IM Quizon Grabs Solo Lead in Zone 3.3 Zonal Pentultimate Round

Seventeen-year-old IM Daniel Quizon of the Philippines (photo above) outplayed compatriot Michael Concio, Jr. to grab solo lead with 6-1/2 points after the penultimate 8^th round of the Zone 3.3 Zonal Hybrid Chess Championship on Tornelo. Visit chess-results.com to download games and for round by round results and standings. Watch games live on Followchess, chessbomb, chess.com and chess24.

In close second slot with 6 points each are IM Mohamad Ervan (above right) and GM Novendra Priasmoro (above left) of Indonesia. Concio (below left) and IM Sean Winshand Cuhendi (below right) of Indonesia are within striking distance at 5.5 points each. The race is tight for the top two slots to the World Cup this July in Sochi, Russia.

Quizon seized the open e-file with his Queen and penetrated the seventh rank, forcing resignation on the 40^th move of their Ruy Lopez Game.

Ervan and Cuhendi drew their Ruy Lopez Game in 21 moves. Priasmoro turned the tables on IM Tin Jinghao of Singapore. In another Ruy Lopez Game, Tin Jinghao’s temporary Knight sacrifice on the 17^th move netted him with an active Queen and Rook against Priasmoro’s defensive Queen and two Knights. The Singaporean was in control (see diagram below) until he blundered 36… Qe4+, losing a piece and the game.

The Malaysian government’s declaration of Movement Control Order (MCO) impacted on the Kuala Lumpur venue. After solving the movement with authorization letters from the Olympic Committee, now they were told they could not gather so openly in the commercial building.

This is the KL venue seen from the “common walkway” hence people can see others gathering for chess. The solution was to move the players away from the glass walls to be a bit more discreet. This way they do not invite unwanted party to visit and “raid” the place.

Malaysian Chess Federation Secretary Najib Wahab said “Hybrid itself is a good solution but, when movement is restricted, even players are not allowed to go to hybrid centers. A full lockdown makes it challenging but partial lockdown is still ok. The challenge is, when a lockdown is enforced, it is done within a day or 2 notice – not enough time to re construct a back up plan.”

Three players in KL had to withdraw because of the MCO. Fortunately, the Penang venue is unaffected by the MCO. Two players in the Davao, Philippines venue got fever and had to withdraw.

The Indonesian hybrid chess center is the envy of the others. Indonesian players are billeted in the Utut Adianto Chess Academy so no lockdown problems for them. Arbiters are in a nearby hotel. The venue has internet hub with backup for failsafe connection. Senator GM Utut Adianto, President of the Indonesian Chess Federation, takes good care of his players.