Fronda-Garfil, Sebastian boost top 10 chances

Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda-Grafil and Mhage Sebastian kept their strong showing and powered the Philippines to a 3.5-.5 destruction of Kyrgyzstan to move closer to gatecrashing into the top 10 party after seven rounds of the 46th World Chess Olympiad at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on Wednesday night.

Fronda-Grafil delivered the first win over Woman FIDE Master Aizhan Sezdbekova on board three and, after WFM Shania Mae Mendoza halved the point with WFM Aimonchok Zhunusbekova on board four, Sebastian came through with the match-clinching win over WFM Nurai Sovetbekova on top board.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna’s triumph over WFM Aleksandra Samaganova on board two was the icing on the cake for the Filipinas, who zoomed to a 26-nation tie for 12th place with 10 match points each going into the last four rounds of this biennial meet considered as the Olympics of chess.