Pinoy stakes chase GM norm in Asian junior chess | So Good News

November 19, 2022 | 12:00 p.m

MANILA, Philippines—Filipino internationals Daniel Quizon and Michael Concio Jr. began their campaign for the grandmaster title yesterday at the Knights Templar Hotel in Tagaytay City at the start of the Asian Junior and Girls Chess Championship.

Quizon, 18, and Concio, officiating the nine-round tournament for players 17, 20 and under, are aiming to get the second of the three norms needed to claim the GM title at the event, which features 58 participants from 11 countries in the region. .

Also representing the country are FIDE Master Alekhine Nuri, Girls’ National Champion Mhage Sebastian, Al-Basher Bhutto, Andrew James Toledo, Gabriel Ryan Paradero, Ronell Ko and Marlon James Piel.

“We expect great performances from the young masters of Asia in the championships that will give our Filipino players the chance to earn grandmaster standards and International Master (IM) standards and titles,” said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino.

Tolentino is an honorary member of the International Chess Federation, or FIDE, and once served as its secretary general. He also chaired FIDE’s Southeast Asia Region while serving as the Secretary General of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Cavite Vice Governor and NCFP Vice President Athena Briana Tolentino took the ceremonial steps with the best of the girls, Ms. IM Assel Serikbay of Kazakhstan.

Mehrdad Pahlavanzadeh, an Iranian member of the ACF Executive Board, and members of the Appeals Committee from India, Guam, Iran, Malaysia and Kazakhstan were also present at the modest opening ceremony.