Chessers hunt for podium finish

MANILA, Philippines — A podium finish.

That will be the best Filipinas Marie Antoinette San Diego and Shania Mae Mendoza could hope for after they drew in 30 moves of a Queen’s Gambit in the eighth and last round of the 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships at the AMORAP in Misamis Occidental yesterday.

Their hopes for the trophy and Woman Grandmaster title hopes were denied by Indonesian WIM Shafira Devi Herfesa, who virtually seized the crown and WGM herself following a 44-move win over Indian Woman FIDE Master Shree Reddy Keerti in their Sicilian duel.

With a round to go, Herfesa has seven points, 1.5 points ahead of San Diego, Mendoza and top seed WIM Bordoloi Pratitee of India, who agreed to a 31-move standoff with Filipina WGM Janelle Mae Frayna of a Sicilian duel.

The 28-year-old Mendoza could clinch a WIM title if she ends up in the top three of this event financed by host Gov. Henry Oaminal, Sr. and backed by the PSC and WR Chess.