BUDAPEST – There will be a great reason to smile for newly minted Filipino Grandmaster Daniel Quizon.
The 20-year-old Quizon became the Philippines’ 17th GM and the first since Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon 13 years ago after his 37-move win over GM Igor Efimov in Team Philippines’ 4-0 decimation of Monaco in Saturday’s fourth round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall here.
For that feat, Quizon stands to receive P1 million from Dasmariñas, Cavite Mayor Jenny Barzaga, who will fulfill the solemn promise by former Dasmariñas Congressman Pidi Garzaga before he passed away.
“Sobrang saya ko po kasi nakuha ko na matagal kong pangarap simula nung naglaro ako ng chess,” said Quizon, whose trip here was financed by the Philippine Sports Commission through chair Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco and NCFP head Butch Pichay.
It was a glorious day for Philippine chess overall as its women’s team, spearheaded by the gutsy, giant-slaying Shania Mae Mendoza on top board, blanked El Salvador, 4-0, to stay in medal contention.
Both the men and the women leapfrogged to a share of 13th place in a big group with six match points apiece.