By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
International Master Daniel Quizon downed IM Yeoh Li Tian to keep his title and Grandmaster norm bids alive with two rounds left in the AQ Prime ASEAN Chess Championship at the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City Thursday, Feb. 16.
Quizon beat his Malaysian rival in 57 moves of a Sicilian Defense that catapulted him into joint second with IM Paulo Bersamina with similar 5.5 points.
Bersamina slightly improved following a 31-move draw with GM John Paul Gomez.
The win put Quizon and Bersamina half a point behind solo leader GM Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia, who downed IM Rolando Nolte after 58 moves of a Sicilian Defense for six points.
If the 19-year-old Quizon, who clashes with Nolte in the final round at press time, ends up ruling this tournament, he will clinch the second of the three results required to be a full-fledged GM.
Meanwhile, GM Darwin Laylo, who shared the lead two rounds before, skidded to a share of fourth spot with 4.5 points after bowing twice in a row to Indonesian IM Mohamad Ervan and Thai FIDE Master Prin Laohawirapap.
He shared the spot with Gomez and Yeoh in this event organized by the Kamatyas Chess Club.
