There’s no stopping International Master Daniel Quizon.
Quizon kept its stranglehold of the top spot after walloping Woman IM Marie Antoinette San Diego in 52 moves of a King’s Indian Defense in the seventh round of the Philippine National Chess Championships Wednesday at the Marikina Community Convention Center.
The 19-year-old woodpusher opened a full point ahead of its closest rivals for the solo lead with six points.
Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia are tied with five in this 14-player field presented by Marikina City Congresswoman Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro.
Frayna snatched a hard-earned 68-move triumph over battle-scarred IM Barlo Nadera of a Torre Attack that kept her in the race for one of the three slots to the World Chess Olympiad set in September in Budapest, Hungary.
If she ends up there, Frayna, the country’s one and only WGM, would become the first Filipina player to get the chance to suit up for the men’s team in the biennial meet.
Garcia, on the other hand, drew with GM John Paul Gomez in 29 moves of an English encounter.
Also in hot pursuit of Olympiad tickets with 4.5 points each were Gomez and FIDE Master Mark Jay Bacojo, who drew with Samson Chiu Chin Lim III in 58 moves of a Scandinavian encounter, and unheralded Vince Angelo Medina, who stunned GM Darwin Laylo in 62 moves of an English Opening.
IM Paulo Bersamina downed John Jerish Velarde in 35 moves of a Nimzo-Indian Defense and 14-year-old FM Christian Gian Karlo Arca pulled off a 46-move draw with GM Joey Antonio in 46 moves of a Modern Defense to remain in Olympiad contention with four points each.
Apart from Olympiad seats, the event also hands out P120,000 to the champion courtesy of Marikina City, NCFP chairman president Prospero Pichay, Jr., POC president Abraham Tolentino, PSC chair Richard Bachmann, the Eugene Torre Chess Foundation and Pan de Amerikana’s Jundio Salvador.
