Frayna beats French WGM, gains solo lead in Indonesia tiff

MANILA, Philippines – Janelle Mae Frayna downed fellow Woman Grandmaster Anda Safranska of France to seize the solo lead with a perfect three points after three rounds of the JAPFA International Closed WGM tournament in Indonesia Thursday night.

Frayna — seeded second in the 10-round tournament where she hopes to gain FIDE rating points — will go into her much anticipated duel with top seed International Master Alina L’ami of Romania in the fourth round with all the confidence she will need to keep her lofty perch.

The country’s first WGM is currently half a point ahead of Serbian WIM Mila Zarkovic, who split the point Woman FIDE Master Wijayanti Retno of Indonesia and slid to solo second with 2.5 points.

A full point behind the Filipina with two points apiece were Safranska and WFM Ummi Fisabilillah and WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesias Sihite of Indonesia.

Fisabilillah trounced WFM Baiq Vina Lestari of Indonesia while Sihite halved the point with WIM Dewi Ardhiani Anastasia Citra also of Indonesia.

Frayna’s other victories came at the expense of Retno in the opening round and another local bet WIM Abidah Shanti Nur the next day.

Frayna is using this tournament as part of her preparation before he plunges anew into the European circuit for the second straight year alongside fast improving FM John Marvin Miciano.