ABU DHABI — Filipino International Master Daniel Quizon has advanced into the top five of the Masters category at the 30th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival, following a significant victory over Grandmaster Abdimalik Abdisalimov on Friday night.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 20-year-old from Dasmariñas, Cavite, managed a win after 48 moves using the Sicilian Defense against the 11th-seeded Abdisalimov, propelling him into the top five alongside six other players, each with six points. Leading the tournament are Uzbek GMs Nodirbek Yakubboev, Shamsiddin Vokhidov, FIDE GM David Paravyan, and Indian GM Leon Luke Mendonca, all currently holding 6.5 points.
Quizon is set to face Indian GM Sunilduth Lyna Narayanan, the No. 10 seed, in the final round this weekend, aiming for a victory that could secure him a podium finish. Earlier in the tournament, Quizon secured wins against No. 6 seed GM Bassem Amin of Egypt in the fourth round and FIDE GM Klementy Sychev in the seventh round.
The young chess master is also inching closer to achieving the 2500 rating needed to become a Grandmaster, improving his rating from 2457 to 2482.8 through his recent performances. Quizon is scheduled to represent the Philippines at the upcoming FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, from September 10 to 22, alongside teammates GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra, John Paul Gomez, IMs Paolo Bersamina, and Jan Emmanuel Garcia, with GM Eugene Torre as the coach.