Fronda 28th in world junior chess

MANILA, Philippines - Jan Jodilyn Fronda drew her final round match with Woman Fide Master Monnisha GK of India and wound up 28th in the World Junior Chess Championship in Turkey yesterday.

Fronda, who reached as high as joint eighth after 10 rounds, went for a win but just couldn’t force the issue, settling for the draw in 34 moves of a Scotch Opening. She actually finished tied for 27th with eight others with seven points but finished behind Monnisha after the tiebreak.

Woman GM Aleksandra Goryachkina of Russia trounced Woman IM Paula Andrea Rodriguez Rueda of Colombia in 29 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Declined to capture the girls’ crown with 10.5 points. WIM Zhansaya Abdumalik of Kazakhstan settled for runner-up honors with 9.5 points while WGM Alina Kashlinkaya of Russia and WIM Mitra Hejazipour of Iran finished with nine points each.

Jerad Docena also split the point with Milan Ratkovic of Serbia in 39 moves of a Caro Kann defense for 6.5 points for joint 50th, finishing at 55th after the tiebreak in boys’ division.

GM Yu Yangyi of China drew with GM Vidit Santosh Gujrathi of India after 20 moves of a Caro Kann defense to become the first Chinese champion with 11 points.

Last year’s winner GM Alexander Ipatov of Turkey pooled 10.5 points for second while Gujrathi and GM Jorge Cori of Peru wound up with 9.5 points each.