Quizon loses grip of Asian Juniors Chess lead

MANILA, Philippines – Beating the fifth grandmaster in his young career would have made Daniel Quizon proud but his triumph Thursday night, July 4, in the fifth round of the Asian Juniors Chess kept him a point behind Vietnamese Nguyen Anh Khoi.

Quizon, who lost to Anh Khoi the fourth round, took 57 moves in a Sicilian Defense to trounce Karthik Venkataraman of India. Karthik, the only grandmaster in the tournament, made things difficult for Quizon but the 14-year-old ace of the Dasmariñas chess program made no mistake.

“Hard labor,” Dasmariñas coach Roel Abelgas said of Quizon’s victory. 

Abelgas confirmed it was Quizon’s fifth wins over a grandmaster since 2017,  including one over the Filipino chess legend Eugene Torre in the Asian Championships in China last month.

Anh Khoi, the Vietnamese scourge of Philippine chess players, downed Quizon earlier to wrest solo lead after the 4th round in Solo, Indonesia.

Anh Khoi collected his fifth straight win for a one-point cushion over Quizon, Iranian Gholami Orimi Mahdi and Indonesian Sagita Catur Adi. 

John Marvin Miciano, the 2018 Asian Youth champion, took his second loss, this time to Gholami in 40 moves of a Bogo-Indian. He, along with National Junior Champion Jeth Morado, have 3 points like 6 other players.

Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano has 2 points after losing his fifth round game.

Kylen Joy Mordido, winner of the Asian Juniors rapid chess tournament, took nearly 5 hours to defeat C.Lakshmi of India but had to draw after 131 moves of a Sicilian  Defense. Mordido has 3 points. 

The other Filipina entries, national junior girls titlist Vic Glysen Derotas, Samantha Glo Revita and Jerlyn San Diego, are half a point behind Mordido. – Rappler.com