Miciano back in top 10

MANILA, Philippines — International Master John Marvin Miciano trounced Woman FIDE Master Sonja Maria Bluhm of Germany to reclaim a place inside the top 10 after the eighth and penultimate round of the 22nd Hogeschool Zeeland chess tournament in Vlissingen, the Netherlands Friday night.

The win ended the 17-year-old Miciano’s two-game losing skid as he shared ninth place with 12 others with six points apiece, or a point behind solo leader GM Sandro Mareco of Argentina.

Miciano was eyeing a top five performance with a win over second seed GM Jorden Van Foreest of the Netherlands in the ninth and final round at press time.

Interestingly, Van Foreest faced two more Filipinos – WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and GM Jayson Gonzales – before facing Miciano.

The Dutch lost to Gonzales in the seventh round and downed Frayna, whose trip is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and The Philippine STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte.

Miciano hopes to win one for the Phl this time.

Frayna, who fell to Van Foreest in 38 moves of a French Defense, skidded to a big group at 22nd place with 5.5 points but could still manage a top 15 finish if she beats IM Casper Schoppen also from the Netherlands.