OZAMIZ City — Filipina FIDE Master Ruelle ‘Tawing’ Canino continued her strong run with back-to-back victories over higher-titled opponents, setting up a top-board clash with Russian International Master Evgenija Ovod in yesterday afternoon’s penultimate eighth round of the 6th Asean Individual Open Chess Championships here.
The 17-year-old from Cagayan de Oro defeated Woman International Master Laysa Latifah of Indonesia and Woman Grandmaster Thi Mai Hung Nguyen of Vietnam to move into solo second place in the women’s standings with 5.5 points — just half a point behind the veteran Russian campaigner Ovod, who leads with six points.
However, Canino faces a tough challenge ahead as she takes the black pieces against Ovod. The seasoned Russian earned her IM title in the men’s FIDE field, making her the strongest female competitor in this year’s Asean chess tournament.
An upset victory would move Canino closer to the grandmaster title at stake in this Governor Henry Oaminal-backed event, while a draw would keep her within striking distance of the International Master title heading into Saturday morning’s ninth and final round.
After a grueling seven rounds of standard chess with 90 minutes and a 30-second increment per game, the little girl (Canino) has already overachieved.
“Kay bag-o lang ang Batang Pinoy sa Gensan, she must have been visibly exhausted. Ordinary mortals won’t survive the tough grind that she’s been undertaking,” said Arena Grandmaster Rey Urbiztondo, organizer of what he called the country’s biggest chess tournament so far.
Canino’s victories over Latifah and Nguyen were both decisive and impressive.
She needed just 36 moves to defeat Latifah while playing black in a Sicilian Alapin opening, then dispatched Nguyen in only 34 moves using the white pieces in a Slav Defense game.
Meanwhile, the country’s lone female Grandmaster, Janelle Mae Frayna, slipped to Board 4 with 4.5 points after a Round 6 draw and a Round 7 loss to pre-tournament favorite Ovod.
