WORLD Chess Cup 2021 campaigner IM Daniel Quizon battled to a draw with former Asian Junior champion IM Ricardo De Guzman to keep the lead after eight rounds in the 2021 National Chess Championships at the Solea Hotel and Resort in Mactan, Cebu.

The draw, which came after only 23 moves of the Queen’s Gambit, enabled the 17-year-old campaigner from Dasmariñas, Cavite to raise his score to seven points.

That’s one and a half points ahead of IM Ronald Dableo, who split the point with IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia in 31 moves of a King’s Indian Defense, and two full points clear of De Guzman and GM Darwin Laylo.

It was actually the second straight draw for Quizon, who swept his first six assignments before sharing the point with unheralded Allan Pason in 62 moves of a Pirc Defense.

With only three rounds left, Quizon moved even closer t to the P80,000 top prize, a ticket to next year’s Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam and 2023 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

Also in strong contention for top honors in this 12-player tournament hosted by the Chess Movement IInc. in cooperation with the Barkadahan Para sa Bansa is Dableo.

Dableo, a former Asian Zone champion, outplayed top seed IM Paulo Bersamina in the seventh round and drew with Garcia the next round.

The 41-year-old veteran is set to face Quizon in the 11th and final round on Tuesday, giving him a fighting chance to catch up and possibly snatch the crown.

De Guzman, who is still fresh from winning the National Seniors Championships last month, and Laylo are tied for third with five points apiece.

Laylo bested Michael Concio and Allan Pason to vault into a tie with De Guzman. after four days of action in the event organized by the National Chess Federation of the Phiippines (NCFP), led by Chairman Prospero “Butch” Pichay, and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), headed by Chairman; and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), led by President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino; and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), led by Vice Chairman and general manager Royina Garma.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ed Andaya