Gonzales tramples rival, shares Belgium chess lead

MANILA, Philippines — Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales trounced Mart Nabuurs of the Netherlands to stay on top but Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna bowed to sixth pick GM Wan Yunguo of China in the second round of the Burgse Meesters in Burges, Belgium Sunday night.

Gonzales, who hurdled Italian Alessandro Altea in the first round, outplayed Nabuurs in the opening and translated his edge into a full point via checkmate on the 60th move of their English duel.

The 49-year-old Far Eastern U coach thus kept himself in the lead with 17 others. Meanwhile, the 22-year-old Frayna, whose campaign is backed by the Philippine Sports Commission and The Philippine STAR president and chief executive officer Miguel Belmonte, fell to 1-1 after disposing of Denmark’s Malettti Julio Guillermo Quinones.

Frayna, who will play top board for the Phl women’s team in next month’s World Chess Olympiad in Batumi, Georgia, was playing England’s Adiran Somerfield at presstime.

IM John Marvin Miciano, on the other hand, drew with Briton Simon Wilks following a defeat to French Stephane Faure earlier in the day.