Filipino Grandmaster (GM) Daniel Quizon captured the premier Standard Open title at the 2nd Bangkok Summer International Chess Open, held over the weekend in the Thai capital.

The 21-year-old Quizon finished the tournament unbeaten with 7.5 points, compiling six wins and three draws across nine rounds. Among his victories was a key win over Russian GM Timur Gareyev in the eighth and penultimate round. He sealed the title with a draw in the final round against fellow Filipino International Master (IM) Michael Concio, Jr.

"It was really a long time since I last won," Quizon told The STAR on Monday.

The Bangkok triumph marked Quizon's return to form after a prolonged title drought. His previous tournament victory came two years earlier at the Hanoi Grandmaster Chess Tournament, where he secured the third and final norm required to earn the GM title. He officially achieved the Grandmaster designation — the highest title awarded by FIDE, the international chess federation — during the 45th World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary later that same year.

Gareyev finished in second place. Concio and Estonian IM Iljya Grigorjev placed third and fourth, respectively, each tallying seven points.

Four additional Filipino players finished in the top 10: FIDE Master Alekhine Nouri in fifth, Darry Bernardo in sixth, Jan Clifford Labog in eighth, and Jerish John Velarde in ninth. The depth of the Filipino contingent underscored the country's growing presence in regional chess, with players contesting multiple sections of the tournament.

Further Filipino success came in the tournament's other sections. John Paul De Guzman won the Challenger division, while Velarde claimed the super rapid title.

— Joey Villar