Frayna ends streak, falls to Russian WGM

MANILA, Philippines – Janelle Mae Frayna saw her unbeaten run snapped as she lost her way in the opening and absorbed a 46-move defeat to Russian Grandmaster Konstantin Landa of an Irregular Defense to slip out of the top 10 after six rounds of the 21st Hogeschool Zeeland Open 2017 in Vlissigen, The Netherlands Wednesday night.

Playing black, Frayna misplayed her opening that cramped her position and then opted to castle kingside instead of just moving her king that allowed Landa, whose rating of 2623 is way higher than the former’s 2248, to win the exchange.

Frayna tried all tricks in the book by complicating things but Landa’s deadly of pair of bishops and a rook against the Filipina’s pair of rooks were just too much.

The loss sent Frayna – whose campaign is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, National Chess Federation of the Phl, FEU’s Aurelio Montinola, The STAR’s Miguel Belmonte and Edward Go, Senate President Koko Pimentel and Bobby Ang – skidding to a big group at 13th spot with 4.5 points.

Frayna was coming off a string of four wins, including against Dutch International Master Koen Leenhouts in the fifth round.

The country’s first Woman Grandmaster, however, will try to spring back to life as she goes for the win against Hungarian GM Attila Czebe in the seventh round being played at press time.

While Frayna slipped, her coach GM Jayson Gonzales downed Dutch Kees Nieuwelink in 50 moves of a Guioco Piano to zoom to a share of third to 12th spots with five points apiece, just half a point behind leaders Landa and Venezuelan GM Eduard Itturizaga Bonelli with 5.5 points each.

Gonzales clashes with Indian IM R Praggnanandhaa next, hoping for another win that should catapult him closer to the leaders.