by Kristel Satumbaga
International Master Daniel Quizon dispatched Grandmaster Venkataraman Karthik of India in 57 moves of a Sicilian Defense in the fifth round of the Asian Juniors Chess Championships in Solo, Indonesia Thursday night.
Hours after absorbing his first defeat at the hands of top seed IM Nguyen Anh Koi of Vietnam in the fourth round, the 15-year-old Quizon vented his ire on the second-ranked Karthik, the only GM in the field of 34, to jump into a share of second to fourth places at 4 points – a full point off the pace.
Tied with Cavite-based Quizon were third pick Mahdi Gholami Orimi of Iran, whom the former stunned in the third round, and FIDE Master Catur Adi Sagita of Indonesia.
Nguyen led the way with a perfect score of five points in the nine-round tournament staking three slots to the World Juniors in October in New Delhi, India.
IM John Marvin Miciano suffered yet another stinging defeat, falling to Gholami to remain with three points, the same output of reigning national juniors champion Jeth Romy Morado, who drew with Constantius Leonardo Pratama of Indonesia.
Quizon hopes to sustain his recovery when he battles fourth seed IM Kaumandur Srihan Raghunandan of India in the sixth round which is being held at press time.
