by Marlon Bernardino
Fide Master (FM) John Marvin Miciano of Davao City had to setlle for his third consecutive draw against countryman Daniel Quizon of Damarinas City, Cavite in the penultimate 8th round at the Under-18 division of the Asian Youth Chess Tournament Standard event at the Lotus Pang Suan Kaew Hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Saturday.

The Far Eastern University bet Miciano, who is aiming to gain an outright International Master (IM) title, accepted a draw by Quizon, one of the top players of Dasmariñas Chess Academy that put up by Dasmariñas City, Cavite mayor Elpidio "Pidi" Barzaga and congresswoman Jenny Barzaga, after 25 pushes of Sicilian Closed skirmish.

Despite the draw, Miciano kept his hold on the lead with 6.5 points, a full point ahead of four other players --Quizon, Arya Omidi of Iran, FM Wong Yinn Long of Malaysia and Candidate Master Le Minh Hoang of Vietnam --with only one round left.

Miciano, playing white, needed only a draw in his ninth and final round schedule match to CM Thilakarathne G M H of Sri-Lanka to secure country' first gold medal plus an outright International Master (IM) title for his effort.

Quizon, on the other hand is playing black with Le Minh is in a must-win situation in order to make it to the medal finishes.-Marlon Bernardino-