Pinoy bets chase GM norm in Asian juniors chess

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino International Masters Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio Jr. launched their campaigns for a Grandmaster norm yesterday at the start of the Asian Juniors and Girls Chess Championships at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City.

Quizon, 18, and Concio, 17, are eyeing to rule the nine-round tournament for players 20 and below and earn either the second of three norms needed to claim the GM title in this event that drew 58 participations from 11 countries in the region.

Also representing the country are FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri, national girls champion Mhage Sebastian, Al-Basher Buto, Andrew James Toledo, Gabriel Ryan Paradero, Ronell Co and Marlon James Piel.

“We are expecting great matches from these young Asian masters in the championships that give opportunity for our Filipino players to get Grandmaster norm and International Master (IM) norms and title,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino.

Tolentino is an honorary member of the International Chess Federation or FIDE, having once served as its secretary-general. He also previously headed FIDE’s Southeast Asian Zone when he was the National Chess Federation of the Philippines’ (NCFP) secretary-general.

Cavite Vice Gov. and NCFP vice president Athena Bryana Tolentino made the ceremonial moves with girls’ top seed, Woman IM Assel Serikbay of Kazakhstan.

Also present during the simple opening ceremony were ACF Executive Board member Mehrdad Pahlevanzadeh of Iran and Appeals Committee members from India, Guam, Iran, Malaysia and Kazakhstan.