WFM Mendoza seizes lead in 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship
By Marlon Bernardino
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 15 Oct 2025
Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Jemaicah Yap Mendoza of the Philippines bested Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Saadat Bashirli of Azerbaijan and took the lead after ten rounds of the Girls' U14 event at the 2025 FIDE World Youth Chess Championship in Durres, Albania on Tuesday.
Mendoza, who used the white pieces, was a pawn down and under heavy pressure in the end game, defeated Bashirli.
"WFM Jemaicah Yap Mendoza staged a stunning comeback against Azerbaijan's WCM Saadat Bashirli. Capitalizing on a critical blunder by her opponent, the young Filipina showcased incredible grit to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, turning a losing game into a win for the Pride of Sta. Maria, Romblon, and Sta. Rosa City, Laguna," said Allan Pelias or much known Allano Mcpelly, one of the famous Filipino chess bloggers Chess Explorer PH.
Mendoza now has 8.5 points, half point ahead of her closest rivals. Her 11th and 12th and final round opponents are woman FIDE Master Polina A. Smirnova of Russia and Rukiya Olimova of Uzbekistan who tallied 8.0 points apiece.
Smirnova, meanwhile toppled Woman FIDE Master Vera Vujovic of Serbia while Olimova subdued Woman FIDE Master Mariya Kholyavkov of Kazakhstan.
Mendoza needs only a draw in the last round to secure the title.
"By the end of this day we could have our first Pinoy World Youth Champion in Chess (Standard Time Control)," said lawyer Cliburn Anthony Orbe, former Executive Director of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines under the leadership of it's Chairman/President Prospero Arreza Pichay Jr.
In the Boys' U14, National Master Phil Martin Casiguran was beaten by Siddharth Singh of the USA to remain at 5.5 points.
Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza served as coach for the Philippine contingent.-Marlon Bernardino-
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