Quizon moves closer to Grandmaster norm

MANILA – Filipino International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon defeated Grandmaster (GM) Rogelio “Joey” Antonio Jr. in the sixth round of the 11th Kamatyas Invitational GM Tournament at the Grandmaster Eugene Torre Museum of Pan de Amerikana in Concepcion Dos, Marikina City on Wednesday night.

It was the first win for Quizon, whose first five matches ended with a draw, the last one with compatriot IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia.

“I hope to keep my momentum and get the third GM norm,” said the 19-year-old BS Information Systems freshman at the Kolehiyo ng Lungsod ng Dasmariñas.

Quizon has 3.5 points and is tied for second place with Filipino IM Paulo Bersamina and Vietnamese GM Tuan Minh Tran.

Bersamina split the points with IM Michael Concio Jr. while Tran drew with Chinese Woman IM Lu Miaoyi.

Indonesian GM Susan Megaranto is leading with 4.5 points, earning a draw with Filipino GM John Paul Gomez.

Garcia, Concio, Gomez and American IM Joel Banawa share third place with 3.0 points followed by Antonio (2.0 points) and Lu (1.0).

Quizon is scheduled to face Bersamina in Round 7 on Thursday, Miaoyi on Friday and Concio on Saturday.

“It’s tough but I will do what I can in the last three rounds,” said Quizon, who is supported by Dasmariñas City, Cavite Mayor Jenny Barzaga, Rep. Elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. and National Coach FIDE Master Roel Abelgas.

National Arbiter Mark John “Biyaherong Arbiter” Centillo said Quizon has a big chance to get the third and final norm required to become a GM.

Quizon got his first GM norm after ruling the 2018 Eastern Asia Juniors and Girls Chess Championship in South Korea, a victory that gave him an outright IM title.

He won the same tournament which was held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia last Friday to secure the second norm.

The Kamatyas Invitational GM Tournament, which is organized by International Master Roderick Nava and National Master David Almirol of Kamatyas Chess Club, offers USD4,000 to the champion and USD2,000 to the runner-up. (PNA)