Frayna bows to Indian IM

MANILA, Philippines — Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna lost her way under the tremendous Indian juggernaut and scored just half a point in the last two rounds to slip from a share of the top spot to the middle of the 150-player Bangalore International Grandmasters Open after three rounds Friday in India.

Frayna, 26, couldn’t sustain her opening-day triumph and was sideswiped by Indian International Master A R Ilamparthi then lost to lower-ranked A Balkishan of India to slip to a heavy 59-player group at 79th spot with 1.5 points each.

But the Army private from Legazpi City, who just came from an impressive third-place finish in the Philippine National Championships early this month in Marikina, was facing Harshit Pawar also of India in the fourth round at press time.

GM Jayson Gonzales, Frayna’s mentor, lost to Indian Nilsu Pattnayak, and remained with 1.5 points.

Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda lost to IM G M H Thilakarathne and has a point while WIM Bernadette Galas remained scoreless after absorbing defeat at the hands of Aggarwal Ishvi also of India.