SOUTHEAST Asian Games (SEAG)-bound Daniel Quizon continued to rake in the honors as he topped the 1st Kamatyas FIDE Rapid Chess Tournament at the Multisys Tech. Corp. Building in Paranaque City on Saturday night.
Mr. Quizon, an 18-year-old International Master (IM), drew his ninth and final-round game with IM Paulo Bersamina and edged IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and fellow Dasmariñas, Cavite bet Mark Jay Bacojo in tie-breaks to rule the one-day meet.
It was the third title for Mr. Quizon in the last three months after he reigned supreme in the National Championship in Mactan, Cebu in December last year and the SEA Games blitz selection tournament at the PACE in Quezon City a week ago.
And Mr. Quizon almost let the crown slip away after coming into his end game battle with Mr. Bersamina a pawn down and in a losing position.
But known for his lightning-quick moves being the country’s blitz king, Mr. Quizon, who will represent the country in the Hanoi Games slated for May 12 to 23, extricated his way out of trouble in a mad time-scramble to salvage the title-saving standoff.
Mr. Garcia, who topped the SEA Games rapid selection tournament a week ago and the Kamatyas Rapid Invitational a month back, turned back FIDE Master (FM) David Elorta while Mr. Bacojo pulled the rug from under former national seniors titlist IM Chito Garma to catch up on Mr. Quizon at first with 7.5 points each.
But Mr. Quizon took the top purse worth P30,000 and the beautifully crafted trophy courtesy of sponsor Multisys Tech. Corp. president David Almirol after emerging with the highest tie-breaker of 47.5 compared to Mr. Garcia’s 46.5 and Mr. Bacojo’s 41.5.
“Thankful to God for giving me the talent,” said Mr. Quizon, who also thanked his backer Dasmarinas Rep. Pidi Barzaga, Mr. Almirol and organizing Kamatyas Chess Club president IM Roderick Nava.
Rounding up the top 10 were Mr. Bersamina, Chester Neil Reyes, FM Nelson Villanueva, Mr. Elorta, IM Richilieu Salcedo III, FM Roberto Suelo, Jr., and FM Roel Abelgas, who happened to be Mr. Quizon’s coach. — Joey Villar