CHESS

Filipino GMs chase titles

DT · Nov 3, 2026, 2:51 AM

JANELLE Mae Frayna and other Filipino woodpushers will shoot for titles when they compete in three major international tournaments this month. — Photograph courtesy of JANELLE MAE FRAYNA/FB

A slew of Filipino Grandmaster (GM) aspirants shoot for the stars with three international tournaments lined up this month starting with today’s 7th ASEAN+ Individual Chess Championships at the AMORAP in Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental.

With direct GM, International Master (IM), Woman Grandmaster, and Woman International Master (WIM) titles on the line, expect the local chessers headed by International Masters Jem Garcia, Pau Bersamina, Michael Concio Jr., MJ Bacojo and Christian Gian Karlo Arca, FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, to take advantage of the chance of becoming a GM outright.

Olympiad veterans Ruelle Canino, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Shania Mae Mendoza and Mhage Sebastian, for their part, lead the local charge on the women’s side, where the champion automatically clinches the WGM title and the runner-up the WIM title in this event financed by host Gov. Henry Oaminal Sr. and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and WR Chess.

The Open section of the nine-round tournament drew a total of 39 participants from 24 countries, including four GMs in Nguyen Duc Hoa of Vietnam, Dashzegve Sharavdorj of Mongolia, Daniel Quizon and Darwin Laylo, 24 IMs including top seed Nguyen Quoc Hy of Vietnam and seven FMs.