INTERNATIONAL Master Daniel Quizon grounded fellow IM Michael Concio Jr. in 39 moves of a Benko Gambit yesterday to solidify his grip of the solo lead in the sixth round of the 2021 Philippine National Chess Championship at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu.
The victory was the 17-year-old Quizon’s sixth straight that kept him well entrenched at the top with six points, a full two points ahead of closest pursuers IMs Ronald Dableo and Ricky de Guzman.
Dableo, 42, rated 2407 who can clinch the GM title if he reaches the 2500-rating, beat de Guzman in 62 moves of a King’s Indian Defense to catch up with the latter at No. 2 with four points apiece.
Quizon, a Southeast Asian Games and World Cup veteran, battled De Guzman in the seventh round at presstime.
Quizon moved closer to claiming the top purse of P80,000 and a spot with the national team seeing action in next year’s Hanoi Southeast Asian Games and the 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand.
A triumph in this event backed by PSC Chair Butch Ramirez, NCFP chief Butch Pichay, POC president Bambol Tolentino, PCSO general manager Royina Garma, Chess Movement, Inc. Chair Dr. Ariel Potot and Atty. Roel Canobas should give Quizon confidence as he resumes his quest for a Grandmaster title.
