayna ang third at final WGM norm sa kanyang kampanya sa 42nd World Chess Olympiad sa Baku, Azerbaijan.

Lumaban din ang Far Eastern University standout sa  Shell Active chess tournament noong 2005.

“We’re indeed grateful to be graced by the presence of our first woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna at the start of our grand finals this Saturday. She’ll be giving inspirational message to the players as she had also been part of the tournament in the past,” sabi ni Melanie Bularan, Social Investment and Social Performance Manager ng Pilipinas Shell sa Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum kahapon sa Shakey’s Malate.

Samantala, bibigyang kulay naman ang closing ceremony ng tournament na nasa-ika-24th taon na, ni  Asia’s first ever Grandmaster Eugene Torre.

May tatlong divisions ang paglalabanan sa nine-round Swiss system tournament na kiddies (8-12 years old), juniors (13-16 years old) at seniors (17 to 20 years old) kung saaan ang mananalo sa bawat category ay tatanggap ng P20,000 plus trophy. Ang top female finisher sa bawat category ay may additional P10,000.

Ang dalawang finalists na sina Michael Concio Jr (kiddies) at Istraelito Rilloraza (juniors) ay dumalo rin sa forum na handog ng San Miguel Corp., Accel, Shakey’s at Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp kasama sina tournament director Alex Dinoy.

Ang lahat ng finalists kabilang ang 15 kababaihan ay mula sa limang legs na ginawa sa National Capital Region (NCR), Southern Tagalog (Batangas), Visayas, Southern Mindanao (Davao) at Northern Mindanao (Cagayan de Oro). May kabuuang 1,700 players ang sumali sa qualifying legs.