MANILA, Philippines – Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda hurdled their respective assignments in the first round Thursday night that set in motion their bids in the 1st Bangalore International Grandmasters Open Chess Tournament at the Sri Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in India.
The country’s top two women chessers were in their element when they disposed of Indian Arnav Dabhade and Sri Lankan WIM S D Ranasinghe, respectively, to jump into a heavy 79-player lead with a point apiece.
Frayna was battling Indian IM A R Ilamparthi while Fronda was tackling Indian GM M. S. Thejkumar, who turned back WIM Bernadette Galas, in the second round at press time.
GM Jayson Gonzales, Frayna’s and the women’s national team coach, also saw action in the 10-round, 210-player tournament and drew with India’s Kumar Singh Kartik.
Frayna, Fronda and Galas are using the event as part of their preparation for the FIDE World Chess Olympiad slated this September in Budapest, Hungary.
Apart from it, Frayna hopes to earn an IM norm in the process.