Frayna mulls next move– spot in World’s Top 10

MANILA, Philippines - It’s not a career-changing gambit, just sheer determination.

Janelle Frayna may have done an extraordinary feat for being the Philippines’ first woman grandmaster by having a mindset on being a regular player and a “late bloomer.”

But she pursued her dream with doggedness, stayed away from being complacent and in the end found the right moves to excel in the event.

That led to her clinching the title in the 42nd World Chess Olympiad in Azerbaijan last September with sheer determination and unwavering passion.

“I could not really say, especially among my contemporaries, that I am much more talented than them. I am just an ordinary chess player with extraordinary determination,” said Frayna.

This is the same frame of mind  that she would bring with her once she sets her sights on the Asian Zonals 3.3 in Tagaytay this February and a one month campaign in Europe in July to kickstart her bid of improving her ratings and making it to the Top 10 female players in the world.

A win in the Asian Zonals 3.3 assures her of a slot in the FIDE World Cup qualifier in 2018.

Not one to be contented with what she has achieved, Frayna eyes to hike her current 2325 rating to 2400 to be officially awarded with the men’s International Master title she also bagged in Azerbaijan after defeating IM Olga Zimina.

This will also improve her ranking (currently No 160 as published in the FIDE website) to break into  the Top 100 and eventually the Top 10 after three to five years.

Frayna is ranked first among the female players in the country.

Her drive to always give her best and relentless campaign to improve her craft she carries with her even outside chess, leading her to become a candidate for cum laude in her psychology degree at the Far Eastern University.

The 20-year-old Bicolana puts premium on her academic studies despite a loaded schedule which includes attending classes, a six-hour formal chess training and additional hours for basketball cross-training daily.

She says that this is her responsibility as a student and as an athlete.

In a year’s time, she looks forward to seeing a fellow chess player surpass her achievements, recognizing the need to continue to develop players to sustain the chess program in the country.

She said that her feat was not for her personal glory but to help the state of Philippine chess by boosting interest and raising the skill level in the sport.

Frayna will also have to put on hold her dreams of becoming a lawyer for two to three years as she focuses solely on chess after graduation.

Her coach, Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, said that it was indeed her ward’s determination that sets her apart from other athletes.

“She is more than that. She is not just a special player. She’s a treasure for the country because she has that kind of determination and perseverance that no other player has, not even in the previous years. She has big dreams,” said Gonzales.