Lady Agilas soar to semis

MANILA, Philippines  —  The Philippines crushed Sri Lanka with a pair of 3.5-.5 victories to advance to the semifinals in the women’s section even as its men’s squad was shown the door by second seed Kazakhstan in the Asian Nations Online Chess Cup yesterday.

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and Woman International Masters Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Kylen Joy Mordido delivered the wins in the first match while WIM Bernadette Galas conceded the lone draw on board three to T H D Niklesha Tharushi.

Frayna, Fronda and Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza then came through with the triumphs in the second duel while it was Mordido’s turn to allow the draw against WIM S D Ranasighe on board four after she failed to cash in on a pawn edge in a bishop and pawn endgame.

The Lady Agilas, who finished second after the nine-round eliminations, will battle either the Iranians or the Indonesias in the semis.

The Pinoy bets, however, bombed out with crushing 0-4, 1-3 losses to the Kazakhs.