International Master Daniel Maravilla Quizon held his own against Allan Pason, settling for a draw to keep a one and half-point lead with four rounds left in the 2021 Philippine National Chess Championship (Barkadahan Para sa Bansa) FIDE-rated over-the-board Chess Championships on Sunday (Dec. 12) at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu.
Quizon, one of eight IMs in the 12-player field, had an answer to every attack by Pason and came away with a draw after 62 moves using Modern defense to hold off his rivals.
Quizon remains on top of the field with 6.5 points. International Master Ronald Dableo is at second with 5 points.
Dableo defeated International Master Paulo Bersamina after 30 moves using the Reti Opening.
International Master Ricardo de Guzman is in the third position with 4.5 points after splitting the point with International Master John Marvin Miciano.
Grandmaster Darwin Laylo toppled International Master Michael Concio Jr. after 32 moves using the Budapest Opening to score 4 points and share 4th to 5th placers with International Master Jan Emmanuel Garcia.
Garcia split the point with International Master Joel Pimentel after 15 moves of Reti Opening.
Pimentel, Bersamina, Miciano now have 3.5 points.
Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. halved the point with Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna after 20 moves of Caro-kann defense, raising his total to 3 points. (PR) – bny