INTERNATIONAL Master (IM) Daniel Quizon was in a five-way tie for the lead with two rounds to go at the World Juniors Chess Championships in Gujarat, India, keeping him on track for elevation to Grandmaster.
Mr. Quizon, whose bid to join the India 20-and-under tourney was nearly sidetracked by lack of funding, eventually managed to rustle up sponsorship money from a group that included Multisys chief executive officer and founder David Almirol, Jr.
The Olympiad-bound former World Cup veteran extracted a 63-move victory from a slight edge he sustained in his Sicilian opening encounter with fellow International Master and Russian-born Artiom Stribuk of FIDE, which catapulted the Filipino into the lead shared with IM Kazybek Nogerbek of Kazakhstan, IM Rudik Makarian of FIDE, GM Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso of Colombia and GM Mamikon Gharibyan of Armenia, all with seven points each.
Mr. Quizon guns for another win with the white pieces, battling the ninth-seeded Nogerbek in the 10th and penultimate round at the deadline. Mr. Quizon is hoping to gain rating points at this meet the 2500-rating requirement to become a GM.
So far, Mr. Quizon, from 2448, has improved to 2460.6 rating and could improve even more if he comes through in the final two rounds.
He could also clinch the GM title outright if he ends up as solo champion here, which no Filipino has ever accomplished.
Also in his sponsorship group are Kamatyas chess club president and IM Roderick Nava and the city of Dasmarinas. — Joey Villar
