By Kristel Satumbaga
Asian Para Games gold medalist Sander Severino and Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna came through with contrasting results Wednesday night to emerge champions in their respective online chess tournaments.
FIDE Master Severino, who is confined to a wheelchair since being diagnosed with muscle dystrophy at a very young age, reigned supreme in the second edition of the Cesar Orbe Memorial Chess 960 Cup while Frayna captured the 1st Philippine Women’s Bullet Championship.
Severino, who had raked in the golds in the ASEAN and Asian Para Games, drew his last round with Michael Silvederio and finished in a four-way logjam with four others with 8.5 points apiece.
But he ended up with the highest tiebreak score of 61.5 to edge GM Darwin Laylo, Narquingel Reyes, Elwyn Retanal and FM Alekhine Nouri for the crown while zooming to the top in the overall race ahead of first leg winner GM Joey Antonio.
It was Severino’s second title this year after topping the Chooks-to-Go tournament last January.
Frayna, for her part, ran away with the title and the distinction as the country’s bullet queen after scoring 80 points, 13 points ahead of runner up WFM Cherry Ann Mejia with 67 points.
Maria Euane Jesa Singson ended up third with 64 while Karen Enrqiquez and Virgenie Ruaya fourth and fifth with 61 and 59 points, respectively.
