Quizon so close to Grandmaster title

MANILA, Philippines — In a matter of weeks, the Philippines’ Daniel Quizon is closer to fulfilling his destiny as the country’s newest chess Grandmaster.

On Friday night, the 20-year-old Filipino International Master inched nearer to that dream after he slew Uzbek Grandmaster Abdimalik Abdisalimov in the eighth and penultimate round in the 30th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival in United Arab Emirates.

That victory – a 48-move win of a razor-sharp Sicilian showdown – catapulted the veteran World Cup campaigner and reigning national titlist in a seven-player tie for No. 5 with six points, or just half a point behind of Uzbekistan GMs Nodirbek Yakubboev and Shamsiddin Vokhidov, FIDE’s GM David Paravyan and India’s GM Leon Luke Mendonca.

If Quizon beats 10th seed Indian GM SL Narayanan in the final round, will have a chance at gatecrashing into the top three.

Then he would gain more rating points that will send him closer and closer to eclipsing the 2500-rating level that would automatically clinch him the GM title.