Woman International Masters (WIMs) Kylen Joy Mordido and Jan Jodilyn Fronda and toppled their respective opponents to forge a share of the lead after the fourth round of the 2021 Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship at the PACE building in Quezon City on Monday.
Mordido, who is being groomed as the country’s next Woman Grandmaster, crushed 13-year-old Woman National Master Ruelle Canino’s King’s Indian Defense in 37 moves to keep her grip of the lead with three points.
The Dasmarinas, Cavite bet, who needs just the last of three norms to become the country’s second WGM behind Janelle Mae Frayna, was tied at the helm with Fronda, the 2019 titlist who downed Woman National Master Francois Marie Magpily in 46 moves of a French Defense.
Just half a point behind the pace-setters with 2.5 points each were Frayna, former national champion Woman International Master Shania Mae Mendoza and Olympiad veteran Woman International Master Marie Antoinette San Diego.
The top-seeded Frayna bested Woman National Master Lexie Grace Hernandez in 80 moves of a Pirc Defense and has now scored 2.5 points in the last three rounds to jump back to the title race after succumbing to the younger Canino in the opening round Saturday.
Mendoza halved the point with National University standout Woman Fide Master Allaney Jia Doroy while San Diego split the point with national team mainstay Woman International Master Bernadette Galas to likewise stay in the hunt for the champion’s prize worth P50,000 and a seat to the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games in May next year.
In the only other result, Woman National Master Rinoa Mariel Sadey defeated Marian Calimbo in 40 moves of a Benoni to improve to two points.
The event is backed by PSC chair Butch Ramirez, Chess Movement, Inc. chair Dr. Ariel Potot, PCSO general manager Royina Garma, Endgame Sports founder Atty. Cris Aspiras, POC president Bambol Tolentino, NCFP chief Butch Pichay and Atty. Roel Canobas.-Marlon Bernardino-
Photo shows WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and WNM Lexie Grace Hernandez (photo credit to NCFP)