• Filed under dchs88
  Jun 7

  Davao’s Dimakiling is RP’s newest IM
  Sunstar Davao Online
  Wednesday,June 07, 2006

  THE Philippines has a new International Master in the person of Oliver Dimakiling, the chess wizard from Sasa, Davao City. Dimakiling, 26, earned his IM title after scoring six points as an alternate player for the Philippines in the recently concluded 37th World Chess Olympiad in Turin, Italy.

  The woodpusher from Davao actually had a shot at a GM norm in his final match, but he lost to Alexander Fier of Brazil in a queens-pawn ending. Despite the defeat, it was already a huge achievement for Dimakiling being a first-timer in the Olympiad. He got six points in nine matches and was the second best performer among the Filipino players in the event.

  The Filipinos wound up 44th place in a field of 146 nations. Aside from Dimakiling, also with the team are Grandmasters Mark Paragua, Eugene Torre and Rogeio Antonio Jr., National Master Darwin Laylo and 12-year-old prodigy Wesley So. Engineer Allan Diez, who is in-charge of the grassroots development of the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, said they are still awaiting confirmation of Dimakiling’s IM title.

  Dimakiling, the eldest of five chess-playing siblings, is the second chess player from Davao City to earn an IM title. The first was Marlo Micayabas of Toril. Dimakilimg, who idolizes former world champion Bobby Fischer, is a silver medalist in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

  “Oliver is an inspiration to the kids. His (IM) title is only the beginning. He will go a long way,” said NCFP regional director James Infiesto of Dimakiling. (CRAM)

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