Frayna downs Dutch IM

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Frayna defeated Dutch International Master Koen Leenhouts to grab a share of the lead after five rounds in the 21st Hogeschool Zeeland Open in Vlissingenm, the Netherlands Tuesday night.

Frayna needed 44 moves of an English Opening to beat Leenhouts and improve to 4.5 points on four wins and one draw.

She is the only female player on top as she shares the helm with six others, including Russian GM Landa Konstantin, who she will play with black in the sixth round.

Joining Frayna and Konstantin on top are Venezuelan GM Eduard Iturrizaga Bonelli, Dutch GMs Benjamin Bok, Jorden Van Foreest and Roeland Pruijjsers, and Indian IM R Praggnanandhaa.

Interestingly, GM Jayson Gonzales, Frayna’s coach and trainer, is half a point behind with four points.

Meanwhile, GM Darwin Laylo finished second behind Indonesian FIDE Master Rudin Hamdani in the FIDE International Chess Tournament Jaksa Agung Cup in Indonesia.

Laylo, who beat GM Susanto Megaranto in the last round, finished with nine points in 11 rounds, half a point behind Hamdani.

The Marikina City native actually ended up in a three-way tie after Hamdani and Hartoyo Suyud drew their match.

GM Wesley So, on the other hand, dropped to a share of last place after absorbing his second straight loss to Armenian GM Levon Aronian in 32 rounds of a Queen’s Pawn game.

So remained at two points with three others.