Quizon wins PCAP Champions Tour chess tilt

MANILA, Philippines – During the press conference that preceded the PCAP Champions Tour, FIDE Master Ellan Asuela was asked who he thought would win the tournament. 

Asuela thought for a moment named International Master Daniel Quizon and Grandmaster Joey Antonio. But he quickly offered a rebuttal by saying that he hopes he doesn’t meet them on the road to the championship.

Wish granted. But it was not the result he wanted.

Against Quizon, who is the current national champion and who is inching closer to the coveted title of Grandmaster, Asuela was swept in both the rapid and blitz boards.

In the battle for third place, GM Joey Antonio, looking fit and dapper well into his senior citizen years, defeated Kevin Arquero, after he won the blitz and drew with the former in rapid chess.

The PCAP Champions Tour was held at the new and posh South Wing Atrium of the Greenhills Shopping Mall much to the delight of shoppers and foodies who would often watch the day’s events. 

Other participants in this tour of champions from different cities and regions included FM AJ Literatus, IM Chito Garma, IM Kim Steven Yap, IM Joel Banawa, Mark Kevin Labog, Virgen Gil Ruaya, John Philip Gabuc and Omar Bagalasca.

Quizon pocked the trophy and the cash prize of P80,000, while Asuela received P30,000. GM Antonio won P20,000 and Arquero took home P5,000. All other finishers also took home a cash prize of P5,000.