MANILA – The Philippine women’s chess team concluded a remarkable campaign at the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad, securing a decisive 4-0 victory over Brazil at the BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary, on Sunday. This impressive win not only marked the end of their tournament but also earned the team a gold medal in Group B, their first medal since 2006.
In the 11th round, Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Shania Mae Mendoza, Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Janelle Mae Frayna, Woman International Master (WIM) Jan Jodilyn Fronda, and Woman National Master (WNM) Ruelle Canino each claimed victory, propelling the team to finish with 14 points overall. They shared 22nd place with 14 other teams, ultimately ranking 24th after tiebreaks.
“This is a milestone in Philippine chess history, a legacy that will not be forgotten for generations to come,” said national women’s coach Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales. He expressed gratitude to delegation head Atty. Ruel Canobas, team manager Atty. Nikki de Vega, and Far Eastern University chair Aurelio Montinola III for their unwavering support.
The achievement is particularly significant, as it surpasses the team’s 36th-place finish at the previous Olympiad in Chennai, India, and recalls the glory of the 2006 squad led by Sheerie Joey Lomibao, which clinched a medal in Group C.
All five players on the Philippine team saw improvements in their ratings. Canino, a 16-year-old from Cagayan de Oro, excelled with six points in eight games, gaining an impressive 102 rating points and achieving a new rating of 2260. Frayna topped the team with eight points out of 11, raising her rating by 27 points, while Mendoza contributed 5.5 points as the top board player.
Fronda and Bernadette Galas also made notable contributions, finishing with 6.5 and 3 points, respectively.
In contrast, the Philippine men’s team faced a tougher battle, suffering a 1-3 loss to Hungary. Julio Catalino Sadorra lost on board one, while Daniel Quizon managed a draw on board two. John Paul Gomez fell to his opponent, and Jan Emmanuel Garcia secured a draw on board four. Under the mentorship of Eugene Torre, the men’s team finished 59th with 12 points.
India dominated the tournament, claiming the prestigious Gaprindashvili Cup for achieving the highest combined scores in both the men’s and women’s divisions, further highlighting the competitive spirit of the Olympiad.
