Janelle Mae Frayna-led batch faces old aces in chess duel

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s top women’s and juniors chessers, headed by WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, FIDE Master John Marvin Miciano and rising star Daniel Cuizon face off with the country’s seasoned players, led by GM Joey Antonio and IMs Barlo Nadera and Chito Garma in a match dubbed “The Battle of the Legends” starting today at the PACE Building in Quezon City.

Frayna, the country’s first and only WGM, battles Nadera; Miciano, a Far Eastern U standout, tangles with Antonio; while Cuizon, the ASEAN Under-14 champion groomed as the next Wesley So, collides with Garma in the two-day event staking P30,000 to the winning team and P20,000 to the loser.

The other matches pit IM Jeth Romy Morado against IM Elias Lao, Bernadette Galas versus ASEAN Ed Gatus, Christy Lamiel Bernales against Ricardo Merano, Michael Concio versus Carlo Lorena, Shania Mae Mendoza against IM Ricky de Guzman, Mikee Charlene Suede versus Cesar Caturla, Allaney Jia Doroy versus Efren Bagamasbad, and Chester Neil Reyes against Adrian Pacis.

Each player plays two standard, four rapid and eight blitz games with four points and two points for a win and draw in standard, two points for a win and one point for a draw in rapid and one point for a win and half point for a draw in blitz.

No points will be given to a loss in the event organized by Chess Events Internationale and sponsored by NCFP president Butch Pichay and the Phl Military Academy Class 79 Matapat. Other backers of the event are the Artillery Foundation of the Phl, Inc. and Phl Academy for Chess Excellence.