By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
International Master Daniel Quizon downed teammate Jeremiah Luis Cruz to keep his share of the lead after four rounds in the premier Open U20 of the 21st ASEAN Age Group Chess Championships in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, June 20.
The win hiked Quizon’s total to 3.5 points to remain at the helm with Thai FIDE Master Prin Laohawirapap, who won over Vietnamese IM Dao Minh Nhat.
Quizon and Laohawirapap, who split the point in the third round Monday, June 19, were battling IM Michael Concio Jr. and Malaysian Tan Jun Ying, respectively, in the fifth round of the nine-round event at press time.
So far, the World Cup veteran was the only Filipino who had at least claimed a piece of the lead as the rest of the delegation fell one after the other amid the strong Vietnamese siege.
Mary Janelle Tan drew with Vietnam’s Dao Vu Minh Chau to slip from a share of first to solo second with 3.5 points in the combined Girls U12 and U14 division.
Vietnam’s Pham Thi Minh Ngoc currently leads that category with 4 points.
Jaycol Sodela, meanwhile, ousted teammate Phil Martin Casiguran to jump at solo third with 3.5 points, half a point behind co-leaders Nguyen Quang Minh and Nguyen Nam Kiet of Vietnam in the Open U12.
