Phl chessers fall in world junior tiff

MANILA, Philippines - Jerad Docena and Jan Jodilyn Fronda bowed to their higher-rated rivals and fell off the standings after five rounds in the World Junior Chess Championships in Kocaeli, Turkey yesterday.

Docena lost to Armenian IM Vahe Baghdasaryan in the Open section while Fronda succumbed to Vietnamese WIM Vo Thi Kim Phung in girls’ play.

With 2.5 points, Docena dropped two points behind top seed GM Yu Yangyi of China and No. 9 Indian GM Sethuraman SP, who both had 4.5 points.

Fronda, with two points, fell 2.5 off top seed Woman Grandmaster Alina Kashlinskaya of Russia, No.5 WGM Irina Bulmaga of Romania and No.11 WIM Warda Aulia Medina of Indonesia, who each had 4.5 points.