TAGUM, Davao del Norte – Pint-sized Daniel Quizon of Dasmariñas City, Cavite, dropped by the local chess club a few days ago and immediately gained quite a fearsome reputation in the ongoing 2016 Batang Pinoy National Championships here.
The day after visiting the chess club, Quizon, just 12 years old and standing way less than five feet tall, took another trip and went back to his quarters immensely disappointed.
“The players didn’t want to do anything with him anymore,” said tournament director Red Dumuk.
Quizon, whose idols are Eugene Torre and reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, scored a perfect seven points in the blitz event, leaving Prince Richvill Mella of Palo, Leyte, and Jerish John Velarde of Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, finishing second and third, respectively.
A Grade 6 student at San Miguel Elementary of Dasmarinas City, Quizon captured the gold in the standard event despite being bunched with four other players with 5.5 points in the 12-under.
Owing to a superior tiebreak (Buccholz), the topseed Quizon earned the gold medal followed by Clyde Saraos of Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, with Mark Jay Bacojo of Pasig City claiming the bronze.
“My dream is just to become a GM (grandmaser), that’s all,” said Quizon.
In the girls 13-17, 14-year-old Kylen Joy Mordido, also from Dasmarinas City, posted seven points in blitz, relegating Cebu City’s Laila Camel Nadera and Nueva Vizcaya’s Genlaiza Pearl Bagorio for second and third place honors.
Mordido, the heavy favorite, likewise reigned supreme in standard by scoring 6.5 points.
In weightlifting, Ma. Dessa Delos Santos, fresh from taking three silver medals in the Asian Youth championships in Tokyo last month, won the gold in the 58 kg for girls.
Delos Santos, 17, hails from Zamboanga City like Rio Olympics silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and is being groomed for inclusion to the 2020 Tokyo Games.
In the +58 kg girls, Eriel Cardano of Quezon City captured the gold, while Abegail Patalinghug of Cebu came in second and Bianca Ferrel settled for third.