Tuesday, January 09, 2007 Dimakiling to compete in Vietnam By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
INTERNATIONAL Master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City will gun for his second Grand Master (GM) norm when he leaves for Vietnam Tuesday to compete in the Asian Zonals slated January 11 to 18 in Vietnam.
Dimakiling, in text messages to Sun.Star Davao Monday, said the 10-member Philippine chess team is also composed of Super GM Mark Paragua, GMs Joey Antonio and Eugene Torre, IMs Nelson Mariano, Darwin Laylo, Ronald Dableo, Wesley So, Oliver Barbosa and John Paul Gomez.
Dimakiling, whose family now resides in Mintal, said: "I'm hoping to earn my second GM norm in the tournament. I need to score six points out of nine rounds to get the norm."
When asked if he is 100 percent ready for the FIDE-sanctioned event, the Dabawenyo joked he doesn't know.
"Ambot lang ani, depende sa result (I really am not sure, maybe the results will tell)," the De La Salle University (DLSU) sports management graduate said.
Dimakiling, however, said he went through physical and mental training for the chessfest that will also showcase GMs from China, host Vietnam and other key Asian countries.
Dimakiling earned his IM title after his impressive showing in the World Chess Olympiad in Italy last year. He was also the mentor of the Philippine chess team in the 15th Asian Games in Doha, Qatar last month.
He was the lone medal winner among the RP chessers who competed in the Philippines Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005 over in Tagaytay City. He saved the team from a total medal shutout with his silver medal finish in individual rapid chess event.
Dimakiling is the eldest child of Metro Davao Chess Association (MDCA) president Chito whose four other children -- Faith, Chito II, Marie Angeli and Adrian -- are also very good chess players.
