WOMAN International Master Janelle Mae Frayna is bidding to become the country’s first Woman Grandmaster when she plays board one in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan next week.
With a Fide rating of 2310 following a fifth-place finish at the world juniors, Frayna will spearhead the women’s team also composed of WIMs Catherine Perena-Secopito and Jodilyn Fronda, Woman Fide Master Shania Mae Mendoza and National Master Christy Lamiel Bernales in the Sept. 1 to 14 Olympiad in Baku.
Frayna, a BS Psychology cum laude candidate from Far Easter University, owns the distinction of beating Grandmasters Eugene Torre and Joey Antonio in the Battle of GMs last year.
The men’s team composed of GMs Julio Sadorra, Antonio, Torre, Rogelio Barcenilla and IM Paulo Bersamina and the women’s squad will leave for Baku on Aug. 31, according to GM Jayson Gonzales, executive director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines.
The Philippines wound up 46th in the men’s and 64th in the women’s division during the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway.