A queen in the game of kings

Philippine pride: Janelle Mae Frayna playing in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad. Photo credit: David Llada

Philippine pride: Janelle Mae Frayna playing in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad. Photo credit: David Llada

Janelle Mae Frayna was featured on Inquirer:

With her mother as her inspiration, she says she will be aiming for the GM title next year and the World Championship cycle in 2018.

“I feel I can do it,” says Janelle, who idolizes Hungarian GM Judith Polgar, the greatest woman player of all time.

With the way she played in the World Junior Championship and the Baku Olympiad, which were definitely no less than strong finishes, indeed, we believe she can do it!

Philippines lost to Lithuania; Settled for 34th Place Final Ranking (Women)

Lithuania proved to be too tough to handle for the Philippines Women team, as they lost 3-to-1 in the tally sheet, in the 11th and final round of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad.

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-lithuania-result-round-11-women.csv”]

Replay the games below: [replay]

As a result, the Philippines Women team settled for 34th place in the final ranking, up from their 46th seed at the start of the tournament.

WGM Janelle Mae Frayna

GM Jayson Gonzales, coach to the Philippines Women team in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad, announced in a press release:

I’m proud to announce that WIM (Woman International Master) Janelle Mae Frayna achieved the third and last result to become the first Woman Grandmaster from the Philippines.

Janelle Mae Frayna in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad. Photo credit: Baku Chess Olympiad.

20-year-old Janelle Mae Frayna in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad. Photo credit: Baku Chess Olympiad.

Frayna achieved her third and final WGM norm in her drawn game in Round 9 of Baku Chess Olympiad against IM Daavademberel Nomin-Erdene of Mongolia.

Philippines wins against Italy in Round 10 Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad Women

Another strong finish by the Philippine Women’s team in Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad.

The 46th seed Philippines beats the 20th seed Italy in Round 10:

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-italy-women-results-round-10.csv”]

Replay the Philippines vs. Italy Round 10 games below:[replay]

This win puts Philippines in rank number 23 after 10 rounds, and thus will face the tougher 12th seed, Lithuania, in the final round, board pairings below:

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-lithuania-round-11-women.csv”]

Philippines Round 10 Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad

Games to watch out for later in Round 10 of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad:

Round 10 Open: Philippines vs. Scotland

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-scotland-round-10.csv”]

Round 10 Women: Philippines vs. Italy

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-italy-round-10-women.csv”]

Philippines Board Match-ups in Round 6 of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad

As mentioned earlier, it’s gonna be a tough match for the Philippines team in the Open section (Seed No. 53), as they face the team of the World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, Norway (Seed No. 12), in Round 6 of Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad.

GM Julio Catalino Sadorra will face the World Champion himself in Board 1:

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-norway-round-6-match-up-open.csv”]

The Philippines Women team (Seed No. 46) will face a probably lighter opposition in Mexico (Seed No. 57) in Round 6:

Philippines Sweeps Algeria in Round 5 Baku 2016 Chess Olympiad (Women)

The headline may suggest it was an easy feat for Team Philippines, but if you look closer at individual games, it was not. [replay]

[csvtable file=”http://chesshive.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/philippines-algeria-women-round-5.csv”]

This win will put the Philippines Women squad at 27th place after Round 5, and will be up against Mexico in Round 6.

Replay the Philippines vs. Algeria games below: [replay]