Dimakiling plays Garcia, Torre; battle of grandmasters opens

INTERNATIONAL master Oliver Dimakiling of Davao City plays against IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and grand master (GM) Eugenio Torre as the 2014 National Championships "Battle of Grandmasters" Open gets underway today, Saturday, at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) athlete's dining hall.

The Dabawenyo ace takes on Garcia at 9 a.m. in the first round then meets Torre at 4 p.m. in their second round encounter.

Dimakiling will then clash against Fide master (FM) Paulo Bersamina at 2 p.m. in third round tomorrow (Sunday) before testing the mettle of GM John Paul Gomez at 9 a.m. and GM Darwin Laylo at 4 p.m. in fourth and fifth rounds, respectively, on Monday.

His other opponents in the 11-round Swiss System format chessfest will be national master (NM) Roel Abelgas, GM Richard Bitoon, IM Joel Pimentel, GM Rogelio Antonio, Jr., GM Rogelio Barcenilla, and woman Fide master (WFM) Janelle Mae Frayna.

In the distaff side, entered are WIM Catherine Perena, Arvie Lozano, WNMs Christy Lamiel Bernales, Jedara Docena and Jean Karen Enriquez, WFM Cherry Ann Mejia, Queen Lyn Reyes, Ruth Aubrey de Guzman, Gladys Hazelle Romero, Shania Mae Mendoza and Aurora Kim Dantes.

The annual weeklong competition is organized by the National Chess Federation of the Philippines. (MLSA)