Frayna, Mendoza lead Phl past Nicaragua

Janelle Mae Frayna and Shania Mae Mendoza delivered the wins the Philippines needed to turn back an unheralded but fighting Nicaragua Saturday night and stay among the leaders after two rounds of the 44th World Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India.

Frayna and Mendoza went for the kill early by employing strong opening lines to overpower Maria Esther Granados Diaz and Patricia Alvarez Gutierrez on boards one and three, respectively, that sealed the win and a place for the Filipinas in the 40-nation lead pack with four match points each.

Jan Jodilyn Fronda tried to do the same with Michelle Ferrifino on board two but made an opening misstep that allowed her lower-ranked rival to equalize and send the duel to an equal opposite-colored bishops ending before agreeing for a truce.

The triumph softened the impact of Marie Antoinette San Diego’s shock defeat to Maria Jose Granados Ortiz on the last board in a duel where the former was punished by her opening adventurism that resulted to the latter launching an unrelenting and unstoppable kingside onslaught.

In the men’s side, GMs Mark Paragua and John Paul Gomez prevented a Philippine shutout loss to sixth pick Azerbaijan with upset draws opposite Rauf Mamedov and Vasif Durarbayli on boards one and three, respectively.

The Filipinos suffered a 1-3 defeat, with GM Banjo Barcenilla and IM Paulo Bersamina bowing to Gadir Guseinov and Nijat Abasov, on boards two and four, respectively.

Thus, the Phl men spiralled down to a 65-country tie at 48th spot with two match points.