By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
International Master Daniel Quizon used a strong start to beat out Grandmaster Banjo Barcenilla and Joel Pimentel and rule the fourth leg of the 1st Philippine Bullet Championship held via online Saturday night.
Quizon, 15, kicked off his campaign by winning 11 straight games, slowed down a bit by losing six consecutive games before hurdling his last three matches capped by a huge win over IM Paulo Bersamina to prevail.
In all, he finished with 83 points, just a one ahead of Barcenilla – the opening leg winner.
Pimentel, who ruled the third leg, wound up at third with 81.
Rounding up the top 10 are Chester Neil Reyes, GM Darwin Laylo, Sherwin Tiu, FIDE Master Arden Reyes, Karl Ochoa, Jayson Salubre and Ellan Aseula.
It was the first title for Quizon in the week-long tournament sanctioned by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines and bankrolled by its president Butch Pichay after two runners up finishes in the first two legs and a dismal 21st-place finish in the third leg.
It was actually one of the two titles he snared on the same day as he also reigned supreme in the Rising Phoenix Qualifier 5 Arena.
The Dasmarinas-based Quizon scored 44 points, four points ahead of AJ Literatus and Karl Ochoa, who finished with similar 40 points apiece.
