Daniel Quizon nakasungkit ng 2nd GM norm

Final Standings:

7.5 points—IM Daniel Quizon (Philippines)

7.0 points—IM Paulo Bersamina (Philippines)

6.5 points—GM  Susanto Megaranto (Indonesia)

6.0 points—IM Mohamad Ervan (Indonesia)

6.0 points—GM Darwin Laylo (Philippines)

5.5 points—GM John Paul Gomez (Philippines)

5.0 points—IM Li Tian Yeoh (Malaysia)

5.0 points—CM Khuong Duy Dau (Vietnam)

5.0 points—GM Nguyen Van Huy (Vietnam)

5.0 points—IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher (Indonesia)

4.0 points—FM Prin Laohawirapap (Thailand)

3.5 points—IM Rolando Nolte (Philippines)

MANILA — Nakamit ni International Master Daniel Quizon ang ikalawang GM norm, sa tatlong requirement para sa coveted grandmaster title sa katatapos na AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship Invitational closed round-robin tournament category 6 na nagtapos nitong Sabado , 18 Pebrero 2023 sa Great Eastern Hotel sa Quezon City.

Nakatapos si Quizon sa torneo, sa solong unahang puwesto, may natipong 7.5 points mula 6 wins, 2 losses at 3 draws sa 11 outings tungo sa top prize 2,000 USD sa event na inorganisa ni IM Roderick Nava ng Kamatyas Chess Club, sinuportahan ni AQ Prime Proprietor/President Atty. Aldwin Alegre.

“I will always be grateful to those who supported me towards my achievement of getting my 2nd of 3 required GM norms,” iniuugnay ni Dasmariñas City based Quizon ang walang sawang pagsuporta nina Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga, Jr., Mayor Jenny Barzaga at national coach FM Roel Abelgas sa kanyang kampanya.

Ang 19-anyos Filipino na natalo sa kanyang first two matches ay nagwagi sa kababayang si IM Rolando Nolte tangan ang black pieces sa final round.

Sa laro na transposed sa King’s Indian defense, Bayonet Attack variation ay nakakuha si Quizon ng pawn sa middlegame tungo sa 57-move victory.

Si Quizon ay galing sa upset win kay top seed Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto ng Indonesia nitong Biyernes.

Naisukbit ni Quizon ang kanyang first GM norm matapos magkampeon sa Eastern Asia Juniors Chess Championship ntong Agosto 2018 sa South Korea. Kinakailangan na lamang ni Quizon ng isang norm tungo sa GM title.

Tangka ni Quizon na makasama sa growing list ng Filipino grandmasters gaya nina Eugene Torre, the late Rosendo Balinas Jr., Rogelio Antonio Jr., Bong Villamayor, Nelson Mariano, Mark Paragua, Wesley So, Darwin Laylo, Jayson Gonzales, John Paul Gomez,  Joseph Sanchez, Roland Salvador, Rogelio Barcenilla, Julio Catalino Sadorra, Oliver Barbosa, Richard Bitoon at Enrico Sevillano.

Si Cebuano native Sevillano na kasalukuyang naka base sa Tehachapi, California ang pinakahuling Pinoy na nakatangap ng FIDE title ng GM noong Setyembre 2012.

Sa isang banda, ay si IM Paulo Bersamina ay tabla kay GM Nguyen Van Huy ng Vietnam sa 30 moves ng Modern Benoni defense tungo sa solo second na may 7 points. Naiuwi ni Bersamina 1,200 USD para sa kanyang mga pagsisikap.

Tumapos si Megaranto sa third spot na may 6.5 points matapos makipag-draw kay IM Ervan Mohamad sa 35 moves ng Petroff defense.

Sina Grandmaster Darwin Laylo at Mohamad ay magkasalo sa fourth na may 6 points. Panalo si Laylo kay GM John Paul Gomez sa 33 moves ng Queen’s Indian defense sa final round.

Bumagsak si Gomez sa sixth na may 5.5 points.

Magkasosyo sina IM Yeoh Li Tian ng Malaysia, CM Dau Khuong Duy at GM Nguyen Van Huy ng Vietnam, at IM Yoseph Theolifus Taher ng Indonesia sa seventh na may tig 5 points.

Talo si Yeoh kay FM Prin Laohawirapap ng Thailand  habang panalo si Dau kay Taher.

“I would like to extend my congratulations to IM Daniel Quizon and IM Paulo Bersamina. They really proved that Filipinos are at par with the best in the world. And this also proves that our programs in the NCFP are on the right track,” sabi ni National Chess Federation of the Philippines chairman/ president Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay, Jr. (MARLON BERNARDINO)