Frayna holds lead in WGM chess tourney

MANILA, Philippines — Janelle Mae Frayna pulled off draws with fancied International Master Alina L’ami of Romania and fellow Woman Grandmaster Keti Tsarsalashvili of Georgia to remain at the helm with WIM Mila Zarkovic of Serbia after five rounds of the JAPFA International Closed WGM tournament in Indonesia Friday night.

The third-seeded Frayna first split the point with the second-ranked L’ami in the fourth round and had to battle back from an inferior position against the top-seeded Tsarsalashvili to escape with a draw hours latert remain unbeaten and on top of the heap with four points.

Zarkovic, however, caught up with Frayna after the former halved the point with WIM Shanti Abidah Nur of Indonesia and brought down WGM Anda Safranska of France.

Half a point behind the leaders with 3.5 points was Indonesian WFM Ummi Fisabilillah, who drew with Nur.

Frayna goes for the win against Indonesian WIM Chelsie Monica Ignesias Sihite, who notched her third point by subduing Indonesian WFM Wijayanti Retno, in the sixth round.