Fronda up as Doroy tumbles

MANILA, Philippines — Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda carried the cudgels for the Philippine campaign when Woman FIDE Master Allaney Jia Doroy faltered as she downed WFM Aashna Makhija of India to close in on a top 10 finish after six rounds of the Seventh Asian Continental Chess Championships (second Manny Pacquiao Cup) Saturday night.

The 24-year-old Fronda, an Olympiad veteran and former UAAP athlete of the year, had 3.5 points at 11th in  a seven-player logjam that included Woman Grandmaster Nguyen Thi Thanh An of Vietnam, her seventh-round foe.

It was the third straight win for Fronda, who bested New Zealand’s Wang Ying and countrywoman Christy Lamiel Bernales in the previous two rounds, after starting the tournament with just half a point to show after three rounds.

Fronda overtook the 17-year-old Doroy as the highest scoring Phl bet in the division so far after the latter lost to WIM Gu Tianlu of China.

The loss dropped Doroy from joint 10th to a six-chesser tie at 18th with three points.

In the men’s division, GMs John Paul Gomez and Joey Antonio, IM Ricky de Guzman and FM Mari Joseph Turqueza were the highest Filipino scorers with three points apiece.