Quizon, Frayna settle for crucial draw

MANILA, Philippines — Daniel Quizon and Janelle Mae Frayna, two wizards out chasing history, fought to a draw yesterday to stay within striking distance from each other after the 11th round in the Philippine National Chess Championship at the Marikina Community Convention Center.

Quizon barely held on the solo lead with eight points, or just half a point ahead of Frayna and Grandmaster John Paul Gomez and Jan Emmanuel Garcia in this meet presented by Marikina City Rep. Maan Teodoro and Mayor Marcy Teodoro.

Quizon is eyeing his second title since reigning supreme three years ago in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu, the top prize worth P120,000 and one of the three seats to the national squad wading into battle in the FIDE World Chess Olympiad in September in Budapest, Hungary.

If the 19-year-old Dasmariñas bet eventually makes the Olympiad, it will be his first over-the-board stint in the biennial meet since his appearance in the online Olympiad two years ago during the pandemic did not count.

Frayna, however, is hoping to deny Quizon his day as the former would like a place in the sun herself as the country’s first female winner of the men’s national tilt as well as the first lady to make the men’s Olympiad team.