CAGAYAN de Oro City — Cagayan de Oro chess standout Woman International Master Ruelle Canino leads a 14-player field seeking the national women's title in the 2026 Philippine National Women’s Invitational Chess Championship in Alicia, Isabela.
The 18-year-old Canino, currently ranked No. 2 among Filipino female chess players, entered the round-robin tournament as one of the favorites alongside the country's first Woman Grandmaster, Janelle Mae Frayna.
International teammates Shania Mae Mendoza and Mhage Sebastian are also among the leading contenders in the competition, which runs from August 31 to September 8.
For Canino and three other members of the Philippine women's national team, the tournament also serves as a final test before the World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 15-27.
National team player Jan Jodilyn Fronda is sitting out the tournament to rest ahead of the Olympiad.
The field also includes Bernadette Galas, Jemaicah Yap Mendoza, Marie Antoinette San Diego, Jersey Marticio, Allaney Jia Doroy, Francois Marie Magpily, Cherry Ann Mejia, Kate Nicole Ordizo, Franchesca Largo and Diana Ramos.
The women's championship is one of five national chess events being held simultaneously in Alicia.
Also underway are the National Junior Championships, National Children’s Championships, Philippine Youth Selection Tournament and a FIDE Classification Tournament.
The events are being organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines in partnership with the Philippine Sports Commission and the Alicia local government.
For young players, the stakes extend beyond the local tournament. Winners of the junior, children’s and youth selection events will earn opportunities to represent the Philippines in upcoming international competitions.
Players in the FIDE Classification Tournament, meanwhile, are competing for National Master titles.
