Bersamina, Fronda clinch IM titles

MANILA, Philippines - Two-time NCAA juniors MVP Paulo Bersamina and UAAP Season 76 co-Athlete of the Year Jan Jodilyn Fronda ruled the premier U-20 events of the 15th Asean+ Age Group Chess Championships to obtain their International Master and Woman IM titles, respectively, in Macau last Monday.

Fide Master Bersamina, the 16-year-old whiz of back-to-back-NCAA champs Letran Squires, piled up a 7.0 points in nine rounds to beat a pair of Vietnamese, Dang Hoang (6) and Nguyen Anh Khoi (5.5) for the crown in the Standard event for 20-and-below.

For her part, WNM Fronda of four-peat titlists La Salle, won the 20-U competitions in the distaff side in a 1-2-3 finish for Philippine entries.  Fronda, 28th placer in the 2013 World Junior Championship, scored 7.5 points in nine matches, the same output as compatriot WFM Janelle Mae Frayna but got the plum via tiebreak. WFM Mae San Diego took third place with 5.5 points.

Bersamina and Fronda led a six-gold romp for Phl in standard chess.

Joining them in the winners’ circle were WIM Bernadette Galas (girls U-18),  Shania Mae Mendoza (girls’ U-16), Precious Day Yecla (girls’ U-8), and Edmundo Gatus (seniors 50).

Galas led a gold-silver standing with compatriot Michelle Yaon with a six-point aggregate as Vietnamese Tran Thi Nhuy settled for the bronze with 5.5. Mendoza tallied 7 to beat fellow Phl bet Ella Grace Moulic (6.5) and Vietnamese Nguyen Hoang Anh (6.5) for the diadem.