BUDAPEST— International Master Daniel Quizon pulled off a Houdini act and shocked super Grandmaster Dimitrij Kollars in a win that prevented a shutout loss by the Philippine men’s team to Germany in the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad Thursday at the BOK Sports Hall here.
Quizon’s win — a 54-move result of a Sicilian duel—on top board was the lone bright spot to what was a bleak day for the Filipinos, whose women’s squad also suffered a stinging 3.5-.5 defeat to the powerhouse Americans.
It was an incredible feat for the 20-year-old Quizon as he authored one of the biggest upsets of the round by brilliantly turning what looked like a losing position into a winning one.
“Kumapit lang po ako at hindi nawalan ng pagasa,” said the soft-spoken Quizon, who donned the same lucky black and reversible nylon jacket that helped him tie for first in a super-strong meet in Abu Dhabi early this month.
It also pushed the two-time national champion just two rating points away from breaching the 2500 plateau and claiming the GM title outright after his elo rating jumped to 2498.
Quizon is expected to suit up against Montenegro on board two in the third round in a game where United States-based GM Julio Catalino Sadorra is finally going to suit up on top board after missing the first two days due to previous commitments.
It could have been a better result for the Filipinos though as IM Paulo Bersamina, GM John Paul Gomez all had drawing chances but failed to complete the job and eventually succumbed to GMs Matthias Bluebaum, Alexander Donchenko and Frederik Svane, respectively.
Same with the Filipinas, who appeared poised to slay the heavily favored Americans before WGM Janelle Mae Frayna and 16-year-old sensation Ruelle Canino painfully blundered away their winning chances and fell to IMs Carissa Yip and Anna Zatonskih on boards two and four.
WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda battled a cramped position from early on before eventually losing to IM Alice Lee on board three after the former’s time ran out.
Woman FIDE Master Shania Mae Mendoza averted an embarrassing shutout by holding her own against IM Gulrukhbegim Tohirjonova and escaped with a marathon 74-move draw of a Center-counter duel.
“Sayang ang dami nating chances hindi na-convert,” said an exasperated national women’s coach GM Jayson Gonzales, whose charges were scheduled to collide with Jordan—a 4-0 winner over Malawi—next.
