Frayna rules PNG chess

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna capped Albay Province’s domination of chess as she reigned supreme in the blitz section of the Philippine National Games at the Robinsons Galleria here Friday night.

Frayna, 22, finished tied for first with fellow Olympiad veteran Shania Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna with seven points apiece but won via a higher Buccholz tiebreak score of 51 points as against the latter’s 49 to claim her second crown after ruling the rapid event hours before.

It was Albay’s fourth gold with the other two delivered by GMs John Paul Gomez and Jayson Gonzales, who topped the standard and rapid event, respectively.

Frayna had a chance to clinch the gold outright with a draw but ended up losing her ninth and final game to the unheralded Woman International Master Mikee Charlene Suede of Makati, resulting in  a two-way tie on top with Mendoza, who split the point with Jean Karen Enriquez of Mandaluyong.

“I was a little disappointed of how I finished but still thankful that I still got lucky in the end,” said Frayna.