MANILA, Philippines — World Cup veteran Michael Concio Jr. came through with one of his most memorable performances to date as he emerged the rapid champion of the Asian Juniors Chess Championship at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay Friday night.
Needing just a draw to seal the title, Concio, 17, went for the win against second seed International Master Saha Neelash in claiming his second title of the year after ruling the Hanoi IM tilt last May.
The Dasmariñas City bet finished unbeaten with 6.5 points on six victories and a draw or a full point ahead of solo No. 2 FIDE Master Eldiar Orozbaev of Kyrgyzstan with 5.5 points.
Countryman IM Daniel Quizon, the 18-year-old top seed, sputtered early and couldn’t recover in finishing with just 4.5 points, which was good for sixth place.
Quizon, a former Asian Juniors blitz winner, is expected to redeem himself as he and Concio try to rule the premier standard event, bankrolled by Tagaytay City Mayor and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino and National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) vice president Athena Bryana Tolentino
If they can accomplish the feat, they would clinch the second of three norms required in achieving Grandmaster status.