Arca banners Philippine chess team in Eastern Asia Juniors tilt

MANILA, Philippines – Christian Gian Karlo Arca will try to follow the footsteps of International Master Daniel Quizon as he plunges into action in the Eastern Asia Junior and Girls Chess Championships set Thursday up to Sunday in Karawaci-Tangerang, Indonesia.

The 15-year-old FIDE Master left the country Wednesday along with countrymen John Jerish Velarde, Andrei Dolorosa, Mhage Gherriahlou Sebastian and Francesca Largo for Indonesia eyeing to duplicate Quizon’s title feat in last year’s edition in Sabah, Malaysia.

GM Jayson Gonzales, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines chief executive officer, heads the delegation.

If the Panabo, Davao del Norte-born teenage sensation accomplishes the feat, he may automatically clinch the title that he had sought for so long—an International Master title—while gaining a Grandmaster norm in the process.

The six-day, nine-round tournament for players 20 years old and younger stakes outright IM or Woman IM titles or GM or WGM norms to eventual champions.

Quizon also earned an IM title in the same tournament and earned a GM norm six years ago in South Korea.

And Arca will try to follow what Quizon did.