CHESS PRODIGY. Ruelle Canino (4th from left), 16, rules the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship in Malolos, Bulacan on Sunday (March 24, 2024). Also in photo are (from left) Malolos City sports director Jose Anthony Villanueva, National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Pichay Jr., Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda, Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and NCFP chief executive officer Jayson Gonzales. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Ruelle Canino of Cagayan de Oro stunned Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda in 62 moves of an English Opening to rule the Philippine National Women’s Chess Championship in Malolos, Bulacan on Sunday night.
The 16-year-old prodigy racked up 8.5 points to claim PHP85,000 in cash as "Battle of Women Masters" champion and book a ticket to the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand in November.
Canino is also one of three national players competing in the FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary in September.
The 29-yar-old Fronda, the 2019 champion, settled for the runner-up purse of PHP52,000 after finishing with eight points in the tournament organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee.
Top seed Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna placed third with seven points after a 59-move triumph over Woman FIDE Master Cherry Ann Mejia in another English encounter. She received PHP40,000. (PNA)
