MISSION accomplished for Daniel Quizon.

Quizon finally achieved his life-long dream of becoming a grandmaster by leading the Philippines to an inspiring 4-0 win over Monaco in the fourth round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary.

Quizon, at 20 the country’s newest “Poster Boy” of chess, outwitted Geogian emigre GM Igor Efimov of Monaco in only 37 moves of the King’s Indian to finally earn the two rating points needed to breach the ELO 2500 plateau.

Additionally, the pride of Dasmariñas, Cavite made history by becoming only the country’s 17th GM — and 11th under the leadership of National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Prospero “Butch” Pichay.

Quizon joins the elite company of Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre (1974), Rosendo Balinas (1976), Rogelio Antonio, Jr. (1993),

Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor (2000), Nelson Mariano (2004), Mark Paragua (2005), Darwin Laylo (2007), Wesley So (2008), Jayson Gonzales (2008), John Paul Gomez (2009), Joseph Sanchez (2009), Rogelio Barcenilla Jr. (2010), Roland Salvador (2010), Oliver Barbosa (2011), Julio Catalino Sadorra (2011) and Richard Bitoon (2011).

“Sobrang saya po,” said Quizon, who is set to receive P1 million from Dasmarinas Mayor Jenny Barzaga through the initiative of the late Dasmariñas Congressman Pidi Barzaga.

Quizon’s triumph over Efimov capped a big day of celebration for the 51st-seeded Filipinos with GM Sadorra and IMs Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia also winning their matches on boards one, three and four, respectively.

The victory catapulted the Filipinos into a heavy 25-country logjam at 13th place with six match points.

Up next for the Filipino is 26th seeded Slovenia in the fifth round of this 11-round tournament.

The women’s team also did well.

Led by Shania Mae Mendoza on top board, the Philippines demolished El Salvador, 4-0, to vault into a 30-nation tie at No. 13.

Mendoza; the 26-year-old native of Sta. Rosa, Laguna native, outduelled Andrea Cortez, who blundered away her winning and drawing chances, and escaped with a 60-move win of a razor-sharp Sicilian duel.

“Actually, hindi ko ini-expect mananalo. Ginagawa ko lang talaga ang best ko,” said Mendoza.

Also winning for the Filipinas under coach Jayson Gonzales are WGM Janelle Mae Frayna, WIM Jan Jodilyn Fronda and WIM Bernadette Galas, who hardly worked out a sweat in dispatching their respective opponents in the lower boards.

The Filipinaswill play 24th pick Italy next.

Overall, India continued to hold sway as it clobbered France, 3.5-.5, to share the lead with seven others with perfet scores of eight points apiece.

Also with the same score are Southeast Asian powerhouse Vietnam, which shocked defending champion Uzbekistan, 3-0.

Also in that group was Ukraine, which stunned top seed United States, 2.5-1.5. with GM Vassily Ivanchuk beating Philippine-born GM Wesley So.