DIMAKILING EYES THIRD GM NORM
International master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling grabbed his first win in the ongoing 25th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival-Masters.
DAVAO City’s international master (IM) Oliver Dimakiling, who is seeking his third grand master (GM) norm, demolished Arena GM LR Srihari of India to get off to a roaring start in the 25th Abu Dhabi International Chess Festival-Masters Tuesday evening.
The Dabawenyo shared the first to 69th places with other opening round winners of the Swiss System format chessfest organized by the Abu Dhabo Chess and Culture Club.
Second seed GM Richard Rapport of Hungary led the ranking with superior tiebreaks while top seed GM Le Quang Liem of Vietnam absorbed a heartbreaking upset at the hands of Indian FM VS Rathanvel.
Dimakiling, who hails from Sasa, will next collide with formidable opponent Indian GM Chithambaram Aravindh, seeded 28th, who subdued compatriot IM Nisha Mohota in the first round.
“Wa man kaayo koy expectations, enjoy lang (I really don’t have expectations, I just want to enjoy),” he said in a Facebook interview with Sun. Star Davao.
He also said that competing in the tournament serves as his breather from his coaching job in Malaysia. The former De La Salle University top board player said, “Makapahulay sad ko kay stressful kaayo magtudlo at least makarelax ug magdula (I could rest because it’s been stressful to coach. I relax by playing).”
A total of 145 players from 32 countries are vying for honors in the ongoing competition.
Dimakiling, father to threeyear-old Charlize and one-yearold George, clinched the title of the Melaka International Chess Festival 2018 Category Open Tournament in Malaysia last month.
He earned his first GM norm in the 2006 Malaysian Open and the second norm in the 2012 Battle of GMs in Aklan.