Quizon, Miciano show brilliance

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has been longing for its first Asian Juniors chess champion since now retired Grandmaster Nelson Mariano accomplished the feat in Shah Alam, Malaysia 25 years ago. The long wait could finally end.

Filipino International Masters Daniel Quizon and John Marvin Miciano pulled off a pair of emphatic victories to seize a share of the lead with two others after two rounds of the Asian Juniors Championships in Solo, Indonesia Tuesday night.

Quizon, a 15-year-old phenom tipped to become the next big thing in Philippine chess, waylaid Mohd Saprin Amir Ghaazi of Malaysia and Akmalnaidi Akbar of Indonesia while Miciano, who made it here via direct invitation for being the 2018 Eastern Asia champion, downed Muhamad Alhabsyi of Indonesia and countryman Rhenzi Kyle Sevillano.

Top seed Vietnamese IM Nguyen Anh Khoi, dubbed as a “Filipino killer” having beaten numerous Phl bets in the past including Miciano himself, and untitled but second-seeded Iranian Orimi Mahdo Gholami likewise stayed unbeaten.

WIM Kylen Joy Mordido, for her part, rode the crest of her sterling triumph in the rapid side of this Asian juniors chessfest, blasting Indonesians Safitri Dhea and Lorens Xena for a share of the lead with five others.

Mordido, who is eyeing to become the country’s second WGM next to Janelle Mae Frayna, was playing fourth pick WIM Sakshi Chitlange of India in what could make or break her bid to become the first Asian girls’ titlist since Mikee Suede back home in Tagaytay City five years ago.

Jeth Romy Morado, the reigning national juniors champ, waylaid Indonesia’s Dhatuyo Budiarto to stay half point off the pace with 1.5 points while Sevillano slipped out of the top 10 with a point.

Jerlyn Mae San Diego halved the point with Anjum Noshin of Bangladesh, WFM Samantha Glo Revita smashed Indonesian WFM Alua Sekar Kinasih and Vic Glysen Derotas, the country’s junior girls winner, slammed Li Joy Ching of Hong Kong to leapfrog to a 19-player tie at 11th with a point apiece.