By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – In an event so alien to most Filipinos, Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza assured themselves of a silver medal despite yielding to Vietnamese rivals in chess ouk chaktrang of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Frayna and Mendoza succumbed to Nu Hong An Ton and Thanh Phuong Thao Pham, 2.5-1.5, in the battle of unbeaten teams in the women’s doubles 60 minutes held at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
“I struggled in both of my games. Sayang. It felt so close! Thanks to my teammate for her solid performance,” Frayna posted on her social media.
Vietnam took the lead after the first duel after Frayna lost her match and Mendoza agreed to a draw.
Frayna and Mendoza, however, only managed for draws in their second duel that sealed Vietnam’s victory.
Vietnam’s triumph secured them the top spot with a flawless 6-0 record while the Filipinas came in second with a 5-1 mark heading to the seventh and final round, where Frayna and Mendoza will clash with hometown bets Tep Skokratha and Pen Khemrareaksmey on Saturday, May 6.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) Executive Director Jayson Gonzales said Frayna and Mendoza are already assured of the silver due to a higher tiebreak regardless of their Round 7 outcome.
