DASMARINAS, Cavite chess wizard Daniel Quizon pocketed the top honors in the 10th Kidapawan Open Chess Tournament held recently at the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Kidapawan City.
The 13-year-old Quizon, the top player of Dasmarinas, Cavite mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga and congresswoman Jenny Barzaga, collected eight points on eight wins and a loss to win the nine-round tournament.
Quizon scored victories over Joannah Love Marie Olay in the first round, Francis Xavier Guimalan in the second round, Chito Dimakiling II in the third round, Rodrigo Catayas in the fourth round, IM Oliver Dimakiling in the fifth round and IM Ronald Dableo in the sixth round.
He yielded to GM Darwin Laylo in the seventh round but bounced back in contention after beating FM John Marvin Miciano in the eighth round and Harisson Maamo in the ninth and final round to secure the coveted crown.
With his latest feat, Quizon went home with the P25,000 top purse in the two-day February 3 and 4, 2018 rapid chess tournament (25 minutes + 5 seconds increment) organized by Kidapawan Chess Club, Incorporated (Inc.) president Dr. Ted P. Calica and supported by the City Government of Kidapawan through Mayor Joseph Evangelista and Philippines Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Charles Raymond Maxey.
Playing under the watchful eye of National Coach International Master Roel Abelgas, the super kid Quizon -- son of a motorcycle mechanic -- also bagged the runner-up honor in a youth chess tournament in chilly Harbin, China last January 28, 2018.
He scored 7.5 out of 9 rounds to finish second behind grandmaster Bai Jinshi of China, who had 8.5 points in the China Youth Chess International Tournament.
Final Standings:
8.0 pts---Daniel Quizon
7.5 pts---Jhonnel Balquin, GM Darwin Laylo
7.0 pts---NM Rustom Tolentino, Henry Roger Lopez
6.5 pts---IM Oliver Dimakiling, IM Ronald Dableo, Melchor Arcenas Jr., NM Alexander Lupian, FM John Marvin Miciano, NM Edsel Montoya