DANIEL Quizon embarks on a quest to claim his dream Grandmaster title when he leads the Philippine team leaving today for the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad unfolding Wednesday up to Sept. 22 in Budapest, Hungary.
The 20-year-old International Master has a nice chance to claim the GM title outright in the Hungarian capital as he is just 10 rating points away from breaching the 2500 mark after a strong performance in the ultra-competitive Abu Dhabi event a month ago.
Quizon will leave with GM John Paul Gomez, IMs Jem Garcia and Paolo Bersmina, coach GM Eugene Torre and head of delegation Atty. Roel Canobas.
Also leaving for Budapest are women’s team mainstays WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, Bernadette Galas, Ruelle Canino and Shania Mae Mendoza and women’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales.
There is no word yet if Jan Jodilyn Fronda has resolved her visa issue.
Men’s top board player GM Inno Sadorra will leave the United States on Wednesday and will arrive in Budapest the next day.
He would miss the first two rounds but should play in the third.
In Sadorra’s absence, Quizon, who will reportedly be assigned Board Two, might man the top board.
The team had an intimate sendoff at the Pan de Amerikana in Marikina City yesterday that was attended by National Chess Federation of the Philippines officials, including chairman-president Butch Pichay.
The men’s side is out to improve on a 32nd-place finish in Chennai, India two years ago while the women’s team is hoping to eclipse its 39th-place effort.
