In 37 moves of a King's Indian match, Daniel Quizon–the 20-year-old prodigy from Dasmariñas City, Cavite–defeated 64-year-old Georgian émigré Grandmaster Igor Efimov to become the grandmaster of chess and the first Filipino to hold the title in 13 years. Quizon required two rating points to break over the 2500 plateau and win the coveted GM title.
Quizon has now succeeded Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon in 2011 as the 17th grandmaster in the Philippines of chess. He joins a group that includes Janelle Mae Frayna, the only female GM in the nation.
Quizon’s journey to the top
Quizon's path to grandmaster title started at an early age thanks to his multiple championship wins in elite competitions.
In 2018, he won the Eastern Asian Juniors Open Championships in South Korea, which led to him being crowned the International Master. Among his other noteworthy accomplishments include winning the gold medal at the 2019 Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship and also being one of the representatives in the 2021 Chess World Cup.
By March 2024, Quizon had obtained all three of the GM norms that were necessary; the final one was obtained at the Hanoi Grandmaster Chess Tournament in Vietnam.
“Sobrang saya po (I’m very happy),” said Quizon.
One million incentive
Mayor Jenny Barzaga of Dasmarinas, Cavite, is set to give Quizon P1 million as she carries out the commitment made by late Dasmarinas Congressman Pidi Garzaga before he passed away.
Quizon reached his landmark just after the Philippines defeated Monaco 4-0. With that victory, the national men's team—selected 51st out of a record 197 teams—came closer to the top 10 after four rounds.
