by Marlon Bernardino
TAGAYTAY CITY---International Master Daniel Quizon fell short of a high finish in rapid and standard chess and unleashed his fury to rules the blitz tournament in the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championship 2022 at the Knights Templar Ridge Hotel in Tagaytay City on Friday, Nov.25.
The 17-year-old Quizon, who finished 6th in the rapid and 17th place in the standard chess, won the blitz on Friday.
He finished the nine-round competition with 7.0 points on six victories, two draws and a loss to pocket the gold medal of the event that gathered 52 of the brightest young players from 11 Asian countries.
" Your learn more from losing than winning. You learn how to keep going," said Quizon, playing under the guidance of Rep. Pidi Barzaga, Mayor Jenny Barzaga and National Coach Fide Master Roel Abelgas.
Newly-minted International Master Eric Idio Labog Jr., a freshman student at Immaculada Concepcion College in Caloocan City won the silver.
The 19-year-old Labog, whose stint here is being supported by Immaculada Concepcion College President Marcelino Vincente Agana and Director Administrative Services Department/ School Director Mr. Raul S. Acapulco and Papadu Sportswear, finished second with 6.5 points, the same output of bronze medal winner International Master Sugar Gan-Erdene of Mongolia (third) and Dau Khuong Duy of Vietnam (fourth).
Fifth to Sixth Places with 6.0 points apiece are International Master Michael Concio Jr. of the Philippines and International Master Avinash Ramesh of India.
WFM Patil Bhagyashree of India won the girls’ gold medal with 7.0 points. WIM Nazerke Nurgali (6.5) of Kazakhstan clinched silver and WIM Ravi Rakshitta (6.0) of Kazakhstan settling for bronze in the competition hosted by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Other notable winners are 11-year-old Daniella Bianca Cruz, a Grade 6 at City of Malolos Integrated School - Sto. Rosario, who took silver in the U16 blitz category and 12-year-old Al Basher "Basty" Buto, a Grade 7 student of Faith Christian School, who won the bronze in U16 standard category in the tournament National Chess Federation of the Philippines Vice President Athena Bryana Tolentino, also Cavite’s vice governor, opened ten days ago.-Marlon Bernardino-