Daniel Quizon drew with fellow International Master Ronald Dableo in 36 moves using a King’s Indian Attack to crown himself the country’s chess king in the 2021 Philippine National Championship held at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu on Monday (Dec. 13) night.
The 17-year-old finished with an unbeaten of 8.5 points on six wins—all coming in the first six rounds—and five draws to win the 11-round, 12-player tournament 1.5 points ahead of the field.
IM Ricky de Guzman won over Grandmaster Joey Antonio via time forfeit in the final round to clinch second place with seven points.
Dableo and GM Darwin Laylo, who split the points with IM Jem Garcia in 30 moves of a Pirc Defense, finished third and fourth, respectively, with 6.5 points each.
Quizon was at a positional disadvantage but found a way to salvage a draw, thanks to their opposite-colored bishops ending.
The World Cup veteran pocketed the top purse of P80,000.
He also earned a spot at next year’s Hanoi Southeast Asian Games and the 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Chonburi, Thailand.
Quizon also becomes one the youngest woodpushers to win the Nationals after Wesley So, who did the trick in 2009 when he was still 16-years-old.
“Dream come true,” Quizon, who has set his sights at a GM title, said.
Other final round results saw IM Joel Pimentel winning over IM John Marvin Miciano; Allan Pason pulling the rug from under IM Michael Concio, Jr.; and Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna halving the point with top seed IM Paulo Bersamina. (PR) – bny
