JAN JODILYN FRONDA — WGM JANELLE MAE FRAYNA’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT

WOMAN INTERNATIONAL Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda continued to show top form as she bested Sayumi Halangoda on fourth board to fuel the Philippines’ 3-1 victory over Sri Lanka and reclaim their place in the top 15 after four rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Saturday night.

Ms. Fronda, a former national women’s champion who came in sick a couple of weeks before Samarkand, appeared reenergized and has delivered after she was asked to play in the lower boards after suiting up most of her career battling the world’s best in the top boards.

So far, Ms. Fronda has scored 3.5 points and should be good to go when the Philippines battle 19th seed Spain in the fifth round being played as of this writing.

Also prevailing were Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and WIM Ruelle Canino on second and third boards while the lone casualty of the day was Mhage Sebastian, who lost her way in the end game and succumbed to WIM Devindya Oshini Gunawardhana on top board.

Thanks to Ms. Fronda, the Filipinas, who are being funded by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by head of delegation Misamis Occidental Governor Henry Oaminal, Sr., have zoomed to 13th spot alongside 38 other countries with identical six match points.

In the men’s section, the Filipinos flattened the United Arab Emirates (UAE), 4-0, to barge into the top 20 also with six match points.

While Ms. Fronda was the shining light in the women’s team, IMs Paulo Bersamina and Jem Garcia have been lighting the beacon for the men’s squad as the two scored 3.5 points.

Also winning over UAE were IM Michael Concio, Jr. on board one and Grandmaster Daniel Quizon on third board. — Joey Villar