Davao’s Oliver Dimakiling bagged the 2010 Penang Heritage City Chess Open title, December 12, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Dimakiling, the De La Salle University-Taft sports management graduate, drew with fellow IM and countryman Zacarias Romero Luis Chiong in the final ninth round to score a total of 7.5 points.
The Dabawenyo, well nurtured by his father-coach Chito to emerge as one of the finest woodpushers from Davao, came up with a better score via Fide tie break, 41 to 38 against IM Oliver Barbosa who scored a full point after besting Ian Udani.
GM Mushed Niaz of Bangladesh settled for third place with seven points in the event that attracted 71 players.
National Chess Federation of the Philippines president Prospero “Butch” Pichay Jr. praised the Filipinos’ victory in Malaysia, saying it will further boost the popularity of chess in the country.
The top winners:
7.5 pts.- Dimakiling, Barbosa
7.0 N.Murshed
6.5 Yves Ranola, Z.Chiong
6.0 H.Mas, H.Pascua, KB Tan, R.Olay, J.de Ramos, I.Udani, KHE Lee, C.Castellano, AJ Eng, TH Ng
5.5 B.Foo, N.Mariano III, J.Madjidov, J.Wong, RZ Lim
5.0 LT Yeoh, YC Thong, A.Ismail, A.Rosli, TT Do, V.Vasanth, S.Loo, N.Nur, S. Ajeet
[Moses P. Billacura]
