Gonzales wins as Frayna falters

Filipino Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales trounced Dutch Kees Nieuwelink to close in on the leaders and then watched his student, Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna, falter against Russian GM Konstantin Landa and skid out of the top 10 after six rounds of the 21st Hogeschool Zeeland Open 2017 in Vlissingen, The Netherlands, Wednesday.

Gonzales bested Nieuwelink in 50 moves of a Guioco Piano to share third place with nine others at 5.0 points, half a point behind co-leaders GMs Eduardo Iturizaga Bonelli of Venezuela and Landa with 5.5 points apiece.

Gonzales was half a point ahead of the 21-year-old Frayna, who fell to Landa in 46 moves of an Irregular Game.

Frayna’s downfall started on the 13th move when she opted to castle kingside instead of making a sidestepping king move, allowing Landa to win the exchange.

When it was over, Frayna, who trained under Gonzales at Far Eastern U, was left with a pair of rooks and pawns against Landa’s dangerous pair of bishops, a rook and pawns.