MANILA/BUDAPEST, Hungary – Filipino Daniel Quizon accomplished his mission to become a grandmaster after beating GM Igor Efimov on board 2 as the Philippines pulled off a 4-0 win over Monaco in the fourth round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at BOK Sports Hall in Budapest, Hungary on September 14.

The 20-year-old from Dasmariñas City, Cavite prevailed over the 64-year-old Efimov after 37 moves of a King’s Indian Defense, earning two Elo points to reach the 2500 ranking, during the fourth round of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the cavernous BOK Sports Hall here..

With his win, Quizon became the Philippines’ 17th GM and the first since Oliver Barbosa and Richard Bitoon achieved the feat 13 years ago.

“I am so happy,” Quizon said after the feat, assuring him of  an incentive of P1 million from Dasmariñas City Mayor Jenny Barzaga. The reward was promised by Congressman Elpidio Barzaga before he passed away in California.

Quizon will also receive P100,000 incentive from the National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero Butch  Pichay.

“Sobrang saya ko po kasi nakuha ko na matagal ko nang pangarap simula nung naglaro ako ng chess,”  Quizon added as he thanked the Philippine Sports Commission through chairman Richard Bachmann and commissioner Ed Hayco and NCFP head Pichay who financed his trip to Hungary.

GM Julio Catalino Sadorra downed Amir Bagheri on board one, IM Paulo Bersamina conquered Damir Levacic on board three, and IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia beat Patrick Van Hoolandt on board four to blank their opponents from El Salvador.

The victory put the No. 51 seed Philippines in 13th place, tied with 25 others with six points. Both the men and the women teams were coached by GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales with Atty. Ruel Canobas as delegation head.

During the fifth round, grandmaster Julio  Sadorra stunned super GM Vladimir Fedoseev as the Philippines beat Slovenia, 2.5-1.5 to enter the Top 10 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad at the BOK Sports Hall in Budapest.

The US-based Sadorra, ranked No. 51, prevailed over the No. 26 Fedoseev after 53 moves of the Queen’s Gambit Declined defense.

His victory put the Philippines in a tie with 21 countries at seventh place in the team standings with eight points each.

In the fifth round, international Masters Paulo Bersamina and Jan Emmanuel Garcia also settled for a draw with Jan Subeli and Matej Sebenik, respectively.

The Philippines, coached by GMs Eugene Torre and Jayson Gonzales with Atty. Ruel Canobas as delegation head, takes on 17th seed Armenia in the sixth round.

In the women’s division, the Philippines absorbed a 1.5-2.5 loss to Italy. Top board player Shania Mae Mendoza bowed to IM Marina Brunello while Janelle Mae Frayna, Ja Jodilyn Fronda and Ruelle Canino split their games.

The Filipinas, in a group at No. 37 with six points, will face the Bolivians next.

Meanwhile, India, China, Vietnam and host Hungary are leading the men’s standings, while India, Mongolia and Armenia are on top of the women’s division.

In the earlier round, the Philippines also scored a 4-0 win over El Salvador in the women’s division.

Top board player Shania Mae Mendoza beat Andrea Ortez after 60 moves of the Sicilian Defense.

“Actually, I did not expect to win in other games. I just did my best,” the 26-year-old Mendoza from Santa Rosa, Laguna said.

Other matches saw WGM Janelle Mae Frayna beating Angie Garcia, Jan Jodilyn Fronda overcoming Marielos Vasquez and Bernadette Galas prevailing over Yamileth Barahona Dalila.

The women’s team, also 13th in the standings, will meet Italy next. 

In the overall race, three Asian teams — India, China and Vietnam — share the lead with five others with perfect records of eight match points.

The Vietnamese, the Southeast Asian kingpins, gatecrashed there by pulling the rug from under defending champion Uzbekistan, 3-1.

It also included war-torn Ukraine, which shocked top seed United States in a 2.5-1.5 result that was sealed, signed and delivered by grizzled vet GM Vasyl Ivanchuk over Cavite-born Wesley So on the second board.