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Saturday, July 08, 2006
Chess players must have will to win: Dimakiling
By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
IT'S not the prize that counts but the will to win that matters.
Thus said International Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City on the kind of attitude younger chess players must possess to become successful in their field.
"It is sad that most players, even some kids, are after the amount that a tournament gives away. It should not be like that. They often ask how much is the prize. That's wrong. The right attitude is to have the willingness to win with or without a prize," Dimakiling said Thursday during the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at the Tower Inn.
Dimakiling, the 26-year-old chess sensation who has an ELO rating of 2463 and a De La Salle University (DLSU) Sports Management degree holder, said Davao City has a lot of potentials and has the capability of in producing more rated and titled chess players.
Dimakiling even cited the likes of age-group chessers Danilo Engay and the Ansaldo brothers, among others.
"What these kids need is a good and systematic program. They need to be given the right training," he said.
Dimakiling had undergone the kind of training the RP chess team underwent prior to the just-concluded World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.
"We had physical training and meditation, similar to that of doing a yoga. We went through that for one whole month. It helped us so much in the Olympiad," he said.
Dimakiling added it is wise to give children the proper exposure considering they may become another genius like 12-year-old Wesley So or follow the footsteps of youthful Super Grandmaster Mark Paragua.
The former DLSU standout admitted he has a lot of diversions to keep him sane despite the fact that his sport requires a lot of mental activity, but ruled out vices.
"I don't smoke. I'm not into alcoholic drinks. I just play Internet games. I play pinball when I get the chance. I try to keep myself busy. I don't read books though because I'm lazy at it. I'm more of an action player. I get to discover new moves on my own," Dimakiling said.
"I get motivation when I watch my favorite players in the NBA, Roger Federer in tennis and Tiger Woods in golf. They inspire me so much," added Dimakiling, who is vacationing at his family's residence in Catalunan Grande, Mintal.
With this kind of lifestyle, becoming a GM is not a far-fetched possibility for Dimakiling.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (July 8, 2006 issue)
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