Brena Membrere dominates women’s Battle of Grandmasters

MANILA, Philippines – A young Filipina woman virtually dominated the women’s championship of the Battle of Grandmasters, also known as the national chess championship, in the last round on Saturday, October 31. 

Brena Membrere, 20, toppled defending champion Catherine Perena Secopito after the veteran committed an opening error that lost material. This allowed Jan Jodilyn Fronda, who defeated Antoinette San Diego, to become national champion with 6 points out of 9. 

Perena Secopito was second in 5.5 followed by San Diego with 5 points. Membrere finished near the bottom of the 10-man field with 4 points.

But Membrere claimed not only Perena Secopito’s scalp but Fronda’s as well in the 8th round. This allowed Perena Secopito to vault to a half-point lead going into last round, leaving Fronda doubtful of winning the tournament. 

“I can’t believe I was able to defeat two of the country’s top players,” she said in a private message on Facebook. 

“My coach (Michael Gotel, a former national junior runner-up) told me that even if your opponent is a master if you get to outwit them in the opening, you can gain the advantage,” said Membrere.

Gotel, one of the few players to pass a Trainers Course under the International Chess Federation (FIDE), handled Membrere starting July 2014 when he was appointed women’s coach of Ateneo.

The 20-year-old Membrere is taking up AB Interdisciplinary Studies, with communications and psychology as her majors, at the Ateneo.

After graduating next year, Membrere said she intends to give a few more years to chess, with the aim of making the national team and possibly gain the Woman International Master, which is held by Perena Secopito and Fronda.

“I think I can’t still give up chess too soon after I graduate because I know I can also get my title just like everyone else,” said the native of Aringay, La Union. – Rappler.com