Woman Grandmaster-candidate Kylen Joy Mordido stopped teenage sensation Ruelle Canino’s giant-killing run with a 34-move victory of an English Opening and seized a piece of the lead in the Philippine National Chess Championships dubbed “The Battle of Women’s Masters” at the City Hall of Malolos, Bulacan on Wednesday, March 20.
Mordido was like a tigress on the prowl, giving up a pawn and, when the 15-year-old Cagayan de Oro lass bit, the Dasmarinas bet quickly pounced on her helpless prey to launch a vicious kingside attack.
At the end of the contest, Mordido was a rook up and two moves away from checkmating the visibly flustered Canino.
For her impressive win, Mordido forged a four-way for the lead with her victim, 2019 champion Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza – all with similar 3 points.
Fronda downed fellow Woman International Master Bernadette Galas in 63 moves of a Caro-Kann, and Mendoza was a 42-move winner over Mhage Sebastian via a Sicilian duel.
WFM Cherry Ann Mejia missed out on claiming a share of the top spot after ending up with a marathon 72-move draw with WFM Allaney Jia Doroy of a King’s Indian Attack and settled for solo fifth with 3.5 points, or just half point off the pace.
The top-seeded Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna continued her struggles as she was held to a draw by unheralded Jarel Renz Lacambra and remained in the bottom half of the standings with just two points.
