Frayna aims for GM title in Euro campaign

MANILA, Philippines — Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna leave tonight for another European campaign, hoping to put up a string of solid finishes for a shot at the men’s GM title.

Frayna, 22, will compete in six tournaments starting with three events in Spain – the 41 Open International Barbera del Valles 2018 from July 4-12 in Barbera del Valles, the XX Obert Internacional Sant Marti from July 13-21 in Barcelona and the 44 Open Internacional de Sitges from July 22-29 in Sitges.

She will then proceed to the 22nd Hogeschool Zeeland tournament set Aug. 4-11 in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, the Bruges Masters 2018 from Aug, 12-16 in Bruges, Belgium and will end her campaign by flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Malaysian Open from Aug, 19-27.

Frayna, who’s Euro stint is backed by the Phl Sports Commission, Far Eastern U chairman Aurelio Montinola III and The Philippine STAR president and CEO Miguel Belmonte, will then join the month-long training camp with the national men’s and women’s teams set to vie in the 43rd Chess Olympiad slated Sept. 23-Oct. 6 in Batumi, Georgia.

“The goal is to obtain a men’s GM title and reach the 2500 rating mark, which will catapult her (Frayna) to the top 20 in the women’s world rankings,” said Frayna’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales.

GM Eugene Torre, who is currently competing in the Legends tournament in PLatja d’Aro, Spain that also features former world champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia, may accompany Frayna in Spain while rising International Master John Marvin Miciano will join Frayna and Gonzales in the trip.

Like Frayna, the 17-year-old Miciano, the reigning Asian Age Group champion, is also eyeing the GM title.