CAGAYAN de Oro — A rough start did not stop Cagayan de Oro chess ace Woman International Master Ruelle “Taweng” Canino from fighting her way back to the podium.

The 18-year-old Canino finished third with 8 points in the 2026 Philippine National Women’s Invitational Chess Championship on September 6 in Alicia, Isabela, recovering from two straight losses on opening day.

The Far Eastern University ace drew Woman FIDE Master Cherry Ann Mejia and Kate Nicole Odizo in the final two rounds of the 13-round tournament to secure the bronze finish.

The country’s lone Woman Grandmaster, Janelle Mae Frayna, dominated the competition with 11.5 points, while WFM Shania Mendoza placed second with 9 points.

Canino opened the tournament with losses to WFM Francesca Largo and her mentor, Frayna, in the first and second rounds.

She still walked away with ₱60,000, while Frayna and Mendoza received ₱100,000 and ₱80,000, respectively.

Canino attributed her slow start partly to a demanding international schedule.

“I mean, no excuses, but we were in our international tour and walang pahinga,” Canino said.

The Kagay-anon chess standout will have little time to rest as she is set to represent the Philippines in the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from September 15 to 27.

She will join Frayna, Mendoza and WIM Jodilyn Fronda on the Philippine women’s team.

The Philippine team is seeking another strong showing after winning gold in Category B at the 2024 World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.

Tagoloan sisters dominate juniors

Meanwhile, chess talent from Northern Mindanao also shone in the 2026 Philippine National Junior Championship Women’s Division, where Tagoloan sisters LJ and Lyn Getubig finished 1-2.

LJ topped the eight-round competition with 6.5 points, scoring six wins and a draw with her elder sister, Lyn, in the final round.

The victory earned LJ the outright title of the Philippines’ newest Woman National Master.

Her only defeat came against Samantha Babol Uayan of Davao City in the fourth round. She bounced back by winning her remaining games before meeting Lyn in the finale.

Lyn finished with 6 points, tied with April Claros and fellow Tagoloanon Sara Dalagan for second to fourth place. She secured solo second after winning the tiebreak against Claros and Dalagan.

The strong showing also underscored the depth of FEU’s women’s chess program.

Canino, LJ, Lyn and Claros are all college teammates at FEU and are now chasing the university’s fourth straight UAAP chess championship this school year.

For Northern Mindanao, their results offer another reminder that the region continues to produce chess players capable of competing—and winning—on the national stage.