Sunday, August 27, 2006
Davao bet up in Malaysia
INTERNATIONAL Master Oliver Dimakiling, the unassuming chess wizard from Davao City, moved a step closer towards nailing a major chess crown when he drew his eight round match in the Dato Arthur Tan 3rd Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dimakiling, known for his gung-ho style of play, has 6.5 points after eight rounds to tow the field full of grandmasters.
The Davao woodpusher, gunning for a major victory to earn his first GM result, plays Grandmaster and eight seed Ziaur Rahman of Bangladesh in the crucial ninth round Saturday in the chess event being held at the Citi Tel Mid Valley Hotel.
Rahman is breathing down Dimakiling's neck with six points. Also with six points are Filipino Fide Master Wesley So, Vietnamese Grandmasters Nguyen Anh Dung and Dao Thien Hai, and International Master Tirto.
Dimakiling, the 13th seed, had earlier stunned Australian Grandmaster Ian Rogers, and then sizzled to the top with a victory over compatriot Darwin Laylo.
Up against Dao Thien Hai, one of Vietnam's most-feared chess masters, in the seventh round Dimakiling bravely stood his ground and forced a fighting draw to keep his lead.
The 12-year-old So also created a stir in the seventh round when he upset Rogers to vault into contention.
"Oliver (Dimakiling) just proved that he's really fast emerging as one of our best players. Dao is a veteran GM and it is to Oliver's credit that he was able to force a draw and keep his hold of the lead," said National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) president Representative Prospero "Butch" Pichay, who supported Dimakiling's and the other Filipino campaigners' bid in Malaysia.
Pichay also told delegation head and NCFP vice-president Romeo Serratubias and team captain to keep up the good work in their able handling of the team.
Whether he goes on to win the title or not, this is already a fine performance by the Davao chesser.
Dimakiling first gained prominence when he scored 6.5 points for the country in the World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (August 27, 2006 issue)
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