JAN Jodilyn Fronda of the Philippines has asked the Hungarian embassy to grant her request for a visa extension so she could play for the national team seeing action in the 45th World Chess Olympiad set Sept. 10 to 22 in Budapest, Hungary.
Fronda faces visa problems after the 45-day Schengen visa she originally obtained from the Swiss embassy is set to expire in three days.
Hungary is willing to grant her a reprieve by issuing her a new one as long as Switzerland voids it.
Switzerland, however, said it could only void Fronda’s visa after October.
Fronda is set to leave for the Hungarian capital on Sept. 9 with the team that includes Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Bernadette Galas, and Woman FIDE Masters Ruelle Canino and Shania Mae Mendoza.
Fronda used 42 of the 45 days she applied for the visa when she competed in several tournaments in Europe almost two months ago.
“We’re asking the Hungarian embassy to help us facilitate the issuance of a visa for Jodilyn.
Sayang naman, she’d been playing well recently and she would be a big help to the team in Budapest,” said national women’s team coach GM Jayson Gonzales.
Without Fronda, the team will have to play the four players every game for 11 rounds straight without a rest.
