International Masters Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio Jr. came through with the needed results to clinch spots to the World Chess Cup 2021 set from Aug. 1 to 28 in Minsk, Belarus.
Quizon, 16, drew with Grandmaster Susanto Megaranto of Indonesia in 30 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted while Concio, 15, outlasted Indonesian GM Novendra Priasmoro in 106 moves of a Sicilian Defense to complete a 1-2 finish in the Asian Zonal 3.3 Championship Sunday, May 9.
Quizon ended up with seven points while Concio finished with 6.5 points to emerge the first Filipinos to advance to the biennial event since United States-based Julio Catalino Sadorra qualified in Tbilisi, Georgia four years ago.
The two, whose training were bankrolled by Dasmarinas, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr., also received a combined US$3,750 (around P187,000) for their efforts.
Quizon came out undefeated with five victories and four draws while Concio had five wins and three draws against a lone defeat.
Concio’s win over Priasmoro turned out the biggest as he found a way to transform a drawish game into a full point.
A result less than a win would eliminate Concio while propelling his Indonesian rival instead.