Dimakiling rules 1st RR-AbaMin chessfest

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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

INTERNATIONAL Master Oliver Dimakiling ruled the 1st Congressman Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Partylist Open Chess Tournament, which ended Monday night at SM City Cagayan de Oro.

Dimakiling, the pride of Davao City, capped the P25,000 champion's purse after halving the point with Cagayan de Oro City's National Master Levi Mercado in 20 moves of the English Opening in the final ninth round.

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Dimakiling was perfect in the first seven rounds to pad a commanding 1.5-point lead before securing draws with Cebu City's Merben Roque and Mercado in the eighth and last round, respectively.

CAGAYAN DE ORO. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (left) and 88-year-old chess enthusiast Carlos “Nene” Arce (right) in a fun game during the 1st Cong. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao Chess Cup that ended on Monday at SM City. (Contribute photo)

In what could be a battle for solo second place, Misamis Oriental's Johnnel Balquin went out of fireworks against Cebu IM Kim Steven Yap in a toe-to-toe combat of a sharp Sicilian Rossolimo line.

Balquin blew his chances as he missed a simple positional reply, which would give him a slight middle-game upperhand. A bishop retreat was all he needed. Instead, he chose the losing line and kissed the juicy P15,000 second prize goodbye.

Rounding the third to fifth places with identical seven points were Mercado, Roque and IM Reggie Olay of Kidapawan City.

In the side event, Mohmin Morsalim of Camiguin went unscratched in ruling the 7-round Swiss System 14-under open.

But early in the fifth round, it was only local neophyte Aldin Ranario that gave him a sort of a headache.

The 11-under Ranario was gripping the older Morsalim from opening to the middlegame, but luck was on the side of Morsalim.

In the penultimate round, Morsalim outlasted Aji Cantonjos of Gingoog City in a Queen's Pawn Opening before an easy beating on Jason Lagahid in the final round.

Cantonjos and Ranario finished second and third place, respectively.

Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on January 25, 2012.