By MARK REY MONTEJO
Grandmaster-elect Daniel Quizon stamped his class and reigned in the 2nd Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Tournament rapid division in Clarin, Misamis Occidental recently.
Quizon, 19, won the event despite settling for a draw with IM Michael Concio Jr. in the ninth and final round. He amassed 7.5 points and took home the handsome P100,000 top purse.
The pride of Dasmariñas, Cavite actually finished tied with IM Concio Jr., GM Darwin Laylo and IM Eric Labog Jr. but still won the title after the tiebreak.
Concio finished as second while Laylo and Labog Jr. settled for third and fourth places, respectively, where no less than Asia’s first GM and chess icon Eugene Torre gracing the closing ceremony.
“I am happy to have won the 2nd Gov. Henry S. Oaminal Open Chess Tournament. I wish that my luck would remain the same in my next tournament,” said Quizon,
Quizon is currently on a mission to complete his GM title status as he needs to improve his standard rating to 2500.
NM Joey Albert Florendo and Rodney Opada registered 7.0 points and finished tied for 5th to 6th places posting 6.5 points were FM David Elorta, Johnnel Balquin, Nazario Ubanan, Michel Jackson Ambuang, FM Roel Abelgas, Abdelmunim Hassan, AGM Julius Dan Augustine Ablin, Jeriel Manlimbana and Johnny Wellem Carzano.
In elementary and high school events, Quarl Maverick Vera Cruz and NM Keith Adriane bested their rivals to rule their respective categories.
