MANILA---Filipino International Master (IM) Daniel Quizon scored back-to-back wins to share the lead in the 6th round of the Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League's Manny Pacquiao International Open Chess Festival at the Family Country Hotel in General Santos City on Thursday, Dec. 15.
Quizon, a member of the star-studded Dasmariñas City, Cavite team which produced numerous chess masters and chess champions, routed Grandmaster Hovhannes Gabuzyan of Armenia in 37 moves of Closed Sicilian defense to notch 5.0 points.
Quizon, earlier beat Grandmaster Vitaly Sivuk of Sweden in 41 moves of King's Indian defense in Thursday's fifth round.
Joining Quizon with 5.0 points each to stay at the helm in this tournament staking a champion’s purse amounting to a whopping P1.14 million, the biggest in the country in recent years, are International Master Rolando Nolte of the Phlippines and Grandmaster Lucan Van Foreest of the Netherlands.
Nolte defeated Fide Master Alekhine Nouri and International Master Ricardo de Guzman, respectively while Van Foreest halved the point with Gabuzyan and Grandmaster Pier Luigi Basso of Italy, in that order.
In Friday's seventh round, Nolte will slug it out with Van Foreest on Board One while Quizon goes up against Konstantin Sek of Russia on Board Two.
Sek drew with International Master Michael Concio Jr. in Round 5 then brought down Sheider Nebato in Round 6.
Sek led the huge group of 4.5 pointers that include Gabuzyan, Basso, International Master John Daniel Bryant of the USA, Concio, International Master Kim Steven Yap and Grandmaster Rogelio Antonio Jr. of the Philippines.
Meanwhile, Maharlika Pilipinas Chess League President International Master Hamed Nouri said that the Manny Pacquiao team tournament gets underway on Saturday.
Engr. Mark Oliver Ingcad fielded Romblon Chess Club and MindMaster chess club. Other registered team as of Dec. 15, 2022 are UC Chess Infinitum, Team Ragranok, Iloilo Kisela Knights 1, Iloilo Kisela Knights 2, Team Nam, NLPM management Consultancy, RCM Phoenix, RCM Viper, Team Buenaviel, Davao Sur Woodpusher, Hacienda Hermida, Ligon Sports Betting, Team Cajeras, Mindmovers A, Mindmovers B and Top Secret.-Marlon Bernardino-
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