Grandmaster Daniel Quizon tops the Standard Open of Bangkok Summer International chessfest – BusinessWorld Online
IT’S BEEN a while since Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Daniel Quizon last won a title.
Over the weekend in the Thai capital, the 21-year-old Mr. Quizon snapped out of the drought and ruled the premier Standard Open section of the 2nd Bangkok Summer International Chess Open.
Mr. Quizon went unbeaten on this one with 7.5 points on six victories, including one over Russian GM Timur Gareyev in the eighth and penultimate round, and three draws, including one in the final round versus countryman International Master (IM) Michael Concio, Jr.
“It was really a long time since I last won,” Mr. Quizon told The STAR on Monday.
The last came two years ago when he topped the Hanoi Grandmaster Chess Tournament where he clinched the last of the three requisite norms to become a GM.
He eventually did in the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary a few months after that same year.
Mr. Quizon went on a slump from there before rediscovering his old self with this recent Bangkok triumph.
Mr. Gareyev wound up second while Mr. Concio and Estonian IM Iljya Grigorjev ended up third and fourth, respectively, with identical seven points.
Four other Filipinos ended up in the top 10 — FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri (fifth), Darry Bernardo (sixth), Jan Clifford Labog (eighth) and Jerish John Velarde (ninth).
More Filipinos also shone with John Paul De Guzman reigning supreme in the Challenger side and Mr. Velarde seizing the super rapid title. — Joey Villar