Olay, Dimakiling share lead in chess tilt

Sunday, January 22, 2012

INTERNATIONAL Masters Reggie Olay and Oliver Dimakiling shared the lead after the fourth round of the ongoing 1st Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Open Chess Tournament held at SM City Cagayan de Oro Saturday.

Both posted perfect four points each after disposing separate foes.

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On the top board, the Kidapawan City native, Olay, survived against Misamis Oriental’s Johnnel Balquin in 49 moves of the tough-nut-to-crack Philidor’s Defense.

Wielding the white pieces, Balquin had a one-piece up advantage in the middle game but could not find winning lines.

Olay’s connected passed pawns on the third rank compensated the piece lose, which found him some complications leading to his victory.

Davao City’s pride, Dimakiling, stopped Cagayan de Oro City’s dark horse Silverio Abasolo in 45 moves of the Gruenfeld Defense at board two.

Dimakiling gave back his piece advantage and set a trap that backfired Abasolo’s forced king attack.

Cagayan de Oro’s National Master Levi Mercado failed to join the spotlight after splitting the point with Pagadian City’s Maximo Ramos in 77 moves of the Petroff Defense.

Mercado missed a winning line in a pawn-up rook-and-pawn endgame but instead chose to fix his king at the edge of a deadlock. Both shared 3-8 places along with fellow 3.5 pointers in National Masters Ernesto Fernandez and Allan Macala, and Cebu City’s IM Kim Yap and non-master Merben Roque.

Round five is still ongoing as of press time as Olay and Dimakiling duel each other in vying for the solo lead.