Rain or Shine clinches fifth win over Blackwater Bossing
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Daniel Quizon earns GM title at Chess Olympiad, PH leaps to 13th spot
Filipino woodpusher Daniel Quizon earned the coveted Grandmaster title in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, September 14.
The 20-year-old Quizon accomplished his dream of achieving the GM title after outlasting 64-year-old Grandmaster Igor Efimov in 37 moves of a King’s Indian Defense to earn two rating points needed to reach the 2500 ranking.
With this feat, Quizon, who hails from Dasmariñas, Cavite, became the 17th Grandmaster of the Philippines.. The country last earned a GM was in 2011 with Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon. Meanwhile in 2017, Janelle Mae Frayna became the Philippines’ first and only woman Grandmaster.
PHOTO COURTESY: FIDE
"I'm very happy because I got what I have been dreaming of for a long time since I started playing chess," said Quizon, who will receive a P1 million incentive from Dasmariñas Mayor Jenny Barzaga.
Quizon’s victory came just as the women’s team, spearheaded by Shania Mae Mendoza on top board, scored a 4-0 win against El Salvador to stay in medal contention.
Meanwhile, capping the men’s rout were wins by GM Julio Catalino Sadorra against Amir Bagheri on board one, IM Paulo Barsamina overwhelming Damir Levacic on board three, and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia defeating Patric Van Hoolandt on board four.
These victories leapfrogged the No. 51 seed Philippines to a share 13th place with 25 others with six points apiece.
The Philippines will next face the 26th-seeded Slovenia in the men and No. 24 Italy in the women in the fifth round of the 11-round tournament.
