Philippine women's team clinches gold at FIDE Chess Olympiad

They're making HERstory!

The women's team raised the Philippine flag after winning the gold medal in Group B and finishing 24th overall in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad women's division in Budapest, Hungary.

The Philippine women's chess team on Sept. 23 achieved a historic victory, securing the gold medal in their final match against Brazil (4-0). This marked their first gold medal in this category since 2006 and their best overall finish since 1988.

Led by Shania Mae Mendoza, Janelle Mae Frayna, Jan Jodilyn Fronda, and Ruelle Canino, the team proved that they could dominate the competition. A turning point came when top contender Iran forfeited their game against Israel due to political reasons. This allowed the Philippines to rise in the rankings and ultimately claim the championship.

All five team members contributed significantly to the victory, with Canino, the youngest player, earning the most rating points at 102. She improved her rating from 2004 to 2260, a remarkable achievement.

The Philippines, previously ranked 47th, accumulated 14 match points, placing them in a tie for 22nd with 14 other countries. After tiebreakers were considered, they ultimately finished in 24th place overall.

Their coach, Grandmaster Jayson Gonzales, expressed gratitude for the support they received from various organizations.

"It will be a legacy in Philippine chess that will be remembered for a long time," he said.

Meanwhile, the men's team had a 1-3 loss to Hungary, finishing in 59th place with 12 points.

This Olympiad became the biggest in history, with 188 teams in the Open and 169 teams in the women’s section.

Last Sept. 15 at the same competition, Daniel Quizon clinched the coveted grandmaster title at 20 years old after beating grandmaster Igor Efimov and breaching the 2500-rating plateau.